Power of the Seed: Your Guide to Oils for Health & Beauty

by Susan M. Parker

Overview

Fixed oils play a large part in most all commercial beauty treatments. Power of the Seed offers instruction on how to use these oils to create topical skin care, cosmetics, and massage oils. Additionally, Susan M. Parker presents advice and in-depth information on the different types, sources, uses, and structures of these precious oils. Over ninety rare and common oils are comprehensively treated, along with suggestions on how readers can use them to create their own original "recipes."

Power of the Seed is the newest release of Process Media's popular Self-reliance Series that presents important DIY information in a visually enhanced easy-to-read and understand manner.

Susan M. Parker is the owner and founder of Solum & Herbe, a skincare company that uses a wide range of natural oils to create nourishing, natural personal care products.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781934170540
Publisher:	Process
Publication date:	03/03/2015
Series:	Process Self-reliance Series
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Susan M. Parker: Susan has extensive experience in the world of natural product formulation using oils. In addition to selling products through her own line, Solum & Herbe, she has taught classes at California School of Herbal Studies and the Northern California Women’s Herbal Symposium.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ix

My Oil Story 4

Let's Look at the Lipids 9

Terms: What is Essential? 10

Chapter 1 Oils of the Plant World 13

Lipids and the Fixed, Carrier, and Base Oils 14

Essential Oils 16

Spiritual Nature of Oils 19

Regional Differences in Oil-Bearing Plants 20

Oils in Human Culture 21

Chapter 2 Lipid Structure and Chemistry 101 The Structure of Fixed Oils 22

Fatty Acids and Triglycerides 23

The Carbon Chains 25

Fatty Acids 26

Saturated Oils and Fatty Acids 27

Unsaturated Fatty Acids 30

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids 32

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids 32

Super/Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids 33

Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Oxygen 34

The Ends of the Carbon Chains 35

Naming Fatty Acids 36

Shorthand or Coded System of Fatty Acids 36

Fatty Acid Names 37

Omega Classification 39

Chapter 3 Beyond Fatty Acids … 40

…to Oils 41

Comparing Two Oils: Olive and Cocoa Butter 43

Chapter 4 Whole Oils-Qualities, Values, Refining 45

Saponification Value 45

Unsaponifiable Portion 46

Iodine Value of Oils 47

Peroxide Value and Acid Value 47

Fractionation 48

Refining Oils 49

Chapter 5 Other Forms of Lipids 51

Phospholipids-Lecithin 51

Waxes 53

Trans Fats & Oils 53

Petrochemicals-Mineral Oil 56

Sperm Whale Oil 57

Chapter 6 Consuming Fatty Acids-Oils and Health 59

The Essential Nutrients 60

Essential Fatty Acids and Health 62

Important but Not "Essential" 64

Medium-Chain Fatty Acids 65

Chapter 7 Topically-Oils and the Skin 67

The Skin Is an Organ 68

Fatty Acids, Sebum, and the Skin 70

Allergens, or Everyone Is Allergic to Something 71

Oils and Problems of Skin Health 72

Oils and Skin Aging 74

Oils, Sun, and Tanning 75

Oils and Skin Care 76

Chapter 8 Common and Important Fatty Acids for the Skin 77

Essential and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids 77

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids 79

Saturated Fatty Acids 81

Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acids 83

Unique and Uncommon Fatty Acids 85

Chapter 9 Phyto-Chemicals 88

The Necessity of Oxygen and Antioxidants Phenolic Compounds 90

Flavonoids 91

Non-Flavonoid Phenolic Acids 93

Hydroxycinnamates 94

Lignans 96

Terpenes and Terpenoids 96

Vitamins 98

Oils, Butters, and Waxes: A List 104

Abyssinian to Yangu 106

Working with Natural Oils 193

Care and Handling of Oils 193

Using Oils on the Skin 195

Facial Care with Natural Oils 196

Cleansing with Oils 196

Facial Oils or Serums 201

Oils for Massage 211

Simple Body Scrubs 213

Whipped Salves & Body Butters 215

Oils and Herbs 218

Infusing Herbs in Oil 218

Salve-Making 226

Appendices 235

Oils by Use 236

Oils by Properties 240

Oils by Source 248

Botanical Families of Oil-Bearing Plants 252

Saponification Values for 90 Oils, Fats, and Waxes 259

Fatty Acid Families of Oils 262

Listing of Common Fatty Acids by Saturation and Omega Family 264

Fatty Acid Tables and Composition for the Oils 268

Measurements & Equivalents 296

Essential Oil Dilutions by Percentage 297

Glossary of Terms 298

Bibliography 313

Sources 318