Friday- More Under the Radar Essential Oils-Davana

Continuing on in the series of Essential Oils that may be under your radar, today we will be discussing Davana.


Essential oil of Davana, botanically known as Artemisia pallens, has a fruity, sweet, rich, base note scent, and has a brown, viscous consistency. It is steam distilled from the leaves and the flowers of the aromatic herb. It is shrub like in appearance and bears numerous small yellow flower heads, with a silvery white silky covering of down, that gives the foliage a rather gray or white appearance.  It actually belongs to the daisy family, and is native to India, who remains its largest producer today. It generally grows near sandalwood trees, but has not really gained much popularity in its home country. It has a history of being mostly exported to France, the USA, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands, and has been commercially cultivated since the 1970's. Since its small seeds and delicate seedlings require extreme nurturing and care,  successful maturation in the wild is very rare. 

The davana plant is mainly cultivated in order to make garlands and for making the essential oils. But, an infusion of the plant has been used to help lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. And, in India, the blossoms of the plant are used as an offering in their Religious ceremonies. Reminiscent of apricot fruit, the oil is often used in desserts, sausages, tobacco and pastries. 

 This EO possess aphrodisiac properties. It is extremely soothing to the brain and the nervous system, so it also helps to fight depression and other stress related symptoms. It also has antiseptic, antiviral, and disinfectant properties. It is also considered to stimulate the endocrine system, and to counter headaches, joint pain, and high blood pressure. It also possesses emmenagogue, expectorant, sedative, and vulnerary qualities. Its regular use results in silky, smooth, healthy skin. Although it should not be used during pregnancy, its use in a diffuser will take advantage of a few of its properties. The disinfectant properties will help to cleanse the air, especially during cold and flu season, while the nervine and sedative properties will help to ease stress and anxiety. And, of course the oil will add a sweet, interesting note to any blend you create.

This EO is rather high priced (72-100$ an ounce), and is quite prized in the perfumery industry. Aside from its rich aroma, it is largely desired because, when it is applied (topically), this oil is believed to give off a different aroma for each person. So it is used to make individualistic perfume blends.

Tis the Season to Use Hand Sanitizer!

My (young adult) children are recovering from the flu, what the Dr. assumes was the H1N1 variety. Since one of their girlfriends' works with children, and the other works in heath care, they are routinely exposed to nasty germs. But, so are you! If you go anywhere, touch anything, you are being exposed to germs. Handle money, then touch your face and you have introduced all sorts of germs to your body. Hand sanitizing is a first line defense against germs. By simply washing your hands frequently you cut your risk of contracting many different viral and bacterial ailments. Since soap and water is not always readily available, there are hand sanitizers that you can carry in your purse, keep in your car, or keep in your desk. Of course you can buy hand sanitizer at almost any pharmacy or chain super store, but, for anyone concerned with being green, or if you just like control over what you put on your body and use in your home, you can easily make you own! Many, if not most essential oils have antibiotic, germicide and antimicrobial qualities (see the various oil descriptions A-Z from last year!). Below are a few recipes that I have found, not only for hand sanitizing, but for sanitizing your home. While I have not made any of these, the recipes look to be sound and, based upon their ingredient lists, these are ones that I would make. In fact, I do intend to try each one of these very soon. Meanwhile, if you find a favorite or dislike any one for whatever reasons, please let us know in the comments.

Germ Spray

6 drops Eucalyptus Globulus 12 drops Tea Tree essential oil 6 drops Lemon 1/4 cup distilled water Combine all the above ingredients then pour into a spray bottle. Shake well before each use (oil and water do not like to mix, so you must shake well for this recipe to be effective). This antiseptic, germ fighting spray is great to use, even on cuts and scrapes, but it can also be used as a room spray.

Viral Disinfectant Spray

10 drops tee tree essential oil 10 drops pine (black) essential oil 10 drops white thyme essential oil 10 drops clove essential oil 6 oz distilled water Mix ingredients and pour into a spray bottle and make sure to shake well before each use (remember that oil and water don't like to mix, so to be effective you must shake well).

Hand Sanitizer

1 Tbs. rubbing alcohol

3 Tbs. Aloe vera juice

2 ml cinnamon leaf essential oil

3 ml tee tree essential oil

3 ml lemon essential oil

Mix the ingredients together and pour into container of choice. Shake well.

