Cassia is one of the oldest spices known to mankind. It was used as a mouthwash and to perfume the hair, and also used in cooking—since it’s similar in taste and smell to cinnamon. People didn’t wash their clothes or hair frequently, so applying cassia served a practical purpose. In Ezekiel 27:18–19 we learn that Cassia oil was also used in trade.
It came to Europe by Arabian and Phoenician traders and the buds were known in Europe by the Middle Ages. 
The dried flowers of cinnamon were popular among the Israelites.  It was an ingredient, along with myrrh and cinnamon bark, in the preparation of the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:24); “Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of CASSIA— all according to the sanctuary shekel— and a hin of olive oil. Prepare from these a holy anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a holy anointing oil.… (Exodus 30:23-25)

Twice as much cassia had to be used as cinnamon.  These dried flowers also served as a perfume, together with myrrh and aloes according to Psalms 45:8.  Cassia was among the trade wares of Tyre as mentioned in Ezekiel 27:19. The name of Job’s second daughter found in Job 42:14 may indicate that the fragrance was highly valued.
Cassia is antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and an anticoagulant. It's mentioned in Ex. 30:24; Ezekiel 27:19; Psalm 45:8. We can also see how Cassia is a picture of prayer:

Cassia is “qiddah” in Hebrew. It's a bark folded into shriveled rolls, (Strongs: 6916. qiddah) The Hebrew word comes from the root word (Strongs: 6915 qadad) which means to shrivel up, or bend the body or neck, to bow (down) (the) head, stoop. 
The word here presents a picture of bowing in submission, surrender and prayer. BOTH Cassia, as one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil, AND our prayers are described as incense.

Cassia in Hebrew means to bow down the head. The word here presents a picture of surrender and prayer. Both Cassia, as one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil, and our prayers are described as incense.
”…The twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”  (Revelation 5:8)
“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:2)
Cassia--a picture of bowing the head in prayer. Is it any wonder that it's also a cardiovascular oil? (It's good for the heart)  Think of this the next time you use your cassia oil! 
​
More information on cassia and its biblical roots and uses are found in video #4 Oils of the Bible Online Course https://oilsofthebibleonline.com/oils © Rachel Lee Carter

Beauty rituals and the use of oils have an ancient past, practiced for thousands of years by queens and women of prominence. Egyptians, including the legendary Cleopatra, were passionate about skin care and were considered highly accomplished in specialized beauty treatments. The Biblical queen Esther enjoyed 12 months of beauty treatments in preparation for her crown. The Queen of Sheba, first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, came to Jerusalem bearing a great abundance of spices, including frankincense (I Kings 10:2, 10; II Chron. 9:1–9, Isaiah 60:6) as a gift to King Solomon. From the Orient to the Romans, to the Middle East, ancient oils were known to improve skin appearance, tone and texture.

Oils definitely have made their (beauty) mark on history, and we can recreate some amazing skin care products simply by using our essential oils and combining them with other effective, natural ingredients. 

One such ingredient is raw honey. Raw honey is exactly what it sounds like – honey that is raw, unprocessed, unpasteurized, and straight from the beehive. It’s incredible for skin thanks to its antibacterial properties and hefty serving of skin-saving antioxidants.

Scars and Acne:
It has been used for scars and acne as a treatment, and for prevention. It’s also a beneficial ingredient for those prone to redness. 

Anti-Aging and Moisturizing:
Because it’s full of antioxidants, it is great for slowing down the aging process. And w
e can use honey as a Complexion boost due to its deeply moisturizing and soothing benefits.

Clarifying:
It’s also clarifying, which means it opens up pores making them easy to unclog. It’s a gentle exfoliator which is useful in ridding the top layer of dead skin cells.

Who used honey?
*The Queen of Egypt in the 14th century BC, Nefertiti commonly used honey in her beauty treatments. Her name means “the beautiful one has come.”
*Cleopatra used honey in her daily beauty rituals to keep her skin smooth and firm. She also added honey to her milk baths.
*Hippocrates the great Greek scientist used honey for baldness, and for the prevention and treatment of scars.
*In the early 18th century, Queen Anne used a secret honey and oil recipe to keep her hair thick and shiny.
*And in Ming Dynasty China, women in the Emperor’s Court used a blend of honey and ground orange seeds to keep their skin fresh and blemish-free.

