Chypre

Ecology

Chypre belongs to the evergreen plant family with needle-like leaves. It has about 20 different varieties, all growing to heights of 25 to 45 metres. Chypre has scale-like leaves growing on its trunk and branches. Both its pistillate (female flower) and staminate (male flower) grows on the same branch. The pistillate bears fruits and contains round winged seeds.

The Mediterranean or Italian chypre originates from the coastal regions of Europe but at present, chypre is also cultivated in the temperate zones of Europe and North America.

These chypre trees are grown very close to one another, thus making them a good choice for building windbreak forest in South Africa. Chypre is also seen in most of the gardens in South Africa, Greece and Italy.

Origins

Ancient Egyptians were very familiar with chypre. Many records have pointed to the medicinal usage of chypre. Even ancient coffins were made from chypre wood. Ancient Egyptians also used chypre as offerings to their gods, thus chypre was commonly used in funeral rites. Chypre was even used as a cure for hemorrhoids bleeding. In fact, in many unearthed ancient records, chypre was often quoted as having the power to stop bleeding. Many scientific experiments have also proven that chypre has the ability to contract blood vessels and cure many illnesses such as varicosity and hemorrhoids.

Benefits

Chypre essential oil is extracted from the tender leaves and round winged seeds via the process of steam distillation. The essential oil is colorless or sometimes pale yellowish. After distillation, the essential oil has a subtle scent of woody and amber muskiness. Its fragrance is very refreshing, allowing an easing of the heart and mind. Frequent usage of chypre not only purifies the heart and spirit, it is also believed that chypre helps to improve the respiratory system. Inhale your way to better health with chypre!

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Attack on Israel from Lebanon threatens 2nd front (AP)

AP - Lebanese militants fired at least three rockets into Israel early Thursday, threatening to open a new front for the Jewish state as it pushed forward with a bloody offensive in the Gaza Strip that has killed nearly 700 people.

Obama warns of dire consequences without stimulus (AP)

AP - President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday that the nation's recession could "linger for years" unless Congress acts to pump unprecedented sums from Washington into the U.S. economy, making his highest-profile case yet on an issue certain to define his early presidency.

Stock futures mixed ahead of economic data (AP)

AP - Wall Street headed for a mixed open Thursday, bracing for what are expected to be more bleak data on employment and retail sales.

Ill. panel to grill Burris on Senate appointment (AP)

AP - Illinois Republicans are promising tough questions Thursday for Senate-appointee Roland Burris on why he accepted a position offered by disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich and whether he promised the governor anything in return.

Report: US had unrealistic goals in Afghanistan (AP)

AP - The United States and its partners have shortchanged Afghanistan by focusing on short-term goals pursued without a cohesive strategy or a clear understanding of the way the poor, decentralized country works, an independent study concludes.

Rain and melting snow bring floods to Washington (AP)

AP - More than 30,000 people were urged to leave their flood-endangered western Washington homes as swollen rivers, mudslides and avalanches engulfed neighborhoods and roadways.

Obama's pick to lead on health care gets hearing (AP)

AP - Showing the emphasis that some lawmakers are putting on health care issues this year, former Sen. Tom Daschle will be the first of President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet choices to undergo a hearing.

Ore. teens largely ignoring cell phone driving ban (AP)

AP - The chances that a teenager will be cited for talking on a cell phone while driving are pretty much zero in Oregon, a consequence of the way the law is written and a problem other states may be facing.

'Dark Knight' sweeps People's Choice Awards (AP)

AP - Holy People's Choice Awards, Batman!

Hold that pose: Florida, Oklahoma play for No. 1 (AP)

AP - Standing next to the crystal football, Bob Stoops was the picture of Mr. Agreeable. Any pose the photographers wanted, the Oklahoma coach gave them. Looking to the right, gazing to the left, smiling straight ahead. That is, until a shutterbug told Stoops to hold up one finger a "we're No. 1" shot. No chance, pal.

Obama says recession will worsen without bold action (Reuters)

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama will seek Thursday to rally support for a massive fiscal stimulus package by warning that the United States could remain mired in recession for years without bold action.

Rockets from Lebanon hit Israel amid Gaza offensive (Reuters)

Reuters - Several rockets fired from Lebanon struck northern Israel on Thursday, slightly wounding two people, police and medics said, in an attack seen as linked to Israel's war on Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip.

Citigroup sees synchronized global recession in 2009 (Reuters)

Reuters - Citigroup forecast a synchronized global recession in 2009 and said developed economies may "flirt" with deflation while emerging market economies will slow sharply, adding that global corporate earnings were only a quarter of the way through an expected 50 percent drop.

Obama to name law professor as regulatory czar: report (Reuters)

Reuters - The incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama will name Cass Sunstein, a Harvard Law School professor who pioneered efforts to design regulation around the ways people behave, as regulatory czar, the Wall Street Journal reported.

India vows to end fraud as Satyam scandal shocks (Reuters)

Reuters - India vowed to strengthen laws to prevent corporate fraud after Satyam Computer, the country's fourth-largest software company, shocked investors by revealing profits had been falsely inflated for years.

BoE cuts rates to record low (Reuters)

Reuters - The Bank of England cut interest rates by half a percentage point to a record low of 1.5 percent on Thursday as it battles to keep Britain from falling into a deep and lasting downturn.

Russia and Ukraine still deadlocked after gas talks (Reuters)

Reuters - Russia and Ukraine failed to resolve a gas row at a meeting in Moscow but will continue talks to end the dispute which has choked off supplies to Europe, a senior Ukrainian gas official said on Thursday.

Buyers rejoice: Manhattan home prices finally fall (Reuters)

Reuters - It took war, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and the collapse of some of New York's famed investment banks, but Manhattan apartment prices are finally falling.

Rocket attacks jolt Israel as Gaza war blazes on (AFP)

AFP - Rockets fired into northern Israel from Lebanon on Thursday jolted efforts to end the war in Gaza where Israeli jets carried out mass strikes on smuggling tunnels.

Israel bombs Gaza tunnels as peace moves gather pace (AFP)

AFP - Israeli warplanes bombed suspected arms-smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza early Thursday, as diplomats worked to secure a ceasefire in an offensive that has killed 700 Palestinians.

Chypre

Alternative Medicine Alternative Medicine