Ayurvedic Essential Oils For Depression

Posted on July 3, 2020 by AyurvedicOils

Please don’t disturb me……… Leave me alone……. I need some private space …… Are the 3 solid statements behind the killer problem ‘Depression’…. I’m not threatening you. Depression when left unnoticed will turn out as a major health issue leading to the extreme situation of all illnesses. It might even cause death. Sudden break in a relationship, losing your job, chronic health disorders, death of a dear one, work pressure and certain other traumatic conditions may be the reasons lying behind depression.

Ayurveda is one among the oldest healing methodologies, when studies reveal that it is more than 5,000 years old with proven remedies for a perfect and harmonized living with nature, how can it be without a remedy for the ‘dangerous depression?’ Of course, Ayurveda has the best cure for depression as it deals with mind and body together with the touch of senses, feelings and emotions. When depression being a disarray of the mind, what else than Ayurvedic essential oils can treat this from the scratch??? Think and come let’s discuss about depression in detail.

What is depression? Depression is a universal problem and it cannot be restricted to people of a particular country or a continent. According to the Medical Dictionary, Depression is defined as ‘a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts or an attempt to commit suicide’. In Ayurvedic terms, depression and other disorders related to the mind are known as ‘Mansik Rog’. When you are depressed, your days seem blue and ‘down in the dumps’ and the earth will look as if it has stopped rotating.

Ayurvedic way of healing depression: According to Ayurveda, essential oils are said to lighten tejas i.e. augment mental brilliance and clarity. Unlike the modern antidepressants that suppress the depressed minds, Ayurveda kindles the mind and body by revitalizing the senses while giving a new life and a powerful wave of vitality. It aims at strengthening the nerves and supports the depressed person to strike the right balance of Ayurvedic doshas for complete fitness.

It is a well-known fact that Aromatherapy is a branch of Ayurveda, which uses aromatics as a vital tool for the treatment and prevention of numerous health disorders with the help of Ayurvedic essential oils. The natural and enriching fragrance of Ayurvedic essential oils rejuvenates the mind and senses through the limbic system. The most celebrated essential oils to treat depression are:

Rosemary essential oil: This oil is a mental stimulant that counters depression, nervous exhaustion, frequent mood swings, stress disorders and helps uplift your spirit. Inhaling the evergreen aroma of this oil from a tissue will give you clarity, relaxation and keep your thoughts focused towards a positive energy.
Lavender essential oil: Here comes my ‘darling’ essential oil. Lavender is an excellent stimulant that can invigorate your entire system with its antidepressant and stimulating properties. The magical fragrance of this oil when added to your bath tub or used as a massage oil with any of your favorite carrier oils can work the wonder by granting a calming as well as soothing effect on your body. It relaxes your muscles, strengthens your broken feelings, treats anxiety, alleviates stress and induces good sleep, helping you to recover slowly and steadily from depression. The rich and floral aroma of Lavender augments the alpha brain wave frequency in the backside of the brain, which is related to calmness.
Ylang Ylang essential oil: The name itself has a sense of sweetness blended with healing values. Known popularly as the ‘flower of flowers’, Ylang Ylang oil is trusted to treat depression as it instills a calming effect on the nervous system and guarding you in case of stress, depression, anxiety, fear, high blood pressure, sleeping disorders and hypertension with its antidepressant, sedative, hypotensive, nervine and antiseptic properties. Dr. Miriam Kinai’s book on ‘How to use Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Aromatherapy)’ will be of great use to you in improving your entire health and vitality.
Frankincense essential oil: This is an extremely useful oil for its highly valuable therapeutic properties. The exceptional aroma of Frankincense essential oil grants you the promising ray of hope that you long for while you are depressed. Sadness, anxiety, loneliness, confusion, disappointment and other problems related to depression can be perfectly kissed with the benefits of this oil.
Jasmine essential oil: Ah! Jasmine! What a mesmerizing fragrance it has? This natural floral mist is a mood enhancer used in alleviating pains, treating anxiety and soothing depression. The attention-grabbing aroma of this flower boosts the beta waves in the front part of the head, which is generally associated with a receptive state of mind and vigilance.

Depression is easy to pronounce but exceedingly intricate to experience. If checked in the initial stages and treated in a systematic manner with the proper advice of your Ayurvedic practitioner can help you swim against the tide easily.

To experience the beauty of life, all you need to do is to just clear the spider’s web that has rusted your thoughts and feelings……..….If you can’t then who can??????

