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Plai Essential Oil Benefits and Uses in Aromatherapy

"Plai is a fast mover, swooping in to cool the mind and body and eradicate pain quickly," states Working With Unusual Oils. Massage therapists in Thailand have long recognized that plai essential oil benefits include relieving joint and muscle complaints. Plai is closely related to ginger and sometimes called Thai ginger.

Aromatherapy supplies and plai plant with the words Guide to Plai Essential Oil Benefits and Uses.

Basic Plai Facts

Latin name: Zingiber cassumunar or Zingiber montanum.

Plant family: Zingiberaceae. Other essential oils in this family include ginger, cardamom, fingerroot, turmeric, and white ginger lily absolute.

Production: Steam distilled from the rhizomes (roots).

Aroma: Spicy, fresh, woody, slightly green.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Top to middle.

Is plai safe to use during pregnancy? Yes, according to Plant Therapy. Consult a professional for details.

Is plai safe for children? Yes, according to Plant Therapy.

Main components:

terpinen-4-ol ~42%
sabinene ~27%
gamma-terpinene ~6.5%

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Ed.

Note: Several subspecies and chemotypes of plai are available, depending on the plant's growing location. Specific properties of the oil may vary depending on the type of plai.

Plai Essential Oil Benefits

Plai has both stimulating and relaxing properties that address cold, tense conditions of the respiratory, digestive, reproductive, and musculoskeletal systems, according to Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Vol 1. The oil helps relieve inflammation and prevent spasms, making it especially useful for cold-tense conditions, including asthma, colic, colitis, menstrual cramps, muscle cramps, and various rheumatic-arthritic disorders.

In traditional use, plai essential oil benefits the following conditions:

Digestive system: digestive cramps, constipation, flatulence, indigestion, heartburn, irritable bowel, spasm, pain.
Musculoskeletal system: all types of muscle and joint aches and pains caused by inflammation, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle injuries, torn ligaments, tendonitis.
Reproductive system: Menstrual cramps.
Respiratory system: recurring colds, congestion, fever, flu, allergy, asthma.
Skin care: acne, cuts, stretch marks, scars, wounds, dermatophytes.
Nervous system: anxiety, nervous tension, stress by helping lift spirits and calm nerves.
Psyche: impaired cognition, dementia.
Energetic: support, balance, purification.

Plai also stimulates the immune system, energizes (especially useful when you feel lethargic or sluggish), and acts as a general tonic to support the body.

Sources: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition), and Aromatherapeutic Blending.

Plai Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Suggested essential oils to blend with plai essential oil, according to Essential Oils: A Comprehensive Handbook for Aromatic Therapy:

For general well-being and stress reduction: angelica root, combava peel, coriander seed, ginger, lemongrass, patchouli, pink pepper, sandalwood, Scotch pine, vetiver.
To relieve digestive spasm or cramps or irritable bowel: black pepper, caraway, coriander seed, lavender, lime, mandarin, sweet orange, bitter orange.
To relieve menstrual cramps: clary sage, sweet marjoram, sweet fennel, sweet orange, angelica root.
To reduce acne: combava leaf, clary sage, cinnamon leaf, sandalwood, vetiver, white champaca, ylang ylang.

Circulation Blend

To improve circulation in your arms and legs, massage them twice a day with this blend:

6 drops plai essential oil
4 drops black pepper essential oil
8 drops sweet marjoram essential oil
2 tablespoons carrier oil

Source: 150 Ways to Use Essential Oils

Pain Relief Lotion

6.5 tablespoons natural unscented lotion
30 drops plai essential oil
20 drops geranium essential oil
10 drops sweet marjoram essential oil

Blend ingredients in a 4-ounce glass container. Use several times a day as needed and after a bath when your skin is warm.

Adapted from Penny Price

Arthritis Pain Relief

Cautions: For adult use only. Do not use during pregnancy or with individuals who have known bleeding disorders or are sensitive to salicylate.

3 drops plai essential oil
3 drops sweet birch essential oil
3 drops kunzea essential oil
3 drops sandalwood essential oil
2 tablespoons carrier oil

Combine the ingredients in a 1-ounce glass bottle. Close bottle. Shake well. Apply a small amount of the blend to the affected muscles/joints every two hours or as needed for pain.

Source: Anna Doxie, RA. "Using Holistic Phyto-Aromatherapy to Support Lyme Disease." NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Spring 2017.1 , p. 47

Menstrual Cramp Relief

100 ml unscented lotion
12 drops plai
12 drops cypress essential oil
10 drops marjoram or lavender essential oil
6 drops rose, ylang ylang, or bergamot essential oil

Source: Working With Unusual Oils

Sports Massage Blend

To a 2-ounce squeeze bottle, add:

8 drops plai essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops roman chamomile essential oil
5 drops rosemary essential oil

Then fill bottle with jojoba (or other carrier) oil. Close bottle and then shake well. Massage into sore muscles.

Insect Bite Aid

To a 1-ounce squeeze bottle, add:

5 drops plai essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops helichrysum essential oil
2 tablespoons aloe vera gel

Shake before use. Apply 2 to 3 times a day or as needed to help relieve insect bites.
Source: Eden's Garden

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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