When I first started using essential oils, I had no idea what I was doing. There was a lot of information out there that seemed to say two different things.
However, I knew that using the essential oils were among the healthiest methods of healing out there since they basically work to boost your body's natural restorative properties.
Who doesn't want their own body to heal itself? It took a lot of research, but I finally found the oils that I enjoy the most and that I think work the best for me.
One of those essential oils is Ylang Ylang. This oil comes from the Cananga tree that's found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Ylang Ylang is typically used for its perfume which is often utilized for aromatherapy.
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It is believed to have been first used by the Samoan Islanders and other South Pacific natives. They play a key role in Indonesian culture still today. Typically, the flowers of the Ylang Ylang are spread on the bed of newly wedded couples since they have an aphrodisiac quality to them.
In the Philippines, Ylang Ylang serves a different cultural purpose. Women use the flowers as a necklace, and many adorn religious images with the flower.
When the oil came to England, it was popularly used as a pomade during the Victorian era.
Since Ylang Ylang flowers are most potent in their scent at night, harvesters typically have to work under the moonlight. That makes the pure grade oil quite rare and expensive.
However, considering the powerful effects this essential oil can have, it certainly pays to obtain the best that one can for the best results.
Typically, however, these potent hide grade oils are swiftly snatched up by perfume companies. So, one can just end up buying the perfume itself and using the aromatherapy that the bottle provides.
Eventually, French chemists got their hands on Ylang Ylang and began to divulge in the healing properties that could be found within it. They discovered that using Ylang Ylang could help treat malaria, typhus, as well as a number of intestinal infections.
No doubt as someone who wants to use essential oils, one might wonder just what makes up Ylang Ylang. The chemical components are as follows:
Ylang Ylang Oil Uses: The Oil That Keeps On Giving!
The Scent
As described before, Ylang Ylang is often used in aromatherapy. It is considered to be the flower of flowers. Many just use the perfume of the flower because they enjoy the smell.
Commonly, the scent of Ylang Ylang has rich tones of rubber and custard, but also bright tones of jasmine and neroli. This intricate weave of scents can be found among popular perfumes today.
In fact, even the luxurious and high-quality brand of Chanel has utilized Ylang Ylang in their fragrances.
Of the scent's chemical components, such is responsible for its particular fragrant aroma:
Everyday Use Of Ylang Ylang
There are quite a few ways in which I and other people use Ylang Ylang. As mentioned before, some prefer to simply use it as a perfume.
By pressing it on their wrists or in certain areas of their neck, they can carry the soothing aroma wherever they go.
Again, Ylang Ylang is commonly used for aromatherapy, and so the elegant scent can be used to soothe a person throughout the day if they use it as a perfume--either recreationally or for treatment.
For others who enjoy using the fragrance for their aromatherapy, they place it in a burner or a diffuser. The scent is diffused throughout the space, and people can enjoy its relaxing and soothing attributes while they rest at home after a long day.
For those who like to couple essential oils with working out, there's always an option to have the diffuser running while one performs yoga or other soothing workout regimes.
Another relaxation technique that I certainly enjoy is to include Ylang Ylang in my bath sessions. On those days when I need a little extra tender love and care, I add Ylang Ylang into Epsom salts, grapefruit, and geranium, in order to create an ultimate relaxing experience.
I always feel fully rejuvenated and soothed after soaking in a bath with those essential oils combined.
The scent alone of Ylang Ylang isn't the only thing that can be used. In its oil form, it can be used topically. One excellent method that people use it for is their massage.
By having their masseuse rub the Ylang Ylang oil into their skin, they are helping their bodies to fully relax and receive the health benefits that the oil can provide.
Because Ylang Ylang has shown to have positive effects on the skin, that massage can go a long way to boosting your health.
I've used it for facials before in steaming the oil and resting close to it, so the steam washes over my face. This is considered to be an aromatherapy steam facial.
Another usage can be found in mixing the Ylang Ylang with fractionated coconut oil. This reduces the severity of Ylang Ylang with the carrier oil of coconut and allows me to use it as a conditioner.
