Melissa Officinalis. This essential oil is one that you are going to want to have in your oily arsenal. If you are in the habit of taking essential oils as a supplement in gel-caps, this is one EO you want to add to whatever you’re taking. But first… our fun facts about Melissa EO!

Fun facts 1): Melissa EO is called “The Bee Plant”. It’s usually planted near a bee hive and it helps keep the bees living in their hive and not flying off somewhere else.

Fun facts 2): This EO is the number one ingredient in Carmelite Water. For those of you who don’t know what Carmelite Water is (myself included), let me explain. Carmelite Water has been around for about 700 or so years. It’s made by the Carmelite monks and nuns, whom are a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church originating around 1190 AD, that was formed and lived on Mt. Carmel and followed the example of the Prophet Elijah. Mt. Carmel is where Elijah prayed and fasted waiting on God to bring rain and saw the small cloud God had sent in 1 Kings 18:41 – 19:8.

Carmelite water consists of Melissa EO, angelica root, lemon peel, coriander seed, and cinnamon stick. It’s a tonic that has been used as an overall health supporter and restorer since the medieval times. Melissa leaves were always carried by the medieval knights to use on scorpion bites and snake bites. This stuff was one of the number one medicinal herbs back then.

Now, fast forward to today. Melissa EO is one of the most expensive EOs, period. A 5 ml bottle, about 80 drops, will cost you between $150 and $200. It’s also one of the most adulterated EOs out there, too. So, buyer beware and only buy from reputable companies and sources.

There is no EO better than Melissa EO, though. We’ve talked about some EOs recently that are powerhouse EOs for major organ system functions, like Sage and Goldenrod. Well, Melissa EO is the powerhouse of all. Like Lavender is a swiss army knife of topical uses, Melissa is such a strong whole body supporter and can be used for just about anything internal. It’s so powerful at promoting regular system function, that if you’re already in the habit of taking a gel cap daily of EOs for specific system support, that you add a drop of Melissa EO for overall body support. It basically promotes proper system function throughout your whole body.

There’s two other specific uses for Melissa EO that are issues that my family personally has dealt with and I know would genuinely help others.

First, Melissa EO is excellent for supporting regular system function for those with Type 2 Diabetes. I first want to explain what Type 2 Diabetes is, so you have a good grasp of why it needs to be kept under control. As of 2015, 29 million Americans have Type 2 Diabetes, a quarter of which are undiagnosed.

When you eat, and as the food is processed through the body’s normal digestive function, the sugar, known as glucose, is stored in the liver and sent out into your body as a fuel for energy and normal system function. The Pancreas then excretes a hormone know as Insulin that communicates to the body’s cells and tells them to use the glucose for fuel. And also, the liver stores glucose for later when you haven’t eaten anything, and your body needs a boost of energy, it will also excrete glucose to keep you going and the pancreas follows suit with the insulin production. Type 2 Diabetes happens when the liver floods the body with glucose, but the Pancreas doesn’t excrete enough insulin to be able to communicate with the whole body to use up all that glucose, causing the body’s blood sugar levels to rise. Also, Insulin alerts the liver to stop producing glucose and the liver doesn’t get the message and just keeps pumping away. There’s also another condition associated with Type 2 Diabetes called insulin resistance, this happens when the cells of the body will not accept the message from the Insulin to use the glucose, and your body then has another instance of high blood sugar. Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes are excessive urination, constant thirst or dry mouth, constant hunger (even after you’ve eaten), numbness and tingling in your feet and rapidly changing vision problems. Type 2 Diabetes left uncontrolled will cause diabetic nerve damage, vision loss, increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

Melissa EO helps support proper function of the pancreas, liver and cell communication. It helps alert the pancreas to produce enough insulin and the liver to reduce it’s glucose excretion, also the cells becoming receptive to insulin again. Melissa EO is in no way a substitute for a good diet, but it is a fantastic support. Take one drop in a gelcap, per day on a regular basis, as needed.

The second use for Melissa EO that I want to spotlight is how this EO, when used aromatically, is wonderful people suffering from Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It helps to reduce the agitation from the memory loss and confusion associated with both diseases. It has a soothing and calming affect when diffused. I would use a couple drops of this EO along with Orange EO, in your diffuser and use when needed.

Well, that’s it for this lesson on Melissa EO! I hope you enjoyed this visit with this amazing EO! Don’t forget, we love questions! Just click the contact button at the top right corner and ask away! Until next time, happy oiling everyone!