Brilliant Rose Oil - Aromatherapy for the Mind, Body, and Spirit

The Rose has been an enduring symbol of love and beauty throughout history. The flower itself is beautifully complex, with deep hues, luxuriant petals, and an Absolutely wonderful aroma. This same beauty is found in the aromatic oils made from Rose flowers. Not only is the smell sweet, rich and distinctive, but it so happens that Rose oil has the most diverse healing applications of any essential oil used in aromatherapy today. The oil is considered a supreme healer of both the body and soul, and it is very easy to use with basic natural healing techniques.

Now more than ever, in these challenging times around the world, the healing power of Rose is most needed. It might even be considered that it's anti-viral and beauty enhancing effects are minor when compared to the dramatic heart opening action this oil has. By opening the heart chakra, this natural medicine can help us both to give and receive more love. And depending on its application, it can also deal with illness and make us more beautiful. So what is true Rose oil, and how can we make the best use of it?

Rose essential oil is a remarkable liquid. It's really an incredible concentration of Rose flowers: it takes an amazing amount of Roses to make just a few drops. On average, under the most favorable conditions, the yield of Rose oil is one kilogram for every 2,500 kilos of Roses. it can take more than four times this amount of Roses to make the same amount of oil if the weather has been less than favorable. Think of it — It can be hard to imagine even what 2,500 kilos (over 5,000 pounds) of Roses looks like! And the oil itself is naturally a mixture of over a three hundred individual molecules, many of which have yet to be identified through scientific methods. It is this fantastic combination of extreme concentration combined with Mother Nature's alchemy which imparts Rose oil's incredible healing value.

There are two distinct types of Rose oil in use today, distinguished by the distillation techniques from which they were made. Rose Absolute is the solvent extract of Rose petals — Roses are immersed in a solvent such as ethanol, which draws the aromatic oil out of the flower. The ethanol is then evaporated off, leaving the deep red colored aromatic concentrate behind. Rose absolute is most close to the natural Rose aroma, smelling like a fresh cut flower. Rose Otto is the steam distilled essential oil of Rose; because it is steam distilled Otto is considered true Rose 'essential oil'. The most highly prized varieties of both oil are produced in Bulgaria, though other countries such as Turkey and Morocco also distill excellent Rose oils.

Therapeutic applications of Rose oil, as mentioned above, are many and very diverse. On a biological/physiological medicine aspect, Rose Otto is a strong antiviral. It has been successfully used in treating herpes and shingles outbreaks. Either oil is considered especially healing to the female reproductive system; it is noted to 'have an astonishing effect on the female sexual organs as a purifying and regulating agent' (Battaglia — 'The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy'). It can provide potent overall support to the health of the uterus, and can address infertility. For such applications, a 5% dilution can be made in Jojoba oil and massaged into the pelvic region several times daily (essential oils are quickly metabolized by the body, and it is best to use a little bit frequently, rather than a lot every so often).

Rose Otto is found in many of the world's finest skin care formulations. It is considered the hands-down finest therapeutic oil for dry and mature skin, with a great many healing properties. It is softening, hydrating, and gently stimulating to skin cell metabolism. It is mildly astringent and antiseptic without being drying, and can heal broken capillaries, reduce redness and smooth skin texture. Rose water, the left-over water from the steam distillation process, is an excellent all-around facial tonic, and can be splashed or swabbed-on after washing anytime.

While not the most common, certainly the most important therapeutic application of Rose is as a healer of the Soul. The aromas of both the Absolute and the Otto are well-known antidepressants, an action that is not clearly defined by modern medicine. The olfactory sense is the one of the five senses directly hardwired to the brain, and here has a deeply rooted in effect on our overall well-being. Rose Absolute can be worn as a natural perfume for this purpose, often diluted to 10% in jojoba oil and dabbed on the wrists and neck. The same can be done with the Otto, though it may be even more useful and small concentrations as an aromatherapy massage oil. In the esoteric medicine systems, inhalation and topical application of Rose is thought to regulate the flow of Chi through the liver. This is of profound importance, as it is a blocked flow of this Chi that can lead to anger, irritation, and anxiety. And perhaps the greatest of all effects is the unfolding of the heart chakra, allowing us to be more open, loving, and receptive to one another, and to be comforted in tense times.

Employing the healing properties of Rose oils is fun and easy to do. Both the Otto and Absolute are safe, and can be used undiluted whenever desired. They are both considered highly potent, and diluting them in a carrier oil will not reduce their efficacy however. A 5 to 10% dilution is most often used for personal perfume, a 1 to 3% dilution as a massage oil, and a 1 to 2% dilution and beauty care preparations. Either oil is excellent for use in even the simplest of aromatherapy diffusers, by themselves or blended with other aromatics of your choice. There are other aromatherapy methods of course, and you should use your intuition to guide you for the most appropriate technique.

Rose essential oil, and particularly Rose Otto has the potential to be very very healing, and even tranformational. It may be that this revered symbol of beauty and love is now offering us its incredible health-giving effects in its most concentrated and portable form. If Rose oil sound right for you, it's encouraged that you give it a try — every little bit one can do to open their hearts and bring out their light will make the world a better place for everyone.