Thought for the day: “Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well“

Suggested reading:

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Davana Oil

Posted on July 1, 2020 by AyurvedicOils

Davana is imported worldwide for its sweet fragrance and illustrious medicinal values and is used to glorify the idol of Lord Shiva in India. Botanically known as Artemisia pallens, Davana is a member of the daisy family, Asteraceae. Regionally called as davanam in Tamil and Davana in Kannada, this fragrant herb is indigenous to the southern parts of the Indian subcontinent.

The essential oil of Davana is extracted from the stem and leaves of this herb by steam distillation method. It is widely used in Ayurveda in the treatment of mental disorders, nervous problems, depression, cough, cold, measles, infections, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Purchase Davana Oil – Wholesale – CLICK HERE

Historical uses of Davana and its essential oil:

Having its roots deeply set in the religious traditions of the Indian Culture, Davana essential oil has an extensive application all over the world. It was used in traditional Ayurvedic medicinal formulations as an aphrodisiac and mood elevator. Davana was a part of the Indian folklore medicine for treating diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.

With much regional importance, Davana essential oil gained global attention only in the mid of the 20^th century after which it has earned a special spot in the hearts of perfumers’ and flavorists’, particularly in United States and Japan where it is a flavor ingredient for bakery, tobacco and beverage products.

The flowers, stem and leaves of this plant are used as an effective antiseptic and disinfectant for quick treatment of wounds, cuts and infectious ailments such as cough, cold, measles etc. Davana essential oil has also been a part of other Complementary and Alternative medicinal practices like Unani and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Chemical constituents and therapeutic properties of Davana oil:

Davana essential oil comprises of davanone, a major sesquiterpene ketone and other essential components such as linalool, dehydro-a-linalool, terpinen-4 oil, isodavanone, nordavanone, davanafurans, methyl cinnamate, ethyl cinnamate, bicyclogermacrene, davana ether, 2-hydroxyisodavanone, and farnesol. All these compounds of Davana oil attribute to its unique aroma and its medicinal values.

Well recognized as a herb of sacred values, Davana essential oil benefits mankind with its anti-depressant, aromatic, antiseptic, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antispasmodic, decongestant, disinfectant, emmenagogue, anthelmintic, stomachic, hypotensive, antioxidant, expectorant, relaxant, vulnerary, aphrodisiac, nervine and mucolytic properties.

Ayurvedic Health Benefits of Davana Oil:

Ayurveda is a holistic healing system that has its origin in India, the land of tradition and the world’s oldest history for more than 5,000 years. Just like this ancient remedial science, Davana herb also has its nativity vested in India and never fails in treating illnesses with its remedial aroma.

Ayurveda suggests natural remedies for treating mankind as it believes that everything is a part of nature and Mother Nature has innate medicines for healing health disorders. An individual is said to be healthy when his/her mind, body and soul are in perfect balance with nature. Illness according to Ayurveda is an opportunity to explore, restore and re-establish absolute health and strike balance with nature.

Just as nature, human body is also made up of five vital elements namely fire, water, earth, air and space, built in the form of three vital biological energies known as doshas. They are kapha, vata and pitta doshas. The predominance of any one of these doshas determines the personality, character and behavioral attributes of a person and balance between these doshas stand for health and heartiness.

Ayurvedic healing starts with the identification of the unique individual constitution that helps in determining doshic qualities, mental and physical attributes of an individual. Ayurveda does not follow the ‘one size fits all’ healing methodology as it trusts that every human being is unique in nature and the remedies for their illnesses should also be unique as per their constitution.

The nobility of Ayurveda rests in treating the root cause of an illness instead of curing its symptoms alone. By treating the actual underlying cause, Ayurveda helps in preventing such illnesses in the future and paves way for longevity through healthy aging. The most predominant Ayurvedic remedies are herbs, essential oils, meditation, yoga, physical exercises, healthy lifestyle, prayers and an Ayurvedic routine.

Davana essential oil is said to pacify vata and kapha imbalances and has a neutral effect on pitta dosha.

The Ayurvedic health benefits of Davana essential oil are:

1. A remarkable antiseptic to relieve you from infections:

Being a natural antiseptic with less toxicity, Davana essential oil is used to treat both internal and external infections. It destroys the micro organisms affecting the internal organs of the body like kidney, bladder, urethra and urinary tract, thus putting an end to sepsis, a fatal inflammation of the whole body.

A 2009 research on ‘The antimicrobial screening of Artemisia pallens’ published in the International Journal of PharmTech Research, USA states that the extracts from Artemisia pallens possess antimicrobial activity against the bacteria Bacillus cereus. Davana herb extracts and its essential oil have been used in Ayurvedic practices for healing wounds and deep abrasions quickly and to curb the spreading of infections to other parts of the body, which might otherwise result in tetanus.

