Essential Oil Spotlight: Melissa

Melissa essential oil, also known as lemon balm, is steam-distilled from the leaves of the Melissa officinalis plant in the mint family.

Melissa is one of the earliest known medicinal herbs. Historically, it was used for nervous disorders and many problems having to do with the heart and emotions. It was also used to aid fertility.

It has antibacterial, antidepressant, sedative, and other qualities that make it useful in a wide variety of applications. It is helpful in relieving anxiety, asthma, colic, depression, indigestion, insomnia, nausea, fevers, throat infections, and vertigo.

Aromatically, melissa is delicate and lemony. It is calming and uplifting and may help balance the emotions.

Melissa blends well with geranium, lavender, and other floral and citrus oils. It is a good oil to diffuse or to use externally on the area of concern.

See the Reference Guide for Essential Oils to learn more about melissa essential oil and many other pure essential oils.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, pp. 98–99.

 

 

Essential Oil Spotlight: Grapefruit

Grapefruit essential oil is cold-pressed from the rind of the fruit of a Rutaceae tree. It has a clean, fresh, bitter, citrusy aroma that may aid emotional balance and have an uplifting effect.

The antidepressant, antiseptic, and diuretic properties of grapefruit make it useful in treating a variety of issues. It is primarily used to treat eating disorders, indigestion, and postpartum depression and to aid in weight loss. It may also help with depression, withdrawal, eating disorders, fatigue, stress, and gallstones.

The French have used it to treat cellulite, digestion, and water retention.

Grapefruit essential oil can be used in food, diffused, or applied directly to the area of concern. Grapefruit does not have the photosensitivity that other citrus oils have, so it makes a good substitute for any other citrus if exposure to the sun after application is likely.

See the Reference Guide for Essential Oils to learn more about grapefruit essential oil and many other pure essential oils.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, p. 81.

Essential Oil Spotlight: Cassia

Cassia essential oil is steam-distilled from the bark of the Cinnamomum cassia tree in the Lauraceae family. It has a spicy, warm, sweet aroma.

Historically, cassia has been widely used as a domestic spice. It has also been used medicinally to treat colds, colic, diarrhea, nausea, rheumatism, and digestive complaints.

Cassia oil is best used in small amounts blended with other oils, as it can be very sensitizing to the dermal tissues. Cassia is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for human consumption but should be well diluted when taken orally.

Cassia oil is considered to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

See the Reference Guide for Essential Oils to learn more about cassia essential oil and many other pure essential oils.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, pp. 53–54.

Essential Oil Spotlight: Ginger

Ginger essential oil is steam-distilled from rhizomes of the Zingiber officinale plant.

Historically, ginger has been an esteemed spice known to help the digestive system. Up to 4,ooo years ago, the ancient Greeks used it in gingerbread, Romans put it in their wine, and Egyptians used it in their cooking to ward off epidemics. In India and China, ginger was used in teas and tonics to aid digestion and the heart. Hawaiians made broad use of ginger, scenting their clothes, flavoring their food, and adding it to their shampoos and massage oils.

In addition to aiding digestive issues, ginger can be used to relieve motion sickness, nausea, fever, teething pains, tonsillitis, and vomiting. Ginger may also be helpful in treating arthritis, colds, impotence, muscular aches, and sore throats.

The sweet, spicy-woody, and fresh aroma of ginger may help influence physical energy, sex, love, money, and courage.

See the Reference Guide for Essential Oils to learn more about ginger essential oil and many other pure essential oils.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, pp. 79–80.

Essential Oil Spotlight: Peppermint

 

Peppermint essential oil is steam-distilled from the leaves, stems, and flower buds of the Mentha piperita plant.

For centuries, peppermint has been used for a variety of purposes. It is known to soothe digestion and freshen breath, as well as treat headaches and heartburn.

The French have been known to use peppermint to alleviate asthma, diarrhea, indigestion, migraines, itchy skin, and throat infection.

The antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties of peppermint make it a versatile in uses that aid the digestive and respiratory systems as well as muscles, bones, and skin.

It may also be used to help anger, arthritis, colic, depression, morning sickness, and toothaches.

The aroma is both purifying and stimulating to the mind. It can reduce fevers and increase mental accuracy.

See the Reference Guide for Essential Oils to learn more about peppermint essential oil and many other pure essential oils.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, pp. 112–14.

Essential Oil Spotlight: Lavender

Lavender essential oil is steam-distilled from the flowering tops of the Lavandula plant in the mint family. It has a floral, sweet, herbaceous aroma that is emotionally and spiritually uplifting.

