Ambra Grisea a noisy smelly eruption

[Jean Doherty]

THE product of a whale's intestine could make a South Australian
family up to $1 million richer.

The 14.75kg lump of rare whale excretion, naturally expelled orally, was
found by the family on a beach near Streaky Bay on SA's west coast.

They were baffled by the substance before inquiries revealed it to be
ambergris – a wax-like substance originating from the intestine of a
sperm whale, and greatly prized for its use in perfume.

Ambergris was worth between $US20 ($26.62) and $US65 a gram, marine
ecology consultant Ken Jury said.

Mr Jury, who is representing the family, said ambergris was belched from
a sperm whale as a foul-smelling substance.
"It's actually belched out by the animal, would you believe, and those
few across the world that have witnessed that or heard it say it's quite
remarkable," Mr Jury told ABC radio.

"When a whale does that, particularly a big sperm whale, apparently the
sound of it travels for miles across the water."

Mr Jury said the finding was rare.

"When the whale throws this out, it's discarded material that it can't
digest and includes all sorts of things like hundreds of squib beaks and
goodness knows what," he said.

"The substance is actually lighter than water and so it floats around
the ocean.

"If you were to pick it up immediately after the whale discarded it, you
would immediately put it back because it is so foul.

"However, over a period of floating around the ocean for 10 years, the
sun and the salt water cleanses this amazing stuff.

"After 10 years, it's considered clean and all you are getting then is
the wonderful musty, very sweet perfume which I have got to say is
ultra-smooth.

"You can trace it back to 1000 BC. The Egyptians used it, the Chinese
did – they not only used it as perfumes but they used to eat it and they
used to give it as gifts. It was literally worth more than gold."

Ambergris has been used as a fixative for fine perfumes, for medicinal
purposes and also as an aphrodisiac.

It also has been used to enhance the flavours of food and wine, and for
herbal and homeopathic remedies.

[Jean Doherty]

THE product of a whale's intestine could make a South Australian
family up to $1 million richer.

The 14.75kg lump of rare whale excretion, naturally expelled orally, was
found by the family on a beach near Streaky Bay on SA's west coast.

They were baffled by the substance before inquiries revealed it to be
ambergris – a wax-like substance originating from the intestine of a
sperm whale, and greatly prized for its use in perfume.

Ambergris was worth between $US20 ($26.62) and $US65 a gram, marine
ecology consultant Ken Jury said.

Mr Jury, who is representing the family, said ambergris was belched from
a sperm whale as a foul-smelling substance.
"It's actually belched out by the animal, would you believe, and those
few across the world that have witnessed that or heard it say it's quite
remarkable," Mr Jury told ABC radio.

"When a whale does that, particularly a big sperm whale, apparently the
sound of it travels for miles across the water."

Mr Jury said the finding was rare.

"When the whale throws this out, it's discarded material that it can't
digest and includes all sorts of things like hundreds of squib beaks and
goodness knows what," he said.

"The substance is actually lighter than water and so it floats around
the ocean.

"If you were to pick it up immediately after the whale discarded it, you
would immediately put it back because it is so foul.

"However, over a period of floating around the ocean for 10 years, the
sun and the salt water cleanses this amazing stuff.

"After 10 years, it's considered clean and all you are getting then is
the wonderful musty, very sweet perfume which I have got to say is
ultra-smooth.

"You can trace it back to 1000 BC. The Egyptians used it, the Chinese
did – they not only used it as perfumes but they used to eat it and they
used to give it as gifts. It was literally worth more than gold."

Ambergris has been used as a fixative for fine perfumes, for medicinal
purposes and also as an aphrodisiac.

It also has been used to enhance the flavours of food and wine, and for
herbal and homeopathic remedies.

[Joy Lucas]

This rx does have a fear of poverty in the sx picture )

Best wishes, Joy
http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.com
http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.blogspot.com
http://homepage.mac.com/joylucas/

[Simon King LCPH MARH]

So the cosmetics industry has ALWAYS been gross!

S