WHEAT

Oil (grains) — Origin: Middle East

Trictum

BELIEVE YOUR EARS

This cereal, which provides sustenance to much of mankind, is but a modest grass, whose knotty stalk is topped with spiky flowers. Trictum—its Latin name—comes in countless varieties, the most common of which (durum wheat, bread wheat, einkorn wheat) have become household names. The earliest types of wheat gathered by man were wild varieties. They were then cultivated, starting in the Neolithic era, in the more irrigated plains of the “fertile crescent” in the Middle East, between the Euphrates and the River Jordan, from east to west. This ancient wheat was “dressed”: its bran clung to the grain, from which it was nearly inseparable. Our common wheat was born by crossing emmer with other wild species of wheat. Nowadays, it is cultivated intensively worldwide.

TEACHINGS FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL

The sowing and harvesting of wheat sets the tempo for the lives of men. Wheat has a symbolic value across almost all traditions. Superstitions are linked to its cultivation and consumption. It is cited in the Old Testament as well as several other sacred books. At weddings in Ancient Rome, just as in Vedic India, grains of wheat were symbolically poured into the cupped hands of the happy couple. Roman maidens would prepare wheat bran baths to soften their skin. Caterina Sforza, a figure of femininity during the Italian Renaissance, wrote a greatly popular book, Liber de experimentiis, in which she compiled beauty and medicinal recipes . . . including a few poisons! Very white skin being in fashion at the time, she recommended the use of wheat bran for its brightening properties. In her Art of Beauty, published in 1858, and inspired by a ritual attributed to “the beauties of the Spanish court,” Lola Montez recommended it in a recipe for a lotion meant to bring radiance and whiteness to the neck and arms: “Infuse some well-winnowed wheat bran for four hours in some white wine vinegar; add five egg yolks and a pinch of ambergris, and distill this mixture. Seal it hermetically for twelve to fifteen days; you will then be able to use it.” On Saint Barbara’s Day, December 4, the people of Provence used to plant wheat in three shallow dishes to signal the start of the Christmas season. If, by the day of the Nativity, the wheat had germinated, the harvest would be plentiful.

ON COLLECTING WHEAT

Wheat is harvested in summer. The germ is the plant’s richest part—full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. . . . Wheat germ oil is obtained by cold-pressing. It is thick, deep yellow, and redolent of the cereal’s warm, round aroma.

THE BENEFITS

Wheat germ oil is rich in linoleic acid (omega-6), which protects the skin from external aggressions and efficiently prevents it from drying out. It is second to none in its store of natural active agents: tocopherols, vitamin E . . . all of which are potent antioxidants and help protect the cells from the oxidation caused by free radicals. Vitamin K encourages the coagulation of microvessels: it thus helps to fight rosacea as well as skin redness.

“Let men not be too confident in judging—like he who, in a field, would appraise the wheat before it is ripe.”

The Divine Comedy, DANTE ALIGHIERI

A FEW DROPS

Daily application of wheat germ oil will take good care of mature or irritable skin. Two or three drops of this rich, dense oil will do; each night, massage directly onto the face, taking your time. Wheat germ oil is also a haircare classic: applying it along the length of the hair and leaving it on under a warm towel for a few hours will greatly enhance dry hair.

WHEAT-BASED RECIPES

from Officine Universelle

SARAH BERNHARDT’S BATH

Take a cue from the bath recipe devised by the famed actress: “A kilogram of barley, a pound of rice, a kilo and a half of pulverized lupin seeds, three kilos of bran, one kilo of oat flour, half a pound of lavender.” Sarah was not one to take her beauty treatments lightly!

In a large cotton sachet, mix one pound each of wheat bran, barley, and dried lavender. Allow to infuse for fifteen minutes, then step into this milky bath and remain there for about twenty minutes.

FRESH START COMBINATION AND OILY SKIN SCRUB

Our skin is constantly evolving and is liable to switch back and forth between various states. A suitable scrub can help restore its balance. Carefully mix one tablespoon of wheat bran and a teaspoon of honey with one tablespoon of hazelnut oil. Massage this mixture from the face down to the upper neckline area. Remove with a warm cloth and rinse.

ANTIQUE MASK

Round off the cleansing of your skin with this purifying treatment.

Pour two level tablespoons of wheat bran into a bowl, followed by a glass of boiling mineral water. Mix well and allow to infuse for fifteen minutes. Once it has cooled down a bit, pour this paste onto a clean cloth and apply it to the face using the cloth. Leave on for about ten minutes, then remove the mask, gently rubbing your face with the cloth. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with another dry and spotlessly clean cloth.