Transcript by Deb
Welcome everyone to Young Living’s Education Series. We’re here again with another important topic and opportunity to explore the benefits of essential oils and natural products. As always, we have our resident essential oil expert here, Young Living’s Senior Director of Health Sciences and Education, Scott Johnson to guide us in our discovery. Welcome, Scott.
Thanks, Johnny. It’s always a pleasure to discuss these amazing products. So tell us. What essential oils are we discussing today? Well, we’re discussing a member of the renowned citrus family, in Bergamot and your personal favorite, Johnny, Ylang Ylang.
Great, so let’s get started then. I see you smiling. Does this have anything to do with the topic? Actually, it’s because I diffused Bergamot today. That is one of the things that makes Bergamot so great. It is strongly uplifting, refreshing, and encourages feelings of joy. It keeps people smiling. We talked about Oregano banishing sadness two months ago; but I’d say that Bergamot and other citrus oils not only banish sadness, they forcefully exile it.
I like that. Now, I’ve also heard the Bergamot can be relaxing. Tell us more about this. How can it uplift but at the same time relax?
That is an interesting fact; but it’s true. Scientists have investigated Bergamot for its relaxing properties and found that it has a very calming aroma. Experts believe that this is because Bergamot has a calming influence on the central nervous system, helping to relieve occasional nervousness, anxious feelings and aiding the body’s normal response to stress.
It sounds like a lot of people could benefit from its aroma. What about its topical application? Do you get any benefits when it’s applied topically?
Yeah, well you get the aromatic benefits when it’s applied, for starters; but you do need to be very cautious with topical application of Bergamot because it contains compounds that are exceptionally photosynthesizing, meaning that you could discolor the skin and in a worst-case scenario cause burns, blisters or a rash if you immediately expose that skin to UV rays. So if you apply Bergamot to the skin, you need to avoid sun and UV exposure for up to 48 hours following topical application.
So, now that we go that out of the way and we understand this important note about Bergamot, let’s talk about the great benefits that can be realized through topical application.
For one, Bergamot is soothing to occasional muscle soreness and twinges. It is also protective of the skin and many users report that it is helpful to diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other blemishes and may even support an even skin tone. So, this may be why it’s so popular in lotions, soaps and creams.
Anything else you want to tell us before we move on to Ylang Ylang?
Yeah, Bergamot is a great way to freshen and purify surfaces and the air. Putting a few drops in a glass bottle with distilled water can make an enlivening and refreshing spray.
Sweet. So, earlier you alluded that Ylang Ylang was my favorite. I assume it’s because of its long history of use as an aphrodisiac. Most people have heard of this effect; but what else have we heard about Ylang Ylang?
Well, Ylang Ylang has a very soft, sweet and flowery fragrance that has traditionally been used to stimulate feelings of romance. However, its aromatic influence is also uplifting and helps encourage feelings of joy and hope, particularly for those who are experiencing times of distress. Many users also report that it helps to reduce feelings of anger, and like Bergamot, it can be relaxing when needed, helping to calm worries and reduce occasional feelings of stress.
Cool. What does science say about Ylang Ylang?
There’s a lot of interesting science about Ylang Ylang. Ylang Ylang has been extensively studied for its effect on helping to maintain normal blood pressure. Multiple studies suggest that inhaling Ylang Ylang has remarkable effects on heart rate and blood pressure. A study that was published in the April 2013 edition of the Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation reported that subjects who inhaled Ylang Ylang for 20 minutes experienced a physiological response that resulted in improvements in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and a more relaxed heart rate compared to the control subjects.
Remarkably, another study published in the November 2012 edition of Evidence-Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine showed that inhaling Ylang Ylang reduced salivary cortisol levels, which is the primary stress hormone, and it positively influenced blood pressure. These are just two of the many studies that suggest that Ylang Ylang is beneficial for calming and relaxing.
That’s interesting. Can you apply Ylang Ylang topically like you can Bergamot?
Yes. In fact, it is useful to reduce the appearance blemish and to protect the skin. It is also useful to encourage a glossy shine on the hair. I don’t need that, but maybe you might enjoy it.
Fantastic! We hope you’ve enjoyed exploring these two essential oil singles. As always, we’ve only covered a few of the most popular uses of these two oils. So, we encourage you to share with us how you use them in the comments field. Until next time, we wish you abundant health and a wonderful day.