Natron
Natron, or Natrun; a natural compound of sodium salts most commonly harvested from dried up lake beds; was used extensively by the ancient Egyptians for mummification, ritual cleansing and purity, household cleaning, vitrified pottery glazes, the production of soap, and glassmaking.
I find the common recipe of half baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and half table salt (sodium chloride) to be woefully inadequate compared to the complexity of natural natron, so I've reconstructed it using the ratios found in naturally-occuring natron deposits.
This Natron is suitable for use as an ingredient as required in the Greek and Demotic Magical Papyrii (PGM).
Ingredients:
Sodium Carbonate Decahydrate (lab quality)
Sodium Bicarbonate (food grade)
Sodium Chloride (sourced from naturally harvested sea salt)
Sodium Sulfate (lab quality)
Water-soluble Minerals (from naturally harvested mountain spring water)
The solvent is distilled mountain spring water, and the final product has been ground to a fine powder by hand in a mortar and pestle.
For external use only.
Safety
Natron is alkaline, and may be irritating to the skin - especially when not sufficiently dilluted in water. Please handle with care and rinse well with clean water to remove from skin, hair, clothing, and surfaces. If you react poorly to exposure, rinse thoroughly with cool, running, clean water and do not use again.
Use for Cleansing
To use as a ritual cleansing wash or in an asperger, add a pinch (approximately ten grains) to a full cup or more of clean water.
For bathing, add a maximum of 1/4c to a full bathtub.
When in doubt, pH test your mixture for safety. Ideal pH for skin is 4.5-5.5. If the pH reads above 6, dillute further before use.
Custom Orders
Please drop me a line if you would like your Natron prepared with the inclusion of gums and resins (such as myrrh), herbs or ground minerals/gemstones; or provided in a form other than finely ground. The price may differ depending on your specific needs.