Nardus - Nardostychus jatamansi

Most people consider the essential oil of the rose, often called 'rose otto' the queen of aromatherapy. And as to her vibration - she is among the highest. She is a queen for sure.

But the nardus is a different queen; this is not an 'easy' oil. The scent is strong and far from attractive in first smell.....

But her message goes very deep and there is a lot of legend around this oil; for it is said that this was the oil Maria Magdalena used to anoint Jesus feet.....

Nardus comes from the family of ,Caprifoliaceae. its synonyms are: spikenard, nard(us) or Indian Valerian.

Originally the nardus grows in the East, in Northern India.
There are also several other related species such as the Chinese Spikenard (Narostachys chininsis) that is also used to make essential oil out of it.

The ancient Egyptians presumably used this plant for the first time and the Bible calls her in the song of Solomon. It is also the herb that Maria used to anoint Jesus' feet for the last supper: ' then took Mary a pound of Spikenard, very costly, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the House was filled with the fragrance of the ointment '

The Roman perfumers also used this oil, the so-called ' urguentarii ', for the preparation of Nardinum, one of their most popular fragrant oils.
The Mongolian Empress Nur Jehan used the nardus in its rejuvenating, cosmetic preparations.

The oil is extracted by using steam distillation of the dried and pulverized roots and rhizomes.

The color of this oil is yellow or amber coloured with a heavy, sweet, woody, spicy, animal smell, somewhat similar to Valerian oil.

The sequiterpene ingrediënts make this oil light blood pressure lowering from a dis-balance, calming, anti-inflammatory, regenerating for skin and anti-hystamic.
These molecules have a positive influence on the immune system by creating gamma globulines.

Nardus has a direct effect on the limbic system because of these chemical compounds; its calming and soothing and it has a stabilising effect on the psyche.

The sesquiterpenoids make this oil very skin friendly, it clears out lymfatic obstructions.

There are acids and coumarines in it; which all helps to give this oil her extreem calming proportions.

Nardus can be used for skin conditions such as allergies, eczema, wounds, inflammation, vesicles and ulcers as a result of fever or infections.

Disorders due to stress; insomnia, nervousness, hyperventilation, migraines and tension.
Stomach and intestinal cramps( its sedative and antispasmodic)

When used in the fragrance lamp oil Spikenard works calming to the nerves and blood circulation. She helps general nerve weakness, nervous tensions, hypersensitivity and irritability. Spikenard may even have an intoxicating effect and is the preferred remedy against insomnia ' (aromatic lexicon, Axel Meyer, p. 108)

Davis reports in hert Spiritual aromatherapy: ' or Spikenard Spikenard intensifies feelings of attachment and devotion towards the deity or a spiritual teacher. She is an embodiment of generosity......
To people involved in promotions for the third world or who work for aid organizations can donate at the oil consolation the sadness that they feel at the sight of all the suffering, caused by natural or man-induced ...'

When i am under a lot of pressure and i cannot put my mind to ease in the evening, then its hard to fall asleep. Just one drop of Nardus on the plexus solaris can silence this ongoing thought train and give me the rest to sleep, and recover.

Nardus gets you very, very deep in contact with 'the core' or 'the source' inside of you - that place that is not under regency of the thinking mind, but of the knowing by feeling, by hearth.
If you can use this oil to guide you back to your inner Self than you'll understand why she is a true queen in aromatherapy.

People with burn-out problems are effectively calmed by this oil and regain after a massage with the nardus a bit of their lost energy.
This can motivate them to not loose their trust in the future, things can get better in time, that is what this oil promises in those dark and energy-less days.
It centers people in their own power, away fom worrying.

(Al pics are my own)

Wishing all Steemians a 'smelly Sunday' and i am looking forward to your #sundayscentexperience posts.

What is it all about? To raise awareness for the capacity to smell and the impact that that can have on your welbeeing; a scent goes deep and is attached to memory and behavior, it brings you in the Now and makes you aware of the way you feel.

Want to join the challenge?

1. make a blog about a #scent that has a special meaning to you - tell us why
2. don't use google pics, keep your content #original
3. use the proper hashtag so i can find your entry and upp and resteem it. Best posts get a little extra!

Don't forget to Steem some #Scent!