039 Eco-ethical Melissa essential oil from Bulgaria

melissa essential oil The word 'Melissa' is Greek for 'Honey Bee', Melissa having been planted near bee hives to produce the most delicious honey. Melissa (or Lemon Balm) oil is considered one of the most powerfully medicinal essential oils in all of aromatherapy, with a wonderfully pleasant sweet, herbaceous aroma.

A great deal of oil sold as Melissa today is actually a blend including lemongrass and citronella oils - 'true' Melissa oil has its own unique aroma and properties. Melissa's high cost is a result of needing around 11,000 lbs. of plant material to produce 1 pound of essential oil. The resulting oil from this sweet-smelling herb is a pale yellow liquid with a light, fresh lemony aroma. Melissa oil offered at exceptionally low prices is likely to be adulterated in some way, and will not have the medicinal properties of the true essential oil.

Melissa was one of the earliest medicinal herbs. Paracelsus called Melissa the 'elixir of life'. The herb was associated particularly with nervous disorders, the heart, and emotions. Melissa was used for anxiety, melancholy, and to strengthen and revive the vital spirit.

In Advanced Aromatherapy, Kurt Schnaubelt wrote "The way in which melissa oil combines an excellent antiviral component with a soothing but pervasive sedative power is difficult to imagine; it has to be experienced. In its complexity, power, and gentleness, melissa oil perfectly illustrates how nature time after time works better than one-dimensional synthetic medicines."

Melissa is a strong antiviral – and at the same time, Melissa is very gentle on the emotions, and can bring out this quality in a individual. Melissa oil is calming and uplifting, may relieve headaches, and may help balance the emotions. It may help release emotional blocks and lead to an improved outlook on life.

Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis
Common Method Of Extraction: Steam distilled
Parts Used: Flowering tops and leaves
Note Classification: Middle
Aroma: Citrus, light, fresh
Largest Producing Countries: U.S., Hungary, Egypt, and Italy
Traditional Use: Used extensively as a fragrance component in toiletries, cosmetics, and perfumes.
Properties: Antibiotic, antidepressant, antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, bactericidal, calmative, carminative, cordial, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypnotic, hypotensive, nervine, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, sudoforic, tonic, uterine, and vermifuge.
Benefits: Allergies, amenorrhea, anxiety, asthma, bronchitis, calming, chronic coughs, colds, colic, depression, dysentery, eczema, fever, general tonic, headache, herpes, hypertension, hysteria, indigestion, infertility, insomnia, insect bites, intellectual fatigue, irritability, menstrual pain, migraine, nausea, nervous tension, palpitations, shock, sterility (women), stomach cramps, stress, vertigo, and vomiting.
Recipe: For herpes outbreaks, try 1 part Geranium Oil, 1 part Melissa Oil, 1 part Lavender Oil, 10 parts Tea Tree Oil - apply to affected area undiluted 3 times a day; once skin dries and tightens, add mixture to 9 parts Almond Oil.
Blends Well With: Chamomile roman, frankincense, geranium, lavender, neroli, petitgrain, rose, and citrus oils.
Safety Data: Non-toxic, possible sensitization and dermal irritation; use in low dilutions only. Avoid in pregnancy.

General Guidelines for safe use of essential oils

Be an experienced and knowledgeable user of essential oils and research all oils thoroughly and/or consult with a skilled practitioner before any use.

Dilute all oils being used with a vegetable carrier oil. Skin test all essential oils before using topically. Each person's body is different, so apply oils to a small area first. The inside of the arm is good for this. The bottoms of the feet are two of the safest, most affective places to use essential oils. Discontinue use or dilute further with vegetable oil if there is discomfort or skin irritation.

Keep essential oils out of the reach of children. Treat them as you would any product with therapeutic uses. Take special precaution with babies, pregnant women and anyone and everyone with allergies, special conditions and needs.

Keep essential oils away from mucous membranes and the eye area and do not put into ears. Do not handle contact lenses or rub eyes with essential oils on fingers. Know also that many of the citrus oils and others may cause a rash or darker pigmentation if applied to skin exposed to direct sunlight or UV rays within 3 to 4 days of use.

Keep bottles of essential oils tightly closed and store them in a cool location away from light. If stored properly, essential oils will maintain their potency for many years.