Not just any conditioner, either, but a deep conditioner that really impacts the health of my hair.
For those who take their emotional health and support into great consideration, Ylang Ylang is used against the heart.
By rubbing it into the chest area or breathing in its scent, it can boost my mood and help me stable emotionally. This is perfect for when I'm feeling especially stressed or anxious about something.
Medicinal purposes are often treated with Ylang Ylang. The oil and leaves have a natural antiseptic property to them, so they are often used to treat wounds to reduce the chances of receiving an infection.
For those who have high blood pressure, the oil is also said to help lower and regulate it.
Cultures have used the powers of Ylang Ylang for varying purposes as well. The Javanese dry the flowers and then use them to treat malaria.
Considering how deadly that disease can be, the fact that Ylang Ylang can help reduce its symptoms and promote healing is astounding.
Those from Vietnam have also used the flowers to treat malaria. Those who live in the Northern Marianas Islands make a paste out of the flowers which are used to ease asthma.
They also utilize the bark from the tree itself to help with conditions and diseases like pneumonia and stomach problems.
Finally, the Malaysians actually utilize the Ylang Ylang flowers and leaves to make an ice cream. Although I've never had the pleasure of consuming Ylang Ylang ice cream, I can imagine that it's quite tasty and wonderful for the mood!
What Are The Benefits of Ylang Ylang Oil? I'm Glad You Asked
Obviously, with many cultures using the oil from Ylang Ylang to treat varying conditions, there's something to this fragrant oil.
In this section, I will discuss how Ylang Ylang can benefit certain conditions as well as the studies that have been done on those particular treatments.
Mood Booster
As I have mentioned before, Ylang Ylang is an incredible essential oil to boost the mood. It's actually commonly used as an antidepressant.
Because it contains traces of jasmine in it, the chemicals found in Ylang Ylang can actually help the brain produce dopamine.
This hormone, along with a few others, is basically what is responsible for making one feel happy. Every time something good happens, or there is a feeling of pleasure or positivity, that's dopamine at work.
When I breathe in Ylang Ylang, the chemical reactions from the fragrant to my brain boost the productivity of that hormone.
As such, I am left with a positive feeling and generally feel a lot happier. Ylang Ylang also works to reduce cognitive function. While that may seem like a bad thing, especially if you're trying to drive or do something that requires maximum thinking ability, it isn't quite how it sounds.
Ylang Ylang reduces the amount of brain activity that is occurring. For those who suffer from anxiety, like myself, when we're nervous or having an anxiety attack, that's a whole lot of brain activity that's going on when it doesn't need to in the first place.
Ylang Ylang reduces the amount of that brain activity, which allows me to feel calm and relaxed.
That is, essentially, Ylang Ylang's goal with my brain. To stop the white noise and worried thoughts and instead allow me to feel joy and relaxed at the same time.
Because it's a natural ingredient, I don't have to worry about side effects or overdosing like I might if I was actually taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety drug.
Instead, I can easily put this in a burner or have it diffused throughout my room and breathe it in as much as I want.
Or, if I have to go out into the world, I can simply dab it on my wrists as a perfume and smell it throughout the day to keep me in a pretty dandy state until I've returned to the sanctity of my home.
Skin Improvement
Ylang Ylang has anti-bacterial, anti-seborrheic, and astringent properties which means it is wonderful for the skin.
As someone who suffers from regular acne, even though I have long since passed my awkward teen stage, Ylang Ylang is a lifesaver for when those annoying pimples show up on my face. It can help soothe eczema and psoriasis as well.
When I use Ylang Ylang regularly, the properties of the oil basically kills the bacteria on my skin. This frees up my pores and allows the oil to dig in deep and attack the problem at the source.
It cleans out the dirt and other bacteria that exists inside of the pore.
Because of how skin functions, eventually, there's going to be hardened sebum that exists within the pore. Ylang Ylang removes that along with the dirt and allows the skin to return to regular production.
Because of this regulated production, it's possible to see wrinkles start to smooth out and have the skin become tight once more.
