Avocado (Persea Gratissima) Oil
Native to: Central and South America — first cultivated by the Aztecs and Maya
Ritual Role: The Nourisher — softens, strengthens, and protects the skin barrier
Skin Benefits
Avocado oil is rich in oleic acid, vitamins A, D, and E, and essential fatty acids. It penetrates deeply to moisturize, nourish, and restore dry or damaged skin while improving elasticity and reducing signs of inflammation. It’s also known to support the skin’s natural lipid barrier and encourage regeneration for a smoother, healthier look.
Nervous System Support
A soft, replenishing warmth — helps the skin rebuild and the body exhale what it’s been holding in.
Ancestral Use & Cultural Roots
Avocados were revered in ancient Mesoamerican cultures for both nourishment and ceremony. Aztec and Maya peoples used the oil for its healing and emollient effects. In modern Afro-Caribbean traditions, it is sometimes infused with herbs for scalp and body healing, especially after childbirth or ritual cleansing.
Sources & Receipts
- Academic: Topical application of avocado oil promotes wound healing in rats – PubMed
- Herbalist Text: Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects (2nd ed.) — describes avocado oil's emollient and barrier-repairing properties
- Oral Tradition: Used in Afro-Caribbean and Central American healing rituals for postpartum care and skin nourishment
- Ethnobotanical Record: Avocado used as skin food and protection by the Aztecs (Source: National Tropical Botanical Garden archives)