Excellent Aromatherapy Guide

Aromatherapy - Ginger Essential Oil

Aromatherapy – Ginger Essential Oil

By : Heru Muskita

(Zingiber officinalis)

Family : Zingiberaceae

Description : Ginber is a perennial, tropical herb with reedlike leaves, white or yellow flowers and a thick tuberous rhizome or root.  The essential oil is steam-distilled from the unpeeled, dried, ground root.

Countries of origin : India, China, Thailand, Australia

Characteristics : Ginger has sharp, green top notes and fiery, woody, sweet, spicy undertones. It blends well with the citruses and also with neroli, geranium, ylang ylang, rose, frankincense, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli and rosewood.

Main therapeutic properties : Analgesic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, baceticide, carminative, cephalic, febrifuge, laxative, rubefacient, stimulant, tonic.

Ginger is warming and stimulates the circulation and digestion. It is excellent used in winter to war the body and emotions, both physically and psychologically. It is a tonich of the heart and is indicated in baths and massage for poor circulation, cardiac fatigue and cold hands and feet. Overall, ginger is warming, comforting and fortifying.

Its stimulant properties make ginger useful for poor digestion and flatulence. It is especially good for travel sickness and morning sickness, either sniffed from a tissue or blended into a mood perfume. It is also good in massae when the muscles are tired and aching, particularly when they are cold and contracted. Ginger can be useful in a bath or inhalation when you have a cold or sore throat, as its sharp, piercing cuts through catarrh and congestion.

Psychologically, ginger is arousing, opulent and stimulating. It is indicated for use in meditation when there is debility through nervous exhaustion. It warms and strengthens the emotions, increases determination and inspires initiative and action to carry plans through to their conclusion. Ginger also helps to blow away the winter blues and is useful in combating Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Contraindications : Do not use if you have very sensitive skin. Use no more than 3 drops in the bath and no more than 2 percent in massage oils.

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