Attune Aroma

Sweet Marjoram essential oil continues to inspire me.  Its fresh, herbacious, woody, warm and sweet aroma is beautifully unisex and balancing.  I love it in the bath at night with lavender because it works wonders for a restful night and sore muscles after a long day in my bodywork studio. I find it extremely effective for menstrual cramping when used with a hot compress.  I have been really appreciating it lately because I’ve been doing a lot of  yard work and mosquitos love me!  It has been my experience that a few drops in some aloe vera gel applied to the bite stops the itching immediately.  I will often times put it in a blend for asthma, bronchitis or general congestion from a cold and it is an absolute must for a massage oil for stiff joints & muscles.

So how does this essential oil, which is steam distilled from flowering tops of the herb, do all of this?

Sweet Marjoram  Origanum marjorana is mostly made up of the monoterpene (decongestant for respiratory & muscular systems, promotes circulation & pain releif) and monoterpenol (anti-inflammatory for the skin, antispasmodic, supports emotional balance, immune stimulant) chemical families with a little help from sesquiterpenes (pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, grounding) & esters (antispasmodic, sedating, effective for skin irritants/rashes).

Sweet Marjoram is also a crucial ingredient in my popular blend for migraines.  Not only because of its pain relieving/antispasmodic/anti-inflammatory quality but because migraines are said, especially in Chinese medicine, to be caused by a liver imbalance. Sweet Marjoram contains the monoterpenes b-Limonene which is a liver protector and  a-Phellandrene, a detoxifyer that supports the function of the liver.  Add this to its overall balancing action on the nervous system, and Sweet Marjoram has shown time and time again to be a great friend to my migraine suffers.

Many sources warn against using Sweet Marjoram regularly for an extended period of time.  It can have a very powerful sedating effect on ones senses and emotional response.  Although that quality can be a therapeutic one for those suffering from grief or other emotional transitions, too much of it can lead to a deadening effect on the emotions and can even result in being an anti-aphrodisiac.  That being said, it could be helpful for someone who needs to be celibate for whatever reason.  Again, only a consistent and extended use of this oil has been known to have this effect.

Sweet Marjoram should not be confused with Spanish Marjoram Thymus Mastichina which is a member of the Thyme family.