Vanilla Frankincense Balm with Shea Butter - Intensive Total Skin Care

Pierre Black's INTENSIVE CARE Frankincense & Vanilla Healing Balm 50g

Back by popular demand, the luxurious scent of real organic vanilla essential oil and wild harvested Indian black frankincense combined in a silky shea butter balm. You asked for a larger size - so here its is. Formulated with only the finest medicinal and aromatic ingredients for real effects and an incredible scent.

I don’t take any short cuts on ingredient quality! Only the best ingredients are packed into this product!

Many natural products on the market for intensive skin care and healing are not made with completely natural ingredients or do not have enough of the right ingredients to actually have a medicinal effect. My INTENSIVE CARE Frankincense & Vanilla Healing Balm is packed with real, powerful medicinals that actually work!

Click Here to order Pierre Black's INTENSIVE CARE Frankincense & Vanilla Healing Balm

ORGANIC VANILLA essential oil

Many people don’t realize that vanilla is not just a delicious aroma for the kitchen but also a powerful medicine. It has been used traditionally to speed skin healing, rejuvenate the skin, calm and sooth the nervous system, as a powerful anti-inflammatory, and to promote healthy respiration, sleep, and liver function.

The Power of FRANKINCENSE

Frankincense is one of the most revered medicines of the ancient world. While its sacred and evocative scent has wafted through temples and sacred sites across cultures and around the world for all of recorded history, it has also served as a medicine for mind and body. The aroma is psychoactive, having a measurable effect on brain frequency, promoting calm and focus, and a sense of wellbeing. It is also said to improve memory and “wisdom”. Frankincense applied to the skin is a powerful antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and promotes accelerated healing and rejuvenation.

ORGANIC SHEA BUTTER

Shea butter is a creamy oil that has been extracted from nut of the African shea tree. High concentrations of beneficial fatty acids and nutrients make shea butter an ideal base ingredient for skin care products. Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and skin healing properties, low comedogenicity, and a natural SPF 5+. Best of all it feels amazing on your skin; soothing, protecting, and nourishing needy skin with nothing artificial.

HOW TO USE

Pierre Black's INTENSIVE CARE Frankincense & Vanilla Healing Balm

Apply Pierre Black's INTENSIVE CARE Frankincense & Vanilla Healing Balm liberally anywhere on skin for amelioration of dryness, irritation, inflammatory skin conditions, acne, chapped lips, minor injuries & burns, tattoo aftercare, or as a nourishing rejuvenating treatment for facial skin.

Remove a portion of the salve as needed and soften before application by rubbing and warming between the fingertips or palms.

Ingredients: organic shea butter, wild harvested Indian black frankincense oil, organic vanilla oil, vitamin e. And nothing else.

Click Here to order Pierre Black's INTENSIVE CARE Frankincense & Vanilla Healing Balm

"Every ingredient has a story. I personally source exotic and inspiring botanicals from around the world to create my exclusive, small-batch, natural healing products. My very best formulations typically arise from personal, often chance encounters, with unique and exciting ingredients during my travels around the world. I create a new product only when I am truly inspired to do so, and only when I have acquired the very best ingredients. It is my intention to honour the legacy of each of the herbs and medicines I utilize and create a truly effective product. My creations are real, powerful, and completely natural. I seek to create products that work, as well as a feast for the senses." - Pierre Black

Disclaimer: As with any natural product, allergic sensitivity is possible. Always test for 24 hours on a small area of skin before use. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Generally considered safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, however, we make no claims or guarantees in that regard. No medical or health claims are made regarding this product. May stain certain fabrics or furniture. For medical emergencies or serious wounds, bleeding, or infections; seek medical attention as soon as possible. Disclaimer and copyright apply to this product and its description: http://www.pierreblack.org/copyright-and-disclaimer

New Product: Sacred Union, a traditional anointing oil...

Sacred Union is an instant incense alternative in 3ml dropper and 8ml pump format.

I formulated this product for my own energy healing sessions with clients. I’ve taken two of the worlds most coveted aromatics and combined them to create a perfect synergy. Clients loved this aroma so much I decided to make it available to everyone. To this day it is still the formulation I continue to use for energy healing sessions.

