Essential Oil. Our Favorite and Only Fragrance. If you know Bee Farmee then you know we're aaallll about nature. Why? Nature feeds us, sustains us, and misses us! Check out our past titles right here to see what we mean: NATURE. When we batch our products for you we have you and nature in mind, which means we steer clear of synthetics. Long before those man-made fragrances ever existed, essential oils were there for us. Did you know that essential oils were mentioned in the Bible and even pre-dates that? In recorded history, the Egyptians used essential oils as far back as 4500BC. Our ancestors appreciated essential oil's value, using them for perfumes, aromatherapy, and medicinal purposes. While technologies have changed and knowledge and possibilities grows, one thing remains the same: they continue to serve a big purpose in our lives. And very much so in my own little world as well. I've learned so much in this Bee Farmee journey. I learned I'm surrounded by more essential oils than sense sometimes. I love learning, combining, and concocting just to see what else can create with them. With that comes a lot of things that I get to share with you, so there's a great bright side! Lavender and lemongrass were two of my first essential oils to get to know. Both are also two of my very personal favorites. Lemongrass, however, has always spoken to my soul on such a deep level. With our very first meeting it was love at first sniff. It's just naturally so rejuvenating and cheery. I hope you're ready to learn some fun things about lemongrass with me. Here we go!  Lemongrass Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon flexuosus) is so versatile. Lemongrass can be grown in a wide variety of warmer climates. Most commonly grown in native islands in Southeastern Asia, lemongrass is a tall grass that grows far and wide and is considered a highly sustainable plant. The fresh, citrusy scent of its essential oil can be inhaled, or diluted as oil to be applied to hair or skin. It's used for culinary purposes, grown ornamentally or to wade off pesky insects, and can, of course, be used for essential oils for medicinal and aromatherapy purposes. Natural medicine practitioners use it for a variety of purposes including reducing inflammation, relieving headaches, improving dandruff, and easing indigestion and high blood pressure. It has many other potential health benefits, too. Lemongrass essential oil is a popular tool in aromatherapy to help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. No wonder I was so drawn to it. It's always just spoke "happy" to me, which is exactly why our Bee Happy lotion bar is named what it is. Organic lemongrass essential oil has purifying properties which make it perfect for skincare. It has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, and helps to remove impurities, detoxify the skin and leave it feeling clean and clear. Not only is it used in our Bee Happy lotion bars, but in so many of our other products that benefit from these properties, like our deodorant. The aroma of lemongrass essential oil, or absorbing it through the skin, is said to transmit messages to the brain's limbic system, a region that influences the nervous system. According to aromatherapy proponents, its oils may affect a number of biological factors, including heart rate, stress levels, blood pressure, breathing, and immune function. Seriously! What's not to love about lemongrass?! Lemongrass essential oil is typically used for:
Although only a few scientific studies have evaluated the health effects of aromatherapeutic use of lemongrass essential oil, several of its chemical components have been found to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, antidepressant, and sedative qualities. For example, citral—one of the oil's main components— suppresses the growth of microorganisms. Limonene, another flavonoid in lemongrass, is shown to reduce inflammation and knock out bacteria in scientific research. Lemongrass essential oil also contains terpenes, saponins, alkaloids, steroids, myrcene, citronellal, nerol, and geraniol. Remember those ancestors we talked about earlier? It existed once upon a time for a reason, they knew its worth, and it continues to regain popularity for that very same reason. Lemongrass Treats Anxiety, Depression, and Headaches Lemongrass is my #1 go-to for anxiety relief and plays a big role in our Happy Place Headache Relief Salve. A preliminary study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2015 suggests that brief exposure may confer anti-anxiety benefits. Here's the scoop on that:
Like so many of the other ingredients we've written about in the past here, it's one of those where I could go on and on and on...but I won't do that to you. Instead, I encourage you to jump onto those underlined links up above and learn so many of the astonishing things about lemongrass like I did. There's just something special about that discovery that really helps develop a deeper appreciation. And, there's a lot of information out there, well, just because it's one of those amazing things that nature gave us. I also encourage you to try it out for yourself sometime if and when you can and put some of things to the test.* Just earlier this week, Bee Farmee released its official sister business of essential oils. We've bottled our Bee Happy lotion bar into a 15 ml aromatherapy blend. You can find it right here: HAPPY. And as always, we're here to help you on your natural journey. If you ever want to ask us a question, reach out, or just say hi, shoot us a message our Facebook page. We'll talk soon! -Carrie Beth/Co-founder and Operator of Bee Farmee *Possible Side Effects-Lemongrass essential oil should not be taken internally without the supervision of a health professional. Some individuals may experience irritation when applying lemongrass oil to the skin. A skin patch test should be done before using this or any essential oil. Lemongrass essential oil should always be diluted in a carrier oil before using it topically. Avoid applying it near the mouth, nose, and eyes. Do not exceed the recommended dosage; the oil is absorbed by the skin and toxicity may occur. Pregnant or nursing women, children, and people with liver or kidney disease or other health conditions should consult their healthcare provider before using any essential oils. ArchivesComments are closed.
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