Aromatherapy – Oil details

Aromatherapy is the use of plant oils, that are purified and properly prepared to affect someone’s health or mood. One of the best known essential oils for aromatherapy is lavender, which is recommended by practitioners for treating wounded parts of the body, to improve memory and to gain better sleep by combating anxiety and insomnia. Other popular scents include eucalyptus, rose and jasmine, basil, ylang. While there is no scientific proof that essential oils cure diseases, many people have found great success in their usage.

Some essential oils have been shown to have effects on the nervous system, other parts of the body, or even bacteria. Rosemary and ylang-ylang have opposite effects on alpha brain waves. Tea tree and leleshwa oils kill a wide variety of microbes, bacterias and sandalwood oil kills certain bacteria at lower concentrations. Plai oil (a sort of ginger) is useful for treating pains in joints.

Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Country: Comoros Islands.
Usage: to improve mood, strengthen nerves, improve memory and mental clarity, for relieving headache and muscular spasms. Basil is very anti-infectious and antibiotic. Its main chemical composition includes: Eugenol, Cineol, Linalol, Phenol Methylchavicol, Camphor, and Pinene.
Emotions: for relieving indecision and doubts, lack of direction. Blends well with: bergamot, clary sage, citronella, and geranium. Basil should be avoided during pregnancy. It should not be used in baths and can cause irritation to skin.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

Country: Italy.
Usage: balancing nervous system, relieving anxiety and stress, lifting melancholy, for restful sleep, antiviral, cold sores, psoriasis, eczema and as an insect repellent. Its main chemicals components are: D Limonene, Bergaptene, Linalol, and Linalyl Acetate.
Emotions: to relieve helplessness, hopelessness, emptiness and grief. Bergamot may cause skin sensitivity to bright sunlight. Bergaptene is the constituent which increases the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.

Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)

Country: China
Usage: Arthritis, bronchitis, colds, flus, infectious disease, aches and pains in muscles, acne, sprains, and coughs. Its main chemical components are: cineol, pinene, terpineol, and menthol.
Emotions: to relieve shock, fainting (as a smelling salt),and works as a stimulant. Only white camphor should be used in aromatherapy. It should only be used in very small amounts as it is an extremely strong oil. Avoid if pregnant, epileptic, or have high blood pressure.

Cardamon (Elettaria cardamomum)
Country: Sri lanka.Cardamon has been used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for over 3,000 years.
Usage: relieving mental fatigue, nervous strain, and heartburn; for healing coughs and bronchitis, anorexia, to uplift and warm, as an aphrodisiac. Its main chemical components are: Alpha terinyl acetate, cineole, terpinen 4 ol, alpha-terpineol, sabinene, and limonene. Avoid use on allergic skin. Emotional profile: to relieve inflexibility, suspicion, self-pity, confusion, intolerance. Blends with: rose, neroli, frankincense, cedarwood, orange, ylang ylang, bergamot, and clove. No known contridictions.

Carrot Seed (Daucus carota)

Country: Hungary.
Usage: for toning and rejuvenating mature skin, wrinkles and scars, eczema, psoriasis, as a stimulant to immune and lymphatic systems, for relieving PMS and regulating monthly cycles, to ease anxiety and stress. Its main chemical components are: Pinene, carotol, daucol, limonene, bisabolene, elemene, geraniol. Blends well with: geranium, cedarwood, citrus or spice oils. No known contridictions.

Atlas Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)

Counrty: Morocco
Usage: to relax tense muscles, calm mind and emotions, help breathing, for enhancing meditation, easing pain, repelling insects, against hair loss. Its main chemical components are: Atlantone, caryophyllene, cedrol, cadinene.
Emotions: for relief of irrationality, worry, fear and mental obsession. Blends well with: bergamot, cypress, ylang ylang, rosemary, juniper, vetiver, neroli, clary sage, and frankincense.Atlas Cedar should be avoided during pregnancy.