It's also quite easy to use, too. All I have to do is take my Ylang Ylang and mix it with coconut oil since this carrier oil also has some pretty powerful properties for healthy skin.
Then I just mix it well, and I can use it as a face or body cream.
As with all creams or skin procedures, regular use is a must. No one will see any improvement if they only apply the oil every now and then.
Ylang Ylang works best when used frequently to keep the bacteria from building inside your pore and on your skin in the first place.
Boost Hair Health
Whether one just had poor hair health naturally, or one is beginning to age--like myself--and is beginning to notice the deteriorating of one's hair, one is probably desperate to do what one can to keep one's hair healthy.
I certainly know that whenever I take a shower and notice a great deal of hair at the drain, I feel a bit of dread in the whole hair loss department. As we become older, hair naturally loses its vibrancy and thickness.
Hair loss and the tell-tale signs of thinning and greying are sometimes the first signs we receive that we are getting older. That doesn't mean we have to just accept unhealthy hair, however.
I was determined to find a way to make sure that my hair was as healthy as it possibly could be.
The answer, I was pleased to find, rested in the use of Ylang Ylang. Just like it has amazing boosting properties for the skin, so too does it have amazing boosting properties for hair.
Ylang Ylang can help hair grow thick and vibrant and put a stop to hair loss.
By mixing in a 1:1 ratio of Ylang Ylang and coconut oil, I made a wonderful smelling and effective shampoo. I scrubbed it into my scalp and let it rest there for about a half hour.
Once the timer was up, I gave myself a thorough rinse and over time, my hair started to thicken once more.
As with your skin, it takes regular use for Ylang Ylang to do its work properly. This isn't a simple overnight cure. However, it is effective and unlike many other shampoos that rely on chemicals, it doesn't damage or injure your hair in the process.
So, for those who are concerned about the loss of hair or feel that their hair just isn't as vibrant as it used to be, give Ylang Ylang a try. It's certainly less painful than hair transplants and can give you quite a few other bonus effects, too.
Heart Problems And Blood Pressure
As the French chemists once discovered, Ylang Ylang can do wonders for those who have high blood pressure and a heart rate that tends to work in overdrive.
Numerous studies were taken of healthy men who inhaled Ylang Ylang. The study discovered that by simply inhaling the oil, blood pressure was reduced, and their heart rate was also decreased.
For those who tend to suffer from hypertension, the results of those studies offered fantastic implications. The same goes for those who can't properly regulate their blood pressure or heart rate.
Because of the intricate way that Ylang Ylang works with the brain, it tells the rest of the body to relax.
With these messages being delivered, the heart can calm down. Once the heart starts to relax, that allows the blood and the blood pressure to decrease and reduce as well. As a result, the person is left feeling relaxed.
Considering that high blood pressure and an overactive heart can lead to some serious cases of heart disease--as well as a heart attack--finding natural ways to aid these conditions is critical.
While there are certain medications out there to help as well, many of these medications come with their own side effects that could cause other problems down the line.
As such, Ylang Ylang offers a natural method to help boost the health of the heart and keep one healthy. One possible recipe to consider to reduce your own blood pressure is to mix three drops of Ylang Ylang with a teaspoon of an appropriate carrier oil.
Then you take this mixture and massage it into the areas that need treatment like the chest or wrist.
It's also suggested to use this method before one sleeps. For someone who has difficulty shutting off their thoughts at night, like myself, using Ylang Ylang with lavender or lemon really helps me to relax and fall into a deep and restorative sleep.
Considering how important sleep is to one's overall health, this is definitely a step that anyone should consider.
Reducing Menstrual Pain
As a woman, I dread a certain week every month. For the next couple of decades, it's something I have to deal with and suffer from. However, using Ylang Ylang has actually helped to make that suffering a little easier.
Menstruation is ridiculous. If the actual menstruating itself wasn't bad enough, it brings along with it a whole slew of additional problems.
Acne tends to sprout, headaches are extremely common, nausea can hit when the pain becomes too severe, I'm either cold or hot or exhausted or wired, and there's just the general consistent experience of pain.
