Patchouli Essential Oil

Patchouli essential oil! Seems like you have heard the name somewhere? Quite possible, because patchouli essential oils are amongst the most popular and widely used essential oils. Patchouli essential oil is not a recent innovation, it has been in use since hundreds of years for perfumery, prevention of health disorders etc. Patchouli oil comes from the patchouli (scientifically known as Pogostemon cablin) plant which belongs to the mint family and originates from the south east regions of Malaysia.

The following is a brief discussion on the extraction, chemical composition, applications and benefits of patchouli essential oils.

How is Pure Patchouli Oil Extracted?

Be it any essential oil, it is either extracted from the leaves or from the flowers of its plant. Same is the case with patchouli essential oil. It is steam distilled from the leaves of patchouli plant. Prior to distillation, the patchouli leaves are dried, piled and then bailed. This process results in fermentation of the leaves, which therefore weakens the cell walls of the oil containing cells. Weakening of these cell walls, further helps you in extracting a higher amount of oil.

Chemical Composition of Patchouli Essential Oils

The most important ingredient of the oil of patchouli is patchouli alcohol, which is more popularly known as patchoulol. Patchouli oil derives its aroma from patchoulol and therefore the recommended usage of patchoulol in the oil is always more than 30%. Other important constituents of the patchouli essential oil are Beta-Caryophyllene and esters.

Uses and Benefits of Patchouli Essential Oil

Uses of Patchouli Essential Oil
Natural patchouli oil fragrance makes it a vital component of many popular perfumes. It is used as a fixative in perfumeries, which slows down the rate of evaporation of the volatile oils in the perfume and thus maintains the fragrance for a long time. Patchouli oil also proves beneficial for skin care as well as hair care. Adding a few drops of patchouli oil to your face cream and then applying it on the skin, softens the skin texture. Also putting a few drops to your regular shampoo, leaves your hair shining, thick and soft. Read more on Best Essential Oils for Hair. Patchouli oil is also used as an additive in tobacco blends and wax candles. However, this is one of the rarely known fact about patchouli oils.

Benefits of Patchouli Essential Oils
Antidepressant
The therapeutic properties of patchouli essential oils, make them an excellent anti depressant. The oil helps people come out of the depression and makes them feel relaxed and happy. Patchouli perfume oils are also great mood uplifter and stress busters.

Medicinal Properties
Patchouli essential oil, helps in relieving many unhealthy conditions.

• It helps to reduce inflammation in people suffering from fever. It also prevents infection in ulcers and wounds and thus prevents them from turning septic.
• Sexual problems such as erectile problems, loss of interest in sex, impotency are also effectively treated with the help of patchouli essential oils.
• Patchouli oil also acts as an excellent diuretic. It increases the frequency of urination and thus helps in weight loss, removing toxins from the body, reducing cholesterol levels and decreasing the blood pressure.
• Patchouli oil also proves to be a sedative for lowering the intensity of epileptic attacks, cures coughs and lowers convulsions. Moreover, it is found to cure allergies by alleviating the hyper sensitivity of the body towards any thing.
• Patchouli oil is found to have tonic properties even. Regular intake with a proper prescription from a doctor can prove beneficial to your liver, intestines and stomach and therefore improves your metabolic system and excretory system and strengthens the immune system.

Patchouli Massage Oil
A proper massage with patchouli body oil relaxes the stressed out muscles, fights tiredness, relieves mental stress and tension and energizes your body and mind. Patchouli body oil is quite popular and therefore available with many manufacturers.

This was all about patchouli essential oil. I know, by this time you must have made up your mind to buy patchouli oil, but wait! If you are about to use it externally, as a perfume or so, then it is completely fine, you can go ahead. However if you plan to take it internally as a tonic, you certainly need to consult a doctor before doing so.