Native from Sri Lanka and South India, lemon grass is now widely cultivated in the tropical areas of America and Asia. Its oil is used as a culinary flavoring, a scent and medicine. Lemon grass is principally taken as a tea to remedy digestive problems diarrhea and stomach ache. It relaxes the muscles of the stomach and gut, relieves cramping pains and flatulence and is particularly suitable for children. In the Caribbean, lemon grass is primarily regarded as a fever-reducing herb. It is applied externally as a poultice or as diluted essential oil to ease pain and arthritis.

MAIN PROPERTIES: Digestive, antispasmodic, analgesic.

Latin name: Cupressus sempervirens. Family name: Cupressaceae. Cypress oil is distilled from the needles and twigs and is imported from Europe. It has a spicy, refreshing pine-needle aroma. Cypress incense is used today by Tibetans for purification. Some traditional uses: to increase circulation, relieve muscular cramps, bronchitis, whooping cough and painful periods; reduce nervous tension and other stress related problems, as an immune stimulant. Avoid cypress if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, cancer or uterine and breast fibrosis. Emotional profile: for relief of grief, self-hate, jealousy, loss and regret, isolation. Blends with: cedarwood, pine, lavender, clary sage, lemon, cardamon, juniper, bergamot, orange, marjoram, and sandalwood.

 Mainly aldehydes (up to 60 %) including cuminaldehyde; monoterpene hydrocarbons (up to 52 %), including pinenes, terpinenes, cymene, phellandrene, myrcene and limonene; also farnesene and caryophyllene.A pale yellow or greenish liquid with a warm, soft, spicy - musky scent. It blends well with lavender, lavandin, rosemary, galbanum, rosewood, cardomon and oriental - type fragrances.

Actions and Uses :Anti - oxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, aphrodisiac, bactericidal, carminative, depurative, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, larvicidal, nervine, stimulant, tonic.

Used in veterinary medicine in digestive preparations. As a fragrance component in cosmetics and perfumes, and a flavour ingredient in many foods and drinks, especially meat products and condiments.Stimulant, antispasmodic & carminative

Scopodrimol isolated from leaves and stems.Scopodrimol A isolated along with scopofarnol and isofraxidin - derived sesquiterpene ethers from roots.

Major constituents of the oil are esters, followed by hydrocarbons, alcohols and several sesquiterpenes. Minor constituents of the oil are cymene, sabinene, cineol, linalool, eugenol, borneol, farnesol and traces of other aroma chemicals. The principle constituents of the essential oil which gives it exquisite and delicate aroma is due to the presence of davanone, nor-davanone and linalool.

Actions and Uses :This oil is used both in flavouring and perfumery due to its peculiar olfactory properties. This essential oil is obtained from the flower heads and fresh herbage of Artemisia pallens. This low volume and high value crop has a exquisite and delicate aroma and as such is used in high grade perfumes and cosmetic preparations. The oil is also used in the preparation of many beverages and eatables.