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutica)

Country: Hungary
Usage: to relieve muscular pain, to heal skin inflammations, acne and wounds, as a sedative, to ease anxiety and nervous tension, to help with better sleep. Its main chemical components are: Chamazulene,farnesene, bisabolol oxide.
Emotions: to relieve hysteria, fear, nervousness, grief, worry; promotes patience. Blends well with: bergamot, marjoram, jasmine, patchouli, neroli, lavender, clary sage, lemon, rose and ylang ylang. German Chamomile should be avoided during early pregnancy and may cause skin reactions in some people.

Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)

Country: England.
Usage: to relieve pain in muscles, as a sedative, decrease anxiety and nervous tension, to help with insomnia. Its main chemical components are: Esters of angelic and tiglic acids, pinene, chamazulene.
Emotional profile: to relieve anger, hysteria, fear, spirit disconnection, grief, worry. Blends well with: bergamot, cypress, jasmine, juniper, neroli, frankincense, clary sage, vetiver, rosemary and ylang ylang. Roman Chamomile should be avoided during early pregnancy.

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

Country: Oregon
Usage: reducing stress and tension, lifting melancholy, reducing pain, restful sleep, as an aphrodisiac; contains estrogen-like hormone, for menopause and PMS, relieving nervous exhaustion. Its main chemical components are: Linalyl acetate, linalol, pinene, myrcene.
Emotional profile: for relieving worry, crying, guilt, obsessions and compulsions, hostility, panic. Blends well with: juniper, bergamot, lavender, frankincense, coriander, cardamon, geranium, sandalwood, cedarwood, pine and jasmine. Clary Sage should be avoided during pregnancy, or if you have endometriosis, breast, ovarian and uterine cysts and other estrogen dependant conditions (cancers).

Coriander ( Coriandrum sativum)

Country: Hungary
Usage: relieving muscular aches and pains, increasing circulation, for colds, flu and rheumatism, for help with sleep and nervous exhaustion. Its main chemical components are: Linalol, decyl aldehyde, borneol, geraniol.
Emotional profile: to relieve doubt, fear of failure, feelings of vulnerability, weariness and irritability. Blends well with: clary sage, ginger, bergamot, cypress, pine, jasmine, frankincense, neroli, citronella, and sandalwood. Use in moderation and avoid if you have fibrosis or breast cancer.

Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

Cypress oil is distilled from the needles and twigs and is imported from Europe. Cypress incense is used today by Tibetans for purification and meditations.
Usage: to increase blood circulation, reduce muscular cramps, bronchitis, whooping cough and painful periods; reduce nervous tension and other stress related problems, as an immune stimulant. Avoid cypress if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, cancer or uterine and breast fibrosis.
Emotions: for relief of grief, self-hate, jealousy, loss and regret, isolation. Blends with: cedarwood, pine, lavender, clary sage, lemon, cardamon, juniper, bergamot, orange, marjoram, and sandalwood.

Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus globules)

Country: Australia.
Usage: for colds, to relieve asthma and fevers, for its bactericidal and anti-viral actions, to reduce aching joints. Its main chemical components are: Cineol, pinene, limonene, cymene, phellandrene.
Emotions: to help with explosive emotions, irrational thinking. Blends well with: rosemary, lavender, marjoram, pine, cedarwood, and lemon. Avoid if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy. Avoid if pregnant.

Eucalyptus Radiata (Eucalyptus radiate)

Country: Australia
Usage: for colds, to relieve asthma and fevers, skin ulcers, to ease aching joints, and insect bites. Its main chemical components are: Cineol, alpha-terpineol, alpha-pinene, limonene.
Emotions: to help with explosive-heated emotions, irrational thinking. Blends well with: rosemary, lavender, marjoram, pine, cedarwood, and lemon. Avoid if pregnant.

