Palmarosa Essential Oil
Palmarosa oil is extracted from the fresh or dried grass of the Palmarosa plant. This herb is indigenous to India and Pakistan. The chief medicinal benefits of this plant have led to its wide cultivation in few other areas like Madagascar, Indonesia, Brazil, Africa and the Comoro Islands. Palmarosa plant is a member of the Gramineae plant family. This wild growing plant has long slender stems and straw-colored grass. Palmarosa is a herbaceous plant that has fragrant green grassy leaves. It is often related to lemongrass and has terminal flowering tops. There are two varieties of Palmarosa grass. They are Sofia grass and Motia grass. Sofia is a chemotype grass which is very effective and the essential oil of Palmarosa is extracted from this type of grass. The grassy leaves are extremely aromatic and are the true essence of this plant. These herbaceous leaves are generally harvested before the flowers bloom. The maximum yield is obtained when the grass is fully dried. This process of drying usually takes one week time after the leaves are cut.
Palmarosa oil is extracted either from the fresh or dried grasses of the Palmarosa plants by steam distillation method. This oil is pale yellow in color with a watery viscosity. Palmarosa oil has a sweet, appealing, pleasant, floral and slightly dry fragrance. It sometimes smells like rose oil. Palmarosa oil blends well with lime oil, citronella oil, sandalwood oil, rosemary oil, neroli oil, geranium oil, orange oil, jasmine oil, rose oil, petitgrain oil, ylang-ylang oil and bergamot oil.
Latin name: Cymbopogon martini.
Alternative names: Turkish geranium, Indian rosha, East Indian geranium, Motia.
Palmarosa plants can be grown well in tropical and sub-tropical climatic conditions. It grows well in most types of soil with a proper drainage system. This oil contains dipentene, geraniol, limonene, myrcene, linalool and geranyl acetate. It has febrifuge, antiseptic, hydrating, cytophylactic, bactericide, antiviral and digestive properties.
Uses: Palmarosa essential oil is used widely in aromatherapy for treating skin disorders and few other ailments. This oil is trusted to have an uplifting effect that calms the mind and soothes the senses. It invigorates the spirits and helps clear muddled thinking. Stress disorders, nervous problems, physical ailments and nervous exhaustion are also treated with the natural powers of this oil. Palmarosa oil is believed to soothe sore muscles, stiff joints, fever, intestinal infections, anorexia nervosa, athlete’s foot, dermatitis, acne and few other skin infections.
