In aromatherapy, the steam-distillation process is over 5000 years old. I use only the highest quality glass to produce essential oils, floral waters and flower essences. Steam distillation in glass containers preserves the subtlest essences and aromas from herbs and flowers grown organically on site. The distillation unit is only a few feet away from the herb garden, ensuring freshness. I use one and a half pounds of herbs, harvested at their peak, to produce one dram of essential oil and the finest floral water, which contains essential oil. My antique rose products are also steam distilled. Approximately 10,000 roses make one ounce of pure, steam distilled rose oil.

In medicinal herbal preparations, individual herbs yield their healing properties through water or alcohol processing. Standardized commercial extracts often use chemical solvents to prepare herbs. I use alcohol to extract glycosides and herb preparations. The Chinese herbs used in some longevity tonics are best prepared by heating. Commercially prepared herbs may contain sulfides. The heating and distillation process detoxifies undesirable properties of imported herbs. Several Chinese herbs are naturalized in Texas and grown organically on site.

The indigenous people I studied with for many years prefer cooking herbs for medicinal purposes and use them to produce many topical preparations. I can only acknowledge and utilize the ancient traditional processes which have served every generation in health and longevity.

In contrast, oils that are ingested for nutritional purposes, such as flaxseed, borage, and primrose oil, are best produced through a process of cold pressing and vacuum sealed in gelatin capsules.

The steam distillation process releases the essential oils of the herbs in a very pure and concentrated form, perfect for their purpose of fragrance and aromatherapy.