Ravintsara essential oil, also called ho leaf oil, is not the same as Ravensara or ho wood oil. They are often confused for one another. Ravintsara is high in 1,8-cineole and has a camphoraceous/woody scent similar to Eucalyptus. Ravensara is high in limonene and has an herbaceous/spicy fragrance.
Ravintsara essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the camphor tree, which is known botanically as Cinnamomum camphora. Ravintsara oil has analgesic, anti-allergenic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-rheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, decongestant, expectorant, mucolytic, and stimulant therapeutic properties.
1. Treat Asthma
Practice Ravintsara essential oil aromatherapy to treat asthma. Simply add 5 to 6 drops to your diffuser, along with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of distilled water, and run the diffuser for 30 to 60 minutes.
This is a mild essential oil that can be inhaled directly from the diffuser or even directly from the bottle, if you feel an asthma attack coming on and can’t use your diffuser. The oil vapors quickly reduce inflammation in the airways. You can also dilute Ravintsara essential oil in a carrier oil and apply it to the chest, back and throat to help reduce asthma attacks.
Generally, 2 to 3 drops in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil works well; however, you can use up to 11 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil, if necessary. Don’t use more than you absolutely need to in order to get relief. More is not always better.
2. Reduce the Severity of Allergies
Run your diffuser with 5 to 6 drops of Ravintsara essential oil added to reduce allergies. The oil actually reduces the frequency and severity of allergic reactions over time. Practice Ravintsara aromatherapy two to four times a day, especially when your seasonal allergies flare up.
3. Treat Bronchitis
Make a vapor rub with Ravintsara essential oil to treat bronchitis. It reduces inflammation in the airways and kills bacteria to speed healing. A simple vapor rub can include 4 drops each of Ravintsara and lemon oil, 2 drops of Helichrysum italicum and 3 drops of peppermint oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil.
You can use any type of carrier oil but unrefined coconut oil is excellent for this use. Another very good vapor rub recipe calls for olive oil, coconut oil, bees wax, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil. You can use that recipe but use Ravintsara oil instead of eucalyptus. The 1,8-cineole content is slightly lower in Ravinstara than eucalyptus, which makes the Ravintsara a little milder.
*Do not apply Ravintsara essential oil on or near the face of children under the age of 6.*
4. Get Sinus Congestion Relief
Practice Ravintsara aromatherapy to relieve sinus congestion and even treat sinus infections. Run your diffuser with 5 to 6 drops of Ravintsera in it for 30 to 60 minutes whenever you feel congested.
You can also take the Ravintsara essential oil bottle with you when you go to work and inhale the vapors directly from the bottle when your congestion gets worse throughout the day. You can combine the Ravintsara with some saro essential oil and laurel leaf essential oil in an inhaler for an even more effective decongestant. Apply a 2% to 3% Ravintsara/carrier oil blend to your sinuses before bed and first thing in the morning to treat a sinus infection.
5. Alleviate Laryngitis
Mix 2 drops of Ravintsara essential oil in an 8-ounce glass of water and gargle with it to treat laryngitis. It will quickly reduce inflammation and enhance the healing process.
6. Treat Thrush
Gargle with Ravintsara EO several times a day to get rid of thrush or oral candidiasis.
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7. Fight Viral Infections
Blend 2 to 3 drops of Ravintsara EO into a carrier oil and moisturize your hands with it. Ravintsara’s anti-viral properties will eliminate the germs on your hands before you contract the virus. Just apply it several times throughout the day.
Diffuse Ravintsara to kill viruses in the air and on surfaces. Add 5 to 6 drops to your diffuser and run it for 30 to 60 minutes several times a day. It will help keep you healthy during cold and flu season and make the room smell great while doing it.
*A 1% to 3% dilution rate (1 to 3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil) is fine for everyday use. Stronger dilution rates should only be used for 10 days to 2 weeks at a time.*
8. Treat Herpes
Add 11 drops of Ravintsara essential oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and dab the blend directly onto herpes sores. Ravintsara’s analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic and antiviral properties will ease the pain and inflammation, kill germs and speed healing.
You can use any carrier oil you like; however, baobab and rose hip seed oils have regenerative properties that encourage skin cell renewal. You can apply the blend to sores several times a day.
9. Boost the Immune System
Practice Ravintsara EO aromatherapy or apply a 2% to 3% Ravintsara/carrier oil blend to give your immune system a boost. You can rub the blend on your chest and throat then inhale the vapors from your hands for the best of both methods.
10. Relieve Headache Pain
Add 5 or 6 drops of Ravintsara oil to your diffuser and enjoy a little aromatherapy to relieve headache pain. Set the diffuser near you for 30 minutes or so. You can also inhale the vapors directly from the bottle, if you don’t have time for an aromatherapy session.
