Healing with Jasmine Essential Oil: Benefits of Jasmine Oil
Characteristics of Jasmine Essential Oil
Jasmine essential oil is extracted from the star-shaped white blossoms of the evergreen shrub, Jasminum Gradiflora. Indigenous to China and India, jasmine was carried throughout Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia. Today the best jasmine oil comes from Turkey. The flowers are always picked during the night, while the fragrance is most intense. Jasmine essential oil is a highly valued aromatic, known for its potent relaxing effect on the body. It also takes an enormous quantity of blossoms to make the concentrated oil — 1,000 pounds of flowers for every one pound of jasmine essential oil.
Medicinal Benefits of Jasmine Oil
The benefits of jasmine oil are due to its rich blend of phytochemicals, including benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, creosol, eugenol, linalool, and gamma terpineol. Jasmine oil is perhaps most well-known for its antidepressant and aphrodisiac properties. Inhaling the intoxicating scent of jasmine blossoms is known to be incredibly soothing and uplifting, melting away negative feelings and inhibitions. It benefits both impotence and frigidity.
Other benefits of jasmine oil include its ability to relieve spasms. As an anti-spasmodic it will soften muscle cramps as well as coughs. It has expectorant properties, helping to expel mucous from the respiratory tract, making jasmine essential oil a natural remedy for the symptoms of the common cold.
Although jasmine essential oil should not be used during pregnancy, it can be used during childbirth under the supervision of an experienced midwife or other medical professional. Jasmine has the double effect of strengthening contractions while relieving pain and anxiety. It is also beneficial for women post-partum — to alleviate depression and stimulate the flow of breast milk.
How to Use Jasmine Essential Oil
Jasmine essential oil is non-toxic and does not cause irritation, so it is generally a very safe aromatic oil. Despite the many benefits of jasmine oil for women, it should not be used during pregnancy. It is also important to keep in mind when using jasmine essential oil, the potent sedative qualities of this flower.
Jasmine oil can be diluted in a carrier oil, such as jojoba, or an unscented lotion, about twenty-five drops for every two ounces of oil (six drops if being used as a facial oil) and eight ounces of lotion. It can also be added to bathwater or evaporated and inhaled with an essential oil diffuser. Jasmine essential oil blends well with rose, sandalwood, and all citrus essential oils.
Sources:
Balch, Phyllis A. “Prescription for Nutritional Healing.” Fourth Edition (Penguin Books, 2006).
photo by: Kpjas
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