Definition
Organic matter (or organic material such as wood and horn) is that which has come from a recently living organism; is capable of decay, or the product of decay; or is composed of organic compounds (ie. carbon-based).
Materials
Wood is composed of fibers of cellulose (40%–50%) and hemicellulose (15%–25%) held together by lignin (15%–30%).
Bones are rigid organs that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They function to move, support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. As bones come in a variety of shapes and have a complex internal and external structure, they are lightweight, yet strong and hard, in addition to fulfilling their many other functions. One of the types of tissues that makes up bone is the mineralised osseous tissue, also called bone tissue, that gives it rigidity and honeycomb-like three-dimensional internal structure. Other types of tissue found in bones include marrow, endosteum and periosteum, nerves, blood vessels and cartilage.
A horn is a living, vein and artery filled, pointed projection of the skin of various animals, consisting mainly of keratin as well as other proteins. True horns are found only among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae (pronghorn) and Bovidae (cows, buffalo, yaks, goats, antelope etc.). Those animals have one or two pairs of horns, which usually have a spiral shape.
Benefits
Wood is a common material for plugs and other shapes as it can be easily worked. Wooden pieces tend to keep warm in cold conditions, they are lightweight, they often stay in place better than other plugs and also they allow the body to 'breathe' so the piercing is less likely to smell as it might with other materials. Wood is also an excellent basis for more advanced jewellery, as the flat faces of a plug can be inlaid with crushed bone or horn, gemstones or metals. Horn also yields fantastic jewellery and is polished to an incredibly smooth finish, whilst also being super light-weight.
Tired of your metal jewellery being a burden on your lobes? Try organics for relaxed, happy piercings!
What is 'ear funk', and how do organics help?
Sebaceous glands in the skin secrete an oily substance called sebum (Latin, meaning fat or tallow) that is made of fat (lipids) and the debris of dead fat-producing cells. In the glands, sebum is produced within specialised cells and is released as these cells burst; sebaceous glands are thus classified as holocrine glands.
Sebum is odourless, but it's bacterial breakdown can produce odour. Sebum is the cause of some people experiencing 'oily' hair if it is not washed for several days, and is the cause of the dreaded 'ear funk'.
Organics allow the piercing to 'breathe' due to their porous nature, and allow a small exchange in material. With use of other materials such as glass, metal, silicone or plastic, the jewellery is impenetrable to the sebum, and this causes a build-up of dead tissue, leading to a bad smell.
Looking after your organic jewellery
All jewellery is polished to standard with natural beeswax. Beeswax or olive, peanut, or jojoba oils are recommended to keep your plugs looking their best, and should be lightly polished with a soft cloth. They should be washed periodically with a mild non-chemical soap or with a small amount of tea tree oil. Try to avoid getting organic jewellery wet (take them out for showering and bathing) although if it does, dry gently with a soft cloth.
