The Natural Benefits of Hazelwood

What is Hazelwood

Hazelwood is a type of wood that is used in jewelry to help treat acidosis and naturally alkalize the body. This particular wood contains polyphenols which are known to have antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. When the wood has direct contact with your skin it helps to absorb the extra acid in your body therefore cutting down on issues such as eczema, acne, digestion, arthritis, acid reflux, migraines, heartburn and other symptoms related to over acidity. 

Hazelwood branch and female flower

How Do I Tell it is Working

The longer you wear your hazelwood the better. Some see relief right away, while others have such an abundance of acid in their body that it takes a while for them to become alkalized. Over time the flesh of the wood will begin to darken as the acid is absorbed. Do not be alarmed, this is completely normal and a good sign. Due to the woods nature to darken as they absorb the acid, the hazelwood beads may need to be replaced over time. Some see their first necklace darken very quickly, then subsequent necklaces have a longer life span. As you can see in the photo below, the far left one is a new hazelwood bead where the flesh is white. The middle bead has been used for a couple of months and is brown in color. The far right one is starting to turn black. When the flesh is a completely dark black color and no lighter flesh can be seen it is time to get a new necklace. 

Progression of used hazelwood

When Should I Replace My Hazelwood

Due to the woods nature to darken as they absorb the acid, the hazelwood beads may need to be replaced over time. Some see their first necklace darken very quickly, then subsequent necklaces have a longer life span. If you feel your hazelwood isn't working as well or you start to see symptoms return it may be time to replace the beads. Note: the flesh of the wood will be a very dark brown almost black before they need to be replaced. You may see the bark begin to chip, which does not always happen, but it is completely normal and will not hinder the woods ability to absorb the acid. 

The bark chipping off of the wood after prolonged use.

Care and Cleaning

Many ask if it is ok for their hazelwood to get wet. Water will not hurt the wood but it may damage the string that it is on and shorten the lifespan of your necklace. So keep that in mind when getting any of your strung jewelry wet. You may gently wipe the necklace down with a damp cloth if it needs to be cleaned. If your necklace happens to get wet and you are concerned about stretching, simply lay it flat to dry. 

Hazelwood and Amber Necklace

Hazelwood's History

Hazelwood jewelry originated in North America and is most commonly harvested from Canada. This particular wood has been used for many many years as a natural way to alkalize the body and help with teething pain in babies and young children. The Aboriginals are believed to be the first to discover the beneficial properties of hazelwood. The hazelwood is harvested by clipping off the tips of the branches then drilling holes through the center in order to string them on necklaces. 

Natural range of hazelwood

Allergy Concerns 

As an allergy family, I completely understand the concern and care that one must take when dealing with allergies of any sort. There have been no known issues regarding allegies to the hazelwood beads. They do not come in contact with the common allergen the hazelwood nut. If you have any concerns or questions about possible allergic reaction please contact me and I would be happy to answer any questions you have. 

If you are an F.P.I.E.S. family, you are well aware that F.P.I.E.S. reactions have no rhyme or reason and contact with hazelwood may cause a reaction that typical I.G.E. allergies would not. From our experience, we have not had any issues with hazelwood but we can not speak for other F.P.I.E.S. kiddos. If you are concerned about a reaction please message me and I would be more than happy to send you a single bead "at cost" for you to trial. 

   

About the Hazelwood in Amber Dreams Jewelry

All of the hazelwood I use is directly from Canada. The particular hazelwood that I use is all organic, harvested sustainably and grown naturally without any pesticides or chemicals. 

Hazelwood and Baltic Amber Bracelet by Amber Dreams Jewelry

For more information on hazelwood and amber jewelry or to set up a custom order please contact me! www.amberdreamsjewelry.com

Amber: Real or Fake

When shopping for amber you want to make sure that you are purchasing the real stuff! There are many fakes out there and sometimes it is hard to tell if it is real by just looking at it. Even to the trained eye, fake amber can be hard to distinguish. There are a few simple tests you can do on your amber to tell if it is in fact genuine baltic amber or if it is a fake.

WARNING: Some of these tests may be destructive to your jewelry. Test cautiously. 

Tests:

Solvents/Acetone: Fake amber, sometimes referred to as Copal and plastic will not hold up against solvents. You can take a small bit of acetone on a q-tip and rub it over the amber. If it is plastic or fake it will get tacky and you may even see the color of the bead run off onto the q-tip. True Baltic Amber will not be effected by it. 

Heat/Burning: Fake amber (plastic) will melt and smell of burnt plastic. If you have ever smelt burnt plastic it is a horribly nasty smell. Genuine amber will burn off like incense and have a pleasant smell of sweet pine. The smell of amber is very distinctive and you won't quickly forget it. 

Salt Water: Genuine Baltic Amber will float in salt water. Mix 1 part salt to 2 parts water and dissolve the salt completely. Then drop your amber into the mixture. Plastic and glass will sink while the amber will float to the top. (I do not recommend doing this to amber that is strung on a necklace) While you can, it may damage the string that the beads are on. If you decide to test an amber necklace this way, wipe the salt water residue off then lay it flat till it drys to prevent the string from stretching)

Static Test: Real amber will take on an electrostatic charge when rubbed in a cloth. (do this gently) You can charge the necklace and it will pick up tiny pieces of paper. Fake amber will not.

Taste Test: One of the easiest, non-destructive ways to tell real amber from plastic is to taste it. Sounds odd I know, but simply lick the amber. Amber will have no taste but the plastic will taste of...well...plastic. Plastic tastes gross. Have you ever chewed on the end of a pen cap? You know the taste. You can compare the end of a pen to your amber to tell the difference.  You will notice the pen has a distinct plastic taste while the amber will have no noticeable taste.

If in doubt ask! Always ask where the seller gets their amber and if they can prove authenticity.

Go like Amber Dreams Jewelry on Facebook to see the full video demonstration of the salt water test! 

Some of the Amber I personally use in my amber teething necklaces. The Amber floats to the top
while the plastic beads sink to the bottom.

Looking for a reputable place to purchase your amber and gemstone jewelry? Check out my shop at www.amberdreamsjewelry.com. 

All of the amber in my shop is purchased directly from certified amber distributors in Lithuania and Poland. Each batch that I purchase is tested to ensure only the best is used!