The alarming increase in drug resistant bacterial strains has placed greater importance on the research and use of herbal medicine and nature has certainly provided us with some of the most powerful and diverse remedies. So come and join us for a walk through our garden and learn about the fascinating contributions natural ingredients make to our everyday well being and see exactly why we have chosen to use them in our Care. We will explore the healing properties of a select few of our more interesting ingredients below, so enjoy the stories and background of these as we go along…

Frankincense and Myrrh

Some of you may be familiar with these two precious resins mentioned in the biblical tale of three wise men. Three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, each as precious as the other, were brought over many miles to Bethlehem. Frankincense was a perfume and spiritual incense and myrrh was an anointing oil.

The sacred trees which produce the sap, were almost impossible to grow outside the Arabian peninsula and the shortage of supply made the sap more valuable than gold during the reign of Emperor Augustus of Rome. Noted in Chinese medicine, these two resins are used for their anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties in the composition of salves for wound and sore healing and also for relief from indigestion and chronic coughs. Myrrh has painkilling properties while frankincense has anti-arthritic effects.

Tagetes Minuta (common South African name is Khakibos)

This plant was inadvertently brought into South Africa, by the British in the early 1900s, as seeds mixed in with horse fodder. The name Khakibush (khakibos) was a reference to the khaki coloured uniforms worn by the British during the Anglo Boer War after they realised that the traditional red and white uniform provided little or no camouflage! It is part of the marigold family thus having the signature strong odor and was quickly found to be effective in the relief of respiratory ailments and both parasitic and fungal infections.

Tea Tree

Tea tree was named as such by Captain James Cook in 1770 who first brewed a spicy and refreshing tea, smelling of nutmeg, from the leaves of the naturally occurring trees when he arrived off the coast of Australia. Steaming the leaves resulted in an oil with extraordinary antiseptic, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. One of the few ingredients used worldwide for the relief of burns because of its anti inflammatory properties which may even assist in the prevention of blistering. Lahini Naturals Care contains a significant percentage of this oil because of its exceptional healing and soothing abilities.

Lavender

One of the most popular oils discovered almost 2500 years. It was used by the Egyptians both as a perfume and in the mummification process. Biblical references indicate that lavender oil was essential for healing and anointing during Roman times. Gentle on the skin but still having powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties while calming and soothing the senses.

Shea Butter

Shea butter has been used for centuries in Africa to relieve problems with hair and scalp as well as caring for the fragile sensitive skin of newborns. It is produced from the edible nut of the Karite tree grown predominantly in West Africa. The tree is takes about 50 years to mature and in traditional African religion, the fruit of the tree is sacred food for many. Destruction of any Shea tree is forbidden because of its economic and health benefits.

Lahini Care full ingredients list

Rosa Canina fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Emu Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree)Leaf Oil, D-Panthenol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado)Butter, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii(Shea Butter), Lavandula Angustifolia(Lavender) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba)Wax, Citrus Medica Limonum(Lemon)Peel Oil, Helichrysum Odoratissium, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower (Camomile) Oil, Tocopherols, Botswellia Carterii(Frankincense)Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Commiphora Myrrha Oil,Tagetes Minuta (Khakibos)