Sacred Union anointing oil, 3ml or 8ml size, with AAA grade genuine Mysore Sandalwood essential oil. and wild-harvested premium Cambodian Oud essential oil (aquillaria agarwood).

Use as a substitute for incense during meditation or spiritual practice, as a personal scent, or as I do, to harmonize the spirit and calm the mind for healing work.

For best results: Apply sparingly to the third eye area (between the eyebrows) and/or the throat chakra area (the jugular notch, the valley at the front of the throat over the thyroid). Application on these points will optimize effects and benefits.

Purchase SACRED UNION anointing oil now in 8ml or 3ml sizes.

Sacred Union uses fine Mysore AAA genuine sandalwood essential oil.

GENUINE SANDALWOOD, a rare gem…
High quality Sandalwood oil is a prized gem of the Ayurvedic pharmacopeia and a key sacrament in the Vedic traditions. Genuine sandalwood oil is so rare these days that most people have never experienced the real thing. After careful research, I managed to source my AAA Mysore Sandalwood directly for the source in India.

Used for at least 4000 years in both the traditional medicine and spiritual practices of India, finer Sandalwood oil has powerful psychoactive effects promoting calm focus, concentration, enhancing memory, and harmonizing the activity in the brain. These effects give it a spiritual dimension and make it perfect for enhancing meditative and healing practices.

CAMBODIAN OUD, scent of the ages…
Oud or Agarwood essential oil is one of the most complex single source scents found in nature. It is an olfactory puzzle box for the finer nose. It is one of the few true aphrodisiacs of the world's perfumery. It has a deeply complex and evocative scent that could take pages to fully describe. All this makes it one of the most prized and revered scents in many cultures around the world reaching far back into the mists of human history.

Sacred Union is formulated with the finest Cambodian Oud.

Agarwood incense is a highly prized sacrament in Japanese Zen Buddhism, known as Jinkō in Japanese, it is reserved for the most important ceremonies on the Buddhist calendar, or is purchased by more affluent families for special ancestor ceremonies. It is believed that Agarwood allows us to make contact with our ancestors during meditation.

I have been captivated by Oud essential oil’s ever-changing scent as it interacts with the air and one's skin. The most dominant aromas of the very best Oud oils include a surprisingly broad aromatic spectrum which includes a variety of woody notes, musks, spices, herbal and floral notes, and even animal aspects to it.

For this product I have chosen what is considered a very classic Oud essential oil of superior quality, wild harvested in the jungles of Cambodia, after personal contact with the producer.

SACRED UNION, a mystical aromatic convergence…
The finest Sandalwood and Oud essential oils are known for their particularly long lasting aromas. Both these ingredients are well known in medicine and spiritual traditions around the world and are well-established in Buddhist, Taoist, Islamic, Ayurvedic, Chinese medicine, Sufi mysticism, and other traditions. Both ingredients are believed to clear negative energies, promote wisdom, uplift the spirit, and calm the mind.

The scent of Sacred Union anointing oil is dominated by the classic intense, bright, light, woody features of fine Sandalwood at the outset. The density and depth of the Oud intentionally takes a quieter backseat; at least until time, exposure to air, and interaction with one’s skin inevitably allows the unmistakable boldness and complexity of finer Oud to overtake the brightness and lightness of the Sandalwood. A mystical match made in heaven.

Purchase SACRED UNION anointing oil now.

”With all my love. I’m a qualified multidisciplinary natural healer, and I create real, powerful, densely medicinal, and highly bioactive herbal products. I personally select all the ingredients used in this limited edition natural wellness product. I hope you enjoy it. My very best products typically arise from personal, often chance encounters with unique and exciting ingredients of the very best quality as I travel the world. This one is no exception.”
- Pierre Black

Larger size, 8ml pump bottle of Sacred Union. Purchase it here.

Final Notes:
Can be used anywhere on skin avoiding the eyes, mouth, and mucus-membranes. Not to be taken internally.

Carefully blended and stabilized in a traditional perfumers-grade all-natural hypoallergenic base oil.

Psychoactive, nervine, anxiolytic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, tonic, emollient, aphrodisiac, antimicrobial. PVK=

Purchase SACRED UNION anointing oil now.

