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Gingergrass Essential Oil Benefits and Uses in Aromatherapy

Gingergrass essential oil has uplifting, refreshing, cleansing, and cooling properties that help relieve pain, congestion, and fatigue. The Complete Guide to Clinical Aromatherapy calls the oil "sunshine on a snotty, rainy day!"

Basic Gingergrass Facts

Gingergrass (Cymbopogon martinii var. sofia) is a close relative of palmarosa essential oil (Cymbopogon martinii var. motia).

Plant family: Poaceae.

Production: Steam distilled from the grass.

Aroma: Fresh, warm, grassy, herbaceous, and slightly spicy, with a dry green brightness, according to Stillpoint Aromatics.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle, according to Stillpoint Aromatics.

Is gingergrass safe to use during pregnancy? Consult a professional.

Is gingergrass safe for children? Consult a professional.

Cautions: An oxidized oil may cause skin sensitization.

Main component: About 30% limonene. Other components include a variety of menthadienols, which are unusual in essential oils. Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Ed.

Gingergrass Essential Oil Benefits

Physical benefits of gingergrass essential oil include:

Supports the respiratory system; use the oil for colds, flu, and allergies
Reduces swelling and inflammation
Soothes muscle and joint soreness, aches, and pains
Encourages circulation
Helps heal skin infections such as dry and weeping forms of eczema, athlete's foot, and toenail infections
Fights fungus, bacteria, and viruses—especially in the upper respiratory, digestive, reproductive, and urinary organs

Gingergrass is emotionally uplifting and relaxing. The oil improves mood and promotes optimism by helping you feel emotionally resilient and protected. Use the oil in massage blends for anxiety, stress, and tension, perhaps combined with:

Black pepper and ginger
Frankincense and plai
Lavender
Rose, sandalwood, and patchouli
Ylang ylang

This essential oil may also repel insects, especially mosquitoes.

Sources:

Clinically, gingergrass acts as a nervous and cardiac restorative for chronic weak conditions such as nervous exhaustion and burnout, weak heart conditions, and chronic disorders in general that require heart support, according to Aromatica. The oil has also been used as a gentle uterine restorative or tonic.

Gingergrass in Ayurveda

Ayurveda uses gingergrass for a variety of physical conditions, according to Essential Oils: A Comprehensive Handbook for Aromatic Therapy. These conditions include inflammation, muscle and joint pain, sinusitis, coughs, allergies, and skin complaints (dermatitis and acne). The oil is also used to support emotional well-being, specifically for relieving depression and loss of libido.

Energetic Benefits of Gingergrass

Gingergrass has the following benefits for the chakras, according to Stillpoint Aromatics:

First (root) chakra: supports rootedness, resilience, flexibility, and survival sense. When the root chakra is imbalanced, gingergrass helps bring awareness back into the body without a heavy or dull energy. The oil is especially useful if you want to stay grounded but confuse being grounded with being clenched.
Third (solar plexus) chakra: supports clarity, direction, and release of irritated tension. When the solar plexus is overworked, gingergrass helps clear heat and static without putting out the fire of personal power.
Fourth (heart) chakra: opens space around the heart by clearing surrounding accumulated tension. Use the oil when your heart feels disappointed, guarded, irritated, or tired from too much emotional baggage.
Fifth (throat) chakra: offers support when irritation has caused expression to become tight, clipped, or held back. The oil can help move energy up and out, especially when you need to release resentment, speak more honestly, or stop holding back words that then turn into body tension.

Gingergrass Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Aromatics suggests using a gingergrass inhaler during allergy season.

Pain-Relief Blends

Muscle Cramp Relief Oil

This massage oil promotes circulation, calms muscle spasms, and helps you feel more flexible.

1 ounce (2 tablespoons) trauma oil
8 drops gingergrass essential oil
4 drops saro essential oil
3 drops cardamom essential oil
2 drops geranium essential oil
1-ounce (30-ml) amber glass bottle with coned cap

Pour the trauma oil into the glass bottle.
Add the essential oils and tighten the cap.
Gently shake the bottle to combine.

Source: The Heart of Aromatherapy

Cooling Massage Oil for Pain Relief

Use this blend to massage hot aches and pains. Works to relieve acute muscle pain and injury and to reduce swelling.

1 ounce (2 tablespoons) trauma oil
6 drops gingergrass essential oil
6 drops mandarin essential oil
8 drops sandalwood essential oil
1-ounce PET plastic or glass bottle

Fill the bottle with trauma oil. Add the essential oils. Cap the bottle tightly and shake to blend.

Source: Essential Living

Diffuser Blends

Use these blends according to your diffuser's instructions.

Energizing and centering diffuser blend:

4 drops gingergrass
4 drops bergamot mint essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil

Great for use in yoga class.

Relaxing and uplifting diffuser blend:

4 drops of gingergrass
4 drops orange essential oil
2 drops geranium essential oil

Source: The Heart of Aromatherapy

Skin Care Blends

Skin Reset Blend

Use this blend to make refreshing skin care products, including body oils, massage blends, and scalp oils, for dull, congested, oily, or tired skin.

8 drops gingergrass essential oil
8 drops lavender essential oil
7 drops rosalina essential oil
6 drops carrot seed essential oil
6 drops sweet orange essential oil
5 drops manuka essential oil

Dilute the blend in a carrier oil before topical use. For the face or sensitive skin, generally use a 1% dilution. For adult body care, you can typically use a 1–2% dilution. Do not use the blend on broken or irritated skin.

Source: Stillpoint Aromatics

Soothing Body Butter

Makes 7 ounces of body butter.

1 ounce (28 g) beeswax
2 ounces (60 ml) jojoba
2 ounces (56 g) cocoa butter
2 ounces (56 g) coconut oil
27 drops gingergrass
31 drops cedarwood essential oil
15 drops patchouli essential oil
11 drops neroli essential oil
Enough glass jars to hold 7 ounces

Set a Pyrex cup in a shallow pan of water over low heat.
Add the beeswax and let it melt.
Stir in the cocoa butter and let it melt.
Stir in the coconut oil until melted.
Remove the melted mixture from the heat.
Stir in essential oils.
Pour the mixture into glass jars and cover them. It takes about 15 minutes for the butter to solidify.

Adapted from The Heart of Aromatherapy.

Calming Body Spray

Spray this blend onto your clothes or torso for a gently calming effect The spray is also soothing in hot weather.

16 drops gingergrass essential oil
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
2 drops rose otto essential oil
4 ounces distilled water
4-ounce spray bottle

Add water to the spray bottle. Drop in essential oils. Cap bottle and shake gently to mix before each use. Avoid spraying directly on the face.

Source: Essential Living

About the Author

Carol Wiley is a retired massage therapist and freelance writer. She uses her deep interest in aromatherapy and essential oils to research their benefits and uses and bring you summaries and blends with links to more resources.

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