Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil – Lemony Goodness from Australia

Posted on January 29, 2014 by suzannerbanks

Lovely lemon myrtle an Australian native – pic via essentiallyaustralia.com.au

The lovely lemon myrtle tree (Backhousia citriodora) is a native to Australia and the leaves are used for food flavourings, as a tea, and are processed as an essential oil for our pleasure. If you’ve never smelt this powerful oil just imagine a crisp lemon scent with a deep twist of the Australian bush – a magical blend of lemon and other Aussie leaves like eucalyptus and tea tree. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, and the genus Backhousia. This is not to be confused with Myrtle which is also a part of the Myrtaceae family but has the genus Myrtus which is native to Europe. If you read about myrtle, it is likely to refer to this Myrtus communis.

This essential oil has a high citral content. Citral is the active ingredient which gives this and other oils their lemon scent, and it’s very interesting to note the amount of citral in a few essential oils:

Citral is present in the oils of several plants, including lemon myrtle (90-98%),

Litsea citrata (90%),

Litsea cubeba (70-85%),

lemongrass (65-85%),

lemon tea-tree (70-80%),

Ocimum gratissimum (66.5%),

Lindera citriodora (about 65%),

Calypranthes parriculata (about 62%),

petitgrain (36%),

lemon verbena (30-35%),

lemon ironbark (26%),

lemon balm (11%),

lime (6-9%),

lemon (2-5%), and orange.

Wikipedia

So isn’t it interesting that lemon only contains about 5% and this amazing lemon myrtle contains almost 100% citral! Wowsa!

So what does that mean?

In addition to the lemon scent, citral has been reported to have extremely high anti-microbial qualities and compared to tea tree seems to be much higher. The oil today is used just for this purpose and is particularly noted for it’s tested use on MCV which is a skin virus. Lemon myrtle essential oil is also used on cold sores, which are also a virus (herpes) so it stands to reason that this oil is very potent.

You could also use lemon myrtle oil as an inhalation for colds and flu and as a treatment for anxiety and depression (as many other lemon scented oils can be used for similar issues). It’s also great for cleaning because of it’s strong anti-bacterial action.

Dried lemon myrtle leaves - pic via www.abc.net.au

Dried lemon myrtle leaves – pic via http://www.abc.net.au

The lemon myrtle leaves have a history with the indigenous people of Australia, as the plant has been used as a flavouring and a medicine for many, many years. Today the leaves are also just dried and crushed to be used in foods and as a tea, and represent a particular group of foods and flavours only found in Australia.

I use this oil sparingly in my practice and it seems to jump out when someone is plagued by stress and really needs to detoxify their emotions. It works well in a perfume but you need to be careful about using too much in a body oil blend as it can be sensitising.

Check out a couple of simple recipes:

Anoint yourself with pure essential oil blends

1. Pure Pulse Point Perfume

In a little dish mix these oils and anoint your pulse points or chakras – 3 drops of essential oils and dilute with a few drops of carrier oil – always patch test first!

“Start Anew”

Get rid of all the old stale emotions and energy –

Lemon Myrtle 1 drop

Juniper 1 drop

Orange 1 drop

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5. Scent Your Space

In a traditional oil burner with a candle or a diffuser add 25 drops of oil

“Dark Energy Be Gone!”

Lemon Myrtle 10 drops

Patchouli 5 drops

Cedarwood Virginian 5 drops

Rosewood 5 drops

——————————————————————————————————————

Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

The Hierophant – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Posted on September 11, 2013 by suzannerbanks

The Hierophant – V in the Rider-Waite Deck

I must say when I was learning about the tarot I never really got a strong vibe for this card when it came up in a reading. Perhaps it was the religious imagery I didn’t like, even though the main figure seems quite kind and placid. The monks in the foreground are being blessed by the priest, holding a triple cross – religious overload! As with all tarot cards there are many symbols embedded in the image that spark reactions and hint to meanings of the card in general.

graduation – pic via celebrationandpartyblog.com

Anyway, The Hierophant is here to let us know that if we are studying, learning anything in any form, we now have the power to take it to the next level. It could also mean we need a deeper understanding of our spirituality and this could be the sign we need to take that step. This card also represents marriage ordained by the church and religious elders.

Are you being challenged by an authority figure or feeling controlled by an institution? If so, The Hierophant will show up helping you to release your feelings of being blocked by others. Maybe this is a time to keep your continuing spiritual practice (going deeper within) and allow others – who appear to have authority – continue on their path. It may also indicate that this is a time not to rock the boat, but to abide by the rules and laws that govern us. It indicates the opposite to having free will and being totally creative.

pic via radioadelaidebreakfast.wordpress.com

It is a great card to meditate on now for those who are demanding marriage equality. We need balance with the relationship between the people, those in power, and our growing need for a deeper spiritual connection between us all. So I suppose this card is also about fairness and equality.

