Latin Name: cedrolopsis grevei baill Alternative Name: katrafy Forms Available: essential oil
Katrafay – cedrolopsis grevei baill – organic, steam-distilled bark, Madagascar, a/k/a Katrafy. This oil is considered anti-inflammatory. Blends well with lavender, tea tree, and rosemary. Its color is pale yellow and it is considered a “middle” note. It’s used for fatigue, rheumatism, arthritis, headaches, sciatica and muscular pains. Avoid during pregnancy. Blends well with Lavender, Tea Tree, Rosemary and Clary Sage.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: It’s used for fatigue, rheumatism, arthritis, headaches, sciatica and muscular pains. Avoid during pregnancy. Blends well with Lavender, Tea Tree, Rosemary and Clary Sage.
Latin Name: pueraia lobata Alternative Name: ge-gen Forms Available: root
Kudzu – pueraia lobata – The root of this plant is used in Chinese medicine. It is used in the treatment of measles, and alcohol abuse. It is also used to relieve aches and pains in the upper body when accompanied by fever, cold or flu. Kudzu has tonic properties which help the body replenish fluids which is a valuable property to any of the previously mentioned conditions.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Used for upper body muscle pains, particularly when accompanied by colds, fevers or chills. Also used as a treatment for measles and alcohol abuse.
Kukui Nut Oil – aleurites moluccana – Kukui nut oil, brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers, is quickly absorbed into the skin. Kukui nut oil is high in linoleic and linolenic essential fatty acids. Excellent for skin conditioning after sun exposure, as well as for acne, eczema, psoriasis, hemorrhoids, dry/wrinkled skin and offers good protection for outdoor sports. It offers just the right amount of lubrication without leaving a greasy feeling. Excellent for chapped skin and may prevent scarring. Use in a 10%-15% dilution. For soapmaking, even 1-2/3 tablespoons added to 5 lbs. of soap just before incorporating the essential oils adds richness to the soap. A higher percentage, 10-20% of the total fats and oils, makes an outstanding soap.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Kukui nut oil is high in linoleic and linolenic essential fatty acids. Excellent for skin conditioning after sun exposure, as well as for acne, eczema, psoriasis, hemorrhoids, dry/wrinkled skin and offers good protection for outdoor sports.
Latin Name: cypriedium acaule Alternative Name: nerveroot, lady’s slipper, moccasin flower, american valerian Forms Available: root
Lady Slipper – cypriedium acaule – Used to treat anxiety, depression, menopausal emotional imbalances, and nervous tension. A tranquilizer and mood uplifter. This herb has been particularly used to calm the mind for sleep.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Used to treat anxiety, depression, menopausal emotional imbalances.
Latin Name: lantana camara Alternative Name: red sage, yellow sage, shrub verbena Forms Available: essential oil
Lantana Camara – It is known to be anti-catarrh, antiviral, antitumor, cicatrizant, emmenagogue, mucolytic. Skin: wounds, cuts, ulcers -avoid use on sensitive skin. It may help with bronchitis and asthma as well as with viral infections. Stimulates liver and gallbladder. Best avoided in pregnancy due to large ketone percentage.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: It is known to be anti-catarrh, antiviral, antitumor, cicatrizant, emmenagogue, mucolytic. Skin: wounds, ulcers -avoid use on sensitive skin. It may help with bronchitis and asthma as well as with viral infections. Stimulates liver and gall bladder.
Latin Name: lavandula. lavendula officinalis Alternative Name: elf leaf, nard, nardus, spike. Forms Available: essential oil, absolute, bud, powder, flower
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The Lavender plant grows to about one meter in height and produces long thin purple- blue flowers. The entire plant is covered with oil glands, which are in the star shaped hairs that cover the plant. Lavender has been used since ancient times, and the Romans added lavender to their bath water, hence the name from the Latin lavare, ‘to wash’.
Indigenous to the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean areas, Lavender is also grown throughout the world including the United States, Australia, Southern Europe, France, India and other parts of Asia.
