Steeped in history, herbal medicines and the essential oils of aromatherapy are well-described in Western cultural and herbal legend and lore.

Get Your Muse’s Cap and Imagine with Me,

as the essential oils or Aromas of Laurel, Lavender, Rosemary and Melissa protect us in Summer

Laurel leaves represent the energy of the head, the brain and intellectual thought. Rosemary assumes the web of circulation, carrying clean and nurturing fluids. Lavender stands for our nervous system’s connection between physical sensation and enzymatic processes. And Melissa, fourth in this set of fire spirit herbs of summer, represents the powerful heart, the sustainer and timekeeper of our life, memory, and the emotional self.

Imagine that extending from a crown of Laurel leaves, a lacey veil covers your body. Crafted of Rosemary leaves interlaced with Lavender flowers and leaves, this mantle is a perfect shield that covers you from head to toe. It is then Melissa’s pleasure to connect each node of leaf, flower and stem to the essence of the living being, the heart. Beating for emotional renewal and optimism, the heart is finally at peace and thus creates spaciousness. Harmony ensues, with the body-mind co-existing with the unseen, our spirit.

Fire Spirit Herbs…

Laurel, Lavender, Rosemary, and Melissa, Palmarosa, and Spikenard

Six essential oils embody the fire spirit, generating space for spiritual leanings.

Fire Element essential oils help us switch to a calmed, unruffled state in the body-mind.

Two Summer Season Herbs from the Far East

Directly related to the body-mind and heart are Palmarosa, a grass whose leaves hold an essential oil, and Spikenard, also called ‘Nard or simply Jatamansi, whose root is fragrant and known in perfumed ritual and meditation since ancient times.

Does Skin Benefit from the Spirit Herbs?

In all this intrigue and sentiment, comments about skin are called for. So much of our attention goes to this body-mantle and the protection it provides in maintaining our overall health.

Actually, each of these fire spirit herbs has a distinct attraction to the skin. In fact, the essential oils of Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi), Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), and Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) are skin-healing and emollient for dry skin. In turn, Melissa (Melissa officinalis) and Laurel (Laurus nobilis) repair congested skin, when oiliness or acne make difficult work of keeping the skin clear.

In between the two skin afflictions, dryness and congestion, dwells Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), a cooling and stimulating essence that can be blended for all skin types.

Are the Fire Spirit Herbs in our Scent Memories?

Is there a connection in our scent memory to Fire Spirit Herbs?

Taste memories and ensuing emotions can be Fire element associations. Our scent memory includes many flavor experiences, which are actually aromatic experiences of nurture. Combining scent and taste, our scent memory informs us on familiar taste sensations and any emotions we have stored about them.

But, this page is not about taste, per se.

Right, it’s not about tasting essential oils. Yet it is about the memory or associations we collect from scents we’ve experienced. Once an aroma reaches our nose, it’s the volatile molecules that arise from cooking or cooked foods, or any actual thing that’s got an odor or is aromatic.

An aroma might be unique and enticing even if it’s not to eat. Instead it could remind us of beauty, calm, dreaminess, sensuality, a musical note, the face of a loved one, a piece of art, the list goes on and on.

Why not make a body oil from Fire Spirit Herbs for its calming actions? Here is the recipe for Fire Spirit Herbs Body Oil.

You can bet on your sense of smell to inform you. Whatever our next move is with an aromatic, we base it on past experience with a smell or aroma.

Does it have to be Summer to benefit from essential oils of the Spirit Herbs?

— Absolutely not!

Herbs are adaptable and attracted to the body system-wide. Properties of Fire element herbs Laurel and Rosemary have a range of warmth and dryness in the remedies they offer. Meanwhile, Lavender and Melissa are cool and dry, but Palmarosa, a grass, has cool, moist action. Spikenard’s energy from its roots, is neutral and dry.

Read about the Fire element in Summer, here.

Notes:

Fire Spirit Herbs may be inappropriate if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or nursing. See Be Safe Note below.

Works of two authors, that of Peter Holmes, and Gabriel Mojay, center on the effects we get from essential oils, using the belief that plant energy and the Five Elements influence our mental outlook and because of that, our physical health as well.

Sources for this page include:

Aromatica / Peter Holmes, 2016. Published by Singing Dragon Press, Philadelphia. Volumes 1 & 2
Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit / Gabriel Mojay, 1997. Healing Arts Press, Rutland.
The Earthwise Herbal Repertory /Matthew Wood, 2016. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA. Volume 1.
Portraits in Oils / Phillippe Malhebiau, 1995 English translation C.W. Daniel Co., Essex, UK
Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin / Steffen Arctander, 1960. Published in Elizabeth, N.J.

Wikipedia image: Lemon Balm (Melissa) leaves, from this wikipedia article.

The Articles and Recipes appearing on this website are for information only and cannot replace the guidance of your doctor or health practitioner. Please ask your health practitioner or doctor for treatment and advice if you are suffering from any disease, ailment, condition or symptom.

Be Safe! Essential oils may potentiate pharmaceutical medications. Please discuss your use of any essential oils and medications, especially if pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, with your health practitioner or doctor.

Herbs of the Fire Spirit