Another way to get rid of a headache with Ravintsara EO is to apply a few drops of a 2% to 3% blend to your temples and forehead. Generally, inhaling the vapors is the quickest way to get headache relief, though.
11. Treat Athlete’s Foot
Use the 11% Ravintsara EO/carrier oil blend to treat athlete’s foot. Apply it twice a day after washing and thoroughly drying your feet. Be sure to rub it into the skin between the toes and under the nails, too, to get full antifungal coverage.
You can use any carrier oil you like, although you might want to use babassu or coconut oil. They have antifungal properties that will make this athlete’s foot treatment even more effective.
12. Get Rid of Ringworm
Use the 11% Ravintsara EO/carrier oil blend to get rid of ringworm. Wash the infected area with soap and water, dry it thoroughly and apply the Ravintsara blend two times a day.
*Place a drop of a 2% Ravintsara essential oil/carrier oil blend on an inconspicuous area of skin and wait for at least a few hours to make sure you aren’t sensitive to it.*
13. Treat or Prevent Bacterial Infections
Mix up an 11% Ravintsara essential oil/carrier oil blend to prevent or even treat bacterial infections on wounds and sores. Wash the area, dry it and apply the Ravintsara several times a day. Put the oils on with a cotton swab to prevent further contamination.
Coconut oil and jojoba oil are great carrier oils for treating or preventing bacterial infections. They both nave antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that will help soothe and heal the sore or wound.
14. Relieve Pain
Apply a 2% to 3% Ravintsara EO/carrier oil blend to the site of pain for relief. If you need fast pain relief, you can mix 2 drops of Ravintsara essential oil into 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel and apply that.
The gel will act as a buffer while allowing the essential oil to penetrate more quickly. Make sure you use aloe vera gel. It must be a thick gel in order to buffer the essential oil properly.
15. Treat Neuropathy and Neuralgia
Use a 2% to 3% Ravintsara/carrier oil blend to treat neuropathy and neuralgia. Gently, apply the blend to the painful areas for relief. You can also use the aloe vera gel, rather than a carrier oil, for faster relief.
*Do not use Ravintsara EO that is high in camphor while pregnant or breastfeeding.*
16. Alleviate Anxiety
Practice Ravintsara essential oil aromatherapy to alleviate anxiety. The 1,8-cineole has been clinically proven to reduce anxiety. If you tend to experience anxiety while you are away from home, keep your Ravintsara EO with you. When you begin to feel your anxiety level rising, take a few deep inhales through the sinuses directly from the essential oil bottle. You can also apply the 2% to 3% blend to your chest and throat so that the beneficial vapors will waft up around you throughout the day.
17. Reduce Stress
Enjoy a 30- to 60-minute Ravintsara EO aromatherapy session to unwind and reduce stress at the end of a long, hard day. You may also want to take a little Ravintsara aromatherapy break in the afternoon, if your day is particularly stressful. For faster relief, just take a few deep inhales directly from the bottle.
18. Fight Depression or Improve Your Mood
Ravintsara essential oil can be ingested to alleviate depression. Put 1 to 3 drops of Ravintsara along with 1 to 2 drops of olive oil in a vege capsule and take it with a glass of water. Make sure you get a good, high-quality, pure Ravintsara essential oil if you are going to ingest it. You can also alleviate depression or simply brighten your mood with some Ravintsara aromatherapy. It is a naturally uplifting mood enhancer.
19. Alleviate Muscle Soreness
Massage tired, sore muscles with a 2% to 3% Ravintsara/carrier oil blend for soothing pain relief. You can use it several times a day.
Was this list helpful to you? Keep in mind that there are four different types of Ravintsara essential oil. This article lists the uses for Ravintsara that is high in 1,8-cineole. The other three types are high in linalool, safrole or nerolidol and have different therapeutic properties. So, if you want an oil with the beneficial applications listed in this article, make sure you are getting the 1,8-cineole-type Ravintsara. If you use eucalyptus regularly, but find that it is a bit too strong, give Ravintsara a try. You might prefer it.
Please leave a comment to let me know if this list helped and share your own experiences with Ravintsara essential oil, if you have already used it. We can all learn from each other and keep adding to the on-going list of its great uses. Be sure to share, too, so that others can become aware of all of this oil’s great benefits.
References:
1. AromaWeb: Ravintsara Essential Oil
https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/ravintsara-oil.asp
2. Style Craze: Top 10 Benefits of Ravintsara Essential Oil
http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-ravintsara-essential-oil/#gref
3. Rocky Mountain Oils: Ravintsara Essential Oil
https://www.rockymountainoils.com/ravintsara.html
Hopewell Oils: Ravintsara (Ho Leaf)
https://hopewelloils.com/ravintsara.php