Essential Oil Profile: Vetiver

Essential Oil Profile

Vetiver

Marie Temmen

Common name: Vetiver

This comes from the Tamil word which means "Hatcheted up" and is a description of the way in which the roots are collected

Latin Binomial: Vetiveria zizanoides, Andropogon muricatu

Family: Gramineae

This family is known as the grass and the nutritious family. It is so named because the plant members are grasses and the plants are known for their ability to provide nutrients to the soil. The other best known member of this family is Cymbopogon citratus or Lemongrass.

Other common names: Akar Wangi - fragrant root - name used in Java, Khus Khus - aromatic root - name used in India, Oil of tranquility - name used in Sri Lanka

History and myth: Vetiver has a long and rich history. In India it has been used to make blinds necessary to keep out the intense heat. When the blinds are sprinkled with water they emit the vetiver scent. In Java the root has been used for centuries in weaving mats and thatching huts. The Vetiver root is used in folk magic for its purported ability to provide safety and increase financial resources. A ritual designed to promote personal safety calls for inhaling Vetiver while visualizing one’s body as being sealed off from negative energies.

Country(ies) of Origin: Vetiver is native to South India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. It is also cultivated in Reunion, the Philippines, the Comoro Islands, Japan, West Africa and South America. The oil is mainly produced in Java, Haiti and Reunion.

Description of Plant: Vetiver is a tall, tufted, scented, perennial grass with straight stems, long narrow leaves and a complex underground root system characteristic of plants in this family. The strong root system blends with the soil and accounts for the plant’s adaptability.

Part used: The essential oil is found in the roots.

Extraction method: The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from the roots. This is a long slow labor intensive process. The roots must be dug, washed dried and sliced before the extraction process begins. Separation of oil from water is difficult and generally the yield of oil is low.

Constituents: The main constituents of Vetiver essential oil are: vetiverone, vetiverol, vitivene and cadinene.

Primary Use: Vetiver is an excellent oil when a person needs help maintaining emotional equilibrium. It is well known for its ability to center and ground, restore ones connection with their roots, calm and at the same time restore. This would make Vetiver an effective oil for those in the midst of trauma who may be having severe anxiety and flashbacks.

Properties and Uses:

Antiseptic - skin care, acne, cuts and dry skin

Antispasmodic - muscle pain and spasms

Rubefacient - increases blood flow to sore muscles

Circulatory stimulant - revitalizes by fortifying red blood cells which transport oxygen

Fixative--soaps, cosmetics and perfumes.

Precautions and Contraindications: Vetiver is considered a safe oil being non toxic and non irritant. Its scent is unique and may not be appealing to everyone.

Purchasing Guidelines: The consumer is of course advised to purchase only essential oils which include the Latin binomial on the label. In addition when evaluating the quality of Vetiver oil it is important to note the color and viscosity of the liquid. Good quality Vetiver oil is viscous and dark brown in color with a full rich body. Essential oil which is green in color and light in scent is an inferior oil which has been distilled from immature roots. The quality of Vetiver is directly related to the age of the roots and the length of distillation. The general rule is that Vetiver plants not be harvested for distillation until the plants are a minimum of two years old. The finest quality Vetiver oil is Reunion Vetiver or Bourbon Vetiver from the Reunion Islands.

Bibliography:

Cunningham, Scott Magical Aromatherapy Llewellyn Publications, l994

Davis, Patricia Aromatherapy: An A to Z C. W. Daniel: London l988

Guenther, Ernest The Essential Oils Krieger Publishing Florida, l950

Lawless, Julia The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils Element: Massachusetts l992

Mojay, Gabriel Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, Henry Holt and Co. New York l996

© 1997 National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) From Volume 7, Number 3 Scentsitivity, the quarterly journal of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA). Reprinted with permission of NAHA.