What essential oils could embody this card? The issues are fairness, marriage, deeper spirituality and the balance of power. Hmmmm.

Just use any mist bottle you can find

1. Personal Aura Cleansing Mist & Room Mist

In a 50ml mist bottle filled with water add 25 drops of oil

“Will You Same Sex Marry Me”

Propose now, why wait?

Sandalwood Indian 8 drops

Petitgrain 10 drops

Ylang Ylang 4 drops

Rose Geranium 3 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————

“My Own Mantra”

Release the bonds of traditional religions and find a deeper spirituality –

Cypress 10 drops

Orange 10 drops

Cedarwood Atlas 5 drops

—————————————————————————————————————————————

“I’ll Agree to Disagree”

Follow the rules this time to make it easier –

Lavender 8 drops

Ginger 8 drops

Lime 8 drops

Vetiver 1 drop

—————————————————————————————————————————————

Take a huge whiff to change your focus in seconds

2. Open The Bottle and Take a Huge Whiff

German Chamomile – instant relaxation

Palmarosa – being flexible with inflexible rules

Spikenard – a deep connection to spirituality

Juniper – release the old and unwanted

—————————————————————————————————————————————

Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

Eucalyptus Oil and a Song About A Kookaburra

Posted on February 13, 2013 by suzannerbanks

the great Australian Kookaburra

A kookaburra has recently moved into my hood – which is only 10 minutes from the city of Sydney. He, or she, has been singing every morning, and according to folk tale when the kookaburra sings. it will rain. That crafty Aussie bird hasn’t been wrong yet. What happened to our long, hot summer? Anyway, the cute little song we’ve been singing for almost a century in Australia goes like this:

“Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Merry merry king of the bush is he.
Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra,
Gay your life must be!”

So the kookaburra sits in a gum tree. A eucalyptus tree. There are many types of euclaypts in Australia and quite a few essential oils are produced from them. Here’s a few I know about:

Eucalyptus globulus

1. Eucalyptus globulus

This eucalyptus tree – the “blue gum” – is the one most used to produce the essential oil. You are probably going to get Eucalyptus globulus when you buy eucalyptus oil. This oil is sharp, strong, clean and fresh and is the classic, most identifiable eucalyptus scent.This oil has been produced for nearly a century and the main production now comes from China. There are many of these trees in the USA too and other warm climates. The tree is easily able to adapt, and because of this it has been the most planted eucalyptus tree in the world.

Eucalyptus radiata

2. Eucalyptus radiata

This is also called the “narrow-leaved peppermint gum” and there seem to be quite a few chemotypes (different scents). I buy this as my everyday eucalyptus oil, as it’s a bit milder and sweeter in scent than the globulus. It still has the same amazing qualities of globulus, and in fact all the eucalypts (as with the melaleucas – see my post http://wp.me/p2R7rE-55) share similar properties. I recommend trying this lovely oil next time you need some eucalyptus oil.

Eucalyptus polybractea

3. Eucalyptus polybractea

This is the ‘Blue mallee’ tree. The oil from this tree has a high cineole content (1,8-cineole is one of the particular active ingredients in eucalyptus tree), which gives it a camphorous and pungent scent. Penetrating and sharp, it is less likely to be found when searching for “eucalyptus oil”, but I have bought blue mallee oil from supermarkets here in Australia and it’s inexpensive and gorgeous. I think there is one brand I found in a supermarket that’s also organic. Even looking at these three pictures it’s hard to distinguish the difference in the look of the leaves and flowers.

Eucalyptus citriodora

4. Eucalyptus citriodora

Yep if you guessed lemon scented you’d be right. It has a citronella/lemon scent, a bit like lemon verbena too. It is high in citronellal and that would explain the scent. It is a warm, almost herbaceous lemon scent and has different shaped leaves to the others discussed so far. I don’t really use this oil although I do carry it in my kit. I would probably use a classic eucalyptus with another lemon scented oil if I need that combination.

Eucalyptus dives

5. Eucalyptus dives

This eucalyptus tree is also used to distill essential oils, but I don’t really use this one a lot either. In fact I don’t think I even have any. Its common name is “broad-leaved peppermint” (radiata was called narrow-leaved peppermint). It has a couple of chemotypes that produce oils and once again the constituents are particular to its type but include the 1,8-cineole, common to all eucalypts. I can’t describe the scent as I can’t remember the last time I used it or smelled it. It is however used for its high piperitone content which gives it a pepperminty-camphor scent.