During medieval times, it was used both for chastity and as an aphrodisiac. In France, lavender is often used to treat skin disorders, hair loss, herpes, indigestion, and headaches; to repel insects; for mental clarity; and to treat nausea.

It has antidepressant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties, which make it useful in treating a variety of infections and ailments. Common uses for lavender include acne, inflammation, postpartum depression, itching, sunburn, and wounds.

Lavender can be used topically and aromatically; but use with caution orally, as it has not been designated as GRAS by the FDA.

See the Reference Guide for Essential Oils to learn more about lavender essential oil and many other pure essential oils.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, pp. 88–89.

Essential Oil Spotlight: Clary Sage

Clary sage essential oil is steam-distilled from the Salvia sclarea plant of the mint family. Its spicy, hay-like aroma brings a sense of calm and euphoria.

Historically, it was nicknamed “clear eyes” and was well known during the Middle Ages as a successful treatment for eye problems. It was also widely used for female complaints, inflammation, and wounds.

The French use clary sage to treat a variety of ailments, including bronchitis, cholesterol, hormonal imbalance, impotence, PMS, and weak digestion.

Clary sage may also be used for kidney disorders, cell regulation, depression, circulatory problems, insect bites, dry skin, infections, and whooping cough. It may help balance the body’s hormonal system.

It can be applied topically, diffused, or taken orally if diluted in honey or milk.

See the Reference Guide for Essential Oils to learn more about clary sage essential oil and many other pure essential oils.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, pp. 60–61.

Essential Oil Spotlight: Clove

Clove essential oil is steam-distilled from the flower buds of a tree in the Myrtaceae family. Its spicy, warm, and woody aroma is said to be a mental stimulant.

Historically, clove was used for skin infections, digestive upsets, intestinal parasites, childbirth, and toothaches.

The French use clove for impotence, intestinal parasites, memory deficiency, pain, plague, toothache, and wounds. The Chinese also use cloves for diarrhea, hernia, bad breath, and bronchitis.

Clove oil is believed to support the cardiovascular, digestive, immune, and respiratory systems. It may also be used to treat arthritis, insect bites, rheumatism, and warts. Clove is known to have antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties.

Used aromatically, clove may influence healing, improve memory, and create a feeling of courage. It is regarded as safe for human consumption by the FDA and can be taken internally or used topically.

See the Reference Guide for Essential Oils to learn more about clove essential oil and many other pure essential oils.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, pp. 61–62.

Essential Oil Spotlight: Spearmint

Spearmint essential oil is steam-distilled from the leaves of the Mentha spicata plant. Its pleasant, minty, and slightly fruity aroma is milder than peppermint.

Historically, spearmint was used to relieve hiccups, colic, nausea, indigestion, flatulence, headaches, sores, and scabs.

The French have used spearmint to relieve bronchitis, candida, cystitis, and hypertension.

Spearmint may help support the body systems when trying to balance and increase metabolism and burn fat and toxins in the body. Spearmint has also been said to aid the glandular, nervous, and respiratory systems. It may act as a natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and stimulant. Spearmint has commonly been used to to help support the digestive system and bring emotional balance.

The fresh aroma of spearmint makes it an ideal mood lifter, relieving mental strain and fatigue. Its hormone-like activity may help to open and release emotional blocks.

Other common uses of spearmint essential oil are as an insecticide and as relief for acne, eczema, migraines, nausea, bad breath, and menstrual symptoms.

See the Reference Guide for Essential Oils to learn more about spearmint essential oil and many other pure essential oils.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, p. 123.

Essential Oil Spotlight: Lemon

Lemon essential oil is cold-pressed from the rind of Citrus limon.

Historically, lemon was used to fight food poisoning, malaria, typhoid epidemics, and scurvy and to lower blood pressure and help with liver issues, arthritis, and muscular aches and pains.

The French have used lemon medicinally to help with anemia, disinfecting the air, asthma, colds, fever, gout, heartburn, intestinal parasites, rheumatism, throat infection, varicose veins, water purification, and more.

Lemon is commonly used today to support the body systems when dealing with anxiety, atherosclerosis, brain injury, cold sores, constipation, depression, dysentery, exhaustion, fever, flu, greasy/oily hair, heartburn, intestinal parasites, kidney stones, pancreatitis, postpartum depression, and stress.

In cleaning, lemon also works great as a furniture polish and for removing grease and gum.

Aromatically, lemon is said to promote health, healing, physical energy, and purification. It provides an invigorating, enhancing, and warming fragrance.

Lemon essential oil makes a great addition to many cooking recipes. It adds a wonderful citrus flavor to foods and beverages.

To learn more about lemon essential oil, please see the book Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Alan and Connie Higley.

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2016 Edition, p. 90–91.