Since alcohol is a natural emulsifier this recipe does not require shaking prior to each use. Additionally, cinnamon leaf essential oil can be a skin irritant. Should it irritate your skin, try doubling the aloe juice, if it still irritates your skin, double the tee tree oil and eliminate the cinnamon oil altogether.

*This recipe is from Brambleberry's Soap and the Finer Things blog. They state that they based it upon the research in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery (2009), available on line at www.sciencedirect.com

Natural Disinfectant Spray

1/4 tsp. French Lavender essential oil

1/4 tsp. eucalyptus globulus essential oil

1/4 tsp. lemon essential oil

1/4 cup vodka

16 oz distilled water

Mix ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle. Shake well before use.

This recipe is great for spraying kitchen counters, cutting boards, and the dish rack. It can also be used as an air freshener and on any furniture that you want your cats to stay off of!

Antibacterial Bathroom Cleanser

2 tsp Tea Tree essential oil 1 tsp Peppermint essential oil 2 tablespoons (may need slightly more) unscented liquid soap 1 Tbs. white vinegar 1 cup baking soda Measure the baking soda into a bowl with a tight fitting lid. Add approximately two tablespoons of liquid soap (you can use castile or regular dish washing soap, unscented is best). Mix well to create a paste-like consistency. If you need more liquid soap, add a little at a time, mixing as you go, until you have the consistency that you feel you can work with. Once you have the paste consistency, add the essential oils and mix well, then add the vinegar (which heps to boost the cleansing powder). To use, scoop out a little cleanser and use a sponge or other cleaning tool to gently scrub tubs, showers, and sink surfaces. A little of this goes a long way. It is a natural antibacterial cleanser that will help you clean your home without hurting the planet!

Hand Sanitizer

3 tablespoons Aloe Vera Gel or Liquid

5 ml Lemon essential oil

4 ml Tea Tree essential oil

2 ml White Thyme essential oil *This is optional

Mix all of the ingredients together, pour into a spray bottle, shake well and use. This recipe can also be used on furniture, but you will want to do a small test patch before using it all over.

*This recipe is from Brambleberry's Soap and the Finer Things blog.

Hand Sanitizer

1 ml White Thyme Essential Oil

1 ml Litsea Essential Oil

2 ml Orange Essential Oil

1/2 Cup Aloe Vera

1/2 tsp. Lecithin

Combine the lecithin and the essential oils together in a small container. Slowly pour the essential oils into the aloe vera, while stick blending the mixture. This will help to emulsify the mixture (think salad dressing). Lecithin is typically found in health food stores and is a natural emulsifier, with a shocking yellow color. This blend will go salad dressing thick and will not easily spray unless the spritzer is very hearty. Because of its lotion like texture, this recipe is best used on hands and body rather than furniture.

*This recipe is from Brambleberry's Soap and the Finer Things blog.

Compresses and Poultices

As we know, herbs were the first used "drugs". You can still utilize these natural remedies for a variety of maladies. Since many of the recipes I have offered have focused on essential oils for inhalation, today I'd like to discuss some other ways to use herbs, mainly compresses and poultices. A compress consists of a pad or cloth material(cotton or gauze is the best material choice) that has been soaked in an herbal tea, decoction, or extract and water mixture. After the appropriate tea, decoction, or extract is chosen and made, you soak the pad or cloth fabric in the liquid, wring it out, then apply it to the affected area. Compresses can be used either hot or cold. If swelling, muscle sprain, or a headache is involved, after it is soaked, place the compress in the freezer until it is cold, then apply it. Sometimes it is beneficial to alternate heated compresses with cold ones to help relieve pressure. Compresses are ideal for treating and helping to heal muscle injuries, wounds, and other external pain. To know what herbs to use for your ailment(s), refer to herbal or essential oil charts, where the benefits of the products are listed. The herbs can e used as single notes or you can try mixing more than one together at a time if you are feeling bold! For muscle pains you can try wintergreen, camphor, lemon grass, sage, or eucalyptus teas. For a headache try a cool lavender, chamomile and/or sage compress. For minor wounds or skin irritations, try rosemary, chamomile, thyme or lavender. While almost like a compress, with a poultice you apply the whole herb to an affected area instead of the liquid soaked fabric. First you must boil the fresh herb (roots can be used too), then you squeeze out the excess water. The herb is then placed on a thin layer of gauze, folded to keep the herb sandwiched inside, then laid over the affected area. The poultice should stay in place for for 3-4 hours, then be replaced with a fresh one if needed. Again, the choice of herbs/roots needs to be researched and well thought out, but a poultice of (either one or a combination of two or more) the herbs rosemary, thyme, lavender or chamomile would make a strong healing poultice. Chamomile on the skin helps to reduce redness and sooth inflamed skin, as well as being an antiseptic, bactericidal, and mild sedative. Thyme is reputed to be strongly anti-viral, while also being considered an antibacterial agent and fungicide. While lavender works well on all types of skin problems, it especially worlds well for healing boils, burns, sunburn, wounds, psoriasis, insect bites, and stings. Among many others, Lavender has the properties of an antiseptic, and an analgesic, an anti-inflammatory, a restorative and a mild sedative. Rosemary also possesses many properties, but for the purpose of a poultice it is important for its properties of an analgesic, an antimicrobial, an antiseptic, a fungicidal, and a restorative.

