Holiday Shows – Weekend #3

Brooklyn Craft Central Holiday Market – December 18, 11-6 + December 19, 11-5

Holiday Shows – Weekend #2

South Philly Handmade Brigade – December 11th, 11am – 6pm

The (Makers) Market at the Old American Can Factory – Ho (Holiday Market) – December 11 + 12, 11am – 5pm

Holiday Shows – Weekend #1

Holiday craziness has begun.  Fall craft shows are behind us and holiday shows are here sooner than it seemed possible.   We’ve got a lot of them coming up and it’s going to be a busy first weekend. We’re starting off our December with Art Shop (Dec 3 & 4) and Crafty Balboa (Dec 4) in Philadelphia, PA then heading up to Boston, MA for Bazaar Bizzare on Dec 5.   We’ve got a lot of new products this year – hope to see you soon!

-Lisa + Adly

Angelica archangelica

Monograph, Angelica archangelica

Latin Name: Angelica archangelica (Kingdom: Plantae, Division:
Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Apiates, Family:
Apiaceae/Umbelliferae, Genus: Angelica, Species: A. archangelica)

Common Names: Garden Angelica, Root of the Holy Ghost, Wild Parsnip, Wild Celery, Masterwort, European Angelica, Norwegian Angelica, Dead Nettle, Red Archangel, Bee Nettle, Archangel

Habitat/Cultivation: For best medicinal potency, prefers shady area in deep, moist slightly acid loam near running water. However, will grow in a variety of conditions. Seeds should be sown directly outdoors immediately after removal from the plant or, if absolutely necessary, stored in plastic in the refrigerator. Plant in the coolest part of the garden and avoid soggy soil. After flowering, the plant will not return. If the flowering stem is cut back, the plant will probably last for four years at most.

Range: Spread throughout Northern Europe, but also grow in the Alps and Pyrenees. Cultivated in Germany for mass production drug use but known as Angelica sativa, differing from the native species. (There are many American species, which are widespread, and it should be noted that of these, the fresh roots of A. atropurpurea should not be eaten because they are poisonous)

Description: Plant grows 5-6 feet high and 2-3 feet wide. It has square,
hairy stalks, dented bright green opposite leaves at the bottom of the stalk, round, pointed, hairy leaves towards the tops, and a strong fragrant smell. Flowers grow in rounded clusters and are greenish-white to yellow-cream colored. Roots have a grayish brown exterior, yellow-white interior, are not too thick, grow 2-4” long just under the soil. The roots are aromatic, sweet, spicy, and bitter. The seeds are oval with an ash color. They are aromatic and taste pungent, sweet, and bitter.

Time: Flowering starts in early Spring and continues through Summer.

History/Folklore: Believed to be native to Syria. Praised in antiquity for protection against contagion, purifying blood, and curing all infectious maladies and poisons. A. archangelica was associated with a Pagan festival in Couriand, Livonia, Pomerania, and East Prussia. Post
Christianity, A. archangelica was associated with the Annunication,
Archangel Raphael, Michael the Archangel, was believed to be a guard
against witchcraft and evil spirits, and was used as a counter active to
spells.

Parts Used: fruit, leaf, stem, rhizome, root

Food Uses: Flavors food and many different liqueurs. The seeds are used in alcoholic distillates. Oil of Angelica (from seeds) has also been used to flavor wine. Chopped leaves are eaten in salads and other dishes, and are used to neutralize acidity in sour fruits. Stems are eaten plain when young (celery tasting), candied, or used in jams. The fresh root contains a honey like aromatic fluid.

Medicinal Uses: Used for a wide variety of ailments, as a carminative,
diuretic, diaphoretic, stimulant, tonic, emetic, stomachic, and expectorant. Regulates menstruation, mood elevator, eases swelling, joint pain, used to heal wounds and ulcers, good for bruises and burns, given for typhoid states, chills, gout, chronic rheumatism, bronchitis, coughs, colds, pleurisy, colic, feverish conditions, flatulence, spasms, cystitis, and is useful in treating anorexia nervosa. Protects liver from oxidative stress, used to treat skin disorders.

Focusing on A. archangelica to treat respiratory and digestive/stomach disorders.
Action: The root is used to treat stomach disorders, including anorexia
nervosa, easing the digestive tract by stimulating the secretion of gastric
juices. Used as an aromatic and bitter tonic to treat dyspepsia. Angelicin,
one of angelica’s active coumarin and furanocoumarin constituents,
relaxes gastrointestinal, tracheal, vascular, and respiratory smooth
muscles when taken internally.

