Lesser Known Oils - Quick Class
Welcome & Why
Yay for you, you’re taking time out of your busy life to learn more about natural health!!
I’m excited for this class because there are a ton of amazing plants on this planet. Many we have never heard of, but we should learn about, because their oils provide powerful health benefits.
In these Quick Classes I share good info, but I certainly don't cover it all. There's just so much to learn! If there is a topic you would like to know more about, you can use the search bar up top to see if I already have posted here on the blog, or feel free to contact me.
Let's get to it...
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Oil Discoveries
For forever, plants have had healing and medicinal properties. Their chemical constituents help animals, humans, and even other plants. Scientists and researchers scour the globe continually making new discoveries.
One such researcher was D Gary Young. Gary began exploring the power of plants after an injury he had suffered as a young adult. His passion for natural remedies continued to grow and he became a pioneer in farming crops for essential oils. He then founded Young Living Essential Oils. Until his unexpected passing in 2018, Gary continued with this work – blazing an unprecedented trail. Thanks to his efforts and the research and development team at Young Living, we have at our disposal over 200 different single oils as well as blends to use for our own wellness.
Gary always created products “for a purpose, not for a profit.” His unwavering commitment to quality and purity through 25 years is known the world over as the “Seed to Seal” guarantee. Young Living goes to great lengths to ensure Seed to Seal. The 3 pillars are:
1) knowledge of the SCIENCE of plants and oil creation
2) knowledge about the SOURCING of the plants and soils
3) a focus on SUSTAINABILITY to protect and cultivate rare species while also safeguarding the environment
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Sleep Aids
Vetiver
Vetiver oil comes from the root of an Indian grass. The roots can grow 7-10 feet long tangling together to help the plant survive in dry conditions. It can be diffused and/or applied topically. It is an incredibly thick oil and drips out of the bottle slower than most oils. It has a deep, eathy, and complex aroma. The scent is quite masculine and it has been used since ancient times for colognes and fragrances – especially for men.
Vetiver has been studied for its aromatherapy uses related to calming and focus. For some this might be helpful for studying. For others it may work more as a sedative. There are multiple studies looking at the connection between Vetiver and ADHD.
Valerian
In ancient Greek and Rome, the root of the valerian plant was used as a medicinal herb. It is best known for its calming and grounding properties. Perfect for restlessness, relaxing, and bringing the body into balance. Studies in Germany have shown it is an effective sleep aid because the active constituents are valerenic acid and valerone that have a calming and restorative effect on the central nervous system.
Here are some usage ideas for Vetiver and Valerian:
- Take a cup of unscented epsom salts and add 10-15 drops of oil, then disperse in your warm bath water.
- Add drops to your lotion to make a foot cream.
- Drop 5 drops into your bedside diffuser - combine with Lavender or Cedarwood if you’d like.
- No diffuser? Just put a few drops onto a tissue and put in your pillowcase.
- Combine in a rollerball bottle with a carrier oil (ex. olive oil or coconut oil) and roll onto feet bottoms, back of neck, or earlobes.
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Asian Exclusives
Xiang Mao
Xiang Mao comes from Taiwan. It is also known as Red Lemongrass or ‘the aromatic grass for rapid enlightenment.’ Red Lemongrass is grown on the mountain slopes and the aboriginal tribe that lives there allows Young Living to harvest the grasses from their land. The oil comes from the long leaves which can grow up to 6ft tall.
Xiang Mao has a lemony scent but also has a sweetness to it. This is a great one to make a cleaning spray, like for your home, yoga bag, or car. It is known to enlighten the mind and promote wellness and vitality. It is also calming and relaxing so can be great for spiritual connection.
Hinoki
Hinoki is from Japan. Its closest equivalent is the Cypress tree and the word ‘hinoki’ means “white cedar.” It is also sometimes called “fire tree” because it was and still is used to make fire through friction in the Shinto Shrines. The wood has a spicy, warm, lemon scent.
Hinoki oil is valued for its power to relax you and it promotes peace of mind. It has been used to refresh the soul in that you can clear tension and stress which then allows new opportunity to enter.
It is generally known that all tree oils are very grounding both emotionally and physically. It makes sense when you think about big trees with their deep root systems, width and girth of trunks, etc. Their physical nature is very strong, and thus they have the power to ground us, as humans.
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Pricey But Amazing
Melissa
In Greek, Melissa means “honey bee” and the Melissa plant is also sometimes called ‘lemon balm’ or ‘sweet balm.’ If your bottle of Melissa oil does not say the species name of ‘melissa officinalis’ it is likely not the real deal.
This oil is pricey because the plant has a very low oil yield meaning that it takes a lot of plant material to produce one bottle of essential oil (this is similar to Rose oil). It takes up to 3 tons of plant material to produce 1 lb. of lemon balm oil, averaging about $15,000 per pound. Meaning a 5ml bottle of Melissa should cost between $150-225. If you see an ad for anything less than that, be leery of the contents!
This oil has been used by monks dating back to 1611. But there is record from 1493 of a Swiss-born physician calling it “the elixir of life.” It is calming and relaxing and is used in the spiritual and emotional realm. It is known to work well for those who tend to be sensitive and feel pressure easily. Melissa is also extremely supportive to the skin and promotes longevity. It can be used in facial care products and as a perfume.
Neroli
When an orange tree blossoms, those tiny, white flowers contain neroli oil. To get the oil extracted from the flower, it must go through a lengthy process which makes this oil extremely expensive to produce. It takes about 1,000 pounds of the blossoms to make 1 pound of oil. Good comparisons are both rose and jasmine oils. This oil is rare, special, and exotic!
The ancient Egyptians are most well-known for using this oil but its origins come from an Italian princess who was the Countess of Nerola. She used the oil in 1670 in perfumes. It is known for its sweet and fruity aroma. Citrus oils are generally regarded as uplifting. They help us present energetically in the moment – to gather our scattered parts. We relax, open the heart, release and clear negative emotions, and gain clarity.
This oil can be used aromatically, topically, and also is GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) for internal consumption by the FDA. Note of caution: citrus oils should not be used topically in the sun.
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Ecuadorian Treasures
Dorado Azul
This plant is also known as ‘bush mint’ because it comes from the mint family. Until about 2006, Dorado Azul was recognized only as a weed. It did not even have a scientific botanical name until
D. Gary Young distilled it and analyzed it for the first time to give it its identity.
Although it is harvested in Ecuador, many indigenous cultures have used it for thousands of years in places like India and Nigeria. Azul means ‘blue’ in Spanish and it got its name because when the plant is ready for harvest, the tips turn blue. To get the oil, the whole plant is distilled including the stems, leaves, and flowers and the oil is red in color. This is very rare.
It has a fresh, herb smell. Because bugs don’t like mint, it is a great repellant. It also is known to support the body emotionally because it helps us release irritation. When we can breathe easier, we enable our emotions to be processed rather than repressed.
This oil can be used topically and aromatically is very supportive of anything respiratory.
Ocotea
Ocotea oil comes from the Ocotea tree grown mainly in Ecuador. It is in the cinnamon family but it has a complex aroma that many think is close to vanilla.
The male and female trees have to be separated because only the female trees produce the therapeutic-grade essential oils. There are over 50 species of Ocotea tree, and some are toxic, so if you purchase an essential oil, you want to be sure it is the correct one (ocotea quixos).
Ocotea has been honored as spiritual oil for many years. It is known to cleanse or purify the spirit. And today it is still used in purification rituals in the Amazon.
It is also very well known for helping us support our weight and healthy blood sugar levels. Many people take it internally daily for this reason.
Lindsey Blackburn, December 2020
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