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Note: Chery Lin Skin Therapy does not use Rosewood, Sandalwood essential oils or Arnica Montana extracts in any preparation or product.
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For updated information about the ingredients Chery Lin Skin Therapy refuses to use, please go to What I don't use and why.
Under EU Regulations [Amendment 38 Article 1, Point 6 A (new), Annex 3 - Part 1 (Directive 76/768/EEC)] it is proposed that some chemicals found in essential oils are listed as sensitisers. They are Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Cinnamyl, Citral, Courmarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Anise alcohol, Benzyl cinnamate, Citronellol, Farnesol, d-Limonen, Linalool. In practice, these chemicals are present in such minute quantities usually less than 0,0001 per cent in leave-on products such as creams and less than 0,01 per cent in rinse-off products such as shampoos. For information I have included them here and are listed under each product. Further information can be found in the article below.
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I have tried to create harmonious skin care using natural ingredients. I believe that nature provided us with everything we need to create healthy, protecting skincare. For this reason I decided to grow some of the plants I use in my preparations. Having organically grown my own vegetables for some time I had experimented with biodynamic gardening. I wanted grow quality produce which possessed vitality and the greatest flavour. The results have been amazing. Last year I produce nearly twice as much produce from the plants I grew using biodynamic principles. It should be noted however, that as a vegetarian I do not embrace the whole practice. I do not use animal manure, horn preparations or make ashes from insect pests for example. Instead I prepare my own nettle and comfrey feeds, my own compost and sow, maintain and harvest according to the rhythms of the planets and phases of the moon.
All life processes on earth are influenced by the rhythms of the planets, sun and moon with the constellations of the zodiac working through these. The planets, sun and moon in turn pass on their own properties to the plants through the elements of warmth (fire), air, water and earth.
Biodynamic agriculture recognise that the plant is bound with the life of the soil and that the soil should be alive and vital. However, the plants growth is also influenced by planetary influences. From the beginning of the process through to the harvesting and storing, it is important to note the right time for each stage. The sowing time, for example, exerts the strongest influence. Planting out or moving a plant is also important as this can enhance or weaken the impulse which the seed received at sowing stage. Even before sowing, it is important to prepare the soil at the right time as this opens up the earth to planetary and zodiac influences which can enhance growth. Harvest time is also critical depending on what is being harvested, for example seeds or parts of the plant which is to be used for sowing or propagation for next years crop, will be weak or sickly if harvested at a time of unfavourable cosmic conditions.
The sun, moon and planets all influence the weather using the elements of warmth, air, water and earth. The weather effects the best times to grow and harvest crops. For example, favourable sowing days for leaf growth (lettuce or leafy herbs for example) always tend to be damp as these ‘leaf days’ have the greatest moisture or highest rainfall of the month, or favourable sowing days for root growth (potatoes, carrots) always tend to be cold or cool. Such weather observations demonstrate that the elements should be assigned to different parts of the plant. As the moon passes every two to four days from one constellation to another, the character of cosmic influence changes. So water, for example, changes to warmth. As three constellations are assigned to each element, known as trigons, it is roughly every nine days the moon reaches the same group again.
To decide the best time for sowing, maintaining, harvesting and storing, therefore, we must known which part of the plant we want to harvest. With carrots for example, it is the root that is of importance so sowing should take place on a ‘root day’. Years of research have established four broad categories, as follows:
Flower days
Flower plants are sown, tended, cultivated, cut and harvested on flower days. They include flowers of all kind, broccoli, bulb plants and many medicinal plants.
Fruit days
Fruit plants are sown, planted, hoed, cultivated, harvested and stored on fruit days. Fruits include fruits and berries, beans, courgettes, cucumber, peas, peppers, pumpkins and tomatoes.
Leaf days
Leaf plants are sown, planted and tended on leaf days. However, leaf vegetables for storing are harvested on flower days. Plants include cabbage, cauliflower, leafy herbs and lettuce.
Root days
Root days should be chosen for sowing, transplanting, hoeing, harvesting and storing. Plants include beetroot, carrots, garlic, onions, potatoes and swede.
Biodynamic agriculture is based on the original ideas and recommendations of Rudolf Steiner, which he presented in a series of lectures to farmers and gardeners in 1924. It is the oldest non-chemical agricultural movement and predates the organic agricultural movement by 20 years. The work has been further developed and researched over many years by Maria and Matthias Thun.
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