The 8H Magic Night Serum is a skincare product that aims to provide intensive hydration and nourishment to the skin while you sleep. It is designed to be used as the last step in your nighttime skincare routine. The serum is enriched with active ingredients that work together to replenish and rejuvenate the skin overnight. One of the key ingredients is hyaluronic acid, which helps to retain moisture in the skin and plump up fine lines and wrinkles. This ingredient is known for its hydrating properties and can help to improve the overall texture and appearance of the skin. Another active ingredient in the 8H Magic Night Serum is niacinamide, which is a form of vitamin B3.
The myth, magic and folklore of herbs
Herbs have been used to symbolise, love, faithfulness, remembrance and devotion for centuries. Below we summarise a few of them taking extracts from Jekka’s Complete Herb Book. Therefore, this Valentines, Mother’s Day or Birthday why not give the symbolism of herbs.
Myrtle (Myrtus Communis) : love
Myrtle is a direct descendent of the Greek myrtos, the herb of love. In Greek mythology myrtle was sacred to the goddess Aphrodite (associated with love, beauty and pleasure and the planet Venus) and Demeter (the goddess of the grain, agriculture, harvest, growth, and nourishment). The Greeks believed a myrtle garland signified the same as an olive garland, except that it was especially auspicious for farmers because of Demeter and for women because of Aphrodite.
Similar to the Greeks association of myrtle with Aphrodite, the Romans dedicated it to the goddess Venus and myrtle was planted all around her temples. The story goes that Venus transformed one of her priestesses called Myrrh into myrtle in order to protect her from an over eager suitor. Also, Venus herself wore a wreath of myrtle when she was given the golden apple of Paris in recognition of her beauty. When she arose out of the sea she was carrying a sprig of myrtle, and to this day it grows very well by the sea, flourishing in salt air.
Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis): remembrance
Rosemary is steeped in myth, magic and folk medicinal use. From Jekka’s Complete Herb Book, one of our favourite stories about Rosemary comes from Spain. It relates that originally the blue flowers were white. When the Holy family fled into Egypt, the Virgin Mary had to hide from some soldiers, so she spread her cloak over a rosemary bush and knelt behind it. When the soldiers had gone by, she stood up and removed her cloak and the blossoms turned blue in her honour. Also connected to the Christian faith is the story that rosemary will grow for 33 years, the length of Christ’s life, and then die.
In the Elizabethan days, the wedding couple wore or carried a sprig of rosemary as a sign of fidelity. Also, bunches of rosemary were tied with colour ribbon tipped with gold and given to guests at weddings to symbolise love and faithfulness.
Borage (Borago officinalis): courage
The Celtic word borrach means ‘courage’. The Greeks and Romans regarded borage as both comforting and imparting courage, and this belief so persisted that John Gerard was able to quote the tag, Ego borage gaudia semper ago (I, borage bring always courage) in his Herbal. He states that:
"Those of our time do use the flowers in salads to exhilerate and make the mind glad. There be also many things made of these used everywhere for the comfort of the heart, for the driving away of sorrow and increasing the joy of the mind. The leaves and flowers of Borage put into wine make men and women glad and merry and drive away all sadness, dullness and melancholy, as Dioscorides and Pliny affirm. Syrup made of the flowers of Borage comfort the heart, purge melancholy and quiet the frantic and lunatic person. The leaves eaten raw engender good blood, especially in those that have been lately sick."
It was for courage too that borage flowers were floated in stirrup cups given to the Crusaders. Clearly, the American Settlers also thought sufficiently highly of borage to take the seed with them on their long adventure. Records of it were found in a seed order of an American in 1631, where it was called burradge.
Heartsease (Viola tricolor): loving thoughts
Heartsease is also known as the Holy herb, Herba sacra and Holy plant; plus many other names. The Egyptians believed it originated from the tears of Isis. A Greek legend has it that the delicate white flowers were worshiped by Eros. To inhibit this worship, Aphrodite coloured them, which resulted in tricolor coloration. According to Roman mythology, the wild pansy turned into the Love-in-idleness as Cupid shot one of his arrows at the imperial votary, but missed and struck the flower. As Cupid is the god of desire, affection and erotic love, the flower’s juice received the trait to act as love potion and the flower ‘before milk-white’ turned ‘purple with love’s wound’. Both the Greek and Roman priests wore amulets made of it and the Romans also used it to purify their altars after sacrifices.
Its mythical properties continued with the Druids who used it for purification and for making magic potions. In the Middle Ages it was an ingredient in a holy salve, a powerful protector against demons and disease: ‘Vervain and Dill hinders witches from their will’. Shakespeare also makes a more direct reference to heartsease in A Midsummer Night's Dream when Oberon sends Puck to gather ‘a little western flower that maidens call love-in-idleness’.
Lavender (Lavandula): devotion
Lavender was one of the holy herbs used in the biblical Temple to prepare the holy essence. The ancient Greeks called the lavender herb nardus, after the Syrian city of Naarda. Nard ('nerd' in Hebrew, as it was commonly called).
Long before the world made deodorants and bath salts, the Romans used lavender in their bath water; the word is derived from the Latin lava, ‘to wash’. It was the Romans who introduced this plant to Britain and from then on monks cultivated it in their monastic gardens. In the Victorian era, small floral bouquets, known as talking bouquets, were gifted as tokens of love, expressing feelings that could not be spoken in public. The distinctive fragrance of Lavender was said to bring luck and expressed strong commitment. Lavender flowers are known to represent purity, silence, devotion serenity, grace and calmness.
Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor 'Red Army’): undying love
The amaranth flower is one of the symbols of immortality and has been used as such a symbol since the time of the Ancient Greeks. The Greek amarantos means the "one that does not wither". The fact that the flower does not soon fade has led to it typifying immortality in poetry and other works.
Want to know more?
Enjoy reading about the culinary and medicinal uses of herbs? Check out Jekka's How to Use Herbs Master Class that covers the uses of herbs in the kitchen and home.
For information on growing herbs from seeds please see Jekka's blogs as well as Jekka's "How to Grow Herbs" videos that includes Jekka's video on how to sow seeds for an informative step-by-step guide to seed sowing.
Growing indoors? Check out Jekka's blog on indoor herb gardening for some advice.
If you require pots or compost, see Jekka's Herb Kits that includes Jekka's Seed Sowing Kit. and Jekka's Grow At Home Spring Herb Kit which contains 5 packets of seeds: Borage , Chervil, Chives, Red Orach & Sweet Marjoram and all you need to sow a collection of herb seeds.
For advice on growing and maintaining herbs, check out ‘Jekka’s Seasonal Tips’ blog series, which includes what to do in your herb garden in early spring, late spring, summer and autumn & winter. Together they form the basis of Jekka’s guide on how to grow herbs.
Herb plants are available and you can organise a collection from our herb farm in South Gloucestershire or at one of our Open Days or Herb Experiences (see our events calendar). Please see our 'Looking Good List' for availability and use our webform or email your list directly to us ([email protected]). We no longer offer a general mail order service for our plants but we do offer a limited selection of Jekka's Culinary Herb Boxes.
Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is widely used as a spice when cooking, especially in Mediterranean dishes. It is also used for fragrance in soaps and cosmetics. Traditionally, rosemary has been used medicinally to:
- Improve memory
- Relieve muscle pain and spasm
- Stimulate hair growth
- Support the circulatory and nervous systems
It is also believed to increase menstrual flow, act as an abortifacient (causing miscarriage), increase urine flow, and treat indigestion. Almost none of these uses have been studied scientifically in humans. However, one study in humans found that long-term daily intake of rosemary prevents thrombosis.
In the lab, rosemary has been shown to have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants can neutralize harmful particles in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Also in the lab, rosemary oil appears to have antimicrobial properties (killing some bacteria and fungi in test tubes). It isn't known whether rosemary would have the same effect in humans.
Indigestion
Rosemary leaf is used in Europe for indigestion (dyspepsia) and is approved by the German Commission E, which examines the safety and efficacy of herbs.
Muscle and joint pain
Applied topically (to the skin), rosemary oil is sometimes used to treat muscle pain and arthritis and improve circulation. It is approved by the German Commission E for these purposes. However, there is no scientific evidence that it works.
Alopecia
Historically, rosemary has been used to stimulate hair growth. In one study of 84 people with alopecia areata (a disease in which hair falls out, generally in patches), those who massaged their scalps with rosemary and other essential oils (including lavender, thyme, and cedarwood) every day for 7 months experienced significant hair regrowth compared to those who massaged their scalps without the essential oils. But the study was not well designed, and it is impossible to say whether rosemary caused the hair growth.
Neutralize food-borne pathogens
Several studies show that rosemary inhibits food-borne pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes, B. cereus, and S. aureus.
Improve memory or concentration
Rosemary is often used in aromatherapy to increase concentration and memory, and to relieve stress. One study suggests that rosemary, combined with other pleasant-smelling oils, may lower cortisol levels and help reduce anxiety. Another study found that the use of lavender and rosemary essential oil sachets reduced test taking stress in graduate nursing students.
Cancer
Several studies suggest that rosemary extract may inhibit tumor growth by preventing cancerous cells from replicating. One study found that rosemary, on its own and in combination with curcumin, helped prevent breast cancer. A second study found similar effects of rosemary on colon cancer cells.
Another active ingredient in the 8H Magic Night Serum is niacinamide, which is a form of vitamin B3. Niacinamide is known for its brightening and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective in reducing redness and pigmentation issues. It can also help to strengthen the skin barrier and improve the skin's overall resilience.
Plant Description
Native to the Mediterranean area, rosemary now grows widely in other parts of the world. It thrives in a warm and sunny climate. The plant takes its name from rosmarinus, a Latin term meaning "sea dew." It is an upright evergreen shrub that can grow to a height of 6 and a half feet. The woody rootstock bears rigid branches with fissured bark. The long, needle-like leaves are dark green on top and pale beneath. Both the fresh and dried leaves are aromatic. The small flowers are pale blue. The leaves and parts of the flowers contain volatile oil.
The serum also contains a blend of natural plant extracts, such as calendula and aloe vera, which provide soothing and calming effects to the skin. These ingredients help to reduce inflammation and redness, making the serum suitable for sensitive skin. The 8H Magic Night Serum is lightweight and easily absorbed by the skin, without leaving a greasy or sticky residue. It can be applied to the face and neck, and gently massaged in using upward strokes. The serum should be used every night before going to bed to achieve optimal results. Regular use of the 8H Magic Night Serum can help to improve the overall health and appearance of the skin, leaving it hydrated, plump, and radiant. It is suitable for all skin types and can be used as part of a daily skincare routine..
Reviews for "Revitalize Your Skin with the Healing Properties of 8h Magic Night Serum"
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