Aromatherapy

This particular essential oil is fast becoming a firm favorite in essential oil therapy and aromatherapy, as it has excellent skin care properties and is also used to relieve stiff and sore muscles, while calming the mind and uplifting and invigorating the spirits and clearing muddled thinking.

Oil Properties
Palmarosa oil has a sweet floral, with a hint of rose smell and is pale yellow in color with a nearly watery viscosity.

Origin of Palmarosa Oil
It is a wild growing, herbaceous green and straw-colored grass, with long slender stems, terminal flowering tops and fragrant grassy leaves. It is harvested before the flowers appear and the highest yield is obtained when the grass is fully dried - about one week after it has been cut.

There are two varieties of grass from which the oil can be extracted - motia and sofia. We find the sofia chemotype to be far more active and pleasant smelling - and for this reason the oil sold by us is from this chemotype.

Because palmarosa oil has a rose-like smell, it is often used by unscrupulous essential oil wholesalers and retailers to adulterate rose essential oil. Please note - we DO NOT adulterate any oils - we only supply pure 100% natural essential oil. It is often used as an ingredient of soaps, perfumes and cosmetics, and is also used in the flavoring of tobacco.

Uses Palmarosa Oil
Palmarosa oil calms the mind, yet has an uplifting effect, while clearing muddled thinking. It is used to counter physical and nervous exhaustion, stress-related problems and nervousness. It is most useful during convalescence and cools the body of fever, while aiding the digestive system, helping to clear intestinal infection, digestive atonia and anorexia nervosa. It is effective in relieving sore, stiff muscles.

Palmarosa oil moisturizes the skin, while balancing the hydration levels and stimulating cell regeneration. It balances production of sebum, to keep the skin supple and elastic and is valuable for use with acne, dermatitis, preventing scarring, rejuvenating and regenerating the skin, as well as fighting minor skin infections, sore tired feet and athlete's foot.

Camphor oil is a balancing oil, it can sedate the nerves and uplift apathy. It can help with feeling cold and reduces inflammation. It is used with great effect to repel insects such as flies and moths. It also has a positive effect in colds and flu, infectious diseases, bronchitis, coughs, and can assist with muscular pains, rheumatism, sprains, arthritis etc.

Oil Properties
After distillation and rectification under vacuum it is filter pressed and 3 fractions of oil are produced known as white, yellow and brown camphor. Only the white camphor oil is used and has a clear and fresh smell. The brown and yellow camphor is toxic and carcinogenic since it contains safrole and is not used in aromatherapy.

Origin of Camphor Oil
The camphor tree can grow up to 35 meters (100 feet) and the active component is found in every part of the tree. The tree is native to Formosa (Taiwan), China and Japan and can often grow very old. It must be at least 50 years old to produce the oil.

It was a well known remedy against the plague in Persia, now Iran and was also used in embalming, while the Chinese used it to build ships and temples, because of the durable and aromatic properties of the wood.

Uses
Camphor oil can be used in the treatment of nervous depression, acne, inflammation, arthritis, muscular aches and pains, sprains, rheumatism, bronchitis, coughs, colds, fever, flu and infectious diseases. Since this oil can be toxic, it should NOT be used in aromatherapy massage, but could be used in vapor therapy to ease respiratory problems. In some cases it can also be used in compresses.

Apricot is particularly helpful for dehydrated, delicate, mature and sensitive skin, and it helps to sooth inflammation. This finely textured oil spreads easily and is particularly rich in both oleic acid and linoleic acid. The moisturizing, nourishing and revitalizing properties of apricot kernel oil combine well with your selected essential oils, to give a superb facial massage.