Use Ylang Ylang Oil for Optimal Benefits Against Malaria, Typhus and Intestinal Disorders
Ylang Ylang oil is one of the exotic essential oils that are sought after for its unique floral aroma. Though this oil is mainly used in perfumery and scents, Ylang Ylang oil offers a lot of benefits you probably don’t know.
Ylang Ylang is the common name given to the tree Cananga odorata – and in particular to the essential oil made from its yellow flowers. The tree is native to rainforest regions in Indonesia and the Philippines but has been grown successfully in other locations. In its native climate it can grow 15 feet per year, and trees can reach over 40 feet tall.
Scent: The fragrance is intensely sweet, heady, floral and slightly spicy with a narcissus or banana-like overtone.
Color: Clear with a light yellowish tint
Extraction: Ylang Ylang essential oil is collected by steam distillation of fresh flowers at several different stages. Extracting oils from each stage of the Ylang Ylang distillation process provides several different Ylang Ylang oil types, qualities and aromas. The common names for some of these different Ylang Ylang essences and grades are
- Ylang Ylang Extra
- Ylang Ylang-1
- Ylang Ylang-2
- Ylang Ylang-3
- Ylang Ylang Complete
- Ylang Ylang Concrete and
- Ylang Ylang Absolute.
Historical Uses of Ylang Ylang Oil
Popularly known as the “flower of flowers”, all the parts of the Ylang Ylang tree have a celebrated history both in the West and the East. It was used in salves to heal cuts, scrapes, insect bites, snake bites and few other skin disorders in Philippines. The Ylang Ylang petals are spread over the bed of newly married couples in Indonesia for its mesmerizing aroma and sensual effects.
The essential oil of Ylang Ylang was used in the making of antimacassar, an ornamental chair cover that prohibited the Macassar oil from discoloring the upholstery. This oil was also used as a prominent ingredient in Macassar oil, an effective hair pomade, or scented ointment for hair. Ylang Ylang was also used as a medicinal herb in treating chronic disorders like typhus, malaria and intestinal infections. Few sources reveal that the prominent therapeutic properties were initially identified in the early 20th century by famous French chemists Rechler and Garnier on the Reunion Island.
Every part of the Ylang Ylang tree is used for various purposes. The entire tree is claimed to be highly beneficial in many ways. The people of Java use the paste of fresh flowers to treat asthma and the dried flowers to treat malaria. In Samoa and Tonga, the bark of the Ylang Ylang tree is used as a laxative and to treat stomach disorders. Ylang Ylang is considered as a culturally important plant and a sacred tree.
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antidiabetic
- Anti-parasitic
- Antispasmodic
- Vasodilating – widens blood vessels
- Regulates heartbeat
Uses and Benefits of Ylang Ylang Oil
Ylang Ylang may have a strange name to it, but it sure can deliver some amazing results. Below are some Ylang Ylang oil uses and benefits:
Ylang Ylang oil was regularly used as a natural hair growth remedy in Victorian England and has continued to be used to treat fine and limp hair. It boosts hair development when massaged into hair follicles and is used as natural treatment for alopecia and thinning hair.
How to use Ylang Ylang as a hot oil treatment
Mix five drops of Ylang Ylang with three tablespoons of olive oil. Heat and apply to your hair just as you would any hot oil treatment. Do this once a week for 30 minutes; wrapping a towel around your head to get the full benefits of this amazing oil.
Cuts, abrasions or burns come with the chance that the wound would turn septic from various bacterial infections. The risk of complications is even greater when the wound was made by an iron object because there remains a chance of it becoming infected by tetanus germs. Essential oil of Ylang Ylang can help to avoid both sepsis and tetanus by inhibiting microbial growth and disinfecting the wounds. This property of Ylang Ylang oil protects your wounds from infections from bacteria, virus and fungus. It also helps to speed up the healing process of the wound.
This essential oil has a balancing and stimulating effect on skin. It’s a great oil because it can help with over-dry and over-oily skin. It also balances the secretion of sebum. It has a stimulating effect on the scalp and is often used to help hair growth.
In aromatherapy, Ylang Ylang essential oil is typically used for the following problems:
- anxiety
- athlete’s foot
- colds
- cough
- depression
- fever
- headaches
- insomnia
- muscle tension
- sinus infections
Ylang Ylang essential oil may be of some benefit to people with high blood pressure. In a 2012 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, for example, researchers asked 83 people with high blood pressure or prehypertension (a condition marked by elevated blood pressure) to inhale the aroma of either a blend of ylang ylang essential oil, lavender essential oil, marjoram essential oil and neroli essential oil, or a placebo fragrance. Study results showed that those assigned to the essential oil group experienced a decrease in blood pressure as well as in levels of cortisol (a hormone released during the stress response).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym5DZdLNdHA
Seborrhoea is really painful as it destroys the epidermal cells and infects them. This disease is horrible and makes the skin look yellow or white. The skin does not stay in a healthy condition and starts to peel off. Ylang Ylang essential oil is helpful in producing anti-inflammatory effects against this disease and induces reduction in redness. Thus, the disease is cured and positive results are seen.