Lavender and Lavender essential oil have roots deeply vested in the historic healing of human beings. For more than 2500 years, Lavender has been used for therapeutic, culinary and beauty benefits in the cosmetic and personal hygiene industry.
Lavender – lavandula spp. – There are 28 species of these aromatic, evergreen, shrubby, perennials, all with small, linear leaves and spikes of fragrant, usually purple or blue, two-lipped flowers. Aromatic oil glands cover all aerial parts of the plants but are most concentrated in the flowers. The flowers flavor jams, vinegar, sweets, cream, and Provençal stews, and are crystallized for decoration. Dried flowers add long-lasting fragrance to sachets and potpourri. Flower water is a skin toner useful for speeding cell renewal and is an antiseptic for acne. Flower tea treats anxiety, headaches, flatulence, nausea, dizziness, and halitosis.
The essential oil is a highly valued perfume and healer. It is antiseptic, mildly sedative, and painkilling. It is applied to insect bites, and treats burns, sore throats and headaches. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have consumed up to 10 cups of lavender water a day to relieve migraines.
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The oil is used for intestinal gas, migraine, and dizziness. Being antiseptic, lavender is added to healing salves. A tea of the leaf allays nausea and vomiting. Use two teaspoons per cup of water and steep for twenty minutes. The dose is one-fourth cup four times a day. Steep lavender blossoms in white wine and strain to make a natural antidepressant beverage. Lavender and rose petal vinagar is applied to the temples and brow to ease headache. Lavender oil is added to footbaths, eases toothaches and sprains, and is used as a rub for hysteria and palsy.
Visit AyurvedicOils.com for more information on the traditional ayurvedic and aromatherapeutic uses of Lavender Oil. Learn about the natural chemical components that give Lavender Oil its fragrance and therapeutic characteristics.
Other Uses: Lavender is strewn into bonfires at Midsummer as an offering to the Gods and Goddesses. An ingredient of love spells, its scent is said to attract men. Lavender in the home brings peace, joy and healing. The essential oil is included in health and love.
Thought for the day:
Come forth into the light of things, let Nature be your teacher. -by William Wordsworth
Latin Name: polymnia sp. Alternative Name: bearsfoot Forms Available: root
Leafcup – polymnia sp. – Perennial growing in USA central states. Used by North American Indians as both stimulant and laxative. This herb has also been used in hair tonics. It has been taken internally to treat mastitis and non-malignant swollen glands. Also, potentially, good for the liver, stomach and spleen.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Considered tonic for liver, stomach and spleen. Laxative. Hair tonic.
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) recommends that geraniol be limited to 5.3%, which translates into 17.5% Geranium oil (about 105 drops per ounce of any other carrier oils) for leave-on products like ointments, creams, and lotions. There is no restriction for body washes, shampoos, soaps, and other wash-off products because the oil does not remain on the skin.
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Geranium is a hairy perennial shrub, often used in hedgerows, and will stand up to about one meter high (3 feet) with pointed leaves, serrated at the edges and with flowers that range from red to a pinkish white. Geranium plants originated in South Africa, Madagascar, Egypt and Morocco and were introduced to European countries in the 17th century. The petals are used in gourmet jellies and confections, and the oil is widely used in scented topical applications.
Geranium Essential Oil is steam distilled from leaf. Sweet, heavy aroma, somewhat like rose with a minty overtone.
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Geranium and its essential oil have been used in numerous alternative medicinal practices for healing wounds and fractures. It is said that the ancient Greeks used Geranium for treating skin problems. Egyptians used Geranium oil for enhancing the beauty and radiance of their skin.
This plant was grown around homes in the ancient times to keep away from evil spirits. Traditionally, Africans used Geranium oil in the treatment of cholera and tumors. Native American tribes in North America used Geranium tea prepared from the root powder to enhance the body’s immune power, and to treat ulcers and dysentery.
There are 250 natural species and thousands of cultivars and hybrid varieties of the Pelargonium plant family, in the genus Geraniaceae and the most popular ones are Egyptian Geranium, Reunion or the Geranium Bourbon and the Moroccan varieties. Most of the varieties have a similar structure of chemical constituents with Citronellol and Geraniol being the prevalent components.
