Articles

By David Crow, L.Ac.

Introduction
We are entering a period in history when human health will be seriously challenged. If the destructive trends of rapid global warming, accelerating loss of biodiversity, widespread pollution and degradation of ecosystems, deepening poverty, malnutrition, and political instability are not reversed, all forms of medicine will become increasingly ineffective, unaffordable, and unavailable. For large populations in many parts of the world, this future has already arrived.
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By David Crow, L.Ac.

(Published in Maui Vision, Oct. ‘04)

There are deep and mysterious relationships among the soil, water, sunlight, and air, and the bodies of plants that absorb and transform these elements. There are wondrous alchemies in the transmutation of these elements by plants into foods, medicines, and fragrances.

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By David Crow, L.Ac.

(Published in Yogi Times, Oct. ‘04)

Lavender is one of the most well-known, versatile, and extensively used essential oils in the world. When we use lavender essential oil we receive the blessings of the feminine, because lavender could be described as an angel of healing from the floral realm, and an expression of the earths compassion.

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By David Crow, L.Ac.

(Published in Yogi Times, Nov. ‘04)

The next time you stop to smell a rose, imagine that its deep, rich floral fragrance is a gift from nature to your heart and soul. In her generosity, the earth has blessed us with over five thousand varieties of this beautiful flower. However, only a few give the world-renowned treasure sought by perfumers: the oil of rose.

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By David Crow, L.Ac.

(Published in Yogi Times, Dec. ‘04)

Over two thousand years ago, three sages made their way across the desert, following celestial signs. Among the various gifts they carried for the newly incarnated Avatar was a collection of resinous tears, one of the most sacred substances and valued medicines of the time. Ever since then, frankincense has been remembered as a fragrance associated with the Christian holidays.

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By David Crow, L.Ac.

Introduction

Frankincense and myrrh are without a doubt the worlds two most important resins. Although other resins, such as pine resin, copal, styrax, and dragon blood have played important roles in ethnobotanical medicine, none have been as widely distributed and universally utilized, as economically important, or so highly regarded. This paper presents an overview of these valuable trees and the history, culture, and some of the medical uses of their resins.

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By David Crow, L.Ac.

Until now, all the articles in this series have focused on beautiful, exotic, rare, and tantalizing flowers, fragrances, and essential oils. But the plant realm is full of many mysteries and surprises, and some of the most effective remedies are found in common weeds. This month we feature two aromatic herbs that are so unobtrusive and humble they could easily be overlooked, yet they contain remarkable healing powers that make them superior among the vast selection of natural medicines.

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By David Crow, L.Ac.

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The objective of this article is twofold. The first is to introduce the fifteen sub-doshas as described by Ayurvedic medicine, which are the anatomical and physiological subdivisions of the three primary doshas of vata, pitta, and kapha. The second is to describe the categories of essential oils that are related to each of the sub-doshas. By describing the functions of each sub-dosha and then correlating essential oils that have direct therapeutic effects on that sub-dosha, we gain an understanding of how the oils affect interrelated systems of organs, channels, and tissues, and therefore know the strengths and weaknesses of using aromatherapy and aromatic plants for different conditions.

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By David Crow, L.Ac.

I
A Short Timeline of Roses

Thirty-five million years ago: Fossil records indicate the first appearance of roses.

3000 BCE: The first cultivation of roses. Ancient China and Persia are historically believed to be the regions where roses were first cultivated.

1000 BCE: The earliest known written reference to roses growing in a garden is a Sumerian record found at the Mesopotamian city of Ur, in what is now Iraq.

69-30 BCE: Cleopatra carpets the floor of her palace with rose petals.

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