From the Alaskan Rainforest...
S’áxt’(Tlingit)
(Oplopanax horridus)
-also called devil's club-
A plant native to the northwest coast of the US, Canada, and southeast/southcentral Alaska, it grows from 3ft to 14ft high and gets its common name "devil's club" because of its spiny bark and large spiny leaves. S’áxt’ has been used for centuries among Native cultures for a variety of remedies due to its wide range of medicinal properties.
At Southeast Devilsclub we respect the environment and the role of s’áxt’ in overall wellness. Our small batch, hand-made, wild-crafted products are made from stems which are responsibly harvested from the Tongass rainforest near Juneau, Alaska.
The goal at Southeast Devilsclub is to make the amazing healing properties and health benefits of s’áxt’ essential oil, hydrosol, and tincture available to everyone- to promote relaxation, comfort, and well-being.
Our primary product is essential oil from branch bark and from that we make a variety of preparations like salves, massage oil, renewing skin serum, healing bug repellent, and personal nasal inhalers. The plant contains 7 categories of medicinal compounds. We capture the aromatic portion and concentrate it using steam distillation.
Traditional s’áxt’ (devil's club) products -like salve, tea, and decoctions- must be harvested during specific months for full potency. Due to our unique processing methods, the essential oil can be extracted at maximum potency year-round; there are no seasonal limitations to making it -and products which are made from it. This means your favorite salve or therapeutic oil will be full-strength whenever you need it.
In terms of concentration, traditional salve needs 30-35 ft of bark to make a quart of salve. We need 4500 ft of this sustainably harvested bark to make 1 liter of this essential oil concentrate. Although it contains different compounds, it is hundreds of times stronger than any traditional preparation. Since the essential oil is so potent relative to traditional s’áxt’ preparations, it is frequently diluted to very low concentrations in a carrier oil-and often in conjunction with other therapeutics to provide help for various ailments. S’áxt’ essential oil is the next and "strongest version of the ancient medicine"; it is not merely an air freshener or general use fragrance. Usage guidelines are found on the product pages in the Shop.
Quality control
To ensure the consistency and integrity of the product, the steam distilled oil is analyzed and certified by a 3rd party testing lab regularly. Our commitment to purity and quality drives continual improvements in the manufacturing process.
What is so special about Essential Oil?
-
Pushing steam through the plant material yields much more concentrated and therefore stronger therapeutics than leaching it into oil or alcohol in traditional preparations. It also results in a purer product free from contaminating solvent or extraction residuals- which often result from industrial methods.
-
Using essential oil allows people to increase the concentration of salves, massage oils, and other products to the desired dosage or strength. If a stronger preparation is needed (for pain, inflammation, etc) add another drop or two.
-
Some severe conditions require treatments containing a very high concentration of key compounds -which are not obtainable when making infused oil or tincture extracts.
Essential oils contain highly concentrated organic compounds which have known therapeutic and health benefits. Consult someone knowledgeable in their properties before use. Care instructions and research about potential interactions with prescription drugs when used internally are available on the product sales pages.
What is so special about Devil's Club essential oil?
-
Due to the high nerolidol content, it is one of the most absorbent of all essential oils and has been useful for some people as a pretreatment for other topical treatments -like CBD- and could help absorption of topical medications
-
The absorption potential also increases the effectiveness of other ingredients in a blend, increasing synergy. It is a likely reason why some people report the skincare serums are so effective on skin conditions.
-
Wounds healed using this essential oil are reported to heal from the inside out. When a scab or dead skin comes off after healing, what remains is completely healed skin- not tender pink skin.
-
New research indicates that nerolidol (the primary constituent) has relatively low direct antioxidant effect- relying on supporting body systems to create the effect. However, the essential oil has a dose-dependent direct anti-oxidant effect due to the nerolidol-to-cadinol ratio and the resulting synergy.
-
In the words of a Tlingit elder, "Devil's club essential oil is the strongest version of the ancient medicine."
-
Many essential oils are used alone or in a blend to help a condition or range of conditions over time. Devil's club essential oil has a reputation of significantly helping a wide range of conditions in a very short amount of time - sometimes immediately. That's why our new motto is:
"Exemplary Therapeutics for Extraordinary Health Challenges"
Find out what it has done for others and whether it could help you or someone you love.
Check out the customer review page.
Explore the research tab on the toolbar (above) for information about Oil Composition, Research on Components, potential therapeutic uses, and searchable Research Articles.
More information on general hydrosol use is available at these sites:
https://www.aromaweb.com/hydrosols/hydrosol-uses.asp
https://www.aromaweb.com/hydrosols/hydrosol-safety-information.asp
*Please note! * As with many natural products,
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any specific disease. The material on this site is provided for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your physician before using salves or tinctures, or using plants as medicine.
Plants heal the body
Jesus heals the soul
