Natural and Organic products Expo. 2007.

Natural and Organic Products Expo. 2007.

The Pure and Organic Expo was in Cape Town at the amazing International Convention Centre.

People were coming from all over southern Africa, there where all kinds of yummy things to eat and drink for free!

That’s what people wanted!

We were three of the members of Phyto trade, that had been lucky enough to be invited and it was a real experience.

I will be back tomorrow with more info.

Vee xx

The History of Soap

Early History

Soapnut Tree (Reeta / Sapindus tree)
The earliest known use of a natural soap-like substance was the powder of the Reeta(Sapindus) nut, which was used by Indians since antiquity. Hindus in India were obliged to bathe at least once a day, every morning, in accordance with Ayurveda. Evidence of manufactured soap use are Babylonian clay cylinders dating from 2800 BC containing a soap-like substance. A formula for soap consisting of water, alkali and cassia oil was written on a Babylonian clay tablet around 2200 BC.
The Ebers papyrus (Egypt, 1550 BC) indicates that ancient Egyptians bathed regularly and combined animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts to create a soap-like substance. Egyptian documents mention that a soap-like substance was used in the preparation of wool for weaving.

Roman History
It is commonly reported that a soap factory with bars of scented soap was found in the ruins of Pompeii (79 AD). However, this has proved to be a misinterpretation of the survival of some soapy mineral substance, [citation needed] probably soapstone at the Fullonica where it was used for dressing recently cleansed textiles. Unfortunately this error has been repeated widely and can be found in otherwise reputable texts on soap history. The ancient Romans were generally ignorant of soap's detergent properties, and made use of the strigil to scrape dirt and sweat from the body. The word "soap" (Latin sapo) appears first in a European language in Pliny the Elder's Historia Naturalis, which discusses the manufacture of soap from tallow and ashes, but the only use he mentions for it is as a pomade for hair; he mentions rather disapprovingly that among the Gauls and Germans men are likelier to use it than women.[1]
A story encountered in some places claims that soap takes its name from a supposed "Mount Sapo" where ancient Romans sacrificed animals. Rain would send a mix of animal tallow and wood ash down the mountain and into the clay soil on the banks of the Tiber. Eventually, women noticed that it was easier to clean clothes with this "soap". The location of Mount Sapo is unknown, as is the source of the "ancient Roman legend" to which this tale is typically credited.[1] In fact, the Latin word sapo simply means "soap"; it was borrowed from a Celtic or Germanic language, and is cognate with Latin sebum, "tallow", which appears in Pliny the Elder's account. Roman animal sacrifices usually burned only the bones and inedible entrails of the sacrificed animals; edible meat and fat from the sacrifices were taken by the humans rather than the gods. Animal sacrifices in the ancient world would not have included enough fat to make much soap. The legend about Mount Sapo is probably apocryphal.

Arab History
The Arabs made soap from vegetable oil such as olive oil and some aromatic oils such as thyme oil. Lye (Al-Soda Al-Kawia) was used for the first time, and the formula hasn't changed from the current soap sold in the market. From the beginning of the 7th century, soap was produced in Nablus (West Bank,Palestine), Kufa (Iraq) and Basra (Iraq). Soaps, as we know them today, are descendants of historical Arabian Soaps. Arabian Soap was perfumed and colored, some of the soaps were liquid and others were hard. They also had special soap for shaving. It was commercially sold for 3 Dirhams (0.3 Dinars) a piece in 981 AD. Al-Razi ’s manuscript contains recipes for soap. A recently discovered manuscript from the 13th century details more recipes for soap making; e.g. take some sesame oil, a sprinkle of potash, alkali and some lime, mix them all together and boil. When cooked, they are poured into molds and left to set, leaving hard soap.
Historically, soap was made by mixing animal fats with lye. Because of the caustic lye, this was a dangerous procedure (perhaps more dangerous than any present-day home activities) which could result in serious chemical burns or even blindness. Before commercially-produced lye (sodium hydroxide) was commonplace, potash, potassium hydroxide, was produced at home for soap making from the ashes of a hardwood fire.
Castile soap was produced in Europe as early as the 16th century.

Modern History

1922 magazine advertisement for Palmolive Soap
In modern times, the use of soap has become universal in industrialized nations due to a better understanding of the role of hygiene in reducing the population size of pathogenic microorganisms. Manufactured bar soaps first became available in the late nineteenth century, and advertising campaigns in Europe and the United States helped to increase popular awareness of the relationship between cleanliness and health. By the 1950s, soap had gained public acceptance as an instrument of personal hygiene.
Rarely, conditions allow for corpses to naturally turn in to a soap-like substance, such as the Soap Lady on exhibit in the Mutter Museum.

when is a soap not a soap?? when its a moisture bar.