Instead of ripping my hair out--or uterus--I tried Ylang Ylang to see what it could do for me. It was a lot. Ylang Ylang, a serious pain reliever, really helped to soothe my otherwise irritated mood.
Since it's an analgesic, it helps to relieve muscle cramps and tension. As stated before, it has wonderful properties for the skin, and so was able to keep a lid on those annoying pimples that wanted to sprout all over.
Also, since I tend to get headaches just in general, by diluting Ylang Ylang and massaging it against my neck and temples, I was able to relieve my headache and quell some of the nausea I was experiencing.
Considering that the body is basically thrown completely out of whack during the menstruation cycle with all of the hormones at play, it's important to have some regulation.
By regulating the body's processes, it can help one to feel a bit more human. Ylang Ylang works naturally as a regulator, so it only makes sense to help it regulate my own system.
So, for those who suffer monthly like me, Ylang Ylang can be a boon in the struggle. It can soothe the cramps, keep the skin under control, and just provide an overall mood booster and soother, so I don't end up biting someone's head off.
Spice Up The Sex Life
To be a healthy person, one typically requires a healthy sex life. Not only is it great for fitness, but it creates an emotional connection that can offer an otherwise dreary life some meaning.
However, sex can become boring or routine at times. Or, for some people, it can be something nerve-wracking.
Remember those flowers placed on marital beds for newlyweds? While the cultures believe that it offers aphrodisiac powers of virility and fertility, studies have shown that that isn't quite the case.
However, they still can play a key role in one's sex life.
In fact, what actually does occur is that Ylang Ylang works a lot like alcohol. When one drinks before engaging in sex, it's typically to help lessen the nerves and instill some courage.
Ylang Ylang does just that without the consequence of a hangover the next day.
The scent of Ylang Ylang offers a soothing experience that can relax the mind and reduce the number of worries or unpleasant thoughts that one might be having about oneself and sex in general.
By allowing ourselves to relax, we can enjoy sex a lot more and perhaps find the boldness to try a few new things in the bedroom department.
This confidence booster doesn't just need to be used for sex either. In fact, any time we feel that we need a bit of a boost to reduce those nerves--like for an interview or meeting the parents for the first time--taking a quick smell of Ylang Ylang can bolster us.
Using it as a perfume will ensure that we can carry the confidence booster with us all day.
Reduction Of Inflammation
If consistent pain is something that we suffer from, or if we had an accident or injury, Ylang Ylang can be an excellent method for relieving that pain and inflammation.
Because Ylang Ylang is both analgesic and anti-inflammatory, it was basically made by nature to help the aches and pains of the everyday struggle. In fact, in many cases, it has proven to be as potent as pharmaceutical drugs.
By applying the oil to those areas which hurt, I found soothing relief quickly. I typically use the oil in my bath and just soak for as long as I can stand it.
This comes with the added bonus of being able to inhale the oil and further soothe my mind, too.
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Side Effects And Precautions To Keep In Mind
While Ylang Ylang doesn't have the same side effects that one might expect from a drug, one should always exercise caution. For one, we shouldn't ingest Ylang Ylang.
While it has been proven safe to eat in small increments, it isn't something that should be consumed in general.
Because some people are sensitive to essential oils, it's also always an excellent idea to test areas first to determine if one is allergic.
When using any essential oil, and especially Ylang Ylang, one should first dilute the oil so it is less potent. Otherwise, we might experience some mild irritation against the skin.
Additionally, if we intend to use it for our children, we should talk with our doctor first to ensure that our child does not receive an allergy from Ylang Ylang that could injure them.
It would also be wise to determine how much Ylang Ylang can be used on our child's skin.
Facts Backed By Studies
* Reduces blood pressure and heart rate.
* Reduces negative brain activity and blood pressure.
* Reduces depression and anxiety.
* Improves skin, hair, and mood.
Final Thoughts about Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang Ylang has been my go-to for a lot of natural conditions that require natural treatments. By foregoing drugs, I don't see any of the nasty side-effects associated with them.
Instead, Ylang Ylang is a powerful essential oil and natural ingredient that helps with pain, relieving depression, anxiety, and promoting strong heart health.