African sage

African sage

African sage (Tarchonanthus camphoratus) has long been recognized by indigenous people in the areas to which it is native as a valuable plant with diverse medicinal and spiritual properties. It grows wild as a shrub or small tree in the Rift Valley region of Kenya and parts of southern Africa. It is known by different names from region to region, but is increasingly recognized internationally by its Maasai name Leleshwa.

Leleshwa leaves are effectively used to relieve aching feet and legs before, during and after long journeys. In southern Africa, a hot pack of leaves is placed on the chest to relieve respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. Aside from these obvious analgesic effects, it is also used in bedding to promote restful sleep by warding off both bad dreams and bed bugs and inducing a state of deep relaxation. Even some African savanna animals are trending as many of them have been observed rubbing themselves on Leleshwa bushes to get rid of ticks and other insects. Warriors of different ethnicities are also known to brush each other with Leleshwa leaves to promote courage and increase pain tolerance.

This plant with many purposes is finally inserted into the rest of the world in the form of a essential oil, which has the same effects as mentioned above on the emotional and spiritual bodies that the Africans have experienced in a long time. Studies have shown that essential Leleshwa oil has antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and cleaning properties. Experiments have shown that the killing of germs is many times faster and more effective than tea tree oil. It drastically reduces the symptoms of dandruff, psoriasis, fungal diseases and acne. It is also a great insect repellent. This newer essential oil is promising as a preservative in emulsions (such as lotions and liquid soaps), which has so far only been effectively preserved by synthetic chemical preservatives on the shelf. The possibility of replacing ingredients such as parabens and pegs with Leleshwa oil would be a large milestone in the field of natural body care products.

The harvest of the Leleshwa leaves and the subsequent distillation to the essential oil are a completely new income current for people in the areas in which the shrub is growing wildly. What was previously considered a weed on some ranch is now a sustainable economic undertaking. The purchase of Leleshwa oil not only improves your personal well-being and the cleanliness of your surroundings, but also helps to generate money for low-income rural families in exchange for the healing effects of African sage bush.

Leleshwa Oil can be purchased at Essential Oil University at http://www.essentialoils.org or 812-945-5000, which provided much of the information for this article.