All it takes are just a few drops of a floral essential oil in the infuser, an aromatic candle, or a scented soap in the shower, and the air is clear, your mood is lifted, your emotional fog is dispersed. Flower and aromatic plant essences carry and deliver potent healing and balancing properties faster and more effectively than anything else. Of the 3 possible paths, or marga-s, of delivering herbal healing to the body that the Charak Samhita discusses, the aromatic path is the most efficient: 1) transdermal: through the skin; 2) oral, through the digestive system and organs; 3) aromatically.
When you inhale a pleasant aroma, it communicates with your limbic system instantaneously affecting molecular chemical changes in your brain chemistry and firing up neuronal pathways that generate waves of well-being. From the brain, the aromatic molecules enter the blood stream and are delivered to the whole body. The Susrut Samhita says it clearly: pleasant aromatic molecules have the power to deliver instantaneous deep bliss as they are very small in size and they travel faster than any other molecules, crossing the blood-brain barrier and entering into the deepest recesses of our cellular system. The Susrut Samhita says that “sughand,” or a pleasant scent, is:
It generates “sukha” or bliss, in the mind, as it carries soft and pleasant aromatic micromolecules. And when Mother Nature gives, she does so profusely – she has bestowed upon us thousands of aromatic plants and flowers, each carrying bliss-infusing molecules that not only uplift, but that can also heal us! Two of these aromatic plants are Vetiver and Sandalwood, reputed as ideal ingredients for the Summer time.
When plants carry life-supporting, balancing, and bliss-enhancing properties, they are known as “divine.” Vetiver and Sandalwood are definitely members of that family of select ayurvedic plants favored over others, and used widely even for ritual purposes. The vibrational energetic frequencies of Vetiver and Sandalwood are so elevating and efficient, they are known to travel unencumbered to the mind and the satwa instantly. Their “prabhava,” or subtle vibrational effect, is called:
Their aroma creates (“janani”) coherence in the “manas” or mind, by strengthening and connecting in all functional aspects of the mind – the dhi, dritti, and smritti – the three powers of identifying, storing, and recalling. But such divine plants also bring many more healing and balancing properties as well.
Sandalwood
For example, Sandalwood deodorizes – it is known to be a “durgand hara” – eliminates foul smell. When used transdermally, as a local application it can pacify burning: “daha” = burning as a “lepanam” = paste application; it is also “nirvan” = it gets rid of; and is “shreshtam” = is the best for such local cooling applications.
Here is a word-by-word explanation of the above verse from the Dhanvatari Nighantu:
shrikhandam = white sandalwood
sitalam = cooling
svadu = flavorful
tiktam = bitter
pitta vinashinim = pacifies pitta
rasaprasadanam = cleans the rasa dhatu
vrishyam = supports shukra dhatu
antara daha pahrakam = gets rid of the body’s internal burning
pittasravi= pacifies pitta generated toxins (or amavisha) related burning in the blood, and it is also krimignam = supports the body’s immune system against krimis or microbes through supporting the immune system
guru = it’s heavy
ruksha = it is drying
sarvam = always
sattiktam = it has a flavor/bitter taste
chandanam = always cooling
sisiram = pleasantly cool
param = best
This verse illustrates well why Sandalwood is such a prized item in India, and the rest of the world as well, as its uses for overall balance and bliss abound. However, Vetiver, carries just as many amazing properties, and deserves just as much praise. Here is what we can say about Vetiver.
Vetiver
usiram = anothe name for vetiver
sitalam = cooling
tiktam = bitter
dahaklanti = removes burning and sadness – it’s uplifting
hara = removes
tat = that
vataghnam = pacifies vata
jvara= pacifies fever
trnmeha = rehydrates
nud = thirst due to fever
raktam = blood
yogatah = including pacifies the heat of the blood due to fever
usiram = vetiver
sveda = sweat
daurgandh= bad smell of the sweat and also pacifies pitta
snigdha tiktakam = it is unctuous and bitter
Another verse from the Raaj Nighantu says that Vetiver is:
usiram = vetiver
sitalam = cooling
tiktam = bitter
daha=burning
sramahar = removes fatigue
param = best for
pitta jvara samana = removes fever through pacifying pitta
jala saugandha dayakam = it perfumes water
Another verse says:
usiram = vetiver
pacanam = digestive
sitam = cools
stambhana = firms the skin
laghu = light
tikt = bitter
Vetiver pacifies pachak pitta/is a digestive, it also has an immediate action of cooling and firming the skin; it is also light and bitter in its properties, further pacifying pitta.
lamajjakisire = [when] vetiver [is administered in the form of] paste
daha= removes burning of skin
tvag dosha = removes toxins and pacifies all doshas
swedapa nayana = cleans the sweat
pralepanam = application of the paste
Sandalwood displays many beneficial properties that are similar to those carried by Vetiver. With some differences, for example: Sandalwood is “guru,” or heavy, and “usir,” or light, on the skin. Sandalwood has “ruksha” or drying properties, while Vetiver carries an unctuous quality – it is “snigdham.” In the big picture, Vetiver not only carries all the properties that Sandalwood has, but long term use of Vetiver is “tvagadosha” it pacifies all the doshas, by helping eliminate and evactuate all toxins from the skin. One last desirable property it carries for the skin, it is “stambhanam” – it is firming for the skin with long term use.
This Summer, choose Vetiver over Sandalwood. And choose it well. I make all my SVA formulations with two distinct types of Vetiver oil. One type is the crude Vetiver oil, or oleo-resinous oil which has bigger molecules. This Vetiver oil I use in all my soap and detergent products. The other kind of Vetiver oil that carries smaller water-soluble molecules and also has a wonderful aroma, is the more highly prized version of Vetiver oil. It is also very expensive. It carries all the properties we discussed above in our article, but in an amplified manner, so it’s even more balancing to the physiology in the summertime.
So, this Summer, if you are looking for the perfect SVA formula to cool off from the scorching heat, go for my newest Vetiver formulation, the Aloe and Vetiver Body Lotion. In this formula, as you might have read in last week’s newsletter, the power of Vetiver is combined with Aloe, another excellent plant for the skin.
Also, favor Vetiver soap over other soaps for more seasonal balance. Or use my Vetiver essential oil on your wrists – the essential oil will be transported transdermally into your blood stream instantly and give you cooling and soothing so you can enjoy your Summer even more.
Wash your laundry with the all natural Soap Nut and Vetiver Detergent I have put together. Read more about my full range of SVA Vetiver formulations on my pranic formulations’ website: www.chandika.com.