Eucalyptus piperita

6. Eucalyptus piperita

Wikipedia claims this is called “Sydney peppermint” but I’ve never heard that. Can’t say I ever smelled the oil either but this one is also high in piperitone too. I’ve never looked for it for sale but I’m sure someone makes it. The English phyto-chemist H. G. Smith who moved here in the late 1800’s, wrote a paper on the volatile oil of Eucalyptus piperita and also wrote a book with his colleague on the Eucalypts of Australia.

Eucalyptus smithii

7. Eucalyptus smithii

This is the “gully gum” also found in South Africa where this is the main eucalyptus for oil production. It was named after Mr Smith (from the paragraph above) and is quite high in 1,8-cineole. It has that classic eucalyptus scent and all the qualities you would expect:

decongestant, astringent, analgesic, anti-septic, expectorant and the list goes on. It’s typically used for colds, flu, coughs and many respiratory complaints and is warming and refreshing.

I love Eucalyptus!

Peru Balsam – I LOVE you!

Posted on January 23, 2013 by suzannerbanks

Myroxylon balsamum – Peru or Tolu Balsam (pic sneakily borrowed Fragrantica)

I placed an order with one of my suppliers the other day and was upset to find they will no longer stock peru balsam essential oil. The customer service operator said there has been a lot of negative publicity lately about the oil as a skin irritant, and that it was used more in perfumery. Yeah! That’s why I want it! I want it for the scent. So I’ll be looking for this stunning oil from somewhere else and hope I can find a lovely one.

This beautiful oil, is like a combination of benzoin and vanilla. (Benzoin tincture is the red liquid used for cuts and abrasions and other skin issues that need an anti-bacterial wash. It was often in the first aid kit for wound healing, and has been used for hundreds of years. It was also called Friars Balsam and is also a resin like Peru Balsam, but comes from the Styrax family. It is also used in perfumery and comes from Indonesia and other parts of Asia).

Peru Balsam is sweet and soft and has warming stimulating properties reportedly to be a great treatment for skin conditions. I suppose over-use of the oil can lead to the opposite effect – skin irritations. I have never seen any negative results from using this oil and actually love to use it as a perfume. It’s fantastic for vapourising to act as a soothing agent to stress, and add some sweetness and healing energy into the room. It is like a balm for the soul and when you take a deep whiff, it’s almost like you can smell a protective honeycomb, multi-dimensional energy field.

peru balsam resin

So apparently it’s not used in Aromatherapy as much as it is used in perfumery. It hails from Central and South America and although it isn’t native to Peru, it was shipped to Europe from Lima in Peru in the 1600’s for perfumery, medicine and food flavouring.

In my practice I use Peru Balsam when I feel nurturing and protection is required. It goes well with orange and in fact this blend is a favourite of one of my clients. I use this on myself as a perfume straight from the bottle and also blend it with other oils for a body oil blend.

Here are a couple of recipes;

Sweet Unicorn Dreams

25 drops in a vapuouriser to sweeten the air, de-stress and to help avoid bad dreams

Peru Balsam 12 drops

Orange 9 drops

Marjoram 4 drops

Skin of Silk

8 drops in 3 teaspoons of carrier oil for a body oil

Peru Balsam 4 drops

Lavender 3 drops

Patchouli 1 drop

Knight in Shining Armour

25 drops in a 50ml mist bottle topped up with water for use as a space cleansing and protection mist

Peru Balsam 10 drops

Lime 8 drops

Rosewood 6 drops

Vetiver 1 drop

I don’t think we need to be afraid of the potentially sensitising nature of this oil, but perhaps use caution and don’t use it with kids. The old adage “everything in moderation” works well for us here as it does in everyday life.

Remember to treat yourself first and then everyone will benefit!

Are there any Aromatherapists out there who use Peru Balsam, and also those who don’t? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section, don’t be shy.

Fir and Pine – Fresh and Clean

Posted on December 26, 2012 by suzannerbanks

Pine

PINE

Pine is most associated with this time of year, if you celebrate Christmas. There are many types of Pine but the one most used for the essential oil is Pinus sylvestrus – often referred to as Scots Pine. From what I can gather, yes it is actually found in Scotland and is native to parts of Europe and Asia.

I do love this oil but rarely use it in a body oil blend for a treatment. It can be a bit harsh to use all over the body and is more effective used an inhalation to help with breathing and upper respiratory tract infections. The scent is bushy and fresh and is fantastic used for scenting a space and doing an energetic cleanse. You can have an aromatherapy treatment, clean and disinfect your house, and create a clean slate for new beginnings, all with a few drops of pine oil.

