Avocados are the fruit from the Persea americana tree, which is native to warm climates such as those found in Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, although they are also grown in California and Florida as well. The fruit will only ripen once it has been picked from the tree. Oil can be pressed from the fruit, and natural avocado oil is both edible as well as used in body care products such as massage oil.

There are both color and scent differences between refined and unrefined avocado oil that you will want to know about before you buy avocado oil. Refined avocado oil has no scent and is pale gold in color. Unrefined avocado oil has a deep green to brown color and does have a strong scent. Refined oil is sometimes preferred for facial lotions and skin moisturizing treatments because it is odor free, but both work well for smoothing and keeping the skin supple.

Read the rest of this entry »

Although “pumpkinâ€� comes from the Greek word pepon – meaning “melonâ€� – pumpkins are not Greek, nor melons. Although they are now grown in many parts of the world, the pumpkin is a North American native and a member of the squash family.

Because pumpkins are usually ripe and ready for harvest in October and November, pumpkin pie has become a tradition during fall holidays. Not only is its nutty, sweet flavor excellent for pies and other pastries, pumpkin is also an excellent source of lutein and beta carotene (which gives pumpkins their characteristic orange color). In addition, a recent study in China suggests that consuming pumpkin may help mitigate some of effects of diabetes (from the London Daily Telegraph, 9 July 2007).

Read the rest of this entry »

October Lavender Sale

We’re having a lavender sale! For the month of October, the following items are 10% off our already fantastic prices:

• Whole Extra & Select Lavender Flowers – Both Organic & Conventionally Grown
• Organic Lavender Dryer Bags
• Lavender Essential Oils – Both Organic & Conventional
• Lavender Hand & Body Lotion
• Lavender Aromatherapy Touch-ons
• Lavender Flower Water

Be sure to visit our SPECIALS page for other great deals and discounts on herbal products!

Astragalus root is a widely known medicinal herb that has long been a staple of Chinese herbal medicine. Practitioners of Chinese medicine have used this powerful root to stimulate and strengthen the immune system. Astragalus herb is thought to help keep your immune system healthy so it fights off free radicals and diseases. More recently, the use of the herb is catching on with practitioners of alternative medicine in the rest of the world.

The Astragalus root, otherwise known as astragalus membranaceous, is thought to be a powerful herbal supplement. Astragalus root comes from a perennial plant of the pea family which grows in northern China and Mongolia. As an herbal remedy, it has been used for literally thousands of years in China for therapeutically healing. Hard to believe something so small can hold such big benefits.

Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t miss out on the monthly special offered by Starwest Botanicals!

For September we have the following specials offers:

• 10% off Starwest Organic GreenPower Blend – Organic GreenPower Blend
• 10% off Starwest Press-N-Brew Tea Bags – Starwest Press-N-Brew Tea Bags
• 10% off Certified Organic Sprouting Seeds
• 15% off Auromere Ayurvedic Toothpaste & Soap Products
• 15% off Chandrika Ayurvedic Soap
• 15% off Grandpa’s Soaps Full Line of Products

Take advantage of these special deals Today!

Be to check our special board each month for great deals.

Chia seeds, otherwise known as Salvia hispanica, have long been thought to be a super food due to its many vitamins and minerals. While these seeds might seem tiny, they pack a real antioxidant punch and are especially rich in omega-3 fatty acid, necessary in keeping your body healthy and free of harmful free radicals and toxins.

Chia seeds get their health potential from the fact they are loaded with boron, calcium, minerals, fiber and vitamins. It doesn’t stop there either since they are also great sources of protein and amino acids.
Many herbalists and everyday people believe they are the perfect food thanks to these many health benefits. It isn’t surprising to see how, either.

Read the rest of this entry »

Feverfew herb is a delightful short-lived perennial plant with bright chartreuse or yellow leaves and wonderful tiny flowers that look like miniature Shasta daisies with a bright yellow center and white rays. This herb is known by the Latin botanical name of Tanacetum parthenium, although it also has the common names of featherfew, Santa Maria and wild chamomile. Although it has a small daisy-like flower similar to the chamomile flower, the chamomile flower is conical in shape in the central yellow portion of the flower whereas the feverfew flower is flat. Ferverfew herb was originally native to Eurasia, but is now commonly found worldwide, likely because it is self fertile and due to its propensity to reseed freely.

Read the rest of this entry »

Everyday there are new ways of helping our bodies deal with infections and other problems. Herbal remedies for various conditions are constantly being discovered. Used appropriately, herbal remedies, such as slippery elm bark extract, can speed up the process of our bodies healing themselves and fighting off harmful free radicals.

The slippery elm herb comes from the bark of elm trees which grow throughout North America. The tree has been utilized in a number of ways, including canoe making, as a food preservative, as a source of survival food during the Revolutionary War and as a medicine. The inner bark of the slippery elm tree is a strong and durable fiber, which can be spun into thread, twine or rope. It was once used for bowstrings, ropes, jewelry, clothing, snowshoe bindings, woven mats, and even in some musical instruments.

Read the rest of this entry »

Body lotion and creams offer many benefits for the long-term health of your skin. Applied regularly to various parts of the body after taking a bath or before going to bed, they help to keep your skin smooth and soft. Skin may become rough or suffer from signs of premature aging without proper attention to its regular care.

Skin care products that contain alcohols, mineral oil, and fragrances are not good for our skin health. For these reasons, Starwest body lotions contain only natural ingredients that offer long-lasting benefits while helping you to to avoid complications and adverse effects.

The Natural Solution – Make your Own Lotion!

Using Starwest’s natural unscented lotion and escentual fragrance oils, you can make the perfect lotion scented to your own unique tastes. Also, many of our natural essential oils can be used in place of the fragrance oils.

We suggest starting with an 8 oz bottle of unscented lotion, and mixing in one of our 24 lovely fragrance oils two drops at a time, until the strength of the scent is right for you.

10% off Starwest Escentual Fragrance & Massage Oils

Starwest Escentual Fragrance Oils are an aromatic blend of natural and synthetic oils that are perfect for adding to unscented lotions or soaps, or to use with any of our Aromatherapy diffusers. Blended with only the finest oils and fragrances, Starwest Escentual Massage Oils are designed to enrich and enliven one’s skin..

Starwest Escentual Fragrance & Massage Oils