Jojoba

Origin: South-western United States

Family: Simmondsiaceae
Scientific name: Simmondsia chinensis

Folk Names: Coffee bush, deer nut, goat nut, pig nut, wild hazel

Magical

Element: Water
Day: Thursday
Planet: Jupiter
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Deities: Adonis

Parts used: Seed (wax/oil)

Magical Properties: Beauty, healing, comfort, longevity

Aromatherapy

Part Used: Bean
Extraction Method: Expeller-pressed
Flash Point: >500°C

Perfume Use: Base ‘oil’ (liquid wax)
Shelf Life: Indefinite
Scent Description: Softly nutty, slightly sweet

Active Constituents: High in vitamin E, and B complexes

Topical Use

Skin Types: All
Absorption Rate: Fast
Viscosity: Medium

Properties: A great choice for improving the overall function of the skin, boosting its immunity, and balancing its pH; antibacterial; emollient; wound healing; antioxidant; balancing, softening; soothing to irritations.

Notes: High in wax esters (sterols) which have a similar structure to the sterol content in our own skin. As such, jojoba oil is extremely well absorbed.

Practical

Jojoba is grown for its wax/oil, however it can only be produced on a limited scale, and thus is primarily only used for personal care products.

Indigenous Uses:

• Native Americans made a salve for the skin/hair by heating the seeds to soften them and then crushing with a mortar and pestle;
• The O’odham people of the Sonoran Desert used an antioxidant jojoba salve to treat burns;
• Jojoba salve was also used to soften and preserve animal hides;
• Pregnant women ate the seeds, believing them to assist with childbirth;
• Some groups' hunters ate jojoba on the trail to keep hunger at bay, however the Seri (of Sonora, Mexico) only regarded it as an emergency food option

Botanical

Type: Shrub
Plant size: 1-2m
Leaves: Thick, waxy, green-grey oval leaves, 2-4cm long and 1.5-3cm wide
Flowers: Early Spring: small, greenish-yellow flowers, with 5-6 sepals and no petals
Fruit: Acorn-shaped capsule 1-2cm long

Etymology: The common name “jojoba” originated from O’odham name Hohowi.

In the Garden

Type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Bright light
Water: Keep mostly dry
Soil: Sandy, well-drained soil

Tips:

• Male and female plants are required in order to produce fruits