Ebony
From BMEzine Encyclopedia
Ebony is a kind of hardwood commonly used in wooden body jewelry for ear stretching (and other purposes). "Ebony" refers to African and Asian trees of the Diospyros genus which have a black or very dark brown wood (which may sometimes have lighter streaks). Because ebony is incredibly hard, it has many uses and has become one of the most expensive kinds of wood as well as it becomes more and more endangered. For example, in Kenya where 50,000 ebony trees are cut down annually, only small pockets of them remain. Because of this destruction, Kenya has tried to regulate the international ebony trade, but resistance from Tanzania, Mozambique, and other nations has made progress difficult.
Ebony trees, Africa
It is very rare for ebony to come from a renewable source. While a small number of jewelers working in ebony go to efforts to make sure they are buying from a renewable source (either ebony farms or by breaking down old furniture), very few do when it comes right down to it. So if you're wearing ebony jewelry, you may be supporting deforestation.
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L-R: Simple ebony plug, ebony tunnel, carved jewelry
Ebony allergies are possible but not that common — although ebony dust reactions for those lathing it are much more common. Ebony jewelry should have an excellent lifespan assuming you take care of it. It shouldn't need more than an occasional oiling (with olive oil) to keep it from drying up. If the jewelry dries up, it can crack and is far more succeptable to shattering if you drop it.
