Cananga / Ylang Ylang

This sweet yellow flower is common in Malaysia. I have a pot at home and a tree. One was planted in a pot and the flower florishes like anything. Ithot it was too big for the pot and plant on the ground. Now...no flower. it grew and grew with lots of leaves but no flower. Someone told me to cut the leaves, did that, still no flower. I have since bought another and put in a pot. Tak boleh nak manjakan.

I do not wear synthetic perfume as I don't like the smell of them. I usually take a few blossom of jasmine or the kesidang/breadflower or the gardenia and put then on my hair or ehem.. the old fashion 'pocket'. My mum's cananga ( in a pot by the way) always flowering, and I'd always put take one or two. Some people are sensitive to cananga and unfortunately I am one of them. Once I put two in my inner pocket one in each side and - migraine... I thot maybe the fragrant was too much, so the next time I put only one. Still I have migraine. Nowadays I 'd put it further, in a car or room as long as I'm not like a few centimeters away I'm allright.

Facts about Ylang Ylang

1The tree is about 20 meters (60 feet) high with large, tender, fragrant pink, mauve or yellow flowers and is found in Indonesia, Madagascar, Thailand, Malaysia.

2.means 'flower of flowers'. One of the main ingredient in Chanel no 5.

3. The flower petals are strewn upon the bed on wedding nights in Indonesia and the oil was a popular ingredient of hair preparations in Europe and was known as macassar oil. Ylang is probably best known for its reputation as an aphrodisiac and can be used to treat sexual problems,Ylang Ylang works very well with Lavender great for a good quality nights sleep and you may even have some nice dreams. ...

4. The Ylang-ylang oil is extracted from the freshly picked flowers by water or steam distillation.
The first distillation is called Ylang-ylang extra, which is the top grade. An absolute and concrete are also produced by solvent extraction.

5.The main chemical components are linalool, geranyl acetate, caryophyllene, p-cresyl methyl ether, methyl benzoate, benzyl acetate, benzyl benzoate and other sesquiterpenes.

6. The first pressing is called extra, then 1st , 2nd and so on. The extra, being the sweetest odour is not used in aromatherapy, but used in the perfume industry.

7It is classed as a non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing oil, yet could cause sensitivity have been reported and excessive use of it can lead to headaches and nausea.

8.The therapeutic properties of ylang-ylang oil are antidepressant, antiseborrhoeic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, hypotensive, nervine and sedative.

9.Ylang-ylang oil has a euphoric and sedative effect on the nervous system and helps with anxiety, tension, shock, fear and panic while the aphrodisiac qualities is useful for impotence and frigidity. It can also help with reducing high blood pressure and useful for intestinal infections.
On the skin, ylang-ylang oil has a soothing effect and its balancing action sorts out over-dry as well as overly-oily skin by balancing the secretion of sebum, and has a stimulating effect on the scalp which promotes more luxurious hair growth.

Essential oils must not to be used by pregnant women without prior professional advice, people suffering from chronic illness, young children, or babies. Use this oil with caution as Ylang Ylang can cause nausea & headaches if used in high concentration.

Recipes

( some of the recipes below eg: preventing hepatitis, curing malaria or asthma are traditionally used in Indonesia - I have no idea if it is effective)

Treating Malaria

3 dried canaga flowers. Pour a glass of hot water, close tightly. Let it cool and drink.

For comfinement mothers

As above but add in honey and kencur /cekur (Kaempferia galanga )

For blocked nose and sore throat.

4 canaga flowers

1 slice of ginger

1 teaspoon honey

1 cup water

Direction Boiled ingredients- reduce to half a cup and drink

Treating wounds ( antiseptic)

50g cananga

20cc hot coconut oil

Put together, apply when cool.

Preventing hepatitis

Boil 3 gram cananga , 20g temulawak, 15gm bangle ( bonglai bukit- Zingiber cassumunar ROXB)with 600cc water , reduce to 300cc, Strain let cool and drink

Mask

Ingredient

:5 cananga flowers

5 jlice rimpang temugiring

1 limau purut skin :

Temugiring is widely used in Indonesia to tone skin

Limau purut act as astringent

Blend all ingredient and strain. Pat on face and leave a few minutes. Caution: Please do this at night, as the lime contain vit C and citrus fruit usually make skin photo sensitive.

Kemiri/ Candle Nuts/ kukui/Buah Keras

It comes from the seeds of several species of Aleurites, primarily Aleurites fordii, a deciduous shade tree native to China. It belongs to the Euphorbia Family (Euphorbiaceae) along with the candlenut tree (A. molucanna), another species with seeds rich in unsaturated oils. For centuries the oil has been used for paints and waterproof coatings, and as a component of caulk and mortar. It is an ingredient in "India ink" and is commonly used for a lustrous finish on wood. In fact, the "teak oil" sold for fine furniture is usually refined kukui oil. Some woodworkers consider the oil to be one of the best natural finishes for wood.

The seed of candlenut (Aleurites molucanna) contains about 50 percent oil. This is why it ignites and burns like a candle. The ancient Polynesians brought this tree to the Hawaiian Islands where it has become naturalized. The dried nuts were cracked open and the seeds were skewered onto the midrib of a coconut frond (or slender bamboo stem) and set on fire. The Polynesians used them for candles that burned for about 45 minutes. Hawaiians also extracted the oil for many other uses: to shine and waterproof wooden bowls, to mix with charcoal to make black canoe paint, to burn as torches, and to burn in stone lamps for light.

Shelled candlenuts (Aleurites molucanna) are commonly sold in Asian food markets. Although they superficially resemble shelled macadamia nuts, they should not be eaten raw because they contain a strong purgative. Apparently roasted seeds are eaten, but only in small quantities because of their laxative effect. In Hawaii they are roasted and made into a condiment called inamona, by pounding them into a paste that is mixed with salt. The inamona paste is mixed with seaweed, minced chile peppers and bite-sized cubes of raw ahi fish (or another fish) to prepare a favorite Hawaiian dish called "inamona poke." The cooked, mashed seeds are used in a similar Indonesian dish called "sambal kemiri." Candlenut paste is also used to thicken and flavor Indonesian and Malaysian curries.

Kukui nut oil is high in the essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic acids. These acids are vital for the metabolism of healthy skin. Vitamins A, C and E are added to stabilize the oil. Kukui nut oil is easily absorbed by the skin. It soothes irritated, sunburned, or burned skin. Surveys have shown that kukui nut oil can help relieve itchy and dry skin due to eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.

Kemiri Bath

Ingredients

10 piesces candlenuts

a few shavings of lengkuas/galagal

Grind candlenuts add galangal and rub gently over the whole body. The nut extracts dirt from body. The nut will change colour after rubbing awhile

Tropical Massage Oil

Kukui nut provides nourishment to the skin and good slip! Macadamia and jojoba add stability and are good for you, too! Scent with cananga

2 parts kemiri oil

1 part coconut oil

1 part jojoba oil

Mix together in a plastic squeeze-type bottle with dispensing

Kukui nuts for hair

Loosely grind a handful of nuts until their oil seeps out. Pan fry briefly, as they turn brown, smash , massage on scalp and leave for 15 minutes. Said to prevent greying