Honey thread - from TBB and bits from old LHC

[firebird]

ktani, that makes sense. I was forgetting about the vitamin C in the orange juice. I am going to do another honey treatment in the next few days, will post the results.

[ktani]

Thanks firebird

It took me a while to reword that post to make it clear to me what exactly I was thinking about the information, from the research and your added information.

I look forward to reading your new results.

[ktani]

Cardamom was reported in the source on the peroxide level of spices, to have the highest level of all of the spices named.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=KZa8...Ot2tkeW4&hl=en

Cardamom can be an irritant too but it appears that it may be less of one than cinnamon.

Turmeric can yield a bright yellow colour and nutmeg has irritant propertis too.

See "Adverse Reactions" for nutmeg
"Allergy, contact dermatitis, and asthma have been reported..."
http://www.drugs.com/npp/nutmeg.html



Cardamom and skin

This is one of the 2 common types of cardamom
“Contact sensitivity to cardamom and to certain terpenoid compounds … in the dried seeds was reported …
No evidence has been presented of irritation from Oil of Cardamom in perfumes …” Note: A constituent of cinnamon oil is the major irritant reported but it is not peroxide.
http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/BotDermFolder/BotDermZ/ZING.html

Spice factory workers and skin irritation - cinnamon was found to be a common irritant. Half of the workers reported skin irritation symptoms from different spices.
“Irritant patch test reactions were seen from powders of cardamom …”
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0536.1993.tb03538.x?journalCode=cod

“cardamom. Terpene … major constituents … can be a skin irritant and sensitizer.”
http://www.paulaschoice.com.au/learn/dictionary.asp?keys=sensitizer&type=FIND

Cardamom may be a better choice than cinnamon as a honey lightening booster although again - caution is recommended.

"Contact dermatitis ... reported after single exposure and repeated use of cinnamon...." See "Adverse Reactions" Note: I have posted this link and information before - reports in this thread on the overuse of cinnamon and in the cinnamon thread support this information.
http://www.drugs.com/npp/cinnamon.html



Cardamom
"The two main genera of the ginger family that are named as forms of cardamom ...
Elettaria (commonly called cardamom, green cardamom, or true cardamom) ...
Amomum (commonly known as black cardamom, brown cardamom, Kravan, Java cardamom, Bengal cardamom, Siamese cardamom, white or red cardamom) ...."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamom

Cardamom safety from the source on the peroxide values of spices. Note: the reference is for theraputic doses, not topical use, specifically.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=8AJk...wF2Yfp1U&hl=en

Cardamom safety
See "Safety"
"No toxicity ... reported for cardamom ... care needs to be taken that the plant being used is cardamom ... not a substitute."
http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/..._medicine.html

[ktani]

I cannot stress enough or repeat too often IMO, that care be taken with ingredients that one is not familiar with for the use intended - please patch test and use carefully after thoroughly researching an ingredient's safety.

That said, I am reposting information on the traditional uses of cardamom.


Skincare and other uses for Cardamom

"... traditional uses of cardamom to treat skin conditions ... it has been used traditionally to treat areas of the body that have red-pigmentation." http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/cardamom_traditional_medicine.html

"Cardamom oil is aromatic with antibaterial properties ... used in cosmetics and chewing gums.
"Cardamon oil ... used in cosmetics because of its cooling properties ... easily incorporated into different solutions.
http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/cardamom_other_uses.html

See "Hand picked"
“The ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom to whiten their teeth and ... sweeten their breath.
Applied topically, cardamom .... used as an insect repellent."
http://pr.sv.net/aw/2006/January2006...h/pages002.htm

Cardamom essential oil, (which is much more concentrated than the oil you would get from the seeds normally) as with most essential oils, should not be used straight or undiluted, IMO.
Cardamom whole natural essential oil
http://www.libertynatural.com/msd/1914.htm

[ktani]

An interesting note on turmeric, IMO.

See "Chemistry"
"The major yellow pigment ... identified as curcumin"
See "Skin conditions"
"An in vitro study demonstrated protective effects of curcumin against hydrogen peroxide ... "
http://www.drugs.com/npp/turmeric.html


Even though turmeric is reported to have a high peroxide value, its yellow pigment curcumin, has been reported to work against hydrogen peroxide.

I think that it does this exactly the same way that Vitamin C does, and would cause its peroxide value and other peroxide it comes in contact with to be depleted under certain circumstances. Both curcumin and Vitamin C are antioxidants.

Honey does not produce hydrogen peroxide unless it is diluted. If a honey naturally contains Vitamin C, the peroxide produced on dilution oxidizes the Vitamin C and is depleted in doing so.

IMO, turmeric would not make a good or effective honey lightening booster. It would no doubt deplete the peroxide value of the recipe.

[ktani]

Black pepper is a known irritant and I do not recommend that it be used in any recipe for skin or hair.

However, a compound of black pepper together with synthetic derivatives is currently making the news because it helps stimulate skin pigmentation.
http://www.canada.com/topics/bodyandhealth/story.html?id=48bd4b6f-838c-4a4d-a267-f729c5f71da9

[brok3nwings]

Oh ktani i think im doing it all wrong! I did not know that the honey HAD to be diluted...what i´ve been doing is about 4 parts honey to about 2 parts conditioner (a heavy one) to not let the mix get into my face (i hate when that happens) so does this mean that the honey i put on my hair doesnt produce the peroxide?

[ktani]

brok3nwings

Most conditioners have some water in them but if your conditioner is thick and heavy, even if the honey was a little diluted - you might not get lightening, depending on the conditioner's ingredients.

Too many waxy type ingredients, ploymers and oils can interefere with the peroxide honey produces.

Aussie Cleanse and Mend is reported to be one such conditioner. Honey does not produce peroxide if it is not diluted.

Here is the post with the honey lightening basics.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...4&postcount=31

Here is a post that explains the 4 to 1 liquid to honey ratio - to get the maximum peroxide amount from honey in 1 hour.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...&postcount=391

And here is a link that has more information on the honey lightening treatment recommended method.
http://chatter.thebeautybottle.com/s...58&postcount=8

[ktani]

This is about ingesting cassia cinnamon.

I love the taste of cinnamon in food.

The cinnamon I buy at the grocery store here in Canada just says ground cinnamon - no species or plant name given - very helpful - not.

One nugget of information buried in the Wiki link on the differences between true cinnamon and cassia cinnamon is the difference in coumarin content. See "Cinnamon and cassia."

"All of the powdered cinnamon ... in supermarkets in the United States ... actually Cassia.
European health agencies have recently warned against consuming high amounts of cassia, due to ... toxic component .... coumarin.[1] This is contained in much lower dosages in Cinnamomum burmannii ... Coumarin ... known to cause liver and kidney damage in high concentrations. True Ceylon cinnamon has negligible amounts of Coumarin."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamo...mon_and_cassia

ETA: I am not the least bit shy about asking hard questions if I want to know something. I just ask nicely. I just got off the phone with the company that sells the cinnamon I buy. Even though their website says that cinnamon can be true cinnamon or cassia, the rep told me that their cinnamon is pure cassia cinnamon. Here is the interesting part.

The cassia cinnamon they get is monitored and only accepted if it contains between 10 parts per billion and 4 parts per million coumarin, under their quality control measures.
Nice to know that some companies are being responsible.

[ktani]

More on coumarin in food.

This site is well researched and may be of interest to anyone who wants to know more about spices.

According to the author, in Germany, coumarin in any type of food is limited to 2 parts per million. See "Main constituents"
http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Cinn_cas.html