Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
You may or may not have heard of ylang ylang essential oil. Although it has been used throughout history, it is only recently that it has become popular enough for people to have heard about it. In fact, the reason that people are hearing about it now is that is being added to all sorts of cosmetic and health products and you can find them being hawked on television and talked about on talk shows and news programs. This has also become one of the favorite essential oils for aromatherapists and it has some pretty amazing health benefits as well. Because of all the things that ylang ylang essential oil can do, you may want to consider adding it to your collection of essential oils.
How is Ylang Ylang Essential Oil Manufactured?
To understand the manufacturing process of ylang ylang essential oil, you first have to understand the botanical itself. The ylang ylang tree produces flowers and it is found in Indonesia, Polynesia, the Philippines and all across Asia. Cananga Odorata is the botanical name of this tree and the flowers are what are processed through steam distillation to provide the essential oils that are so beneficial.
Types of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
When it comes to the types of ylang ylang essential oil, there are basically two different trees that are used to make it. Both of these trees come from the annonaceae family, but one is known as true ylang ylang. The botanical name mentioned above is not the true ylang ylang variety but instead Cananga odorata var. genuina is known as genuine ylang ylang. There are also different grades of ylang ylang and that happens because of the different time periods that the oil is extracted during the distillation process.
How to Use Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Inhaling is definitely an option that is quite popular. Using a diffuser and allowing the fragrance to permeate your home is one way to do this but if you don’t have a diffuser, you can simply inhale directly from the bottle or add to a handkerchief or washcloth instead. Another way to use ylang ylang essential oil is through ingestion. However, there are couple things to keep in mind. You need to make sure that the quality of the oil that you get is very high if you’re going to ingest it. If you’re going to apply essential oil of ylang ylang topically, make sure that you dilute it in a carrier oil like (EV) olive oil or coconut oil.
Composition of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
- benzyl acetate
- benzyl benzoate linalool
- caryophyllene
- geranyl acetate
- methyl benzoate
- p-cresyl methyl ether
- Sesquiterpenes
Aromatic Description of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
The aromatic profile of ylang ylang essential oil is a very nice one. This is very sweet oil but it is very rich as well so a little bit goes a long way. It has a very pleasing, floral scent that will remind you of roses and other romance flowers. Of course, you can always combine it with other essential oils as well in order to get an even better or more unique aromatic profile.
Precautions & Side Effects of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
As with all essential oils, there are some things that you want to keep in mind so that you can be safe while using this and other essential oils. This is actually one of the safest essential oils out there when it comes to side effects and health concerns. It can be taken all three ways that you use essential oils: ingestion, topical and inhalation. However, if taken excessively, it can cause headaches and nausea and eventually, sensitivity to ylang ylang essential oil. It is non-toxic and non-irritating but with all essential oils you should never give them to children, women who are pregnant or nursing, or pets.
Attributes of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
| Attribute | X | Definition |
| analgesic | Reduces pain in muscles and joints | |
| anti-arthritic | Reduces arthritis symptoms | |
| anti-infectious | Prevents infection | |
| anti-inflammatory | Reduces inflammation | |
| antibiotic | Keeps biotic infections from developing | |
| antidepressant | X | Helps to alleviate depression |
| antiemetic | Prevents nausea and vomiting | |
| anti-galactogogue | Reduces milk supply in the body | |
| antifungal | Kills harmful fungal life forms | |
| antimicrobial | Kills microbial life forms that cause disease | |
| anti-neuralgic | Counteracts nerve pain | |
| anti-rheumatic | Counteracts pain from rheumatism | |
| antiseborrhoeic | X | Keeps the body from making an unhealthy amount of sebum |
| antiseptic | X | Prevents growth of organisms which cause disease |
| antispasmodic | Prevents spasms from occurring | |
| antiviral | Kills viral agents | |
| aperient | Relieves constipation | |
| aphrodisiac | X | Increases sexual desires |
| astringent | Causes skin tissue to contract – to counter lines and wrinkles | |
| bactericidal | Kills bacterial agents | |
| carminative | Prevents formation of gas in the GI tract | |
| cholagogue | Assists with the discharge of bile | |
| cicatrisant | Assists in the formation of healthy scar tissue | |
| circulatory | Promotes healthy circulatory system function | |
| diaphoretic | Induces perspiration | |
| decongestant | Reduces or eliminates congestions of nasal cavities | |
| deodorant | Eliminates and prevents body odor | |
| depurative | Helps to detoxify the body | |
| Digestive | Helps with the digestion of food | |
| diuretic | Removes excess water from the body | |
| expectorant | Loosens mucous and helps clear it from the body | |
| emenagogue | Promotes healthy menstrual discharge | |
| febrifuge | Aids in the reduction of fever | |
| hepatic | Promotes healthy liver function | |
| hypotensive | X | Helps to lower blood pressure |
| Insecticide | Kills certain types of insects or pests | |
| muscle relaxant | Relaxes tight muscles and prevents muscle spasms | |
| nervine | X | Reduces anxiety and calms the nerves |
| sedative | X | Aids in calming or induces sleepiness |
| stimulant | Increases physiological or nervous system activity | |
| stomachic | Aids in a healthy appetite or digestion | |
| sudorific | Promotes or aids in activation of sweat glands | |
| tonic | Tones the skin or muscles | |
| vermifuge | Kills parasitic worms | |
| vulnerary | Promotes rapid healing of wounds |
What is Ylang Ylang Essential Oil Used For?
The first primary use that essential oil of ylang ylang has is as an antidepressant. This is actually what it has been used for throughout history. It helps you to relax and reduces anxiety, and simply elevates your mood to cure and combat depression. Ylang Ylang essential oil is also antiseborrhoeic, which means that it helps to protect from excessive sebum production and can treat illnesses like Seborrhoea or Seborrhoeic Eczema.
Of course, ylang ylang essential oil is also an amazing antiseptic. When you have cuts, bruises or sores that you want to treat and prevent them from becoming infected, ylang ylang essential oil is the way to go. Ylang Ylang essential oil can help protect against bacterial infections and even tetanus and will help to kill the harmful bacteria and disinfect the area; it is effective against three of the four causes of infection human body: viruses, fungi and bacteria.
You might also have heard that ylang ylang essential oil is an effective aphrodisiac. This is absolutely true. This is one of the best aphrodisiacs among all of the essential oils that are out there. Aphrodisiac essential oils can help with the treatment of sexual dysfunction and illnesses like frigidity or impotence; as you get older, your libido begins to decrease but you can combat that and bring it back to your normal levels or even higher with ylang ylang essential oil.
In addition, ylang ylang oil is very effective for helping to lower blood pressure which is something that many people suffer from. Unless you take too much of it, there are no side effects, which is more than you can say for much of the conventional medications to control blood pressure that are on the market. Ylang Ylang essential oil also has sedative effects which can combine with the antidepressant benefit and help to lower anxiety further. Finally, ylang ylang essential oil is nervine, which means that it can help to deaden the nerves and prepare them to control pain and promotes healthy nervous system.
Recommended Combinations Involving Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
The Final Word on Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
So, should ylang ylang essential oil be one of the oils that you keep on hand and use for alternative health? That is really up to you, but the thing about ylang ylang oil is that it is perfectly safe. There are some essential oils out there that are inherently dangerous and very easy to accidentally overuse, but this is one of the safer ones. If you need any of the health benefits that this particular essential oil offers then you definitely should consider using this to get those benefits, or you can simply use it for its amazing fragrance at home or in an aromatherapy practice.
