Sunday 24 April 2016

Essential Oil: ROSE

Latin Name- Rosa Centrifolia (Cabbage Rose)/ Rosa Damascena (Damask Rose)

This is the favourite flower of many countries, but the oil is mainly obtained from Morocco, Turkey and France, but Damask Rose originates in Bulgaria. It can also be referenced to as Rose Otto, translated to simply as Rose Oil.
Rose was more than likely one of the first plants to be used in the distillation by Avicenna, a 10th century physician who used plants and their corresponding oils in healing and treatments.

Rose has many benefits, and it is by far, my favourite oil. I use it in a lot of my home made face creams and oil blends as I find that it is balancing as well as nourishing and calming.
 Rose has a soothing effect on the mind, it calms emotions and helps with depression, jealousy and resentment. It is a fabulous aid to meditation as it allows focus and peace, and helps people to cope with grief.

Rose, to me, is known as the 'Womans Oil'. It is a tonic for the reproductive system, regulating the menstrual cycle and easing pre menstrual tension (PMT). It helps to soothe any underlying issues with sexual health problems by easing the tension and stress that may be causing the problems in the first place. It also helps the male reproductive system too, but any lady that is suffering from hormonal or menstrual problems, this is definately the oil I would use.
Rose is also a tonic for the heart as it seems to activate sluggish circulation and increase blood flow. Any emotional upsets will benefit from this soothign oil, but ones that may cause stomach issues as a result will benefit as it has a antiseptic and purging action that helps to eliminate toxins and clear the system. It can to some extent ease nausea and vomiting and may help with constipation- however there are other oils that I would use in these circumstances as they are more powerful than Rose in this instance.
Rose is great for all skin types, but mature, dry or hard skin benefits greatly from this oil. It is rich, and helps to create a more toned and fresh appearance as it has a tonig effect, but it also nourishes the skin from within. Its toning action makes it great from thread veins.

There are many ways you could use this essential oil, heres how I use this oil in my home and on myself. If ive had a particulary stressful day I jump in a warm bath and add around 10 drops of essential oil and soak for as long as I am able (without a screaming baby or hubby needing the toilet). Its soothing and it allows the oil to penetrate the skin and be absorbed into my blood stream. I love the fragrance, and the sense of smell someone has is in fact controlled by the mind/emotions. Thats another blog post, but all I will say is if a fragrance brings back happy memories, it will have much more effect than if it striggers off a nasty thought.
I also have pre made blends around the home which contain Rose. My face cream is blended with Rose, Geranium and Tea Tree oil and my body oil contains Rose and Sandalwood (as I use it at bedtime to help soothe and relax).
I drop a few drops of oil in an oil burner in the house and allow the fragrancs to fill the home, helping to clear energies and balance the energies of both myself and my little boy. I have also added a few drops of the oil to home made drawer pouches- filled with dried rose petals and sewn into a pice of muslin material.

Rose really is invaluable in its benefits of easing tension and soothing. It balances and also has an antiseptic effect- If you are looking to start an Aromatherapy Oil kit to use at home, make sure Rose is in there somewhere.  But Ill be honest, even with all of its benefits its the Fragrance that I absolutely love. Many perfumes include Rose oil now, but they are masked with other tones of Vanilla etc..... WHY ??    a dab of Rose Oil on each wrist is as good and smells much better than any perfume to me !! Pure Rose oil can be really expensive, but Rose Absolute is great as it is essence of the Rose but has just been extratcted from the petals differently and more cost effectively.