Essential Oil Costmary (15 mL)

Essential Oil Costmary

Costmary Essential Oil has a sweet minty fragrance, much like that of Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum. Costmary oil is extracted from the dried leaves of costmary the plant that is a native of India. It is also popularly known as ale cost, sweet Mary, or bible leaf. It was called bible leaf because the bible was marked by this leaf as a page mark for the sweet scent by the Christians in England. History says that this plant is a native of India and about 1000 years ago it completed its journey to Europe via Asia Minor. Earlier the English people used to scent their blankets and bed linens with costmary leaves and oil. The leaf was chewed by people to keep awake in long sermons in the church. The dry leaves are extracted to produce the costmary oil. It has a pleasant balsamic smell which is slightly medicinal. The oil is of light yellow to yellow brown colour. It has medium aroma strength with a top note.

HISTORY OF USE

Costmary has a pleasant balsam-like fragrance and though it was once used medicinally it is now rarely found in the garden or apothecary of modern herbalists. Costmary does have mild astringent properties making it a good addition to ointments, scented potpourri, and herbal baths.

Costmary Essential oil is very useful in relieving the pain of childbirth and in particular of passing the placenta.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Native to the Orient, costmary is now found in almost all countries. It was brought to the new world by early English colonists who combined it with lavender to scent linens and blankets. The common name Bible Leaf comes from the New England practice of chewing the minty leaves to stay awake during long sermons. Costmary has become a rare sight in modern gardens.

It is astringent to the stomach, and strengthens the liver, according to Nicholas Culpeper.

Costmary oil is used most often in cooking but it is also used for healing conditions such as intestinal worms, colds, fever, flu, diarrhea and dysentery. It has a valuable role in the treatment of digestive gas, rheumatism and swelling from bee stings. The oil is also used in making an ointment to heal sores and ulcers. The refreshing and clean fragrance of the oil also removes mental tiredness and calms negative emotions like hysteria, hatred, anger and fear.