Scientific name: Pogostemon cablin
Patchouli oil is known to calm anxiety and give you a sense of equilibrium. It’s a stabilizing oil, to use an analogy, helps someone’s emotions and feelings go from a rocking boat to a firm surface.
The name Patchouli was derived from Tamil (patchai: green and ellai: leaf). Used in pharmaceutical, fragrance, cosmetic, flavour and perfumery industries. Patchouli oil several years old possesses a much finer and fuller odour than one freshly distilled.
HISTORICAL REFERENCE
For millennia, patchouli has been utilized. In fact, early European traders traded one pound of patchouli for one pound of gold, demonstrates how valuable it was. In Egypt, Pharaoh Tutankhamun, popularly known as King Tut, is reported to have arranged to have ten gallons of patchouli oil buried with him in his tomb. The Romans used it as an appetite stimulant. Patchouli oil works wonders for rough, chapped, and excessively dry skin. The benefits of patchouli essential oil for skin cell regeneration are well known. The vitamins in the oil help maintain youthful, vibrant, and healthy skin by slowing down the natural aging process of the skin.
FAMILY: Lamiaceae (Mint family)
COLOUR: Thick in viscosity, dark yellow/ deep brown
AROMA: Strong, earthy, woody, spicy-warm, sensual & tenacious
EXTRACTION OF OIL FROM: LEAVES
OIL PERFUME NOTE: BASE
Base notes have heavy molecules thick, dark and tenacious and take much longer to evaporate. It serves as an anchor for the entire perfume and gives a mix of depth and richness. When you smell them from the bottle, they often don’t smell that strong, but once the heat of the body or diffuser releases them, their smell is tenacious. They are relaxing, grounding, sedating and calming.
MAIN CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF PATCHOULI OIL: α-patchoulene, α-bulnesene, seychellene, alpha- guaiene, patchoulol (Patchouli alcohol), pogostone, eugenol and pogostol.
20–40% Patchoulol (sesquiterpenol): Antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, diuretic, uplifting, stimulating the immune system, anti-inflammatory, anti-mycotic, and ulcer-protective (preventive).
4-6%α-patchoulene 15-19% α-bulnesene, 0-1% seychellene, 13-15%alpha-guaiene (Sesquiterpenes alkenes): Antibacterial, Antiseptic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, prevent the build-up of toxins and help in their removal from the kidneys and liver It can surpass the blood-brain barrier and directly enter the brain tissue.
These sesquiterpene alkene molecules are very good at absorbing the single electrons found in free radicals because they have a lot of double bonds and ring configurations.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antithrombotic, aphrodisiac, antidepressant, antimutagenic, antiemetic, antidepressant, antioxidant, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, astringent, aphrodisiac, fibrinolytic, fungicidal, insecticide, cicatrisant, cytophylactic
PHARMACOLOGICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PATCHOULI OIL
ON THE MIND: Sedative at low doses & stimulant at high doses, eases apathy, confusion and indecisiveness, relieve depression and low mood, nervous exhaustion, calm nerves, stress & stress-related conditions, improve sexual interest.
Patchouli is psycho stimulant- Sniffing Patchouli oil stimulates the central nervous system; causes excitation and elevates mood, increases alertness and arousal, reduces stress index and brain waves and possesses curative effects too. Sympathetic activity decreases after inhalation of Patchouli fragrance helps to reduce tension, insomnia and anxiety.
When patchouli essential oil fragrance is inhaled, the feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin are produced in greater amounts that assist in reducing emotions of anger and anxiety. It eases tension and stress.
Patchouli reduces stress due to exhaustion and anxiety by stimulating adrenal hormone secretion that leads to a sense of overall well-being and can bring about a more positive outlook on life.
Patchouli antioxidant property: reduces inflammation in the brain caused due to stress by free radicals. Patchouli oil prevents the oxidation of hexanal to hexanoic acid and has effective free radical scavenging action.
Patchouli protects from cell death due to necrosis and apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide in human neuroglioma cell line A172, thus suggesting its use for treating many neurodegenerative disorders.
The stimulating scent of patchouli, which is similar to wine, has aphrodisiac properties that increase sexual interest. It also helps to increase intelligence, focus, & insight, reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, treat insomnia, and regulate hunger.
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa (Taste): Kashaya (Astringent), Tikhta (Bitter)
Guna (Quality): Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)
Virya (Potency): Sheeta (Cooling)
Vipaka (taste conversion after digestion): Katu (Pungent)
3 Biological humors (Vata, Pitta, Kapha): Bio-physical forces in our system
All cells, tissues, and organs contain VATA, PITTA, and KAPHA. They promote health when they are in balance. They are the source of illnesses when they are out of balance.
Patchouli effect on doshas (Humors)
VATA- Reduce
PITTA- Reduce
KAPHA- Balance
Patchouli is considered warming and moistening so it is an excellent remedy for conditions of excess Vata dosha. Due to its watery nature, it also assists in reducing excess Pitta dosha in the body and mind.
CAUTION
Patchouli oil can affect blood clotting so the following people should avoid using patchouli oil:
- Those taking blood-thinning medication
- Individuals who have recently had or will be undergoing major surgery.
- Those with bleeding disorders, such as haemophilia
GLOSSARY FOR FEW TERMS USED
Dopamine: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps working memory. Working memory is associated with dopamine in prefrontal neurons. It fuels our drive and motivation. It increases attention, improves cognitive skills & stimulates our creativity. It was found that dopamine levels gradually increase when one performs a working memory task. Positive mood is associated with increased brain dopamine levels.
Working memory: The prefrontal cortex plays an important role concerning working memory. Working memory is a process of the brain that allows for both the temporary storage and use of a limited amount of information for cognitive tasks. Working memory involves a central executive system that controls attention, manipulates visual images as well and stores and rehearses speech-based information.
Serotonin: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (5-HT) that plays essential roles in the regulation of sleep and mood, and the serotonergic system is a promising therapeutic target for psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.
There are 7 families of its receptors (5-HT1-7). 5-HT5A is expressed in the brain areas such as the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus, suggesting that it is potentially involved in stress reactivity and resilience.
Free radicals: ROS (Reactive oxygen species): A type of unstable molecule that contains oxygen and that easily reacts with other molecules in a cell. A build up of reactive oxygen species in cells may cause damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins, and may cause cell death. Stress causes inflammation in the brain affecting free radicals, more stresses more the production of free radicals; antioxidants can reduce the harmful effects of inflammation.
The statements mentioned above are based on Patchouli oil scientific analysis available online for limited educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete or ccurate. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.