Davana essential oil also has anti-viral property that strengthens your body’s immune system to effectively work against viral attacks. Having the ability to penetrate the protective layer of the virus called cyst, it kills viruses without a trace. Because of this attribute, it has been extensively used to treat viral infections such as cold, cough, influenza, measles etc.

The best way to use Davana oil for arresting the spread of infectious micro-organisms is in Abhyanga or the art of Ayurvedic massaging. Mix 5 drops of Davana oil with 3 ml of coconut oil and massage your body, followed by a warm bath with 2 drops of Davana oil diluted in bathing water. The therapeutic properties of this oil penetrate through the skin and start its healing mechanism. You can also mix 1 drop of Davana oil with 10 drops of olive oil and apply it on wounds and abrasions for quicker healing.

2. A trusted anti-depressant:

Widely used in the field of Ayurvedic aromatherapy for its anti-depressant properties, Davana essential oil actively engages in relaxing your nervous system and induces tranquility in the mind. As a medicinal herb that adorns the deity of Lord Shiva, it provokes divinity, spirituality, peaceful synergy and positive energy in every individual. Add 2 drops of Davana oil in warm bathing water or mix 6 drops of this oil with 3 ml of sesame oil and go for an energizing massage for treating depression and other mental woes.

Davana essential oil grants a soothing effect to the mind and body by effectively alleviating pressure in case of stress, anxiety and rejuvenates the mental health of those who feel depressed and lifeless. You can also add 2 drops of Davana oil to diffuser or burner and inhale it’s comforting fragrance, through which the aromatic molecules present in this oil pass through the nasal passages and reach the limbic system, the control center of human brain.

3. Alleviates female problems:

Nature has gifted humanity with some excellent medicines for treating complex womanly problems like menstrual difficulties, menopausal problems and emotional woes associated with such disorders. Davana essential oil is one such curative power, which with its emmenagogue property regulates the flow of blood in the uterus and pelvic area and releases blocked menstruation, resulting in a regular menstrual cycle.

Massaging your lower abdomen with 2 drops of Davana oil blended with 1ml of sesame oil can act as an effective remedy in treating menstrual spasms, pain in the abdominal area, fatigue, nausea, muscular cramps, restlessness and mood swings.

4. Relieves congestion and eases respiration:

Excess of kapha dosha along with viral and bacterial infections result in cough, cold, congestion and other respiratory illnesses. Severe infections may lead to deposits of mucus and phlegm in the upper respiratory tract and the lungs, causing respiratory disorders and breathing difficulties.

Davana essential oil is known to pacify excess kapha dosha with its decongestant and expectorant properties and helps in expelling heavy deposits of mucus and phlegm in the nasal passages and lungs by lubricating the respiratory tract. This oil also has antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antimicrobial properties that destroy such harmful microbes causing respiratory problems.

Add 2 drops of Davana oil in steam inhalation for relieving from asthma, bronchitis, cough, cold, breathing difficulties, headache and respiratory spasms. You can also add 2 drops of this oil in vaporizing ointments or cold rubs and gently massage it on your chest, back and throat for effective relief.

5. Guards against skin infections and worms:

Being an antiseptic, Davana oil fights against infections and protects your skin from infection prone conditions such as acne, boils, pimples and even stretch marks. It is also vulnerary in nature and aids in speeding up the healing process of wounds and cuts. Mix 2 drops of Davana essential oil in your regular skin care cream or with 1 ml of jojoba oil and apply it on your skin for treating rough, dry and chapped skin. This oil also aids in stimulating the endocrine system.

Davana essential oil is further enriched with its anthelmintic and stomachic properties that fight against worm infestation caused by parasites such as round worms, whip worms, hookworms, thread worms, pin-worms and tape worms.

6. Supports a healthy atmosphere:

Excelling in its disinfectant properties, Davana essential oil can work wonders to purify your atmosphere. The fragrance of this medicated oil spread so quickly and kills the germs and microbes present in the air with its remedial qualities. Add 2 drops of Davana essential oil in fumigants, sprays or vaporizers for fresh and germ-free environment.

7. A relaxant to treat your aftershocks:

Davana essential oil has anti-inflammatory and relaxant properties that effortlessly relaxes the contractions in muscles, blood vessels and also calms down the brain and your nervous system. Massaging your body with 5 drops of Davana oil blended with 2.5 ml of almond oil assists in rejuvenating the nervous system and grants absolute solace. It acts best in inducing mental peace and helps in recovering from after effects of shocks, trauma, heavy medications and treatments, disappointments, failures etc.

