Hi again,

does anyone know the difference between purified, distilled and mineral water?

which one is better to use when making creams??

silvia

Hi Sylvia

Take a look at the recipes and comments on http://www.henriettesherbal.com/articles/cream.html

The different names describe the different contents of the water - purified means through a filter, distilled means it's purified through steam distillation or other methods, mineral means it comes out of the ground with minerals in it.

Distilled water comes from a chemist. Make sure you're not getting something to put in car batteries.

Sarah

Hi Silvia

For the purposes of making a cream, purified and distilled waters are essentially the same thing - the end product is essentially the same. Mineral water is extremely variable, but contains dissolved minerals. The mineral content may affect the stability and chemical propeties of the final product, and will interact with other ingredians which will involve some fairly complex science to unravel. Best to avoid for cream making purposes.

None of these products is sterile, and as creams make a splendid nutritional growing environment for bacteria, should be freshly boiled and cooled just before the product is prepared. You can buy sterile water in a pharmacy, but to be honest for your purposes, tap water will do the job just as well.

Simon

Thanks you two for the advices!!

I've never boiled before the water when making creams!! I'll do it from now!!

silvia

Dear Silvia

Thank you for your many postings.

I am copying one below from 17 July 2007. I am sure that our forum users would be interested to know how you are getting on with your efforts to find a volunteering opportunity in South America. When you find one, we would be interested to know how you get on.

I am an engineer and not a pharmacist but I am very curious as to why a qualified pharmacist from Spain does no know the difference between purified, distilled and mineral water. Also, I am surprised that a pharmacist would not know that boiling water is a way to sterilise it. As someone who visits Spain from time to time, I hope that you can reassure me the pharmaceutical qualifications on Spain are of high quality.

I look forward to your response.

Best regards

David

EARLIER POSTING--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi,

I hope you can help me with some information.

I work in London as a pharmacist although I´m from Spain. I´ve been always very interested in medicinal plants, specially in the practical use of these herbs and make oitments, tinctures, creams, soaps,...I love it!

At the moment I´m trying to learn as much as possible about it. I discovered WWOOF ( world wide opportunities on organic farms) not long ago and as soon as I have a few days off I volunteer. It´s giving me a good training!!

At the end of the year I´d like to do a long term volunteer in southamerica for at least 6 months.

The reason I´m writting to you is because you may know ( or have personal experience) with organizations or projects with herbs. Special interest also in promotion and educate local community.

I´m really looking forward to get involved in a nice project. I´ll appreciate any tip and information you may have,

hope to hear from you soon, thanks a lot !!!!

silvia

Feel free to pass this email to someone who may have some information.

Hi David,
thanks for your email.
I do understand now your curiosity!
Yes, I am a pharmacist and yes, qualifications in Spain are of high quality.

The reason I asked about the water is because I am starting making creams with herbs at home and wanted to know other's experienced people opinions.
I find this forum an easy way to to ask something when suddenly sometthing comes to my mind. I am always asking and confirming things.

I've been making creams at home ( for myself,) with purified water and simply didn't think on the fact of boiling it.I obviously know that boiling is a way of sterilation ( I am sure all the spanish pharmacists do!!)

As I remmember, when I was in Spain and did creams ( not with herbs) in the pharmacy, we always had distilled water,I don't remmember seeing purified water but when I wanted to order that here I only found purified but not distilled So I wondered which one is normally used here.

Ill be careful from now how I write things . Thanks for all the comments and for the refreshments, I'm quite young, still learning!!!

I'm coming back to Spain soon and planning to go to South america next year, I'm quite excited!!

silvia

Dear Silvia,

The easiest way to resove this problem is to give your registration number with The Royal Pharmaceutical Society. I expect an answer in two days. To poae as a pharmacist, when you are not is an offence.
Audrey MRPharmS

Dear Audrey,

I am a pharmacist and I have been registered in the royal pharmaceutical society since I arrived. I don't understand all this confusion, I'm sorry if I said something that is been misunderstood, it may be my way of writting.

looking forward your response,

silvia

Dear Silvia,

I just need your registration number with The Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

What is confusing about that?
Audrey

Dear Audrey,

my RPSGB number is 1080876. I don't know why my messages have created this confusion!.I'm a bit upset honestly.

I am a pharmacist who has become very interested avbout herbs and doing creams at home and I wanted some advices.

If I wrote something in a way that someone thought I was claiming being a pharmacist and I am not, I want to clarify that I am a pharmacist and I really love my job!

I visite this forum very occassionally ( I don't have internet conexion at home)and I may not have mentioned I am a pharmacist everytime I posted a message, but I am.

I'm sorry If I created some suspiccioness,

kind regards,

silvia

Hi, Silvia!

There has obviously been a misunderstanding here, and am sorry that you have been embarrassed. (lo siento, mucho)

What part of Spain do you come from?

And where did you do your training?

For 15 years, I was the Course Tutor for a master's degree in Food Science at the University of Reading; I retired in 1997. During that time I had personal contact with about 20 Spanish students, 3 of whom were pharmacists.

They were good students!

They all worked hard, enjoyed their time at Reading, and were awarded their MSc degree. After leaving some progressed to quite high positions in both industry and academia. I guess our 'Star Pupil' was a young lady who was appointed to have total responsibility for the catering in the Olympic Village, Sevilla, when Spain hosted the Games. (She is now a Senior Manager in a leading fast food company!)

Enjoy working with herbs! Every pharmacist should be encouraged to do it!

And if you want to know more, contact me Off List.)

Alan