Five Uses of Ylang-Ylang
Dear friends,
There are times when I flock toward a particular essential oil and wear it consistently. Do you?
I just follow my nose. The past few weeks it’s been the essential oil Ylang Ylang. It has an exotic smell that I find intriguing. Chanel No5 uses this oil in their formula…so I discovered. Theirs is a “composition” of oils; ylang-ylang, jasmine, rose and a few others. But using the single oil with its floral scent seems enough for me. Its intoxicating scent has benefits on the physical, emotional and spiritual level.
Ylang-ylang oil is supposed to work with the cardiovascular, endocrine, and hormonal systems, as well as supporting emotional and spiritual balance. It can even increase libido. Many of these properties and the potential uses for ylang ylang are those that closely link the body to the emotions or the mind, showing us clearly the mind-body connection and how Nature can help our body find balance as a whole.
Emotional Benefits
On a strictly emotional and spiritual level, ylang ylang essential oil is the oil of the heart. It can help us connect to our own heart, process things from the heart, and heal emotional traumas. It helps link the heart and mind! It’s also thought to be the oil of the inner child, helping us connect to our own sense of inner joy and being in the moment, as children so easily do. This allows us to feel playful, release bottled up emotions, and move back into our sense of trust in the process of life.
Ylang-ylang also makes a great insect repellant.
Here are four ways to use Ylang Ylang:
1. Add one drop to sweet almond oil or jojoba and apply on your skin. I’ve been putting it on my face at night with my night cream and followed the oil down to my neck and decolletage. Ylang Ylang can reduce inflammation on the skin, any redness and promote a healthy glow to the skin. I also added one drop of Geranium oil which may tighten the skin and reduce signs of aging. More is not better in this case so if you try it use one drop at a time and see how it feels.
2. Put two to three drops in the palm of your hand and mix with a carrier oil- apply behind the neck and on the heart area after your morning shower or at bedtime. Ylang Ylang can reduce anxiety and promote feelings of calm.
3. Diffuse in an aromatherapy diffuser with a cool-mist such as the “Now” brand which you can find on Amazon.
4. Put a few drops in a bath with Epsom Salts.
5. Mix a few drops with fractionated coconut oil and apply on your scalp for a hair conditioner.
I mostly order my oils from a company in Tennessee called Nature’s Gift– high quality and sourced from around the globe.
Precautions of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Always test for skin sensitivity prior to widespread use and use on the feet when possible. Excessive use of any oil can lead to skin sensitization. Keep out of eyes, ears, or nose. Not all oils are created equal, so test brands carefully, and never use an oil in a way not recommended by its maker.
Hope you enjoy this exotic oil that nature has so generously given us! And if you feel inclined it does mix well with rose, geranium, and jasmine. Voila, you’re your own Coco Chanel!
Ps. If you are interested to learn more about Ayurvedic skincare chek out Pratima Spa in Soho where the skin formulas are made with essential oils. Dr. Pratima’s book ” Absolute Beauty”-radiant skin and inner harmony. guides you through Ayurveda, skincare and overall wellness.
*Check out September Natural Awakenings in Atlanta for the first of a three-series post on Ayurveda.
The Power of Creativity Podcast
with warm regards,
Gedalia
Well Being Journal