Eucalyptus Citriodora (Eucalyptus citriodora)

Country: Australia
Usage: Infections in chest region, fungal infections, chicken pox, bacterial skin infections, asthma, arthritis. Its main chemical components are: Citronellal, citronellol, cineol, geraniol.
Emotions: to help with soothing stress and relaxation. Good for nervous shingles. Blends well with: rosemary, lavender, marjoram, pine, cedarwood, and lemon. No known contradictions.

Sweet Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Country: Italy
Usage: for neuro-muscular spasms, arthritis and rheumatism; bronchitis, whooping cough, against nervous tension. Its main chemical components are: Fenchone, trans anethole, estragol, methylcavicol.
Emotions: to aid with mental and emotional blocks, resisting change, fear of failure, creativity blocks. Blends well with: geranium, lavender, rose and sandalwood. Avoid if pregnant, epileptic,with children and babies. Avoid with increased estrogen levels, breast cancers, and kidney problems.

Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)

Usage: to relieve muscle aches and pains, for relieving anxiety and stress related conditions, to fight colds, flu and infections, for relieving bronchitis and coughs. Said to ground one mentally. Blends with: cypress, cedar, pine sandalwood and juniper berry.

Frankincense (Boswellia species)

Country: Oman.
Usage: to calm, enhance meditation, elevate mind and spirit, help with breathing, for psychic cleansing; for healing of mature skin and scars. Its main chemical components are: Alpha pinene, beta pinene, olibanol, octyl acetate.
Emotions: for healing fear, grief, repressed feelings, self-destruction and dissociation. Blends well with: sandalwood, pine, vetiver, geranium, lavender, neroli, orange, bergamot, and basil. No known contradictions.

Geranium Egypt (Pelargonium graveolens)

Country: Egypt
Usage: reducing stress and tension, easing pain, balancing emotions and hormones, PMS, relieve fatigue and nervous exhaustion, to reduce melancholy, lessen fluid retention, against insects. Its main chemical components are: Citronellol, geraniol, linalol.
Emotions: to aid with acute fear, rigidity, abuse, lack of self-esteem, discontentment, heartache. Blends well with: lavender, patchouli, clove, rose, neroli, sandalwood, jasmine, juniper and bergamot. Avoid in early pregnancy.

Geranium Bourbon (Pelargonium graveolens)

Country: Reunion Islands
Usage: reducing stress and tension, redicing pain, it balances emotions and hormones, PMS, relieve fatigue and nervous exhaustion, reducing melancholy, lessen fluid retention, repel insects. Its main chemical components are: Citronellol, geraniol, linalol, menthone.
Emotions: to aid with acute fear, rigidity, abuse, lack of self-esteem, discontentment, heartache. Blends with: lavender, patchouli, clove, rose, neroli, sandalwood, jasmine, juniper and bergamot. Avoid in early pregnancy.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Country: Indonesia
Usage: reducing muscular aches and pains, increasing circulation, relieving bronchitis and whooping cough, nervous exhaustion, curative in colds, flu and fever stimulates appetite. Its main chemical components are: Gingerin, gingenol, gingerone, linalol, zingiberine.
Emotions: for sexual anxieties, lack of direction, confusion, loneliness. Blends well with: sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, frankincense, cedarwood, coriander, rose, neroli, and orange. Slighty phototoxic, may cause sun sensitivity in some.

Grapefruit (Citrus paradise)

Country: Califonia, USA.
Usage: reducing melancholy, relieve muscle fatigue, helps with oily skin, to refresh and energize the body, good for detoxification, as an airborne disinfectant. Its main chemical components are: Limonene, cadinene, paradisiol, neral, geraniol.
Emotios: self-doubt and criticism, dependency, frustration and grief. Blends well with: lemon, palmarosa, bergamot, neroli, rosemary, cardamon, geranium, lavender and cypress. No known contradictions.

Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum)

Country: France.
Usage: to heal bruises (internal and external), wounds and scars, to detoxify the body, cleanse the blood and increase lymphatic drainage, helps with colds, flu, sinusitis and bronchitis, relieves melancholy, migraines, stress and tension. Its main chemical components are: Nerol, neryl acetate, geraniol, pinene, linalol, sesquiterpenes.
Emotions: grief, addiction, emotional blocks, panic, burnout, over-sensitivity. Blends well with: lavender, rose, geranium, clary sage, chamomile and clove bud. No known contradictions.

Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum)

Country: India
Usage: to lift melancholy, for muscular spasm, periods that are painful and labour pains, to relieve anxiety and nervous exhaustion, an aphrodisiac, and to ease childbirth. Its main chemical components are: Benzyl acetate, jasmone, linalol, linalyl acetate.
Emotions: to relieve repressed feelings, bitter jealously, low self-esteem, guilt, emotional abuse. Blends well with: rose, sandalwood, clary sage, and citrus oils. Avoid during pregnancy until delivery. Avoid on hyper-sensitive skin. May cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis)

Country: France
Usage: energizing the body and relieving exhaustion, ease inflammations and muscular spasms, improves mental clarity and memory, purifies the body, to lessen fluid retention, for disinfecting. Its main chemical components are: pinene, myrcene, sabinene with limonene, camphene.
Emotions: guilt, unworthiness, discontentment, abusive experiences, traumas, empathy, defensive behavior. Blends well with: vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood, cypress, clary sage, pine, lavender, rosemary, and geranium. Juniper Berry should be avoided during pregnancy or if you have kidney disease.

Lavender French (Lavandula augustifolia)

Country: France
Usage: balancing emotions, relieving stress, tension and headache, against insomnia, heal the skin, lowers high blood pressure, helps with breathing, for disinfecting, acne, pain. Its main chemical components are: Linalyl acetate, linalol, lavendulol, lavendulyl acetate,terpineol, cineol.
Emotions: for panic, hysteria, fears, insecurity, trauma, worry, burnout, addiction, obsessive and agitated behaviors. Blends with: most oils including citrus, florals, cedarwood, clove, clary sage, pine, geranium, vetiver, and patchouli. No known contradictions.

Lavender Organic (Lavandula augustifolia)

Country: France
Usage: balancing emotions, relieves stress, tension and headache, for restful sleep, heal the skin, lowers high blood pressure, help with breathing, for disinfecting, acne,burns. Its chemical components are the same as above.
Emotions: panic, hysteria, fears, insecurity, trauma, worry, burnout, addiction, obsessive and agitated behaviors. Blends well with: most oils including citrus, florals, cedarwood, clove, clary sage, pine, geranium, vetiver, and patchouli. No known contradictions.

Lavender High Altitude (Lavandula augustifolia)

Country or Region: France
Usage: balances emotions, relieves stress, tension and headache, for restful sleep, heal the skin, lowers high blood pressure, help with breathing, for disinfecting. The esters are more abundant in the chemical makeup of this oil. Emotional profile: for panic, hysteria, fears, insecurity, trauma, worry, burnout, addiction, obsessive and agitated behaviors. Blends with: most oils including citrus, florals, cedarwood, clove, clary sage, pine, geranium, vetiver, and patchouli. No known contradictions.

Lemon (Citrus Limonum)

Country: Spain
Usage: to balance the nervous system, as a disinfectant, to refresh and uplift, for purifying the body. Its main chemical components are: D Limonene, citral, gamma terpinene, citronellal. Emotional profile: to relieve bitter resentment, distrust, irrational thinking, apathy. Blends with: lavender, neroli, juniper, eucalyptus, geranium, fennel, chamomile, frankincense, sandalwood, rose and ylang ylang. May cause skin sensitivity to the sun or irritate sensitive skin.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates)
Country: Guatemala
Usage: as an insect repellent and deodorizer, for athlete’s foot, as a tissue toner, to relieve muscular pain (sports-muscle pain), to increase blood circulation, for headaches, for nervous exhaustion and other stress related problems. Its main chemical components are: Citral, n-declyic aldehyde, dipentene, farucsol. Blends well with: citronella, vetiver and palmarosa. No known contradictions.