YOU CAN'T CLEAN TOO MUCH

Going natural isn't just for bath and body, it can be for the household too! Here are some easy recipes to help with the household chores. These natural cleansers will help you clean your home without hurting the planet, while the aromas of the essential oils will help to make the chore of cleaning more pleasurable.

ANTIBACTERIAL BATHROOM CLEANER

2 tsp Tea Tree essential oil (EO) 1 tsp Peppermint EO 2 Tbs. (or more) of unscented liquid soap 1 Tbs. white vinegar (optional) 1 cup baking soda Measure the baking soda into a bowl with a tight fitting lid. Add approximately 2 tablespoons of liquid soap (either regular dish washing soap or a natural brand of liquid soap such as liquid Castile soap). Mix well to create a paste-like consistency. If you need more liquid soap to get the correct consistency, add it a little at a time until the mixture is like a paste, pliable but not soggy. Once you have a consistency you feel like you can work with, add the essential oils and mix well again. Add the vinegar lastly, which helps to boost the cleaning power. To use, scoop out a little of the cleanser and use a sponge or rag to gently scrub tub, shower and sink surfaces. A little goes a long way, and the antibacterial effect of the tea tree EO offers extra peace of mind.

CLEANSING BLEND

1 drop lemongrass EO 1 drop lavender EO 1 drop Tea Tree EO 1 drop Citronella EO 6 Tbs. Sweet Almond Oil (carrier)

Mix all oils together well. Then apply daily to keep your area smelling fresh and clean. This mixture will kill odors, bacteria, molds, and fungus, while repelling insects and mice.

DISINFECTANT SPRAY

1/4 tsp Lavender EO 1/4 tsp Eucalyptus (globulus) EO 1/4 tsp Lemon EO 1/4 cup vodka, yes the alcohol kind 2 cups water

Mix all ingredients together and mix well. Shake before use. Use this spray on counters, cutting boards, the dish rack and more. It can also be used as an air freshener and even on furniture that you want to keep cats off.

DISINFECTANT SURFACE CLEANER (non-wood)

1 tsp Lavender EO 1 tsp Tea Tree EO

1 tsp Lemon EO 1 tsp Litsea Cubeba EO 1 tsp borax 2 cups distilled water 1 cup Liquid Soap (unscented) Place all ingredients in a plastic spray bottle and shake well before each use. First spray the surface, then use a soft cloth to wipe clean. Use this to spray to wipe clean all non-wood bathroom and kitchen surfaces.

BATHROOM ANTIBACTERIAL AIR FRESHENER SPRAY

5 drops White Thyme EO 10 drops Citronella EO 5 drops Eucalyptus (Globulus) EO 5 drops Sage EO 5 drops Cinnamon Leaf or Cassia EO 10 drops Lavender EO 10 drops Bergamot EO 10 drops Tea Tree EO 5 drops Lemon EO 500 ml distilled water This air spray is refreshing and will keep your bathroom clean, killing bacteria and viruses. Mix all of the ingredients together and put into a spray bottle. Shake well before each use and spray it every day to keep your bathroom smelling fresh and clean.

WOOD FURNITURE POLISH

Depending upon the level of need and your time available, you can either melt some candellia wax and add a few drops of lemon or orange essential oil for scent, and use this to rub onto your wood surfaces, then buff to shine....

Or just take 1/2 tsp Lemon EO and add it to 4 fl oz of olive oil. Place this mixture into a small bottle and apply it with a soft cloth to your wood furniture, buff to shine. The olive oil will feed the wood, while the lemon will offer a great, fresh scent.