Tag Archives: shingles

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

Kunzea (Kunzea ambigua)

Kunzea

Kunzea is one of my favourite oils for easing emotional pain.

Family: Myrtaceae

Synonyms: Tick bush, Ducane kunzea.

Aroma: Clean, fresh.

Colour: Pale to golden yellow.

Kunzea flowers 4Plant: Tall, up to 5 metres shrub with small dark green leaves on long arching thin branches. Flowers are small, white (rarely pink) and profuse being 1.5 cm in diameter and crowded along short lateral bracts.

Main Growing Areas: North East Tasmania, South East mainland Australia.

Major Constituents: alpha-pinene, 1,8 cineole, globulol, viridiflorol, biocyclogermacrene.

Interesting snippets: Native animals seek relief from infestations of ticks by brushing against, sleeping or lying under the trees.

Part of Plant used / Extraction: Leaves, stems and branches by steam distillation.

Therapeutic actions: Gout, insect bites, cuts, minor burns, muscular aches and pains, arthritis, flu, shingles, eczema.

Emotional and Spiritual: Nervous tension, stress, mild anxiety.
Robbi Zeck writes kunzea helps to defuse deep emotional pain that has grown solid as a result of suppression, creating internal blocks in the body’s meridian system. Pain and crisis are part of the human cycle and mindful awareness can transform pain. Pain in the body indicates that something is wrong. Pain can also activate growth and a potential for healing. Pain is often the opening through which you can learn to trust yourself and see yourself differently. Learn to breathe your spirit fully into life. Use your breath to move you through the fear of pain and the pain of fear. There is no such thing as an event or a pain without a feeling associated with it. Where there is pain in the body, there is always an emotion attached to the pain. Kunzea assists in the release of physical and emotional pain and in transforming the immediate shock of accidents.

Fragrant Change Healing Card: I acknowledge the pain I feel and gently realease it.

Kunzea

Contemplations for the Soul:

Kunzea

Have you been deeply hurt by the words or actions of others?
Have you done things that have hurt you on an emotional or spiritual level?
Have you suppressed or buried the pain so as not to feel it?
It’s time to acknowledge your feelings, forgive those who caused the pain and let it go.
Release those who are causing you pain in your life.
Find a place where you feel safe. This may include visiting a therapist or speaking to a trusted friend or family member.
Regain your confidence. Know that fear and pain are a part of life but dealing with them when they occur instead of supressing them will allow you to move on and enjoy life.

Safety: Non-irritating, non-sensitising, non-toxic.

Sources: Hodges C. Contemplations for the Soul (2016)

Hodges C, Fragrant Change Healing Cards (2015)

Webb, M, Kunzea Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol.21 (2002)
Zeck R, The Blossoming Heart. Aroma Tours (2004)

Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia)

Spike lavender header

Spike lavender although not as well-known as true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the first oil I reach for  in cases of respiratory and muscular issues.

Family: Lamiaceae, Labiatae.

Synonyms: Lavandula spica, Aspic lavender.

Aroma: Fresh, floral-camphoraceous, smells similar to rosemary.

Colour: Pale yellow.

Plant: Shrub grows from 30 to 80 cm tall. The flowers are pale violet on loose spikes at the top of tall, branchy stems that lean over somewhat.

Main Growing Areas: Spain, Italy,  France and  Portugal.

Major Constituents: 1.8 cineole, camphor, linalool.

Interesting snippets: Spike lavender grows at low altitudes whereas true lavender grows at high altitudes hence its high camphor content and aroma. Spike lavender is more stimulating than true lavender.
Spike lavender was used by the ancient Romans to scent their bath water.
The word Aspic comes from the Greek meaning “Egyptian cobra”. It’s possible that this name was chosen because the ancients used Spike lavender against the venom of the asp.

Part of Plant used/Extraction: Flowering tops. Steam distillation.

Therapeutic actions: This is an excellent respiratory oil. Use it for bronchitis, laryngitis, headaches associated with catarrh and the onset of colds and flu with fatigue, chilliness, aches and pains. It is useful for  muscular spasms and cramps and sore overworked muscles as well as rheumatic pains and menstrual cramps. Relieves insect bites and stings. Helpful for shingles, chicken pox, wound healing and burns.

Emotional and Spiritual: Useful for nervous tension, anxiety and depression. It helps to ease frustration, irritability and moodiness in people who find it difficult to express themselves. Instils feelings of vitality and confidence while easing tension and anxiety in those with chronic fatigue.

Safety: Because of its camphor content it is perhaps wise not to use with epileptics whose seizures are not controlled by medication.

Sources: Battaglia S, The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion, Australia (1995)
Guba R, The Really True, True Lavender Story. JAM Winter (2002)
Kerr J, Lavender Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol.8 (1998)
Mailhebiau P, Portraits in Oils. The C.W.Daniel Company Ltd. (1995)
Mojay G, Spike Lavender Class notes