Tag Archives: cold sores

Melissa (Melissa officinalis)

melissa header

Family: Lamiaceae

Synonyms: Lemon balm, balm, common balm, bee balm.

Aroma: Fresh, sweet, lemony, herbaceous.

Colour: Pale yellow.

Melissa flowersPlant: Perennial herb that grows up to 90cm with tiny white or pink flowers. When crushed the leaves exude a sweet lemony aroma.

Main Growing Areas: France, Germany, Italy, Spain.

Major Constituents: Geranial, neral, citronellal, citral, beta-caryophyllene.

Interesting snippets: Melissa is said to be the name of the Cretan princess who first discovered how to get honey.

King Charlemagne (742-814) ordered lemon balm to be planted in every monastery garden because of its beauty.

Melissa was used in Arabia in the 10th century as a treatment for melancholy.

Part of Plant used / Extraction: Steam distillation of the aerial parts of the plant before it flowers. The highest yields are extracted in late summer from the lower parts of the plant. Oil yield is approximately 0.02% by weight. It is often adulterated with lemongrass or citronella oils.

Therapeutic actions: Cold sores, flu, shingles, nausea, migraines, painful periods.

Emotional and Spiritual: Nervous exhaustion.
Robbi Zeck writes that like a beam of light on a dark winter’s day, melissa softens extreme emotions, eases resentment, gladdens the heart and engages the soul in its own graceful rhythm.

Gabriel Mojay writes that melissa is important for depression, particularly in those who are emotionally sensitive, easily traumatised by confrontation and do not respond well to pressure. Melissa can reach the deepest layers of the psyche and can help to restore both clarity and security to a confused, dependent soul.

Fragrant Change Healing Card: I express my hurt and anger in a healthy way.

Melissa FCHC

Safety: Possible skin irritant to hypersensitive people, possibly sensitising, non-toxic.

Sources: Battaglia S, The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion, Australia (1995)
Bowles E.J, The A to Z of Essential Oils. New Burlington Books (2003)
Jefferies J, Melissa Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol.35 (2006)
Hodges C, Fragrant Change Healing Cards (2015)
Mojay G, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. Hodder and Stoughton (1996)
Zeck R, The Blossoming Heart. Aroma Tours (2004)

Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica)

Ravensara

Ravensara is a good oil to have on hand during the winter months. She is one of the first oils I reach for when I’m coming down with a cold.

Family: Lauraceae

Synonyms: Madagascar spice, Madagascar nutmeg, clove nut.

Aroma: Fresh, sharp, clear, eucalyptus-like.

Colour: Colourless

RavensaraPlant: Tree 18 to 20 metres high with reddish grey bark and dark evergreen leaves.

Main Growing Areas: Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Australia.

Major Constituents: Pinene, terpineol, linalool, eugenol, estragole.

Interesting snippets: The local people have used the bark, leaves and fruit since ancient times.
The name ravensara means the tree with good leaves in Malagasy.

Part of Plant used / Extraction: Leaves and twigs by very long, slow steam distillation.

Therapeutic actions: Antiviral and immunostimulant, excellent for colds and flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, whooping cough, cold sores, shingles, joint pains, muscular tension and  physical fatigue.

Emotional and Spiritual: Setting boundaries, mental fatigue.
Philippe Mailhebiau writes ravensara is for people who no longer enjoy life and doubt everything especially themselves, those who no longer know where they are through lack of aims or ideals and who, their morale affected, suffer various pains as a result.

Robbie Zeck writes Ravensara encourages the setting of personal boundaries. A boundary delineates what is included within as well as what is excluded. Learning to define your boundaries determines your identity and maintaining healthy boundaries is absolutely integral to your self-empowerment. Your emotional and physical wellbeing will be compromised if your boundaries are unstructured. Learn to say no: And remember, ‘no’ is a complete sentence.

Gabriel Mojay writes ravensara is ideal for restlessness and insomnia caused by nervous debility and illness. Like tea tree oil, it is also important in cases where anxiety and depression threaten to weaken the immune system.

Safety: Possible skin irritation, non-toxic.

Note: Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica) is often confused with Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora). They have a different chemical makeup with ravintsara having a large percentage of 1.8 cineole and ravensara very little. Ravintsara is considered gentler to use with children.

Sources: Davis P, Aromatherapy, An A-Z. The C.W.Daniel Company Ltd. (1996)
Mailhebiau P, Portraits in Oils. The C.W.Daniel Company Ltd. (1995)
Mojay G, Aromatherapy Class notes (1999)
Zeck R, The Blossoming Heart. Aroma Tours (2004)
https://materiaaromatica.com/default.aspx?go=article&articleID=187