Citronella essential oil - properties and applications

Citronella essential oil is often mistakenly classified as a citrus fruit, possibly because of its name. However, in fact, citronella is a grass that reaches a height of 1.5 meters, and its natural place of growth is the island of Sri Lanka. However, many Asian countries have begun the artificial cultivation of this plant.

In ancient times, citronella oil was used to protect your own house from evil spirits, and for this it was applied to the threshold of the house. It was also believed that citronella oil makes warriors and soldiers invulnerable.

Citroneolla essential oil does not lag behind in its characteristics, because it not only has an invigorating smell, but also has many useful qualities.

Characteristics

Externally, citronella oil can often be confused with lemon, but this is not a coincidence, because citronella essential oil can be used as a cheaper alternative to lemon or eucalyptus.

Citronella oil is extracted from the upper parts of the plant, which is distilled with steam. It has a liquid texture and tan, and in the aroma you can find all the most pleasant smells, starting from the notes of freshness, which give off the sea breeze, the aroma of freshly cut grass (due to the nature of the plant), and ending with an oily and woody shade.

Emotional impact

Oil is considered a universal aphrodisiac, but it also has many other positive qualities that cannot be ignored.

Citronella essential oil is widely used to combat antipathy, increase mood and invigorate. It is believed that this plant helps to improve mood and general condition, get rid of negative thoughts. It is also known for eliminating negative attitudes and anger in general.

This oil is also widely used to enhance concentration, improves the absorption and memorization of information. Since ancient times, it is believed that essential oil protects against any negative impact and emotional message, helps to cope with obsessive thoughts about ill-wishers.

It is generally accepted that citronella essential oil can cause a person to completely reconsider their views on life, drop all routine affairs and finally start living a full life. It is also believed that citronella attracts exclusively positive energy, and therefore those who use citronella oil are at risk of dramatic changes in life. It is impossible not to highlight that essential oil contributes to the activation of personal development.

Healing properties

Citronella is used both in official and alternative medicine. Its healing properties include the following:

1. The fight against dystonic and vestibular disorders.
2. Elimination of the effects of neuralgia, anemia and migraine.
3. It helps to cope with any problems caused by vegetative-vascular dystonia, including dizziness, weakness and lethargy, nausea and a sharp darkening in the eyes.
4. A rare property of citronella is that it helps restore or improve hearing after experiencing infections or even surgeries.
5. Essential oil also alleviates, but does not fight, infectious diseases, including even bowel damage.
6. Citronella inhibits appetite, which allows you to speed up the process of cleansing the body and removing infection from it.
7. A known effect is also an improvement in the processes of self-regulation of the body.Citronella activates processes in the body that help to recover faster after diseases, infections, and even after operations.
8. In combination with therapeutic exercises, citronella can also improve joint and muscle flexibility. It is important to remember that a plant can exert such an influence only together with physical exercises, without them it will not have an effect.
9. Citronella can also be used to combat skin problems. It helps to effectively fight corns, even the most old formations, and is used in the presence of fungal infections.

Cosmetology

1. It is important to note that the most effective way to use citronella in cosmetology is to use it not as a part of other agents, but when applied to the affected area in spot applications. Most often, citronella essential oil is recommended for use by people with oily skin, because it can not only eliminate oily skin, but also narrow pores, and also helps to cleanse them. Oil also smoothes the structure of the skin, and thus accompanies the reduction of acne or even its disappearance.
2. Despite the fact that this essential oil is mainly used to combat oily skin, it also acts on aging skin no less effectively. Citronella helps to moisturize it, improve muscle tone, smooth out wrinkles, and even helps restore already lost regeneration and density properties.
3. Oil is also used to treat dandruff and reduce scalp fat. To do this, take a wooden comb, preferably with rare cloves, and comb through the hair for 10-15 minutes. This procedure must be repeated at least 3 times a day, after lubricating the hair with a few drops (up to 4) of essential oil.

Using essential oil, you can also create your own hair products or even make special masks.

Important Nuances to Know About

1. Citronella oil can also be used in the domestic sphere, because it effectively fights against various unpleasant odors and even repels insects. This oil is suitable for washing dishes.
2. When applying oil to the skin, it is important to know that it can cause itching and burning for several minutes (usually it lasts up to 5 minutes). This is not a side effect or even a manifestation of allergies, it is a natural property of the oil.
3. Citronella oil can also be used internally, but only if the patient has no peptic ulcer, gastritis or high acidity.
4. When inhaled only with this oil, it can cause sneezing, and therefore it is recommended to dilute it with other soothing components.

Contraindications

1. Owners of sensitive skin are strongly not recommended to use this oil, because it can cause irritation and redness.
2. Oil is also strongly not recommended for use by pregnant women and people who suffer from hypertension. Due to its tonic and invigorating effect, the drug can cause a sudden negative effect, which will lead to a sharp deterioration in well-being, and can also lead to miscarriage or childbirth in early pregnancy.

Dosage

For air purification, as well as concentration, it is customary to use an aroma lamp, in which it is enough to add only a few drops of this oil. It is recommended that you turn on the aroma lamp before bedtime, it also helps to effectively deal with headaches and relieves stress. If you turn on the lamp before bedtime, you will sleep better and improve the quality of sleep in general.

For use in inhalations, baths, compresses and rubbing, only 3-4 drops of oil will be enough. It is important to remember that compresses can only be done using cold water.

If you want to add citronella to a shampoo, lotion, or even a hair mask, you need to use 5 drops of oil per 15 ml of any shampoo or other product.

Citronella oil can be consumed only if you check for side effects. To do this, for starters, it is recommended to use no more than 1 drop 3 times a day. However, you must immediately seize the oil with heavy food and drink a little acidified water. If no side effects were detected at this stage (but it is better to try the drug for several days, and only then draw conclusions) - it is recommended to drink 2 drops of oil with herbal tea. It is believed that this improves the effect of oil on the body and accelerates its effect.