When you are doing a ritual or energetic cleanse of a space, your intention is as important as the oils you use. Always go with your positive intention and emotions rather than trying to clear negativity (even though this may be your goal). So instead of thinking/chanting/saying something like this;

“I’m purging all the toxic energy of my past relationship…”

try saying

“I love living in my beautiful, happy and creative space”.

As you clean, just have this thought in your mind. You can do this with any essential oil but Pine is one that lends itself to clarification. The oil comes from a steam distillation of the twigs, buds and needles and has a spicy green scent, perfect for inviting the energy of nature into your home

FIR

a fir forest in Finland borrowed from cartinafinland.fi

I’ve got a beautiful Siberian Fir essential oil – Abies sibirica. It is a part of the Pinacae family, but firs differ to pines in that their leaves are flat. “Flat, friendly fir” I remember a Park Ranger telling me in Arizona somewhere. Pine needles are cylindrical.

Anyway, the scent of the fir essential oil is much softer than that of pine but I really don’t use this essential oil all over the body either. This family of trees can be slightly sensitising to skin and tends to be more powerful used as a tonic for the emotions and energy. It’s main constituents on a typical breakdown are bornyl acetate, alpha and beta pinene and camphene and the oil can be seen as warming as is often claimed to be a great analgesic to rheumatism.

I would choose fir over pine for the scent. With pine, it can tend to be a bit more medicinal smelling. Fir is warmer and softer and a little bit more special and lovely to use in a perfume. Fir can be used in the same way as pine for cleaning and cleansing so why not give it a go?

Remember to use your intention when employing essential oils for health and well being and treat yourself first, so everyone can benefit.

All the Australian Melaleucas

Posted on December 17, 2012 by suzannerbanks

tea tree

Many people know of the amazing properties of Tea Tree oil – Melalueca alternifolia. It’s fresh, it’s clean and it smells like the bush. The Australian bushland, that is. It is known for its powerful “anti’s” –

* anti-bacterial

* anti-fungal

* anti-viral

* anti-septic

Yep its powerful stuff and has been used by indigenous Australians as medicine and in smoking ceremonies for thousands of years (at the very least). It can be used topically for acne, fungal infections, cuts and abrasions. It is fantastic as an addition to your cleaning regime – just add a few drops to your cleaning products or go totally natural and use it on it’s own with some bi-carb soda or salt. Chuck a few drops straight onto the kitchen benches. This will not only disinfect the bench, and the cloth you are using but will also energetically and scentually make the kitchen beautiful!

But did you know there are some other types of melalueca that are lovely to use and have milder, softer fragrances?

Rosalina – Melalueca ericifolia

is much softer and sweeter than conventional tea tree, and is sometimes referred to as Lavender Tea Tree. It’s a good description and although it doesn’t really smell like lavender, it is gentle and has warm honey overtones. It has a high linalool content which is found in high quantities in lavender. I love to use this oil with kids, and in oil blends during treatments that require a formula to help the client get rid of negativity quickly.

Rosalina

Niaouli – Melalueca quinquinervia

this one has some lavender hints – more than Rosalina, but is also a bit citrusy and has a high content of 1,8 cineole which is found in eucalyptus, and limonene (guess where that is also found)? It is called the broad-leaved paperbark and the trees can grow quite large. Niaouli is also produced from Melalueca viridiflora and I can’t seem to find much information on whether both trees are used in the distillation, or only one tree and some information I have is incorrect. There is a Melalueca quinquinervia LN chemotype, which is called Nerolina as it has a high content of nerolidol. As I also mention below – they are all melaluecas and have similar properties.

Niaouli

Cajeput – Melalueca cajeputi

more spicy and “camphorous” than common tea tree, it’s great as an expectorant like eucalyptus. When you look at these pictures here, you can see that they are all very similar in their look as a plant, and are actually similar in their therapeutic properties. There are of course slight variations in scent and in chemical make-up, and cajeput could be a little too sensitising for use all over the body. I tend to use rosalina a lot more in body oil blends.

Cajeput

I love to use tea tree in oil vapourisers to purify the air and to help flush away bad vibes, stale energy – to help clear the way for new and exciting things!

So there you have it – some great Australian essentials oils to add to your library of scent. Go on, be adventurous.

Remember to treat yourself first, and everyone will benefit.

suzannerbanks

scent . intention . consciousness . essential oils

Tag Archives: space cleansing with essential oils

Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil – Lemony Goodness from Australia

The Hierophant – A Tarot Card Reading with Essential Oils

Eucalyptus Oil and a Song About A Kookaburra

Peru Balsam – I LOVE you!

Fir and Pine – Fresh and Clean

All the Australian Melaleucas

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