Family: Cupressaceae

Synonyms: Italian cypress, Mediterranean cypress

Aroma: Slightly spicy, woody

Colour: Pale yellow

Plant: An evergreen tree with small flowers that produce green/brown to gray/brown cones. It has an arrow like erect shape and reaches a height of between 25 and 40 metres.

Main Growing Areas: Mediterranean, France, Spain, Morocco

Major Constituents: alpha pinene, beta pinene, sabinene, delta-3-carene, terpinolene, linalool.

Interesting snippets: Cypress was first mentioned in Assyrian texts 3,500 years ago as a treatment for haemorrhoids. The leaves were also used in purification rites.
The ancient Greeks dedicated the tree to Hades, the god of the underworld. The tree is found in many cemeteries and is the symbol of grief.
Ancient civilizations used the leaves to stop internal bleeding, haemorrhoids and diarrhoea.

Part of Plant used /Extraction: Terminal branches/needles, leaves and twigs by steam distillation. The branches are harvested in autumn with distillation taking approximately 17 hours to produce approximately 0.2 % of essential oil from the fresh plant material.

Therapeutic actions: Coughs, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, painful periods and excessive menstrual bleeds, deodorant for sweaty feet.

Emotional and Spiritual: Oil of transition. She helps you cope with and accept even difficult change whether of an outer or inner spiritual nature. She helps dissolve remorse and instil optimism allowing you to move through the ebb and flow of life. She can also assist those transiting from life to death to accept the outcome and gives a sense of comfort and eases the feelings of loss in those left behind.

Cleanses the spirit and helps release blocked and suppressed emotions.

Valerie Ann Worwood writes that cypress offers strength and energetic protection to those who need protecting, and those who are feeling vulnerable and insecure, or have lost their purpose.

Robbi Zeck writes that during times of change cypress supports and holds the space for the soul to remain in balance. Support will come from everywhere, you simply need to find your voice and ask!

Deborah Eidson states that energetically cypress encourages inner strength and spiritual growth and affirms the direction and purpose of your path. Cypress supports you in making life-changing decisions.

Aromatherapy Insight Card:

(Courtesy of J.Jefferies & K. Osborn)

TRANSITION
Helps in times of emotional and physical transition such as career changes, moving home or dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Change is inevitable, moving from one state to another and from one experience to another. The world moves fast now so we need to go outside our boxes and move with the changes that are happening around us. As you move forward, leave everything that drains you behind. When you move from one challenge and experience to the next, Cypress supports and protects you. This time of transition can either be positive if you go with it or a struggle if you resist it. Go forward, and stop people and situations from draining your emotional energy. Enjoy the ride.

Fragrant Change Healing Card: I move forward with ease and grace.

Contemplations for the Soul:

Are you going through a period of change emotionally, spiritually or in your circumstances?
Are you finding it difficult to adapt to change, clinging to what was?
What fears are holding you back from changing and moving on?
It’s time to accept that things are no longer the same and to move on.
Do you need to ask for support to help you move on?
Know that within you there is an inner strength which will allow you to move forward. Dig deep and find it.
If this change involves the loss of a loved one take time to mourn their loss and then move on with your life knowing they will never be forgotten and will live on in your heart.

Safety: Non-irritating, non-sensitising.

Sources: Battaglia S, The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion, Australia (1995)
Eidson D, Vibrational Healing, Frog Books (2000)
Hodges C. Contemplations for the Soul (2016)
Hodges C, Fragrant Change Healing Cards (2015)
Jefferies J, Osborn. K, Aromatherapy Insight Cards. Living Energy, Aust. (2nd Ed. 2005)
Kerr J, Cypress Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol.14 (2000)
Mojay G, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. Hodder and Stoughton (1996)
Worwood V.A, The Fragrant Heavens. Doubleday Publishing UK (1999)