In
our Native American tradition, natural plant medicines have been used
throughout history. The Native American term “copal” means
the living essence of healing plants. The sacred liquid copals deserve
serious study, for they have great potential for healing. Unfortunately,
the public today is still largely unfamiliar with how to use traditional
plants. The traditional healing plants are safe, comparatively inexpensive,
practical to use, quick acting, and effective. The use of these plants
to combat infections is adequately documented in medical and scientific
literature. There is now sufficient clinical experience to show how plants
can be effective for a wide range of health problems. Unfortunately, much
of the research and medical literature on this topic is available only
in other countries.
In France, for instance, many medical doctors use the liquid copals to fight common infections. The most common uses are for infections of the respiratory and digestive systems, the urinary tract, the reproductive organs, and the skin. The French are world leaders in the use of liquid copals for therapeutic purposes, and because it is considered normal, the liquid copals are covered by health insurance plans. French pharmacies also carry formulas consisting of liquid copals and herbal tinctures that are specifically made under a doctor’s prescription. Aromatherapy is taught in French colleges, universities, and medical schools. In the United States, traditional natural plants are commonly available but the medical doctors rarely use them in treatments. |
The American public in general is unfamiliar with liquid copals and the
possibilities of using them for healing purposes. There is comparatively
little public or private funding available for natural health care research.
In order to make better decisions, people should be informed about alternative
treatments and what they can do to live a longer and healthier life. A
freely informed public is in everyone’s best interest.
In the process of plant metabolism a liquid copal is created. They are
synthesized by the plant’s chemistry and circulate through the stems,
leaves, flowers, and roots. They contain the elements that make each plant
unique – the scent and the intelligence of the plant. As you walk
through a forest of pine trees you can easily smell their fragrance. Liquid
copals are found in the skin of an orange, in the leaves of a peppermint
plant, and in the petals of a rose flower. It is the liquid copals that
give the plant its aroma and fragrance.
Liquid copals are “essential” for a plant’s survival.
They are key components of plants’ immune systems. Scientists have
observed that plants use their liquid copals for various reasons such
as repelling unwanted insects, healing plant injuries, preventing water
loss from foliage when the climate is hot or dry, and attracting bees
and other insects that aid in pollination.
Liquid copals are stored by plants in resin ducts, hollow spaces, and
cells. They can be found in various parts of the plant such as the leaves,
stems, bark, needles, resin, flowers, fruits, and roots. With few exceptions,
liquid copals are extracted from plant materials through steam distillation
or cold pressing. When a plant is distilled, each has unique requirements
in terms of how the plant should be handled. These include when to harvest,
the time between harvesting and distillation, distillation equipment,
temperature, pressure, and when to stop distillation in order to avoid
exposing the copals to excessive heat, thus destroying vital constituents.
Cold pressing is used to remove citrus liquid copals from the peel of
citrus fruits such as grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, and tangerine.
Thousands of tons of liquid copals are used each year by the flavor and
fragrance industry. These liquid copals are inferior in quality to those
we use in our traditional healing and therefore should not be used for
that purpose.
Because of the limited amount of plants grown in the world each year,
many commercial growers will use various methods to make it more profitable
for them. Growers will use chemicals during the growing process and extreme
heat, pressure, or chemical solvents to squeeze more liquid copals from
the plants during distillation. These processes not only cut production
time and reduce costs, but they also greatly compromise the quality of
the liquid copals being produced. The result of such practices often diminishes
or eliminates the life force. Many times the very small trace constituents
that are lost are the ones important for healing. Dead liquid copals are
avoided in our traditional healing. Dead liquid copals may still have
a flavor or fragrance to satisfy the perfume and food industry, but they
are not the quality liquid copals necessary for healing. In fact, this
lower standard is very acceptable for flavoring or fragrance. Since the
demand for unadulterated liquid copals comprises less than 5% of the market,
it is the suppliers that buy the food and perfume grade liquid copals
and sell them as “therapeutic” grade who are committing fraud.
Because quality liquid copals are expensive to produce, fraud is rampant
in the industry. Liquid copals that say “100%” can mean as
little as 10% of the pure liquid copals with the rest being a colorless,
odorless petrochemical. This mixture is considered acceptable in the retail
trade. While some companies are conscientious about correctly labeling
their products, others are not.
It is important to understand the term “aromatherapy grade”
originated in England and is known to be the practice of massage with
liquid copals. To the English, “aromatherapy grade” liquid
copals consist of only 2 - 5 % pure liquid copals and 95 - 98% carrier
oil. A food or fragrance grade of 2 - 5% can still meet the English requirement
of “aromatherapy grade.” In America, many take the term “aromatherapy
grade” to means pure unadulterated quality liquid copals which may
not be the case. This is another area where one will need to determine
which English is being spoken-- American English or British English. You
will soon recognize when the liquid copals are labeled “aromatherapy
grade,” it is probably by definition adulterated and/or diluted.