Please take care: As with any natural product, allergic sensitivity is possible. Always test for 24 hours on a small area of skin before use. Not for use during pregnancy. No medical or health claims are made regarding this product. Disclaimer and copyright apply to this product and its description.

Three continents, 3 sacred resinwoods...

The past year has been an intense travel year, but along the way, I have had the good fortune of meeting some amazing healers and managed to source some incredibly fresh ingredients. As usual, my very best products typically arise from lucky encounters with the right people and raw ingredients of supreme quality. You might even say that the ingredients find me. SHOP NOW

I spent a few months studying in the Tulum area, Mexico, where I again connected with the local Mayan resin harvesters and sourced some superb Gold Bursera Copal resin. A few kilos of the honey-coloured beauty imbued my luggage with its sublime scent.

Then off to Asia for another three month Zen meditation stint at my spiritual home Shoganji Zen retreat, southern Japan. The trees found me. I investigated the uses and indications for Japanese Cypress resin and essential oil sourced some fine, crisp, and bright wildcrafted essential oil. 

I also just happened to have in reserve a small amount of the worlds best frankincense, the deep red resin of B.Carteri from Somalia. A friend of mine is directly involved in the sustainable wild harvesting of this dwindling resource. This would be the perfect addition to balance the scent and round out the medicinal effects of this therapeutic blend.

Satisfied with my perfect harvest I blended and bottled the oil in "Buddha house" of Shoganji Zen retreat.

TREE OF LIFE, 3 sacred resin, Ayurvedic Treatment Oil.

Handcrafted limited edition by Naturopath, Pierre Black, at Shoganji Zen Retreat, Saganoseki, Kyushu, Japan.

Ingredients: >20% pure Gold Mexican Bursera Copal whole resin, B. Carterii fine Somali Frankincense whole resin, wildcrafted Japanese cypress essential oil, pure vitamin E, Italian grapeseed oil. 

Aroma description: Complex warm woody scent; topnotes of conifers, honey, and beeswax, with hint of bright hardwood and the unmistakable background notes of fine frankincense.

For Treatment Massage: Used traditionally for the amelioration of all types of pain, inflammatory skin conditions, physical or mental trauma, anguish, depression, anxiety, and spiritual malaise. Apply generously anywhere on the body, head, or face; avoiding the eyes and mouth. Leave the oil in contact with the skin as long as possible, optimally overnight, before washing off. 

Facial Treatment: Deeply hydrating, toning, and regenerating to facial skin. Apply generously to the face and neck, and even the ears and scalp if you like, leaving on overnight. 

Dilution: May be diluted up to 10x with additional grapeseed oil or other suitable massage oil base at your own discretion. Medicinal effects may become less pronounced with dilution.

Other indications: May aid in the treatment and healing of acne, psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections, dandruff, minor skin injuries, minor skin infections, all inflammatory skin conditions, etc. (Not for use or serious, open, or fresh wounds or infections.)

What is an "Ayurvedic Thailam"?
While studying Ayurveda (the traditional medicine system of India) in Kerala, I had the opportunity to directly experience the blending and use of traditional Ayurvedic "thailams" or treatment massage oils. I was surprised and impressed by how densely medicinal the oils were and how they, to my surprise, were easily and directly absorbed through the skin. Far beyond the effects of ordinary "massage oil", these traditional Ayurvedic thailams were something completely novel in terms of efficacy.  SHOP NOW

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I work with a wide variety of sacred healing resins. What I have in stock is always changing and i’m always working on something new!

See what I have in my SHOP NOW.

Ask me about a specific COPAL product you are looking for at pierre@pierreblack.com :)

Be well! - Pierre

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Notes, cautions, and disclaimer.

Shake gently before use. Some separation of the product may occur since it's so densely packed with active ingredients.

Please take care: As with any natural product, allergic sensitivity or reaction is possible. Always test for 24 hours on a small area of skin before use. Not for use during pregnancy. No medical or health claims are made regarding this product. May stain certain fabrics or furniture. Disclaimer and copyright apply to this product and its description. 

Made at ZenRetreat.com in 2018. Best if used before end of 2019. 

New Product: Ayurvedic "thailam" treatment massage oils.

