Guest guest Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 Christa Maria >>Benzoine is a known cancer causing risk. Christa, I am surprised to hear that, because I have seen several recipes recommending it as a preservative, the reason I bought and tinctured it. For example, one very respedted herbalist suggested it 'to keep oils from becoming rancid... 500 IU's per cup oil'. Another said 'a little added to creams not only helps preserve but also gives a nice, slightly sticky texture. ..a good base note for scents and holds the scent of essential oils, without overriding them. Benzoin resinoids, so much the better. " Quote: " historically, it's been used in 'perfumery and cosmetics.Tincture of benzoin is quite popular as a fixative in alcohol and water base perfumes " . The form of benzoin the writer has and prefers to use is a sticky resinous liquid (essential oil).... " best used for oil-based preparations and perfumes... tincture best for either alcohol or water based perfumes or emulsions like lotions. Benzoin is an excellent preservative and fixative. This means it prevents rancidity and prevents the ascen you have made from turnig. " End of quote. One more about the essential oil " has been used for centuries as a preservative in cosmetics....has been found to help retain skin elasticity...valuable in treating dry cracked skin, and is believed to be antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and expectorant and sedative. " The author uses it in nail-care foromulas. These are just a couple examples why I am confused when I read the opposite. I made the tincture specifically for this purpose, and also have the essential oil, but am not sure to use either one. Many books also recommend vitamin E, but have also read that it is not really strong enough for preserving. I'm currently using a topical cream on my face daily , and it contains benzoin as a preservative. Should I be concerned? I would appreciate any more thoughts and opinions, thanks much, Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 I think there's some confusion between Styrax benzoin (the tree used for resinoid extraction to make the " essential oil " and tincture) and benzoates (compounds used as preservatives in food and cosmetics). There is a different concern about Benzoin " essential oil " because it is actually a resinoid diluted in an alcohol of some sort - usually at 40% but sometimes 50% - not an essential oil at all. Page 36 of Antczak's 'Cosmetics Unmasked' quotes William Jago in 1909 as saying " The administration of benzoic acid (which does naturally-occur in Styrax benzoin), either as such or in the form of benzoate of soda (sodium benzoate) is highly objectionable and produces very serious disturbances of the metabolic functions attended with injury to digestion and health. " (He was obviously talking about them in food.) Antczak goes on: " Nearly a century later, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate and a host of related compounds such as the parabens are still widely used in foods and cosmetics, including most fizzy drinks consumed by children. They are antimicrobial preservatives ... They cause gastric irritation, numbing of the mouth, urticaria and particularly affect asthma sufferers. " He goes into more detail but he doesn't mention any of them as cancer-causing agents ... he stresses their links to asthma and dermatitis. I have no idea therefore why Benzoin is listed in all the aromatherapy 'novels' as being good for cracked dry skin - to me it sounds like the last thing to put on open skin! But I personally don't use it because of the dilution thing. I actually found it makes a massage blend go gritty and I don't like rubbing grit on my clients! Best wishes Jane - " Sandra Cochrane " <san6 Tuesday, December 14, 2004 3:38 PM Re:Preservatives/Styrax benzoin > > Christa Maria > >>Benzoine is a known cancer causing risk. > > Christa, > > I am surprised to hear that, because I have seen several recipes > recommending it as a preservative, the reason I bought and tinctured it. > > For example, one very respedted herbalist suggested it 'to keep oils from > becoming rancid... 500 IU's per cup oil'. Another said 'a little added to > creams not only helps preserve but also gives a nice, slightly sticky > texture. ..a good base note for scents and holds the scent of essential > oils, without overriding them. Benzoin resinoids, so much the better. " > > Quote: " historically, it's been used in 'perfumery and cosmetics.Tincture > of benzoin is quite popular as a fixative in alcohol and water base > perfumes " . > The form of benzoin the writer has and prefers to use is a sticky resinous > liquid (essential oil).... " best used for oil-based preparations and > perfumes... tincture best for either alcohol or water based perfumes or > emulsions like lotions. Benzoin is an excellent preservative and fixative. > This means it prevents rancidity and prevents the ascen you have made from > turnig. " End of quote. > > One more about the essential oil " has been used for centuries as a > preservative in cosmetics....has been found to help retain skin > elasticity...valuable in treating dry cracked skin, and is believed to be > antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and expectorant and > sedative. " The author uses it in nail-care foromulas. > > These are just a couple examples why I am confused when I read the opposite. > I made the tincture specifically for this purpose, and also have the > essential oil, but am not sure to use either one. Many books also recommend > vitamin E, but have also read that it is not really strong enough for > preserving. > > I'm currently using a topical cream on my face daily , and it contains > benzoin as a preservative. Should I be concerned? > > I would appreciate any more thoughts and opinions, > > thanks much, > > Sandra > > > > > > Step By Step Instructions On Making Rose Petal Preserves: http://www.av-at.com/stuff/rosejam.html > > To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see the following link: /join > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Sandra - Thanks for sending in your thoughts - I had meant to do the same and It slipped my mind - I too couldn't find anything about benzoin being a cancer agent, but there is something about benzene.... could that be the mix up? Christa - If you have any citations on this, please send them in! Thanks - Ivy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Benzoin is a powerful skin sensitiser and has in the past been discussed extensively on the newsgroups. There is a form that may be safe, but the massive problem is you can never be 100% certain what is being used. Even very large suppliers have been caught and sold what they were told was a safe version and it turned out not to be. Benzoin is NOT an essential oil. Benzoin oil in aromatherapy is rarely natural usually containing synthetic solvents. See an article on my website for more. Lastly you are ill advised to use anything containing unknown benzoin on your face. I have witnesses severe skin problems caused by its use. Martin Watt http://www.aromamedical.com , " Sandra Cochrane " <san6@c...