8. Matchless natural perfume:

Davana essential oil stands unique in the field of perfume industry for its fragrance differs with the uniqueness of the individual thus making each one special in their own way. A single plant can scent the entire garden. Hence it is used in the manufacture of high quality perfumes and cosmetics and also in food industries, flavoring tobacco, pastries and some beverages.

Other health benefits of Davana Oil:

As per a 1996 research published in Pubmed, Davana essential oil is said to lower glucose level in the blood thereby helpful in treating diabetes mellitus. A 2011 study on the antioxidant property of Artemisia pallens states that it possesses antioxidant properties due to the presence of phenols that effectively reduce the risk of chronic diseases, cardiovascular disorders and cancer.

This oil also has mild insect repellant property. Aromatherapists use Davana oil for its antispasmodic properties in treating spasms and pains. It is used in manufacturing vaporizers, disinfecting sprays and room fresheners. The Davana flowers represent a symbol of tradition and are used in making garlands, floral decorations, bouquets and also for various other religious rituals and customs.

Disclaimer:

This article is only for the purpose of information and is not meant to diagnose or replace any professional medical advice or prescribed medication. Never use essential oils internally. Always remember to dilute essential oils before topical usage, as pure and organic essential oils are highly concentrated liquids and may cause skin irritation or other side effects if used in an undiluted form. Always consult your Ayurvedic expert before using the right essential oils for your health condition and unique individual constitution.

Thought for the day:

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars. -Martin Luther

Suggested Reading:

Artemisia (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Industrial Profiles) by Colin W. Wright
Dying to Look Good by Christine Hoza Farlow
Butterfly Miracles with Essential Oils by LaRee Westover
Davana and its cultivation in India (Farm bulletin) by M. R Narayana
Therapeutic Blending With Essential Oil: Decoding the Healing Matrix of Aromatherapy by Rebecca Park Totilo

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Rose Wood Essential Oil

Posted on June 28, 2020 by AyurvedicOils

The uplifting Rosewood essential oil is extracted from the heartwood of Rosewood tree through steam distillation. Light Miller in her book ‘Ayurveda and Aromatherapy’ says “Along with sandalwood, hina, myrrh and amber, rosewood is one of the five essential oils to put into your metaphysical first aid kit”.

Rosewood also known as bois de rose is a mighty evergreen tree indigenous to Brazil and Peru. Aniba rosaeodora is a member of the Laurel family Lauraceae along with other aromatic trees like Camphor, Cassia, Bay and Cinnamon. Ayurveda, the mother of all healing systems have made significant use of this oil for opening the inner ear, rekindling spiritual feelings and for discharging offensive memories.

Purchase Rose Wood Essential Oil – Wholesale – CLICK HERE

Historical importance of Rosewood:

The valuable wood of this tree was traditionally used in cabinet-making, carving, building, essential oil extraction and for making chopsticks. Certain texts state that the ancient French community used Rosewood for flooring, oils, furniture and guitars.

The alluring fragrance of Rosewood essential oil made its demand sky-rocketing especially during the eighteenth century in the field of perfume-making.

To mark its significance, Rosewood oil was a prominent ingredient of the well-liked perfume Chanel. No. 5. Industrial exploitation for numerous decades has led to categorize this tree as an endangered species and the legislation has now come up with a resolution that requires the essential oil distilleries to plant a new tree for every tree they use for essential oil extraction.

Active components and therapeutic properties:

Rosewood essential oil is regarded as a valuable oil mainly because of the rich presence of about 86% of linalool component, which can be modified into numerous derivatives of high value especially to the fragrance and flavoring industries.

Other components of Rosewood oil are a-terpineol, a-pinene, neral, camphene, myrcene, geraniol, 1,8-cineole, geranial, benzaldehyde, limonene, and linalool oxides.

These active components are responsible for the remedial properties of this oil such as aphrodisiac, anti-depressant, stimulant, anti-infectious, analgesic, antibacterial, tissue regenerator, deodorant, antiseptic, insecticide and cephalic.

Ayurvedic health benefits of Rosewood essential oil:

The essential oil of Rosewood is said to be stimulating and powerful in creating energy enrichment. Unlike other medical practices, Ayurveda considers every individual as a unique part of nature and treats every individual in a special manner as it trusts that each human being is made up of a specific set of energy elements known as doshas (vata, pitta and kapha).

This noble science regards illness as an opportunity to help the body regain its rhythm with nature and in this process of restoring good health, Ayurveda recommends the use of herbs, essential oils, a balanced regimen, meditation, yoga and other physical exercises.

Essential oil according to Ayurvedic texts is the aura or life force of plants, have been used in various Ayurvedic treatments like Abhyanga or Ayurvedic massage, aromatic therapy and in Panchakarma, the technique of Ayurvedic cleansing.

