Latin name: Marjorana hortensis. Family name: Labiatae. Sweet marjoram oil is distilled from the leaves and flowering tops of the plant and is imported from France. It has a warm & spicy aroma. Sweet marjoram was used medicinally by Romans and ancient Greek physicians. Some traditional uses: to relax tense muscles and relieve spasms, calm and promote restful sleep, ease migraine headache, for comforting the heart, lowering high blood pressure, to help breathing, disinfecting. Marjoram should be avoided during pregnancy. Emotional profile: for hysteria, anger, feelings of isolation. Blends with: lavender, eucalyptus, tea-tree, cedarwood, cypress, chamomile, bergamot, and rosemary.

Lemon Balm has been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for more than 2,000 years. The Muslim herbalist Avicenna recommended lemon balm for heart problems. Its main action is as a tranquilizer. It calms nervous spasms, colics and hearth spasms. The hot tea promotes sweat that that is good for colds, flus and fevers. Its sedative actions have been used to help in the treatment of psychiatric problems, including dystonia. Lemon's balm anti-histamine action is useful to treat eczema and headaches. Today, this sweet-smelling herb is still widely valued for its calming properties, and new research shows that it can help significantly in the treatment of cold sores.

MAIN PROPERTIES: Relaxant, antispasmodic, increases sweating, carminative, anti-viral, nerve tonic.

Native to north-east Africa, myrrh is mainly found in Ethiopia, Somalia, Saudi-Arabia, Iran and Thailand. Myrrh has been used in perfumes, incense and embalming. Its astringent, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties have been used to treat acne and boils as well as mild inflammatory conditions. It finds specific use in the treatment of infections in the mouth such as ulcers, gengivitis, phyorrea, as well as catarrhal problems associated with pharyngitis and sinusitis.

MAIN PROPERTIES: Stimulant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, expectorant, antispasmodic, carminative.

50) Neroli - Emotional Harmony

Latin name: Citrus aurantium var. amara. Family name: Rutaceae. Neroli oil is extracted from the flower of bitter orange tree and is imported from Tunisia. It has a refreshing, bitter-sweet aroma. In times past, orange flower blossoms were worn at weddings as a symbol of purity. Some traditional uses: for healing thread veins, scars and nourishing mature skin, increasing circulation, in relieving anxiety, melancholy and nervous tension, bronchitis, as an aphrodisiac. Emotional profile: for emotional crisis, longing, grief, abuse, hopelessness. Blends with: chamomile, coriander, geranium, lemon, ylang ylang, lavender, jasmine, and clary sage.