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

Cold pressed from the USA lime peel.
Usage: cleaning the air, reduce coughs or congestion, cheers up the mind, heals colds, flu or inflammations. Lime may cause skin sensitivity to bright sunlight. Blends with: neroli, citronella, clary sage, rosemary, lavender and other citrus notes.

Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)

Country: Somalia
Usage: to heal wounds and nurture scared or mature skin, for bronchitis and colds, to relieve apathy and calm. Its main chemical components are: Mono and sequiterpenes, comiphoric acid.
Emotions: relieving emotional coldness, lack of will, lack of spirit connection, emotional blocks. Blends with: frankincense, sandalwood, cypress, juniper, geranium, patchouli, lavender, and pine. Avoid use on damaged or sensitive skin.

Neroli (Citrus aurantium)

Country: Tunisia
Usage: for scars and nourishing mature skin, increasing blood circulation, relieves anxiety, melancholy and nervous tension, bronchitis, acts as an aphrodisiac. Its main chemical components are: Pinenes, limonene, linalyl acetate. linalol, nerol.
Emotions: emotional crisis, abuse, longing, grief, hopelessness. Blends with: chamomile, coriander, geranium, lemon, ylang ylang, lavender, jasmine, and clary sage. No known contradictions.

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

Country: Indonesia
Usage: for warming muscles, muscle aches and pains, to invigorate or stimulate the mind, an aphrodisiac, to stimulate heart and circulation, relieve nervous fatigue. Its main chemical components are: Monoterpene hydrocarbons, camphene, pinene, etc.
Emotions: For focus, relieving grief, guilt, agitation, to improve self-image. Blends well with: coriander, bay leaf, petitgrain, lime, orange, geranium, rosemary and clary sage. Avoid during pregnancy and use with care (can be moderately toxic if over-used).

Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)

Country: Florida, USA.
Usage: to brighten mood, calm and reduce stress, as an environmental disinfectant. Its main chemical components are: D Limonene, n-decylic aldehyde, linalool, terpineol. Emotional profile: to relieve apathy, emotional abuse, worry, addiction, burnout, hopelessness, self-consciousness. Blends with: lavender, clove, myrrh, clary sage, lemon, and neroli. No known contradictions.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

Country: Indonesia
Usage: works as an aphrodisiac, relieves stress and nervous exhaustion. It main chemical components are: Patchouli alcohol, pogostol, bulnesol, patchoulene, nor patchoulenol. Emotions: to relieve indecision, lethargy, mood swings. Blends well with: vetiver, clary sage, myrrh, bergamot, neroli, rose, lavender, clove, geranium, cedarwood, and sandalwood. No known contradictions.

Peppermint Triple Distilled (Mentha piperita)

Country: USA.
Usage: boosting energy, for better mood, reducing pain, to help with breathing, improve mental clarity and memory. Its main chemical components are: Menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate, menthofuran, limonene, pulegone, cineol.
Emotional: for people under shock, overwork, apathy, helplessness. Blends with: rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, marjoram, and lavender. Peppermint may irritate sensitive skin and should be avoided during pregnancy.

Peppermint Organic (Mentha piperita)

Country: USA
Usage for boosting energy, better mood, reducing pain, to help breathing, improve mental clarity and memory. Its main chemical components are: Menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate, menthofuran, limonene, pulegone, cineol. Emotional profile: for shock, overwork, apathy, helplessness. Blends with: rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, marjoram, and lavender. Peppermint may irritate sensitive skin and should be avoided during pregnancy.

Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Distilled from the needles and imported from France. It has a strong, coniferous, woody aroma.
Usage to ease breathing, as an immune system stimulant, to boost energy, for relieving muscle and joint aches, to repel lice and fleas. Avoid use if you have prostate cancer. Emotions: regrets, self-blame, inadequacy. Blends with: cedar, lemon, marjoram, rosemary, tea-tree, eucalyptus, lavender and juniper berry.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Country: Spain
Usage: to energize, for pains in muscle, cramps or sprains, for brightening mood, for improving mental clarity and memory, easing the pain, to relieve headaches, disinfecting. Its main chemical components are: Pinenes, camphene,limonene, cineol, borneol, camphor, linalol, terpineol.
Emotions: disorientation, indecision, burnout, breakdown. Blends well with: frankincense, cedarwood, peppermint, basil, pine, citronella and lavender. Rosemary should be avoided if you are pregnant, if you have epilepsy or high blood pressure.

Sandalwood (Santalum album)

Country: India
Usage against melancholy, for better meditation, heal the skin, help breathing, for reducing stress, restful sleep, disinfecting, as an aphrodisiac. Its main chemical components are:Sesquiterpinol santalol, santenonol, teresantalal, borneol, santalene.
Emotions: to relieve possessiveness, lack of forgiveness, cynicism, insecurity, loneliness, nightmares, dwelling on the past. Blends with: rose, clove, lavender, jasmine, myrrh, patchouli, vetiver, geranium and bergamot. No known contradictions.

Spikenard (Nardastachus jatamansi)

Country: Nepal
Usage: migraines, stress and tension, for rejuvenation of mature skin, to calm and promote restful sleep, for wounds, to inspire devotion. Its main chemical components are: Veleranone, jonon, tetramethyloxatricylodecanol, methylthymyl-ether, cineol.
Emotions: for inner conflict, emotional / spirit / physical imbalances, restlessness. Blends well with: lavender, patchouli, pine, and vetiver. Avoid use during pregnancy.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Country: Spain
Usage: To heal colds, bronchitis, for relieving muscle pains, to improve concentration and memory, for relieving fatigue and said to heal eve anthrax. Its main chemical components are: Thymol, carvacrol, cymene, terpinene, camphene, borneol, linalol. Blends with: bergamot, lemon, rosemary, lavender and sweet marjoram. Avoid use if pregnant or with high blood pressure. Avoid in baths as it is a mucous membrane and dermal irritant. Use in moderation and dilute properly before use.

Tea-Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Country: Australia
Usage: as an immuno-stimulant particularly against bacteria, viruses and fungi, for relieving inflammation, as a disinfectant. Its main chemical components are: Terpinene-4-ol, cineol, pinene, terpinenes, cymene, sesquiterpenes. Blends well with: lavender, clove, marjoram, rosemary, clary sage, pine, and geranium. No known contradictions.

Tea-Tree Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium)

Country: New Zealand
Usage: as an immuno-stimulant particularly against bacteria, viruses and fungi, for relieving inflammation, ringworm, thrush, colds and flu, acts as a disinfectant. Blends with: lavender, clove, marjoram, rosemary, clary sage, pine, and geranium. No known contradictions.

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)

Country: Haiti
Usage: for aches in muscles, to increase circulation, to reduce melancholy and nervous tension, for restful sleep.
Emotions: fears, obsessions, scattered thoughts, anger and hurt, unworthiness, neurotic behavior, addiction. Its main chemical components are: Benzoic acid, furfural, vetiverol, vetivenol, vetiveron, sesquiterpene. Blends with: sandalwood, ylang ylang, clary sage, lavender, patchouli, jasmine and rose. No known contradictions.

Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)

Country: Madagascar
Uses: brightening mood, reducing anger and anxiety, relaxes muscles, to have a restful sleep, lowers high blood pressure, acts as an aphrodisiac.
Emotions: releases emotional guilt, resentment, jealousy, obstinance, frustration and irritability, impatience and self-absorption. Blends with: jasmine, vetiver, bergamot, rose, citrus oils. No known contradictions.