Essential oils have been used around the globe for centuries. They are used for both pleasure and medicinal purposes. Medicinally, food-grade essential oils can be ingested orally to have a biochemical effect on your body. Because essential oils are volatile, meaning they can evaporate into the air especially when added to hot water, they can be breathed in through your respiratory system. Let's explore the key benefits of jasmine essential oil.
How Essential Oils Help You Medicinally
Essential oils can have a local effect on your sinuses, nasal passages and lungs. They can even enter your blood circulation through being inhaled which will then have a biochemical effect on your entire body. Topically essential oils work by penetrating your skin to affect an area locally and by penetrating your skin a small amount can enter your bloodstream affecting your whole body. Applied topically, essential oils are absorbed through the olfactory nerve in your nose affecting your brain and nervous system. These various pathways can affect your health both mentally and physically. The study of Aromatherapy – the medicinal use of essential oils – falls under the new science called Psychoneuroimmunology, which is the study of the interaction of your psyche, nervous system and immune system. Science has shown that when you have a positive outlook and feel relaxed your immune system works better.
Aromatherapy and the use of essential oils and resins from plants have been used in cultures globally since Biblical times. They were in such demand that they played an important role in international trade around the globe. In Egypt, high priests recorded the many medicinal uses of essential oils on papyrus paper. Records show the Chinese used aromatic herbs and massage over 2000 years ago. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, essential oils were and still are used in massage and on pressure points to correct underlying imbalances and to improve health.
Ways To Use Essential Oils
- inhaled through steam inhalation, humidifiers, diffusers, and vaporizers
- added to a carrier oil and applied to your skin directly or as a hot or cold compress
- spritzed onto objects like pillows, bedding and furniture
- added to infusers, potpourri and candles to enhance the odour of an indoor space
- applied to the skin as perfume
- used as a gargle or mouthwash, added to toothpaste, soaps, cleaning solutions, lotions and creams, face and body spray
- added to baths, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, hand and foot baths and saunas
Discover Jasmine Essential Oil
Jasmine is a shrub indigenous to the Mediterranean, with its sprawling vines which produce beautiful odiferous white and yellow flowers. If you have ever smelled fresh Jasmine flowers at dusk, with a mix of salty Mediterranean ocean air, you will know you have experienced bliss.
To make Jasmine essential oil, oil from these white and yellow flowers is extracted.
Key Applications For Jasmine Oil
Jasmine essential oil has been used for many ailments.
Studies show Jasmine essential oil increases circulation. Apply Jasmine oil topically or on alternating hot and cold compresses for arthritic conditions or post-injuries for healing. Increased circulation concentrates nutrients and healing cells to clean up and heal injuries. Increased circulation also increases collagen production and brings oxygen and anti-inflammatory cells to degenerated and inflamed joints. Jasmine oil is great for osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Gout, Tendonitis, Myositis, fibromyalgia, and Rheumatism. Increasing circulation to the skin helps reduce signs of aging and increases collagen production in damaged or aging skin. This is why it’s healthy to add Jasmine Oil to face creams and lotions.
Jasmine oil reduces conditions involving muscle tension and spasms. So it’s perfect for a massage with tense or hypertonic muscles. As a gargle or steam inhalation Jasmine is great to treat spasmodic coughs. It can be put in humidifiers in your bedroom for those with coughs which are worse at night. And topically it is great to help with restless legs and muscle spasms. Or use it topically on your belly monthly for menstrual pain. And for those with asthma, which is a condition producing a spasming of the bronchi, use Jasmine in a humidifier, vaporizer, steam inhalation or topically on your neck and chest.
Studies show that Jasmine contains an odour component called Linalool, which affects autonomic nerve activity and mood states. Specifically, Jasmine relaxes your nervous system, decreases heart rate and produces calm and vigorous mood states. This is effective for nervous conditions, anxiety, depression, post-partum and insomnia due to an overactive mind. Relaxing your nervousness stimulates your libido, so Jasmine is considered an aphrodisiac.
Different Ways To Use Jasmine Essential Oil
Topically: in a carrier oil like Jojoba, Sweet Almond or Grape Seed Oil:
- tense muscles or spasms, for relaxation, and to elevate mood
- abdomen for menstrual pains
- neck and chest for colds, coughs, asthma
- joints for pain and inflammation
- hot and cold compresses for pain, inflammation and post-injury
- face creams for anti-aging
Inhaled via steam inhalation, vaporizer, bath, diffuser or humidifier:
- asthma
- spasmodic coughs
- insomnia
- relaxation
Works synergistically with:
- For relaxation – Lavender, lemon, chamomile, myrrh, ylang ylang
- Coughs – Eucalyptus, ginger, rosemary
- Injury and Inflammation – Wintergreen, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Clove
- To elevate mood – Orange, lavender, Neroli, Eucalyptus