Well the years dashed past, the soaps were becoming more and more professional-great grand mother Esprancia Isabella would have been so proud!

1.Body milk for the intense heat of the day. mixing all kinds of wonderful herbs and butters and essential oils. The workshop's perfumery floated up and down the little road. Word was getting around that some interesting herbal remedies were being brewed here!
2. lip and feet butter for the dry areas with Mafura and olive butter and eventually the piece de resistance...
3. The African botanical treatment cream. Mixing this was a dream. I found a chemist to help me as well, too much for my little round brain to expand on tens of kilos instead of kilos!

Then the sad day came-"Enough "said C," its time to stop playing and messing about, you have to stop giving people what you are making and start selling it...otherwise we will be out on the street."

So there the Olive Workshop was born. its fun though to see someones eyes light up, after months of exhaustion and lack of sleep when they carefully try some of the gel or cream on their raw hands. "It feels like cold cream," said Mrs M " straight from the dairy, smells like the forest, its delicious!"

We feel so good, that we have been able to help people as best we can.

Its one of the best feelings in the world. THe old fashioned feeling of pure selfless giving of ones best to help people in pain.

Kigelia (sausage tree) and Olive Gel. Olive and Botanicals!

Hello...

I thought I would tell you about my pots of Kigelia(sausage tree) and Olive Gel...there are a lot of good products out there. I am proud to position my little gel pots along the side of other good products-just for people who would like to try something with Olive butter and organic glycerin instead.

How to use it for the relief of eczema and psoriasis:· Apply thrice a day, sparingly, to affected areas. · Gently rub the cream in until it is absorbed into the skin. · Persevere, it can take at least ten days, times vary a lot, depending on the severity of the skin disorder.

If the psoriasis does not show any sign of response, consider using Cream made with (African Potato Tuber) at the same time. The combination is good for stubborn psoriasis.
Kigelia and Olive can be used on childhood eczema, even babies. …on acne (both acne vulgaris and the odd pimple)- Apply regularly with washed hands- Kigelia and Olive will help any acne scarring…on cold sores. Use when the tingling that precedes the cold sore is first felt.
If the cold sore develops, apply small amounts every hour throughout the day until the sore heals.
Kigelia and Olive will help to lessen any scarring that may result.…on verrucas, viral warts, cuts, stings and burns.
Apply regularly (at the very least twice a day) and try, if possible, to apply every hour or so until the skin has healed.
Please read carefully-We always recommend a patch test, as with everything that goes onto the skin.

Disclaimer-African medicinal wisdom speaks for itself, and we are passing on to you our clients and families experiences.

We would suggest that you consult your doctor for advice on any worries you may have. Absolutely no official claims are made herein concerning total cures.

hey this is fun! soaps and all.....strong coffee strong thoughts!

There was a time in the world that people thought the human race was invinciable.

hell they really thought the world owed them a living!

Now comes the time for payback. The world is running out of time....when you are at the super market and the rows and rows of soap suds and commercial specials are shouting from the intercom think carefully of your choices...don't go into the shop unless you are focused. It's not the fifties now-people are not stupid and they know a lot about chemicals. Lets spend a bit of time looking at chemicals in our soaps and the things we put on our skin...did you know that 65% of what ever goes on your skin is absorbed into it! Its from the basic washing soap for clothes to the paint thinners you accidentally brush on your skin after painting the kitchen wall!
Think ladies...its vital that you choice a soap that is pure. Even if you don't buy our pure extra virgin olive oil soap, its the purity of soap that is vital for your family. Forget the multi nationals, they have the poor souls that don't have any choices to buy their nasty (I did not say nasty, did I?) cheap soap made with soap pellets from the middle eastern child labour factories... we want to look for good soaps, even if you stick to your best supermarket soap-Pears-this is the best from the supermarket and I would not buy any other. GO out to the craft markets and health shops and look for pure soaps. There are some.

Now I better go and make some lunch for the hungry brood working here.
take care and see you later we will pick up the thread then... ceo, Vee!

The african botanical range - birthing of a product.

Here we were sitting in the middle of an olive grove after looking at umpteenth small business‘s with no success in finding anything reasonable to get our teeth into.

“C shot his arms up in excitement, what about the olives,” he said.

I said “what? What olives?” We are surrounded by olives and there must be something we can do with them? Funny enough there is I thought, we could make soap the ol’spanish way.

So whilst he finished off our little cottage I began to re establish and practice my soap making skills- various pots were brought out, but they had to be stainless steel and nothing else would do. The first batches were very interesting, mushy golden soup and burnt yellow custard was sitting at the kitchen table for C instead of his supper.

Words were few in the early months.

Now I must go to bed as it’s the magic hour and I will continue this tomorrow! Well today…later…

The cows are mooing already and the crickets have stopped cricking so it must be late!!

Ciao

Vee XXX