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Apollo Herbs’
Since ancient times, the olive tree has been valued
throughout many civilizations. A famous story from Greek
mythology tells how Athena and Poseidon were said to
have vied for control of Athens, each wishing to name
the city after themselves. Zeus ordered the contest to
take place on the Acropolis with the gods and the
citizens of Athens to judge. Poseidon struck the rock
with his trident and produced a salt spring, creating a
sea. But Athena, by touching her spear to the rock,
brought forth an olive tree from the ground. Athena was
proclaimed the victor and Athens was named in her
honor. The moment of her triumph was immortalized in
stone on the west pediment of her great temple, the
Parthenon.
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anger at losing, flooded the Thriasian plain, but he was
appeased and continued to be worshipped in Athens, where
his beautiful temple was built on the Acropolis, just
across from the Parthenon. It was said that the marks of
the blow of his trident could still be seen, and nearby
the olive tree that Athena had produced continued to
grow. The importance of the olive tree in both Greek
economy and culture is symbolized by Athena’s victory,
and its importance today is as great as ever. |
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Herbal
Oils |
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Olea europea) |
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Apollo Herbs herbal
oils are made from extra virgin olive oil. "Extra virgin"
indicates that the first pressing of freshly harvested
olives are used, providing a golden-yellow color and the
best flavor. The olives are pitted, ground to a pulp, and
cold-pressed. The juices are centrifuged, separating the
water from the oil, which comprises about thirty percent of
the juice. Olive oil contains mostly monounsaturated fatty
acids, which have been shown to have a beneficial effect on
blood cholesterol levels when taken in place of saturated
fats, by helping to decrease low density lipoprotein or LDL
levels (bad cholesterol) without affecting high density
lipoprotein or HDL levels (good cholesterol) or triglyceride
levels. Olive oil has been used since ancient times to heal
wounds because of its vulnerary and emollient properties.
Olive oil contains mainly oleic and linoleic acids, as well
as vitamin E, which is an anti-oxidant which prevents the
formation of free radicals which damage cell membranes and
can contribute to skin aging as well as to certain skin
diseases. Olive oil is often used externally to moisturize
and treat dry skin. It is not as greasy as some of the
heavier vegetable oils. Extra virgin olive oil is a superb
menstruum for extracting the healing properties of herbs and
is our oil of choice for making external herbal
preparations. The herbs are macerated in the olive oil and
extracted by applying heat. After straining off the herbs,
the hot oil is cooled and poured into bottles. Herbal oils
are easily spreadable and readily absorbent into the skin,
providing lubrication, protection, and healing properties to
the applied area. |
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