Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Sweet verbena

A powerful soothing and calming agent, Lemon Verbena essential oil has a soft, lemony scent. It is widely reputed to help with low spirits, stress and sleep disorders. Scented Verbena essential oil is also highly prized in psycho-energetic olfactotherapy: it helps to control fears and free oneself from mental fixations. It also encourages you to free yourself from tendencies towards stagnation and to look critically at your decisions.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Appropriate

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Suitable

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Possible but not recommended

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Appropriate

  • Food grade

    Food grade

    Suitable

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Aerial parts

Botanical name

Lippia citriodora

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Properties and uses

Lemon verbena essential oil is traditionally used for: Asthma, depression, low mood, stress

Health

Wellness

Find out more

Properties

Lemon verbena essential oil is renowned for its health properties:

  • Rich in anti-inflammatory active ingredients

  • Known to help relieve neuralgia

  • supports digestion, eupeptic

  • Endocrine harmoniser (thyroid, pancreas)

Uses

It is traditionally used to improve the following situations:

  • Joint and muscle discomfort

  • High blood pressure, fatigue

  • Prevention of asthma attacks

  • Endocrine disorders

Precautions

  • Highly photosensitising: avoid exposure to the sun or UV rays for at least 10 hours after applying this oil to the skin.

  • Not recommended for pregnant women or children under 6. Never use orally during pregnancy.

  • May cause skin irritation if applied undiluted (dermocaustic) : always dilute well before applying to the skin. As a general rule, always test-apply your mixture in the crease of the elbow at least 48 hours before use.

  • If this product is for internal use, this should only be done by a therapist..

  • Stimulating effect on the ovarian function possible (therefore possible oestrogen stimulating effect), not recommended in cases of mastosis or hormone-dependent cancer.

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Avoid contact with the eyes.

  • Certain natural compounds contained in this essential oil may present a risk of allergy for certain sensitive individuals when the essential oil is incorporated into a cosmetic composition (in accordance with the 7th Amendment of the European Directive on cosmetic products (2003/15/EC)): limonene, citral (geranial and nerial) and, to a lesser extent, linalool, geraniol.

Find out more

Not to be confused with Verbena officinalis, which has no scent, Lemon Verbena is a small shrub native to South America, where it grows at altitude in the Andes. Lemon Verbena is grown even in temperate climates for the delicious lemony scent its leaves produce and for its phytotherapy properties.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Depression in adults (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • 3 drops of Marjoram Esssential Oil
  • 5 drops of Petitgrain Esssential Oil
  • 2 drops of Ravintsara Esssential Oil
  • 2 drops of Ylang-Ylang Esssential Oil
  • 1 drop of Lemon Verbena Esssential Oil
  • 1 drop of Frankincense Esssential Oil

Use : 3 drops of the mixture on the solar plexus and on the inside of the wrists 2 to 3 times a day.

Aroma-Zone Note : Lemon Verbena essential oil is photosensitising. Do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this preparation.

Stress in adults (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • 1 ml Seville orange essential oil
  • 1 ml Ylang-Ylang essential oil
  • 2 ml Mandarin Essential Oil
  • 1 ml Sweet Verbena essential oil
  • 1 ml kaffir lime essential oil

Use: Massage over the solar plexus, repeat.

Aroma-Zone Note : Lemon Verbena essential oil is photosensitising. Do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this preparation.

Stress and sleep disorders (J-P. Willem)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • 1 drop True Lavender essential oil
  • 1 drop of Lemon Verbena Essential Oil

Use: Massage over the solar plexus, repeat.

Aroma-Zone Note : Lemon Verbena essential oil is photosensitising. Do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this preparation.

Allergic and nervous asthma (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingRespiratory problems

  • 2 ml of Tarragon essential oil
  • 1 ml of Lemon Verbena Esssential Oil
  • 1 ml Red Myrtle Esssential Oil
  • 1 ml American wintergreen Esssential Oil
  • 2 ml Mandarin essential oil

Use: 6 drops of the mixture applied locally to the chest and upper back before the onset of an asthma attack and during the asthma attack. Repeat every 30 minutes until complete improvement.

Aroma-Zone Note : Mandarin and Lemon Verbena essential oils are photosensitising. Do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this preparation.

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml


However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Bibliography

1

'Huiles essentielles - 2000 ans de découvertes aromathérapeutiques pour une médecine d'avenir'

Dominique Baudoux

2

"Aromatherapy"

Dr Jean Valnet - Éditions Maloine

3

'L'Aromathérapie exactement'

P. Franchomme and Dr D. Pénoël

4

'La bible de l'aromathérapie'

Nerys Purchon

5

'L'ABC des huiles essentielles'

Dr Telphon

6

'Aromatherapy'

Nelly Grosjean

7

'Les huiles essentielles pour votre santé'

G. Roulier

8

"Les cahiers pratiques de l'aromathérapie française - Pédiatrie"

Dominique Baudoux - Editions Amyris

9

Aroma-News newsletters from the NARD association

10

"L'aromathérapie - Se soigner par les huiles essentielles"

Dominique Baudoux - Editions Amyris