Re:Preservatives/Styrax benzoin-reply to Sandra

[Guest guest]

Sandra,

 

The question of which type of benzoin is terribly complicated. I had

many heated exchanges some years ago on IDMA with a well known

essential oils specialist who insisted there was a safe form and it

should be used. Only a few months ago I had a conversation with that

same person who told me that he had recently asked a large supplier

for the safe version, but when he analysed it they had sent the

unsafe benzoin resin. My point all along is if the big boys can't

rely on what they are supplied, how the heck can small aromatherapy

and herbal suppliers be expected to know what they are selling.

 

That is why my policy has always been " if you do not know, do not

use " .

 

I am not into banning things in general, but if I had the power I

would ban benzoin from all aromatherapy and herb courses and shops.

 

If the cream you were prescribed is a proper pharmaceutical

preparation it should in theory be safe for use as a medicinal

substance. However, please bear in mind that some of the old formulas

in the National pharmacopoeias can be reproduced without it being

required for their safety to be evaluated. I have even heard of

hospitals that are so ignorant they still use benzoin tincture on leg

ulcers. That is despite it being known for well over 50 years that

this stuff causes problems.

 

>When you say it's a sensitizer, what exactly is it sensitizing you<

It is causing a change in your immunological tissues in exactly the

same way as a vaccination. That means that any time in the future

people can get a bad reaction. However, the intensity of that

reaction varies enormously and some people will not be affected at

all. Anyone who has pre existing allergies is far more likely to

have an adverse reaction to benzoin.

 

>what I can do with all this tincture I made<

I would let the alcohol evaporate and use the residue in a candle

heated vaporiser. Otherwise I would chuck it on the garden and let

the bugs have a party on the alcohol:)

 

Martin

 

, " Sandra Cochrane " <san6@c...>

wrote:

> 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

[Guest guest]

Martin,

 

>>That is why my policy has always been " if you do not know, do not

use " .

>I am not into banning things in general, but if I had the power I

would ban benzoin from all aromatherapy and herb courses and shops.

 

This pretty much answers my question: I guess it will be going the same way

as my wintergreen oils, salves and tinctures :)I'm already

immune-compromised.

 

>It is causing a change in your immunological tissues in exactly the

same way as a vaccination. That means that any time in the future

..

 

>>what I can do with all this tincture I made<

>I would let the alcohol evaporate and use the residue in a candle

heated vaporiser.

 

I'm a little confused, maybe because I'm not understanding you right, but

since it's not good to use, would it be good to put in a vaporizer and

inhale, ingest that way?

 

Thank you for your advice,

sandra

[Guest guest]

Yes benzoin can be lovely as a room fragrance. The main issue is

skin sensitisation. You can get sensitisation from inhalation but it

is very rare indeed and unlikely unless it was used day in day out.

Martin

 

, " Sandra Cochrane " <san6@c...>

wrote:

> Martin,

>

> >>That is why my policy has always been " if you do not know, do not

> use " .

> >I am not into banning things in general, but if I had the power I

> would ban benzoin from all aromatherapy and herb courses and shops.

>

> This pretty much answers my question: I guess it will be going the

same way

> as my wintergreen oils, salves and tinctures :)I'm already

> immune-compromised.

>

> >It is causing a change in your immunological tissues in exactly the

> same way as a vaccination. That means that any time in the future

> .

>

> >>what I can do with all this tincture I made<

> >I would let the alcohol evaporate and use the residue in a candle

> heated vaporiser.

>

> I'm a little confused, maybe because I'm not understanding you

right, but

> since it's not good to use, would it be good to put in a vaporizer

and

> inhale, ingest that way?

>

> Thank you for your advice,

> sandra

[Guest guest]

funny you should mention that! Who sells Benzoin, I have the powder but don't

they sell it as an e/o as well?

?????

sindy

-

Re:Preservatives/Styrax benzoin-reply to Sandra

 

 

 

Yes benzoin can be lovely as a room fragrance.