Geranium Bourbon essential oil is certified with GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) status by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as Geranium oil is mild and tested safe on individuals on a normal prescribed usage level.
Using Geranium oil in a concentrated form or beyond the safe level of use might cause adverse skin reactions like mild irritation, sensitization (lower risk), rashes, allergy, irritation of the eyes and contact dermatitis. Geranium oil is non-phototoxic in nature.
The primary chemical constituents that are held responsible for the adverse skin reactions of Geranium oil are citronellal and geraniol, where citronellal is reported to exhibit mild irritant effect along with sporadic sensitization and skin irritation and Geraniol is claimed for skin sensitization.
The safe dermal usage level for this oil is 17.5% by IFRA (International Fragrance Association) and this safety report is based on the 30% Geraniol content, which has a maximum dermal limit of 5.3%.
Research reports reveal the skin irritating effect of Reunion Geranium oil used in an undiluted manner; this oil was slightly irritating when tested on mouse skin; when tested with 5% Bourbon Geranium oil on 100 repeated dermatitis patients, the result was placid with two irritant reactions. It has also been proved that cosmetics with Geranium oil formula have caused dermatitis in hypersensitive individuals.
Always blend Geranium essential oil in carrier oils like Olive oil, Jojoba oil or Coconut oil before using it topically. This is because organic and pure essential oils are extremely concentrated liquid substances that may impair the skin surface, when used in an undiluted form.
Essential oils are recommended only for external use and never ingest essential oils as it can cause serious health hazards. When administering Geranium oil orally in studies, acute dermal LD50 has been witnessed in rabbits. This may also cause possible drug interactions with antidiabetic medicines and the enzyme, CYP2B6 inhibiting effect of geraniol causes drug interaction metabolized by CYP2B6.
A recent study has witnessed this by testing alloxan-induced diabetic male rats with Geranium oil for about a month. The level of blood glucose was decreased by glibenclamide and the concentration of hepatic glycogen was significantly augmented.
As there are no evidenced reports on the safety of Geranium oil during pregnancy and lactating, it is safe to avoid this oil for it may have an impact on the hormonal fluctuations during these special moments. It is better to keep away Geranium oil from babies, either as a massage aid or for inhalation as it can harm their sensitive and tender skin.
Visit AyurvedicOils.com for more information on the traditional ayurvedic and aromatherapeutic uses of Geranium Oil. Learn about the natural chemical components that give Geranium Oil its fragrance and therapeutic characteristics.
Among its reputed aromatherapeutic properties are analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, cicatrisant, diuretic and insecticide. Calms anxiety, lifts the spirit, assists with depression. Useful for all conditions of the woman’s reproductive system as an inhalant and massage application, beneficial for PMS. May assist with menopausal problems such as vaginal dryness and heavy periods. Assists with breast inflammation. Helps clear the body of toxins and this may be helpful with addictions. Stimulates the lymphatic system which keeps infection at bay. Eases neuralgia. Indicated for all problems of the nervous system such as anxiety and nervous fatigue. The oil is a diuretic and a lymphatic stimulant which can help relieve congestion, fluid retention and swollen ankles. Useful for all skin conditions as it balances sebum. Good for oily skin. It’s an excellent remedy for burns, wounds and ulcers. Blends well with basil, bergamot, carrot seed, jasmine, lavender and rose.
Reference Links Substantiating the Possible Skin Issues of Geranium Oil:
Latin Name: melissa officinalis Alternative Name: melissa, balm, bee balm, sweet balm, sweet melissa Forms Available: leaf, flower
Lemon Balm – melissa officionalis – This bushy herb has square stems, lemon-scented foliage, and late-summer flowers that mature from white or yellow to pale blue. Fresh leaves add a delicate flavor to many dishes, oils, vinegars, and liqueurs, provide a relaxing bath, soothe insect bites, and make a sedative and tonic tea.
Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Induces a relaxed start and lifts the spirit. Calms stress.
Other Uses: Soak in wine for 3 hours, remove and serve wine to friends and loved ones. Used in spells to ensure success.