The remarkable power of Ayurvedic treatment oils

While studying Ayurveda, the traditional medicine system of India, in Kerala a few years ago, I had the opportunity to experience traditional densely medicated Ayurvedic "thailams" or treatment massage oils both as a practitioner and patient. I was surprised and impressed by how effectively the herbal medicinal constituents infused in the oil were directly absorbed through the skin. Far beyond the effects of ordinary "massage oil", and not based on either aromatherapeutic or rubefacient principles, these traditional Ayurvedic thailams were something completely different; powerful medicines with a range of effects on mind and body.  SHOP NOW

Two new Limited Edition Pierre Black products...

My very best products typically arise from personal, often chance encounters with unique and exciting ingredients of the very best quality. This year is no exception.

Raw ingredient sourcing, Mexico, Jan 2016...

White Copal is a highly prized natural aromatic tree resin, wild-harvested by the Maya people of Guanajuato state in central Mexico. The superb quality, freshness, and aroma, of this particular copal, which I personally sourced and selected in Mexico this past January, is what inspired me to create this powerful Ayurvedic “thailam” or medicated treatment oil. 

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White Mayan COPAL (protium copal) Ayurvedic Treatment Oil
handcrafted limited edition by Pierre Black 250ml. SHOP NOW

For Treatment Massage: Used traditionally for the amelioration of all types of pain, inflammatory skin conditions, physical or mental trauma, anguish, depression, anxiety, and spiritual malaise. Apply generously anywhere on the body, head, or face; avoiding the eyes and mouth. Leave the oil in contact with the skin as long as possible, optimally overnight, before washing off. 

Facial Treatment: Deeply hydrating, toning, and regenerating to facial skin. Apply generously to the face and neck, and even the ears and scalp if you like, leaving on overnight. 

Dilution: May be diluted up to 10x with additional grapeseed oil or other suitable massage oil base at your own discretion. Medicinal effects may become less pronounced with dilution.

Other indications: May aid in the treatment and healing of acne, psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections, dandruff, minor skin injuries, minor skin infections, all inflammatory skin conditions, etc. (Not for use or serious, open, or fresh wounds or infections.)

Contains: >20% pure White Mexican Protium Copal resin, pure vitamin E, Italian grapeseed oil. 

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I work with a wide variety of sacred healing resins. What I have in stock is always changing and i’m always working on something new!

See what I have in my SHOP NOW.

Ask me about a specific COPAL product you are looking for at pierre@pierreblack.com :)

Be well! - Pierre

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Memories of India...

Some close friends of mine returned from India last year with a small amount of superb wild-harvested black frankincense for me. I was only able to make 9 bottles of this superb and densely medicinal oil. Frankincense is well known as a medicine in numerous healing traditions around the world. It is well documented as having both physical healing properties and as well as psychoactive effects.

Black Frankincense & Sandalwood Ayurvedic Treatment Oil
handcrafted limited edition by Pierre Black 250 ml.  SHOP NOW

For Treatment Massage:  For topical use on intact skin. Traditionally this oil is used for the amelioration of all types of pain, physical or mental trauma, anxiety, depression, fear, nervous conditions, anguish, and spiritual malaise. Apply generously anywhere on the body or head, avoiding the face, and leave on the skin as long as possible, optimally overnight, before washing off. Apply with or without massage. Apply to problem areas or over the entire body and head. 

Dilution: May be diluted up to 10x with additional grapeseed oil or other suitable massage oil base at your own discretion. Medicinal effects may become less pronounced with dilution.

Other indications: May aid in the treatment and healing of acne, psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections, all inflammatory skin conditions, etc. (Not for use or serious, open, or fresh wounds or infections. Do not use on the face.)

Contains Indian Boswellia wild-harvested black frankincense (olibanum) resin >20%, Indian sandalwood essential oil, vitamin E, Italian grapeseed oil.

SHOP NOW
 

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Notes, cautions, and disclaimer for both oils listed above:

Shake gently before use. Some separation of the product is normal since it's so densely packed with active ingredients.

Please take care: As with any natural product, allergic sensitivity or reaction is possible. Always test for 24 hours on a small area of skin before use. Not for use during pregnancy. No medical or health claims are made regarding this product. May stain certain fabrics or furniture. Disclaimer and copyright apply to this product and its description. 

