(Botanical Name: Styrax benzoin)
After a bad night sleep, I walked into my office this morning and opened my box of tricks, as I call them, aka my box of essential oils. And there it was. An Ahhhhhh Bisto moment! Who remembers the adverts for Bisto gravy? I am probably showing my age here. I instinctively picked an oil out of the box, without looking, and it was Benzoin. One of my personal favourites.
Have you ever intuitively chosen an essential oil for you or your clients? It is a personal favourite method I have used many a time. I intuitively select an oil and then enjoy discovering what the therapeutic benefits are of the oil and how ‘apt’ it is for me or my client at that particular time!
Well Benzoin is an oil for relaxation and can help with sleep, so hey presto! It was just what I needed.
I love the sweet, vanilla like scent of this oil. The aroma is just bliss. The essential oil is a base note, perfect for bringing you down to planet earth, when in need of a bit of grounding.
The essential oil comes from the gum or resin from tree bark and is from the Styracaceae plant family.
This oil is perfect for relaxation, calming and stress relief, and as do all essential oils, it has many therapeutic benefits, which I will list below.
As with all essential oils, even though they are natural, it does not mean some are not harmful. So, it is important to be careful when using any essential oil and learn the safe use of each oil and the precautions that are listed for the oil too. I always teach this to my students in our Aromatherapy training courses. I have written a blog post about safe use of essential oils.
Benzoin essential oil could irritate hypersensitive, diseased, or damaged skin. Benzoin has a drowsy effect, so best avoided if you are driving or operating machinery. It can also affect your concentration due to its drowsy effect.
So here are some of the therapeutic benefits of using this wonderful oil.
For the emotions
It is calming on the nerves
Helps with stress and tension
Helps you to let go of worries
Helps to feel confident
Comforting
Can help with depression
Warming
Uplifting
Helps with clarity
Helps when feeling lonely
For the body
It is rejuvenating
It is warming to the circulation & heart
It is calming on issues with digestion
It can help with urinary tract issues
It can help with respiratory disorders (asthma, colds, coughs, sore throats)
It can help with arthritic aches & pains
For the skin
Good for dry, cracked skin
It can help with elasticity
It can help with sores & wounds
It can help with itchy skin
It can help with psoriasis, dermatitis & eczema
It can help soothe inflamed skin
I hope this has provided you with some insight into this wonderful essential oil. Thank you for reading.
Till the next time
Karen xx
Karen Ashton Author – Podcaster, Author, Teacher, Mentor
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The Essential Oils guide
by
Karen Ashton