Raw honey...another God-made gift! Use your oils in combination with honey and other natural ingredients for beautifying remedies that have stood the test of time! 

This information is from video #8, Ancient Beauty Secrets in the Oils of the Bible Online Course, and the Ancient Beauty Secrets Recipes handout. https://oilsofthebibleonline.com/oils

Have you ever felt anxious? I mean the overwhelming kind that makes you feel on edge, like you're creeping through a haunted house just waiting for someone to jump out at you? The kind that makes you feel like your heart is going to pound out of your chest—for no reason at all? I sometimes feel like that. 

I’m thankful for essential oils that can calm the nervous system.

Jesus had an oil or oil mixture applied to Him at the most stressful, anxious, dreadful time in His life. He was about to encounter the cross. He knew it was coming. It’s what He was born for. But it didn’t change the human feelings that came with the foresight of what He would soon face. 

Mary wouldn’t have known, but His Father knew. Could this be why God prepared Mary of Bethany to anoint the feet of Jesus in Bethany? The oil most likely would have been rich in linalool, a monoterpene alcohol whose chemistry is sedating, anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety. It’s found in lavender (also interpreted as spikenard or spike-lavender), petitgrain, ylang ylang…all sedating oils. 

Mary was preparing Jesus’ body six days before the inevitable anxiety that would come. Hematohidrosis is a condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood, occurring under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress. The Gospel writer and physician Luke wrote how Jesus experienced this in the garden of Gethsemane the night of His arrest, “and being in anguish He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)

The next day, seven days after His anointing by Mary, Jesus would be subjected to the incredible torture of the crucifixion. The number seven of course represents completion and perfection--and it's never a coincidence.

God was preparing His body by means of sedating anointing oil from the hands of Mary. Without my current understanding of essential oils that support anxiety and stress, and my own experience with the haunted-house feeling, I’m not sure I could appreciate this inside look into those moments in Bethany and the garden. 

I’m fascinated with the prophetic patterns I see throughout scripture, and it’s why the Oils of the Bible Online Course was born. Truly, this is just the beginning. I invite you to join me on this expedition that will expand your understanding and deepen your faith!

Click this link for a FREE introduction to the Oils of the Bible Online Course. Your understanding of oils in the bible will never be the same! https://oilsofthebibleonline.com/oils

We talk about Queen Esther and her beauty treatments of myrrh (in the handouts Ancient Beauty Secrets and Oils of the Bible) but what else can we glean from this brave woman who saved the Jewish people from annihilation? 

Here's her story: 
Hebraic Names had special and often prophetic meanings. (This is evidenced and explained in detail in the Oils of the Bible Online Course Video #2 “Text and Context”). 

A Jewess named Hadassah whose Hebrew name means “myrtle” had her name changed to “Esther” when she became Queen of Persia to the non-Hebrew King Xerxes. 

The Myrtle tree represents PROTECTION. There are numerous occurrences of this and are mentioned in video #9, “Additional Aromatics”. (Myrtle Oil can even be used as an insect repellant, protecting us from bugs!) But here, we can see one of those prophetic instances.... we see how a plant—in this case, the NAME of a plant--prophetically reveals a future event: 

When Haman, an Amalakite and chief minister to the King, saw that Mordecai, (a righteous Jew who raised Esther) would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. He wanted him dead, except not only Mordecai, but all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, who lived throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. Haman’s goal was the genocide of the Jews. As a side note, God told King Saul to destroy the Amalekites centuries earlier (1 Samuel 15:3), but Saul failed to obey the command. His disobedience led to the loss of his kingdom and, eventually the threat of annihilation for all Jews.

Queen Esther’s famous plea to the King protected the Jewish people from genocide. Had it not been for Queen Esther, the Jews would have been destroyed at the hands of a jealous Haman. The story is recounted in the Old Testament Book of Esther. 

Did you see it? This woman, whose birth name was Hadassah, which means “myrtle,” and represents “protection” was used by God to protect the entire Jewish population from total extinction. 

“A good name is more desirable than great riches...” 
–Proverbs 22:1

No word, no instance, no circumstance in the Bible is there by accident. Our God is orderly, systematic and purposeful. Isn’t it encouraging that whatever we might be facing today—that it doesn’t catch our Lord by surprise? Rest in Him friend, your God—your defender and protector.

Find more in the Oils of the Bible Online Course: 
--> https://oilsofthebibleonline.com/oils