> wrote: > Christa Maria > >>Benzoine is a known cancer causing risk. > > Christa, > > I am surprised to hear that, because I have seen several recipes > recommending it as a preservative, the reason I bought and tinctured it. > > For example, one very respedted herbalist suggested it 'to keep oils from > becoming rancid... 500 IU's per cup oil'. Another said 'a little added to > creams not only helps preserve but also gives a nice, slightly sticky > texture. ..a good base note for scents and holds the scent of essential > oils, without overriding them. Benzoin resinoids, so much the better. " > > Quote: " historically, it's been used in 'perfumery and cosmetics.Tincture > of benzoin is quite popular as a fixative in alcohol and water base > perfumes " . > The form of benzoin the writer has and prefers to use is a sticky resinous > liquid (essential oil).... " best used for oil-based preparations and > perfumes... tincture best for either alcohol or water based perfumes or > emulsions like lotions. Benzoin is an excellent preservative and fixative. > This means it prevents rancidity and prevents the ascen you have made from > turnig. " End of quote. > > One more about the essential oil " has been used for centuries as a > preservative in cosmetics....has been found to help retain skin > elasticity...valuable in treating dry cracked skin, and is believed to be > antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and expectorant and > sedative. " The author uses it in nail-care foromulas. > > These are just a couple examples why I am confused when I read the opposite. > I made the tincture specifically for this purpose, and also have the > essential oil, but am not sure to use either one. Many books also recommend > vitamin E, but have also read that it is not really strong enough for > preserving. > > I'm currently using a topical cream on my face daily , and it contains > benzoin as a preservative. Should I be concerned? > > I would appreciate any more thoughts and opinions, > > thanks much, > > Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 When I wrote about balsam poplarbuds tincture and Benzoin, I just passed on anecdotal knowledge. Not scientific one. This is what I was told by Keewaydenoqua* ( she taught ethnic botany) AND had a good functioning knowledge of phytochemistry, That the tincture would do as a preservative AS Benzoin would do. That does not mean it would have the same effects a commercial Benzoin, nor that the poplar Balsam may not have it's own problems. I just don't know. Don't know if anyone has taken poplar balsam buds to investigate. The original question was , what there was out there on a 'natural' preservative. I gave my 2 scents, am not a phyto Chemist. However, if Martin would say not to use it, I'll go along with it, for he has mor eknowledge in this field than anyone and I trust his research. C-M Ojibway wise woman and for many years my friend and teacher.She has passed on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Hi Christa 'Anecdotal knowledge' IS herbalism and aromatherapy ... way back our ancestors didn't have GC/MS analysis or any other analysis ... just what their parents and grandparents taught them. We may be 'proving' it with science now but 'accepted wisdom' amongst cultures the world over is not to be sniffed at. We're talking about personal choices here ... I strongly believe that a whole natural extract used in the right dilution can never be as harmful as its lab-isolated or chemically-reproduced equivalent. I just know I'm about to get shot down in flames but I'll take that risk ... you stick to the knowledge you're happy with. In France they banned medical herbalism in 1940-something and now all their plant-lore is disappearing. There is even an ethno-botanical museum created just to keep growing strains of the wild plants previously used medicinally and they have created a record from all the 'old' people of the surrounding villages of what was used for what. Here is their site .... http://www.musee-de-salagon.com/ Best wishes Jane - Christa Maria Wednesday, December 15, 2004 1:28 PM Re: Re:Preservatives/Styrax benzoin When I wrote about balsam poplarbuds tincture and Benzoin, I just passed on anecdotal knowledge. Not scientific one. This is what I was told by Keewaydenoqua* ( she taught ethnic botany) AND had a good functioning knowledge of phytochemistry, That the tincture would do as a preservative AS Benzoin would do. That does not mean it would have the same effects a commercial Benzoin, nor that the poplar Balsam may not have it's own problems. I just don't know. Don't know if anyone has taken poplar balsam buds to investigate. The original question was , what there was out there on a 'natural' preservative. I gave my 2 scents, am not a phyto Chemist. However, if Martin would say not to use it, I'll go along with it, for he has mor eknowledge in this field than anyone and I trust his research. C-M Ojibway wise woman and for many years my friend and teacher.She has passed on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Martin, This is a prescription topical cream used for rosacea prescribed by my dermatologist called 'Azelex '(azelaic acid cream) with 'benzoic acid' as a preservative. When you say it's a sensitizer, what exactly is it sensitizing you to...more of itself, or the sun, or something else? The bottle of 'essential oil', is called Benzoin Liquid Resin Abs.'. StyraxBenzoin1 Bark Solvent Extraction origin Siam class:Multi I read what you wrote about it on your site, and would like to ask you now what I can do with all this tincture I made, and the (non)essential oil (in the clear glass bottle)? Is there any use for it at all, or is it worthless for anything? Thank you for your help, Sandra Benzoin is a powerful skin sensitiser and has in the past been discussed extensively on the newsgroups. There is a form that may be safe, but the massive problem is you can never be 100% certain what is being used. Even very large suppliers have been caught and sold what they were told was a safe version and it turned out not to be. Benzoin is NOT an essential oil. Benzoin oil in aromatherapy is rarely natural usually containing synthetic solvents. See an article on my website for more. Lastly you are ill advised to use anything containing unknown benzoin on your face. I have witnesses severe skin problems caused by its use. Martin Watt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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