Essential Oil 50ml - Citronella

Latin Name: Cymbopogon Nardus
Part of the plant used : dried herb
Source: Java
Extraction method: steam distillation

Citronella oil is steam distilled from the leaves and stems of Cymbopogon plant species, especially Cymbopogon nardus. Citronella essential oil is renowned as a plant-based insect repellent, a biopesticide with a non-toxic mode of action, and has been registered for this use in the US since 1948. The main countries producing this oil are Indonesia and China, who together produce about 40% of the world's citronella essential oil.

Besides being useful as an insect repellent for the skin, this oil is good for excessive perspiration, oily skin and hair, and works as a deodorant. It is said to relieve pain due to rheumatism and arthritis, and resist flu, colds, and minor infections. The oil is good for the digestive system to cure colitis, intestinal infections, and eliminate intestinal parasites. It relieves menstrual cramps and pain, and speeds up the heartbeat. Used in a vaporizer, it is known to dispel fatigue, headaches, and neuralgia, and create a mood and optimism. Avoid use during pregnancy and in children under 3 years of age. Do not consume internally.

Ancient cultures in India, Egypt, and elsewhere, where Cymbopogon species of grasses grew, used them to repel insects, especially mosquitoes. In those times, people settled near rivers and bodies of water. While this was a good thing in many ways, it also meant a lot of insects, mosquitoes, that caused diseases and killed people. So, using this herb as a repellent was a matter of life and death at that time.