Honeysuckle is one of the most expensive aromatherapy oils and consequently is little used in the practice of aromatherapy. In addition, pure honeysuckle essential oil is difficult to obtain and is more common as an absolute or infused oil. Be aware of the different types of honeysuckle oils available and their uses. Consult a qualified health professional before using honeysuckle essential oil for therapeutic purposes.
Traditional Uses
According to the Organic Witch website, honeysuckle has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years, both in Chinese medicine and later in European medicine. Honeysuckle was used in Chinese medicine to release heat and poisons from the body. The Europeans used honeysuckle to treat asthma and to aid in childbirth. Julia Lawless, in "The Aromatherapy Garden," writes that honeysuckle is used as a remedy for coughs and colds.
Types
According to Lawless, a small quantity of essential oil is produced from the honeysuckle species Lonicera periclymenum and Lonicera etrusca. The Health Care Center website states that most honeysuckle essential oil is blended with other oils. In addition, what is marketed as honeysuckle essential oil may actually be an absolute or an infused oil, meaning that additional chemicals or substances have been added to it. Infused oils or absolutes do not hold the same therapeutic properties for aromatherapy practice as pure essential oils.
Extraction
Jeanne Rose, in "The Aromatherapy Book: Applications and Inhalations," writes that honeysuckle flowers should be picked in the early morning when essential oil is most prevalent in the flowers. According to Rose, honeysuckle flowers can be infused with a light carrier oil and vitamin E for preservation. Other methods of extracting honeysuckle oil include maceration, in which the oil is heated up to enable a faster processing of the extraction. Honeysuckle does not produce large quantities of pure essential oil, and therefore the traditional distillation method used in extracting the majority of essential oils is not commonly used.
Modern Uses
According to Lawless, honeysuckle oil is not usually used in the modern practice of aromatherapy. Honeysuckle is more commonly used for perfumery work, due to its uplifting, "feel happy" aroma. According to Rose, infused honeysuckle oil is useful for massage. Most honeysuckle oils for sale will already be blended with a carrier oil that can be safely applied to the skin.
Warnings
Pure honeysuckle essential oil is expensive and difficult to obtain due to its difficult extraction. Therefore, be aware that it is most likely an infused honeysuckle oil that you will find for sale. Although infused oils are used for perfumery purposes, they do not possess the same therapeutic values for aromatherapy. Do not apply pure essential oils undiluted on the skin. Consult a health care professional before using honeysuckle oil for medicinal purposes.
References
- "The Aromatherapy Garden"; Julia Lawless; 2001
- The Organic Witch: Honeysuckle Essential Oil
- The Health Care Center: The Nostalgic Scent of Honeysuckle Essential Oil
- "The Aromatherapy Book: Applications and Inhalations"; Jeanne Rose; 1992
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