Toxicity: Should be avoided by people with heart problems and diabetics because it increases sugar in the urine. Should not be used during pregnancy. When using angelica as medicine, avoid excessive sun
exposure (due to coumarins, phototoxic). Furocoumarins in Angelica can also give some allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes and nausea.

Extraction Methods:
Fruit: 1-2g daily
Leaves: infusion, 1t 3x daily
dried infusion, 2-5g 3x daily
fluid extract, 1:1 in 25% alcohol, 1-5ml 3x daily
tincture, 1:5 in 45% alcohol, 2-5ml daily
Stems: Chewed
Stems and Roots: yellow juice dried and used
Root/Rhizome: fluid extract, 0.5-2ml 3x daily
tincture, 0.5-2ml 3x daily
essential oil, 10-20 drops daily
decoction with honey to make a syrup, 2T dose 3-4x daily
infusion of bruised root, 2T 3-4x daily
dried infusion, 1-2g 3x daily
Note: Shelf life for the cut or sliced root is 18 months maximum and 24
hours for the powdered root (www.herbalgram.org sites DAB-DDR, 1983; Meyer-Buchtela, 1999).

Constituents: bitter principles, tannin, resin, valeric acid, angelic acid,
linoleic acid, archangelenone (flavonoid), palmitic acid, caffeic and
chlorogenic acids, sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose, umbelliferose), coumarin
compounds, coumarins osthol (major constituent in rhizome/root),
umbelliferone, root contains furanocoumarins, volatile oils: 0.35-1.3% in
the root and fruit (80-90% are monoterpenes, including phellandrene, pinene, sabinene, thujene, limonene, linalool, borneol, and four macrocyclic lactones)

Standardization: “German pharmacopeial grade angelica root consists of the whole dried rhizome and roots of Angelica archangelica L., carefully dried at below 40 C. It must not contain less than 0.25% volatile oil with reference to the dried drug. It may contain no more than 5% stem and leaf fragments and no more than 5% discolored components. Botanical identity must be confirmed with thin-layer chromatography, macroscopic and microscopic examinations, and organoleptic evaluation. Additionally, a test for adulteration with Levisticum officianle is required. The Austrian Pharmacopeia requires no less than 0.3% volatile oil…the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia requires it to be harvested in Autumn and that it should not contain less than 30% water soluble extractive…the German Drug Codex also requires not less than 30% extractive.” (excerpt taken from www.herbalgram.org/youngliving/expanded commissione/he001.asp)

Bibliography:
Culpeper, The Complete Herbal
Felter, M.D., Harvey Wickes and Lloyd, John Uri, Phr.M., Ph.D., King’s
American Dispensatory

http://www.botanical.com

http://gardenguides.com

http://botany.com

http://www.ncbi.nlm.gov,

Harmala P, Vuorela H, Tornquist K, Hiltunen R, “Choice of solvent in the extraction of Angelica archangelica roots with reference to calcium
blocking activity”
Yeh ML, Liu, CF, Huang, CL, Huang TC, “Hepatoprotective effect of
Angelica archangelica in chronically ethanol treated mice”
Ojala T, Vuorela P, Kiviranta J, Vuorela H, Hiltunen R, “A bioassay using
Artemia salina for detecting phototoxicity of plant coumarins.”

http://www.questhealthlibrary.com

http://www.ann.com.au

http://www.herbalgram.org

http://www.medicinescomplete.com

http://www.herbmed.org

http://www.bibliomania.com

http://www.henriettesherbal.com

http://www.phtytotherapies.org

Monograph Mondays

Fall is definitely my favorite time of year.  Something about the cool air motivates me to get organized and start new projects.  I’ve been wanting to write more and expand the content of this blog for a while now but I haven’t been terribly motivated to do it.  So I came up with Monograph Mondays so that I can (hopefully) begin posting at least once a week.  It’s not that I don’t like posting about soap and new products all the time.  Wait.  Yes it is.  Don’t get me wrong – I do like posting about soap stuff, just not all the time.  Anyway,  writing about herbs and all the amazing things they do is way more interesting for me.  (I hope it is for you.)  Plus, I get to review notes, crack the books again, and share information at the same time.   I’m starting this series with Angelica archangelica – one of my most favorite herbs of all time.