Most users of liquid copals in Britain are horrified at the thought of
applying pure, “neat” liquid copals to the body for fear of
a toxic reaction. This may be because most British liquid copals are by-products
of the food and fragrance industry and such liquid copals probably are
toxic if used neat. Since in England only 2 – 5% liquid copals are
used in their blends, no serious reactions are usually noted.
The term “Pure USP Grade Oil” refers to a set of standards
for liquid copals set by the fragrance and food industries. These standards
were set so that all batches of liquid copals will be as identical as
possible for use in receipts and formulations. When a new crop of liquid
copals come in, they add or subtract chemical constituents to make the
new batch comply with the “USP Grade Oil” standards. These
standards are intended for the fragrance and food industry and never for
our traditional healing.
Some would argue that there are only minor differences between liquid
copals and reconstituted liquid copals, but man can never reproduce the
quality liquid copals that nature produces. There is more to liquid copals
than just their aroma. For instance, throughout the world a pure synthetic
methylsalecylate is labeled and sold as natural wintergreen or birch.
The synthetic will never be able to duplicate the healing properties of
the pure liquid copals of wintergreen
or birch.
These counterfeit liquid copals are so skillfully compounded they are
virtually impossible to detect even by the most sophisticated equipment.
In the book What to do When Antibiotics Don’s Work! by Dirk Van
Gils, it states that Dr. Herve Casabianca, director of the largest liquid
copals testing laboratory in France, has come to the conclusion it is
important to “know your grower, know your distiller, and know your
supplier.” Dr. Casabianca says, “The chemists have become
so clever that they can sometimes fool even the best of laboratories.”
God makes the sacred liquid copals. All we can do is extract them as lovingly
as possible and find a producer who is willing to leave them untouched.
God’s gift of liquid copals can never be copyrighted, trademarked,
or patented for profit. Every person has the right to experience true
traditional liquid copals.
Traditional healing liquid copals are not usually sold in retail stores.
It is believed over 90% of the “liquid copals” sold in the
U.S. are fragrance or food grade and unsuitable for healing. Many books
written on liquid copals are written by those with little or no experience
with the traditional healing liquid copals. Their experiences and information
may come from adulterated or synthetic liquid copals. The traditional
healing liquid copals are very powerful and must be used with respect,
in small amounts, and are best diluted in carrier oil when you first begin.
Liquid copals should always be purchased in protective dark glass bottles
(blue bottles being the better choice) with airtight seals. The airtight
seal prevents oxidation and keeps the volatile components of the liquid
copals in the bottle, thereby retaining their traditional healing properties.
The physical nature of liquid copals allows them to penetrate human tissue
quickly. This is what gives the traditional healing its effectiveness.
The traditional healing liquid copals are wonderful to use, but we need
to learn to respect them and their abilities. My favorite way to use the
traditional liquid copals is on the bottom of my feet, my wrists, and
my ears. This way I can benefit my whole body in a few quick applications.
Diffusing the liquid copals is another way to enjoy the benefits of their
traditional healing aromatic influences. Diffusing not only removes dust
particles from the air but also works as a great air filtration system.
Until you purchased your diffuser, use a two ounce spray bottle, filled
it with water, added ten drops of your favorite liquid copal, then shake
and spray around the room. This is also good when traveling for use in
hotel rooms and other lodgings, for keeping drivers alert, or for calming
children. As you use the sacred traditional healing liquid copals, you
may wonder how you ever tolerated the chemical substitutes.
As you use the liquid copals in their ceremonial traditional healing way,
you will have your own experiences. Write about your experiences, explain
how the liquid copals were used, and the benefits you experienced. This
will prepare you to be able to share the Shahaptian Healing Way with others.
You will find your knowledge will increase as you share. On the other
hand, if you keep the knowledge and benefits to yourself you will lose
this knowledge. The Shahaptian Healing Way was given to us to share; therefore,
we must be willing to assist others in their health quest.
As you use the liquid copals, you will find new applications to add to
the list of benefits. You may find you did not notice the specific benefit
mentioned for the liquid copals. This is okay because the sacred liquid
copals seem to have a mind of their own and will adapt to the specific
needs of the individual.
It is important to have respect for the ceremonial liquid copals. They
are powerful and just a very small amount is all that is usually needed.
If you use too many or too much, you may experience “flu like symptoms”
as the liquid copals go to work in the traditional healing way to assist
you to detoxify. If this is the case, drink plenty of water and stop using
the liquid copals for a few days. Two tablespoons of the traditional powdered
ginger in a bath may also assist in detoxifying. |