Made at ZenRetreat.com in 2016. Best if used before end of 2017.  SHOP NOW

I work with a wide variety of sacred healing resins. What I have in stock is always changing and i’m always working on something new!

See what I have in my SHOP NOW.

Ask me about a specific COPAL product you are looking for at pierre@pierreblack.com :)

Be well! - Pierre

3 beautiful spring seafood meals, and choosing fish with caution...

Its hard for me to resist good fish and seafood, but there are definitely some other important considerations beyond the yum factor.  Sustainability and toxic contamination are major concerns. The biggest challenge is finding a fish market willing to fully inform you about the source and fishing methods. This is unlikely at your regular grocery store. Inaccurate or intentionally deceptive labelling is also a common problem at large.

Below are three delicious meals I made this spring along with a link to sourcing considerations and challenges. Although I would give myself an A on these dishes when it comes to flavor, I would honestly only give myself a C when it comes to health and sustainability. Responsible, affordable, delicious fish is a huge challenge these days and the facts change from moment to moment. What we can do is stay informed and try to make the best possible choices given our situation. Right now I still believe that some fish and seafood intake has health benefits that far outweigh the risks, and I think the simple joy of eating must weigh heavily in the equation.

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Japanese noodle bowl with tuna tataki.  Millet and brown rice organic noodles by King Soba, seared tuna "tataki", sauteed bok choy, Japanese style cucumber and sweet red pepper slaw, Korean style roasted seaweed, dressed with dark sesame oil and ponzu (a soy sauce/citrus blend).

Its easy to do this with any sushi quality sustainable fish instead of tuna. Coat fish in soy or ponzu, a little sesame oil, and even less honey.  Sear all outer surfaces of the fish in a very hot pan.
Japanese slaw can be made easily with any slightly tougher vegetables that respond well to pickling: cucumbers, bell peppers, radish, daikon, red or green cabbage, and carrots are some of my favourites. Grate or finely slice, add some good salt (any natural whole salt), and douse with lemon juice or cider vinegar. Within an hour, the salt and acid will mellow in flavor and soften the vegetables. If the flavor is too intense, pour off or squeeze out some of the juice. 
Choosing the right noodles is about flavor, texture, and health. There are many affordable high quality organic and wheat-free noodles on the market these days if you look for them. Go to any health food store, ethnic grocery, or health food section of your grocery store.

This meal was a rare indulgence. Even thought I find good tuna hard to resist, it is almost completely off my list of things i'm willing to eat with any regularity. Most tuna is highly suspect - even if you manage to locate a sustainable variety, it is often unaffordable and always loaded with a heavy dose of mercury and other contaminants. Some tuna is ok. Find out more here.

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Cod and corn salad with cilantro pesto. Baby greens, cucumber, and sweet corn off the cob (non-GMO), topped with pan fried cod (don't overcook!), pesto and Tajin.

Cilantro pesto: Blender or food processor a bunch or two of cilantro, and enough olive oil and lemon juice (5:1 ratio) to make a nice consistency, a little good salt, and my secret touch; a little garlic flower (optional).
Tajin is a name brand table condiment found ubiquitously in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America. It can also be found for sale in Latin groceries around the world. Its basically hot peppers, lime juice, and salt in a dry powdered form.

The Canadian cod fisheries are very slowly making a comeback. Good cod is simply delicious. Find out how to choose sustainable cod here. Pacific cod is the best choice and is both sustainable for the time being, and relatively low in contaminants.

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Grilled octopus on artichoke hummus with asparagus. 

Octopus was slow cooked in white wine, lemon juice, white pepper, and some good salt, then grilled it very briefly in the oven on high. Served it on store bought artichoke hummus with a sprinkle of Aleppo pepper.  Flash boiled young asparagus was served with a simple lemon, olive oil, and tahini dressing. 

I had given up on octopus many years ago after a couple of miserable chewy failures. This fantastic article was the key to my new found success.

Octopus is not currently a top choice as far as sustainability so its not something I choose to eat on a regular basis. Toxin levels are variable in octopus depending on where it was caught. Choose with caution. Find out more here.

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More and more cities now feature sustainable fish shops.  This article, although slightly dated, is packed with resources for the conscientious fish and seafood buyer in Montreal.