I’m Gonna Wash That

Soap for your hair?!  Yup.

How to use all-natural soap for your hair: Lather soap directly on your hair or in your hand.  Rinse.  Follow with your normal conditioner or a diluted vinegar rinse (I use a capful of cider vinegar to one cup of water) to leave your hair soft and shining. The first couple of times you use all-natural soap and vinegar in place of shampoo and conditioner, your hair will feel limp and might lie a little flat but that effect will pass. It’s because your hair is used to all that extra build up left by whatever chemicals are in your typical shampoo.

LA Bucket Brigade

From here on out, every time a bar of Fisherman soap is sold, we’ll donate $2 to the Louisiana Bucket Brigade.  Below is an excerpt from their, “about us,” page but please visit their website to find out more about this wonderful organization working for clean air, justice, and sustainability.

MISSION STATEMENT & PURPOSE

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade is a 501(c)(3) environmental health and justice organization working with communities that neighbor the state’s oil refineries and chemical plants. The EPA-approved “bucket” is a simple, community friendly tool that fenceline neighbors use to take air samples. We complement the community group by adding a level of technical expertise to their work. We provide this tool and training to community members to monitor and expose industrial pollution as it happens. We assist residents in their fight to reduce pollution and protect public health. We work with community groups to help them take air samples and achieve their goals, be it relocation away from a polluting facility, reduced pollution, or a moratorium on facility expansions. The more evidence the communities gather, the more power they have to attain their goals.

Taking air samples is a powerful experience for community members who are used to being ignored, overlooked, and disrespected by corporations and government. Dorothy Jenkins, President of Concerned Citizens of New Sarpy, used to call the refinery to complain about the odors. A low ranking operator would tell her not to worry, that the black plume of smoke that billowed for hours near her home was not harmful. Now Mrs. Jenkins has a bucket. When refinery managers and government regulators tell her that there is nothing to worry about, she answers, “Why, then, was there a benzene reading of 14 in my air sample, a reading that violates the state standards?” The bucket gives community members power to hold institutions accountable to provide a safe and healthy environment.

Hoist Up the John B Sails

Fisherman soap has hit the sails for the Independence Seaport Museum Gift Shop.  How cool is that?!  If you haven’t been before, the Independence Seaport Museum is totally worth a visit – learn all about the history of Philadelphia’s seaport, trade, sailing, and Philly pirates or learn how to build your own boat in just two weekends.   We’re super excited to be included in such an interesting part of Philadelphia history.  Stay tuned for some custom nautical products to fill the depth of hold, made exclusively for Philadelphia mates.  Lost At Sea Bath Salts?  Mermud Facial Mask?  Feel free to anchor your comments below with your best maritime-themed bath and body ideas and/ or suggestions.

 

Easy Being Green

Ages ago, when I worked at the Black Cat (RIP) in University City, E. (buyer/ gm) bought all of our office paper from a Pennsylvania based green online office supply store.  When I started Volta Soap, I opted to order from them, too.  GreenLine Paper Company sells everything you might need for an office – only green.  We’re not the biggest customers – we usually buy a couple packs of 100% PCW recycled cover stock and some Peace Coffee every few months or so.  I like ordering from GreenLine for a couple reasons – the eco products, of course, but also the fact that they’re so close makes me feel better about having recycled paper shipped to me.  (Not to mention the fact that I place an order and it almost immediately arrives on my stoop in recycled packaging material!)

Today I have a whole new reason to keep ordering from GreenLine Paper Company.  This morning I got an email that their delivery truck is coming my way soon and if I wanted them to bring me anything while they’re close by to let them know.  Who does that anymore?  I love that they’re not just playing the green eco friendly card to get my business.  Experiences like this make me remember why it’s important to support local, small businesses – because it’s not just about the money, it’s about providing a service to your community.  Thanks, S., for making my day.

Guest Post At Handmade Philly Blog

Two weekends ago I was given a pair of complimentary tickets to the Sugarloaf Festival in Oaks, PA, courtesy of Handmade Philly blog.  Check it out.
Coincidentally, Volta Organics was accepted to vend at the Sugarloaf Festival in Gaithersburg, MD from April 9-11.  If you’re local, please come check us out!