Those long trips between India and England by coach in the 19th century always included the leaves of patchouli plant to protect merchandise as well as surround the rider with a familiar scent. The leaves were not just used for travel purposes, patchouli oil was extracted from this member of the mint family by steam distillation, and that practice has become big business. In old India the plant was a medical remedy with a noble past since it served the people of India’s medical needs in several different ways through the years.
The Indians liked to call the oil ‘puchaput’ since the fragrance became stronger with age. The word patchouli came from two words: ‘patch,’ which means green, and ‘ilai,’ which means leaf. The Indians that lived centuries ago said the oil sharpened their wits and banish that lethargic feeling that can slow the body down in late afternoon. Researchers now know the exotic and heavy fragrance of the oil helps patchouli produce a balancing effect on the emotions.
Indian women didn’t waste any time when the oil was extracted from the leaves. They concocted perfume mixtures using patchouli as well as lemongrass, and rose oil. Using the mixture became a ritual for nobility. The privileged discovered it was a natural skin care product that could add moisture to dry and aging skin. The rich musky, sweet, and strong spicy aroma of the oil was a mark of distinction for one segment of Indian society, but all social groups used patchouli oil for one reason or another.
Patchouli Oil Can Expand Thoughts And Increase Energy
Old Indian ink is a mixture of patchouli oil and camphor oil, and the custom of putting patchouli sachets between the sheets to keep the bedbugs away was a common practice, and is still a method of debugging in some homes in India. But, the Indians weren’t the only culture to use patchouli oil. The Chinese believed the oil could act as a catalyst for increasing the life force in the body. That force is known as ‘Chi’ or ‘Qi.’ If Chi is circulating in the body as well as around it the potential for sickness and injury is greatly reduced.
The clarity of thought that was produced by the oil when the Chinese inhaled it carried a harmonious flow of emotional energy through the body so the patchouli was used and appreciated in traditional Chinese medicine.
In aromatherapy, patchouli oil is still used as a relaxant because the warmth and depth of the aroma produces a comforting feeling. Some people inhale patchouli oil to balance the chakras when they are spinning in the wrong direction. They believe that the oil touches the non-physical aura, and aligns the energy points within the body so there’s a constant flow of natural well being that increases awareness. When that happens the distinctive fragrance with the noble past does what it has always done, but in a modern way.
