What are the Major Health Benefits of Jasmine
Jasmine is used mainly for tea and as an essential oil. Jasmine tea, made by scenting oolong, white or black tea leaves with jasmine flowers, are a popular in traditional Chinese medicine. Recent research has validated many of the health benefits of jasmine tea. Essential Jasmine Oil, extracted from jasmine flowers, is known for its powerful odor and many uses.
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Soothing Effects
The aroma of jasmine oil has a pleasing, uplifting effect on the mind, and is said to help fight depression.
Research on the health benefits of jasmine tea odor on automatic nerve activity and mood states conducted by the Kyoto University in Japan concludes that low intensity jasmine tea odors may have a sedative effect on the autonomic nerve activity and on mood states.
Jasmine tea does not energize as green tea does, but consumption of jasmine tea calms down the body, mind, and soul, allowing for relaxation and regaining vitality after overwork or extreme stress. The health benefits of jasmine resultant from this sedative property include easing anxiety, stress, annoyance, anger, and depression, and bringing forth positive and constructive emotions.
Healing Wounds
Jasmine contains benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, and benzyl benzoate, all which provides germicidal, bactericidal, fungicidal and anti viral properties to jasmine. This antiseptic and disinfectant nature of jasmine provides the major jasmine oil benefits such as application of jasmine oil on wounds to prevent tetanus infection, and more.
Increased Libido
Fresh jasmine flowers contain etheric oil, benzilic acetate, linalcohol, benzilic alcohol, indole and jasmon, all of which provide jasmine with aphrodisiac properties. The resultant impact includes enhancment of the libido and lifting inhibitions. It is theorized that the health benefits of jasmine oil may extend to curing of problems such as premature ejaculation, frigidity and impotency.
Pain Reliever
Jasmine oil is used in aromatherapy to relieve pain resultant from spasmodic coughs, intestinal cramps, congestion, asthma, breathlessness and spasmodic cholera. Massaging the lower back with jasmine oil eases pain during delivery.
Jasmine is an expectorant, helping bring up mucus and other material from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea, and clearing accumulation of phlegm in respiratory tracts and congestion in nasal and respiratory tracts. Inhaling jasmine essential oil thereby help in attaining sound and snoreless sleep, even when suffering from a cough or cold.
Better Uterus Functioning
Jasmine is an emmenagogue, stimulating blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. Application of jasmine oil may help to make menstrual periods regular and less painful. It is also beileved to help alleviate menses-related problems such as fatigue and nausea, and ensure proper functioning of the uterus.
Other Health Benefits
Jasmine may be used for many purposes such as improving digestion, inducing weight loss by promoting the metabolism and reducing body fats, lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and more.
Several animal studies show the ability of jasmine to slow down the growth of cancer cells. Israeli researchers have developed an anti-cancer drug using Jasmonate, a component found in the jasmine plant. The effectiveness of jasmine in slowing down cancer in humans is still unclear. Research on such health benefits are at initial stages.
Cooking Uses
The health benefits of jasmine apart, the powerful odor makes jasmine the preferred oil to add flavor to food. The strong aroma of jasmine flower also finds application to remove the smell of cooked food from kitchens, and bad odor fom refrigerators.
Disclaimer
The many benefits of jasmine tea notwithstanding, consumption of jasmine tea in large quantities and in certain situations may do more harm than good. Jasmine may cause allergies and create complications for pregnant women. Consumption of jasmine tea on an empty stomach may cause acidity.
Please read this disclaimer regarding the information you have just read.
References
- Saheilan, Ray. Jasmine herb and tea health benefit. https://www.raysahelian.com/jasmine.html
- Organic Facts. Health Benefits of Jasmine Essential Oil. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-jasmine-essential-oil.html
- Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Kyoto, Japan. Sedative effects of the jasmine tea odor and (R)-(-)-linalool on autonomic nerve activity and mood states. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2005 Oct;95(2-3):107-14.
- Essential Oil Profiles. https://www.bhia.org/aromatherapy/essentialoilprofiles.htm
- Green, Mindy. Aromatherapy – Essential Oils for Health and Wellness. https://www.mscd.edu/student/resources/health/healthymoves/Aromatherapy.MGreen.2-17-09.pdf