Rosewood essential oil with its floral, warm, spicy, woody, fruity and enlivening aroma reduces excess of vata and pitta imbalances.

Let’s have a look at the predominant Ayurvedic health benefits of Rosewood oil.1. Guards your skin:

Rosewood essential oil acts as a shield to your skin, defending against harmful bacteria, virus, fungi and other microbes. The natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties of this oil aid in treating wounds, cuts, burns and infections while preventing it from being septic.

Excess of vata element in the body is characterized by wrinkling, dryness, thinness, flaking and dullness of skin. Rosewood is an effective vata reducing essential oil and gentle massaging of your skin with 5 to 6 drops of Rosewood essential oil with mild carrier oil like jojoba oil helps in dealing with such skin problems.

Oily skin is the basis of numerous skin disorders like pimples, acne, blackheads, sensitivity and skin irritations. Massaging your facial skin with 3 drops of Rosewood essential oil blended with 3 drops of Lavender essential oil along with Almond oil can assist in decreasing pitta and pave way for a healthy and spotless skin. You can also add 2 drops of Rosewood oil in steam therapy for promoting blood circulation, comforting irritated and stressed out skin.

The rejuvenating properties of this oil help in regenerating the skin cells and support the growth of new cells. Using it in your skin care lotion or cream will show visible results in reducing the symptoms of aging through tissue regeneration and absolute cleansing.

2. Pacifies your mind:

Rosewood oil is an excellent pacifier that calms your mind and relaxes your senses. The anti-depressant, stimulating and uplifting properties of this oil instills confidence as it is known to bring fire and helps in regaining your energy naturally.

Fearful, anxious, disheartened, nervous and hectic situations will take a back seat with the use of Rosewood essential oil in your burners, diffusers or vaporizers before going to bed or at the time of meditation. Miller’s Ayurveda and Aromatherapy book quotes Rosewood oil as “Rosewood helps to relieve tiredness, nervousness, stress, and it is very grounding, giving you a sense of protection”.

Being celebrated for numerous years as one of the best essential oils for meditative and spiritual purposes, Rosewood oil grants a balancing and energizing effect on the mind while influencing constructive feelings even after a long, backbreaking day.

Add 5 drops of Rosewood essential oil to your warm bath for easing tension, muscular pain, mood swings, pre-menstrual syndrome, nausea, headaches due to stress and general discomforts of the mind and body.

Ayurveda manifests that there are seven vital centers of power in a human body known as Chakras, which affect the psychological and physical functions of the system. Among the seven Chakras, the heart chakra is responsible for love for others, creativity, compassion, love for self, emotions of sadness, loss and distress.

The bracing aroma of Rosewood essential oil widens the heart chakra and assists in alleviating depressed feelings, egoism, negative memories and encourages one to spread love and compassion for others and self. Inhaling the aroma of this oil through diffusers or vaporizers or applying 1 to 2 drops on the chakra points will attend to your emotional needs tranquilly.

3. Instigates your love life:

I am wondering whether Rosewood oil has aphrodisiac properties just because it has the romantic word ‘Rose’ in its name? Used in massaging, bath or vapor therapy, Rosewood essential oil has been in use for treating decrease in sexual interest, impotence, frigidity and loss of libido in both the sexes. The magical aroma of this oil strengthens the system, instills a sense of security and grants absolute relaxation for an idyllic mating.

Rosewood essential oil, “Opens the inner ear and Compassion” according to Deborah Eidson, the author of the book Vibrational healing. It is known to enhance your divine feelings and help in spiritual realization. The other documented benefits of Rosewood essential oil are its use as an analgesic for treating cold, toothache and joint pain. It is also used as an effective insecticide to keep away from insects like ants, mosquitoes, fleas, bedbugs and lice.

Disclaimer: Never use essential oils directly on your skin as pure essential oils are highly concentrated liquids and may cause harm. This article is for your information only. Consult your Ayurvedic Practitioner before using essential oils for your specific health conditions.

Thought for the day:

“To dwellers in a wood, almost every species of tree has its voice as well as its feature.” -Thomas Hardy, Under the Greenwood Tree

Suggested Reading:

Ayurveda & Aromatherapy: The Earth Essential Guide to Ancient Wisdom and Modern Healing by Dr. Light Miller, Dr. Bryan Miller
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy & Herbalism by Julia Lawless
Scents Of Life: Use And Effect Of Essential Oils by H. M. Schemske
Facelift at Your Fingertips: An Aromatherapy Massage Program for Healthy Skin and a Younger Face by Pierre Jean Cousin M.B.Ac.C

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