Ylang ylang has shown free-radical scavenging and anti-cancer properties. In fact, a 2005 study compared the free radical scavenging properties of eleven essential oils. And Ylang Ylang was the most effective of the oils tested. That means Ylang Ylang oil can fight free radicals (which damage the skin) and cancer cells.
The antibacterial properties of Ylang Ylang essential oil mean that it can be used to treat acne very effectively. This is particularly good news for acne sufferers with dry skin because mixed with a scent free moisturizer, it will fight the bacteria that cause acne without drying out the skin.
Ylang Ylang oil uses to benefit the face
For a facial cream that’s perfect for combination skin, add three drops Ylang Ylang oil, three drops geranium oil, two drops rosewood oil and mix them into 1/2 oz. of your favorite facial moisturizer.
Some homeopathic practitioners prescribe long-term use of Ylang Ylang oil to treat depression. One study completed by Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand in 2006 noted the oil’s benefit in relieving depression when used transdermally. Though it creates relaxation, Ylang Ylang oil also stimulates the mind when used regularly. However, buyers should consult with a doctor before adding Ylang Ylang oil to a treatment plan for any serious condition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h9SwFB-8gU
Ylang Ylang oil recipe for depression
Mix six drops ylang ylang essential oil, five drops sweet orange essential oil, and three drops frankincense essential oil in 1 oz of jojoba carrier oil. Apply a few drops of the mixture to pressure points, wrists and the back of the neck. This blend can be worn during the day as a “perfume”.
Oil extracted from the Ylang Ylang benefits those who have experienced a less intense sex drive. It is highly useful in people who have lost their sexual desire because of professional stress, huge workload, pollution effects and worries. The calming effects of Ylang Ylang help to work through these issues that are more and more common among individuals who live and work in stressful environments.
Some essential oils are said to do just about everything. Well, Ylang Ylang may join that group. Along with being a nerve strengthener and an antiseptic, Ylang Ylang is often used to treat a variety of internal issues, including stomach infections. Ylang Ylang is used to cure issues of the colon, urinary tract and intestines.
Ylang Ylang oil is used for decades by women to help against cramps and spasms (digestive and during period). In this case, it is great to use it in synergy with petit grain essential oil. Use your blend by gently rubbing the aching area, the essential oils will penetrate through your skin into your bloodstream.
As is commonly seen in other essential oils, Ylang Ylang is said to treat the dreaded insomnia. When a person inhales it, he/she may feel a bit drowsy and sleep better at night.
Ylang Ylang oil is said to work with the cardiovascular, endocrine and hormonal system as well as supporting emotional and spiritual balance. Many of these properties and the potential uses for Ylang Ylang are those that closely link the body to the emotions or the mind, showing very clearly the mind-body connection and how nature can help our body find balance as a whole.
Ylang Ylang essential oil is a health booster for the nervous system. It strengthens the nervous system and repairs any damage it may have suffered. Furthermore, it also reduces stress on the nerves and protects them from developing a number of nervous disorders.
Ylang Ylang oil contains properties that will disinfect wounds, prohibit microbial growth and protect you from infections like bacteria, virus and fungus. It makes the healing process smooth and simple. Any sort of wound or cut that gets abrasive with time can be taken care of with Ylang Ylang oil.
Absorbing Ylang Ylang essential oil through the skin may help reduce stress levels, according to a study published in Phytotherapy Research in 2006. In tests on 40 healthy volunteers, researchers determined that Ylang Ylang essential oil helped promote relaxation and decrease blood pressure. The study also found that Ylang Ylang essential oil may help improve mood.
In Chinese medicine, Ylang Ylang is seen as energetically cool and moist, making it a yin oil. It is associated with the Earth and Fire Elements.
Ylang Ylang may help to balance blood sugar levels by supporting the pancreas. The oil can be applied topically in a dilution over the pancreatic region of the abdomen for absorption. This can encourage the absorption of insulin into the bloodstream.
Ylang Ylang oil is a natural remedy for problems with the reproductive system by helping to balance hormone production. It is of benefit for those who suffer from mood swings that are caused by PMS.
Ylang Ylang oil as used in perfumery
Ylang Ylang oil is used as a floral top note in the ever popular Chanel No. 5 perfume. Of all the Ylang Ylang essential oil benefits, the most well-known probably fall into the realm of cosmetics. The oil has long been the most prized ingredients in the perfume industry as its exotic sweetness adds pleasing floral top notes to a variety of otherwise dull compositions. It is blended into the popular Beautiful by Estee Lauder, Poison by Christian Dior and Escape by Calvin Klein. The oil’s biggest claim to fame, however is its use as a floral top note in one of the best selling perfumes of all time, Chanel No. 5.
Ylang Ylang oil blends well with:
- lemon
- bergamot
- geranium
- grapefruit
- marjoram
- sandalwood
- vetiver
- patchouli
Safety Precautions in Using Ylang Ylang
- Avoid in the first trimester of pregnancy.
- Avoid using with low blood pressure.
- Excessive use can cause headaches and nausea.
- Do not use on inflamed skin or skin affected by dermatitis.
- Remember to consult a physician and use as a complement to traditional medicine.
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