10 Ways You Can Use Ylang Ylang and CBD in the Home

Ylang ylang is one of the most versatile of all the essential oils. The oil itself is extracted from the flowers of a herb called Cananga odorata genuina. While the plant is native to tropical Asia and Australia, it’s now grown all over the worlds and harvested for the oil it produces. Its growing popularity and the discovery of its wide range of medicinal properties has made this one of the most popular essential oils today.

Essential oils have been used since the dawn on time. Historians can trace their uses back thousands of years. Long before pharmaceutical medicines were developed, people have been taking advantage of the natural vegetation around them and harnessing it for it’s healing properties. Ylang ylang Cananga odorata is no different to the other 90+ essential oils.

Known as the flower of flowers, this exotic plant has been found to have a number of remarkable positive effects on the body and mind. The fragrance of ylang ylang flowers and their oil is unmistakable and as a result, the oil is often used for its scent alone. Whether you’d like to fill your home with the exotic fragrance or take advantage of the benefits of ylang ylang to the body, there is really no limit to how you can incorporate it into your day to day life. But what about combining essential oils with CBD?

Can CBD Be Used as an Essential Oil?

First of all, we know that ylang ylang is an essential oil, but what exactly is an essential oil? An essential oil is an aromatic compound which is found in various parts of plants. These oils are what give plants distinctive smells. Essential oils are extracts from plants through a method of whats called cold pressing or steam distillation.

CBD oil (also known as Cannabidiol) comes from the cannabis and hemp (industrial hemp plant). While CBD is an oil extract from a plant, its method of extraction is a bit different. CBD extraction is usually done by something called solvent extraction. Once extracted, the compound is still fragile and needs another and different method of distilling. Heane and methanol are used in the distilling to take out plant tissue and chlorophyll. Once this is processed and completed the extract is known as “concrete”. Alcohol is then added, making the substance an absolute.

All in all, CBD is not considered to be an essential oil, first and foremost, the oil itself is far to thick. However, there may be ways in which CBD could be extracted to become an essential oil, but this may not be tested until the foreseeable future.

Using Ylang Ylang in the Home

Depending on exactly what you want to use this essential oil for, there are more ways to use it than you probably think. Whether you want to use ylang ylang to reduce high blood pressure, to relieve stress and anxiety, or to improve your libido, you’re sure to find one that suits you here.

Diffusing – Diffusing is the most common way to use essential oils in the home. The vast majority of people who use essential oils diffuse them using electric diffusers. There are many different kinds of diffusers, each producing a different result. However, the most common kind of diffusers creates a damp mist which not only disperses the oil in the air but also humidifies it and improves its quality.

Bathing – Essential oils, ylang ylang included, can be easily added to a hot relaxing bath. Not only can they be used individually, but they can be mixed to form a unique blend and used together for a holistic aromatherapy experience. Just remember that when using any essential oil in a bath, you must also use a carrier oil.

This means you should mix 1 part essential oils with 2 parts carrier oil (olive oil works best) before pouring the mixture into your bath. This will ensure that the essential oils don’t irritate the skin and are dispersed evenly throughout the water.

Capsules – For people who want to take advantage of the positive side effects of ylang ylang essential oil but don’t want to go to any trouble throughout their day, capsules are a great option. Taking one capsule with your morning cup of coffee every morning is as quick and easy as it is convenient. And it can be just as beneficial, if not more, than many of the other ways of using it.

Ingesting the oil means that the body reaps the full range of benefits that it has to offer. It also means that the entire body enjoys these benefits, rather than them being focused on one specific area of the body. For those using ylang ylang for overall health and wellness, capsules are ideal.

Topical Treatments – For people who want to treat aching muscles and joints, using ylang ylang oil as a topical treatment can be highly effective at reducing pain and inflammation. This is because the oil is a known anti-inflammatory. This means that it reduces the body’s inflammatory response to injuries and stress, which causes inflamed muscles and pain. You can turn any topical cream, ointment, body butter or other lotion into a ylang ylang infused version by simply adding a few drops of the essential oil to your usual ointment each time you apply it.

Steam Facial – Steam facials have been around for a very long time. The basic principle is a simple one; steam opens the pores and allows the skin to be thoroughly yet gently cleansed. You can give yourself a steam facial by holding your face over a deep bowl filled halfway with hot water and draping a hand towel over your head to keep the steam in. By adding ylang ylang to the water you can enjoy not only the deep cleansing effects of the steam but also the respiratory benefits of the oil.

DIY Facial Serum – Facial serums are one of the most trending beauty products on the market today. The idea behind them is that they aren’t as heavy as moisturizer or lotion. Because they are a lighter consistency, serums can be absorbed fully by the skin much more easily than heavier products. Making your own ylang ylang facial serum at home really couldn’t be easier.

DIY Conditioner – Ylang ylang is believed to be highly effective as repairing damaged hair and adding moisture to the fibers of the hair. For a long time, people have been using this oil as a natural hair treatment when their locks need some TLC. Simply add a few drops into your conditioner in your hand, applying it to damp, shampooed hair and leaving it in the hair for 2 hours before rinsing out. This should leave your hair feeling silky smooth and healthier than ever.

DIY Perfume – Believe it or not, many people use ylang ylang complete oil as a natural perfume. Simply dabbing it on their wrists and under the ears can give a long lasting and intoxicating scent. However, before trying this you should test out one drop of the oil on your skin in order to determine your skin sensitivity and whether you have an allergic reaction to the oil or not. This is because essential oils can cause skin irritation if applied directly to the skin for some people.

Homemade Candles – Making homemade candles may seem extremely complicated and elaborate, but they can be incredibly simple to make and very therapeutic to use. One of the great advantages of making your own candles at home is that you can use any essential oils you like to create a cent of your own choosing. This particular oil is a great choice for candles as the tropical ylang ylang fragrance is so distinctive and relaxing.

All you have to do is mix 1 part ylang ylang with 2 parts olive or coconut oil and apply to the face, steering clear of the sensitive areas around the eyes. Not only will it leave your skin feeling beautifully soft and supple, but the antibacterial properties of ylang ylang will help to fight acne and other skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Massage Oil – Finally, for those who enjoy the aromatherapy treatment of massage, ylang ylang can be used as an excellent massage oil. This is because of its beautiful relaxation promoting fragrance, its ability to soothe aching muscles and joints, and its ability to act as an aphrodisiac.

While there isn’t a whole lot of scientific evidence to support all of the claims made about the medicinal properties of essential oils, the centuries of anecdotal evidence are really quite hard to deny. The benefits of ylang ylang are as diverse in range as that of any essential oil. This little oil can be used in so many ways, to relieve the symptoms of so many different conditions, that it’s certainly one of the best oils to have in the home. So, if you’re hoping to start using essential oils in your day to day life, ylang ylang is a great place to start!