This month, we are so excited for you to experience a Moldavian Dragonhead!
Not only does this rare and precious essential oil boast a fun and fanciful name, but it also brings a host of benefits and a beautifully soft, spicy lemony scent.
A sniff of Moldavian Dragonhead brings to mind that beautifully balanced sweet-tart scent of those vintage, natural lemon drops that come in the little round tins.
Background
As one of more than 60 species from the Dragonhead family, Moldavian Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica) grows as an annual herb. It thrives in Eastern Asia, Eastern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine. This month’s selection comes to us from Bulgaria.
The Moldavian Dragonhead plant takes its name from the shape of its vibrant, purplish-blue flowers providing an ornamental splendor to gardens. The plant is beloved by bees, while its leaves are prized for lemony teas.
This herbal tea is brewed to help digestive distress, to support whole body health, and to help bring a boost to the mood. The Moldavian Dragonhead herb, also known as Moldavian Balm, can be substituted for Lemon Balm (Melissa) in culinary use.
The flowering tops and leaves of the plant are distilled to create Moldavian Dragonhead essential oil. Just as some compare it to Melissa in herbal form, Moldavian Dragonhead also shares some similarities with Melissa (Melissa officinalis) essential oil in scent, benefits, and composition. Also like Melissa, Moldavian Dragonhead is more costly than more commonly available essential oils due to low yield in the distillation process.
This unique composition lends itself to Moldavian Dragonhead’s deliciously refreshing and inviting lemony spicy scent, which is considerably softer and smoother than the sharp notes of Melissa.
Benefits
While Moldavian Dragonhead is more costly than the average oil, it is well worth the investment. And, only a small amount is necessary to enjoy its incredible therapeutic properties. This rare oil offers a variety of benefits for the body, mind, and spirit.
You can reach for it to help to reduce digestive upset, support the immune system, and fight against seasonal threats. Moldavian Dragonhead can help calm the mind and boost the mood while relieving symptoms of restlessness and worry. An uplifting essential oil for the spirit, Moldavian Dragonhead can also lend a sense of courage and strength when needed.
Blending
The attractive aroma of Moldavian Dragonhead readily blends with other essential oils creating many opportunities to explore. One waft of Moldavian Dragonhead can lead the nose toward many appealing options to suit your own unique needs. To send you on your delightful lemony-scented journey, here are a few synergies to get you started, taking advantage of Moldavian Dragonhead’s benefits.
First, some essential information about blending with Moldavian Dragonhead:
KidSafe®: No
Cautions: For Moldavian Dragonhead essential oil, we recommend a maximum dilution of 1.7% for topical applications to avoid the risk of various safety issues. When working with synergies, please note any additional cautions for the other essential oils included.
Shelf Life: 2-3 Years
The synergies below are crafted as mini-master blends so you can sample and see if they suit your tastes. They are easily scaled up as needed into larger stock blends, or for specific uses.
You can add 5 drops per 100 ml of water to your diffuser, 15 drops to your personal aromatherapy inhaler, or use topically with the proper dilution ratios as noted.
Summer Lemonade
(For Inhalation or Topical Use)
- 2 drops Moldavian Dragonhead Dracocephalum moldavica
- 2 drops Bergamot Mint Mentha citrata
- 1 drop Lavender Flower CO2 Lavandula angustifolia*
A sniff of this brings to mind that tangy sweet scent of a balanced lemonade, handcrafted from your summer garden, with just a slight twist of herb from the summer sun.
Added to a diffuser or personal aromatherapy inhaler, this synergy can help you send you into serenity. It is uplifting, calming, and can soothe a sense of restlessness. Helping to ease worry and tension, it can also support rest and relaxation.
Diluted to 2% in your favorite carrier oil, this synergy would be wonderful in helping to refresh and relieve a tired body after overexertion.
*May substitute Lavender Fine Lavandula angustifolia essential oil.
KidSafe®: No
Cautions: For Moldavian Dragonhead essential oil, we recommend a maximum dilution of 1.7% for topical applications to avoid the risk of various safety issues.
Better Belly
- 1 drop Moldavian Dragonhead Dracocephalum moldavica
- 2 drops Spearmint Mentha spicata
- 2 drops Orange Sweet Citrus sinensis
Refreshing and soothing with a softly inviting clean and crisp scent, this synergy is easy on the sensibilities when used to help support a disturbed digestive system. Use to help calm an upset tummy, to reduce digestive discomfort throughout, and to help encourage an appetite.
This synergy can be easily taken with you on the go in case digestive distress shows up when out and about. For inhalation, add 15 drops to a personal aromatherapy inhaler. For topical application, add 5 drops to a 10 ml roller bottle with your favorite carrier oil, such as organic fractionated coconut carrier oil. Apply to the area of discomfort and massage gently in a clockwise direction.
KidSafe®: No
Cautions: For Moldavian Dragonhead essential oil, we recommend a maximum dilution of 1.7% for topical applications to avoid the risk of various safety issues. For Spearmint, we recommend a maximum dilution of 1.7% for topical applications to avoid possible adverse skin reactions.
Clear the Air
- 1 drop Moldavian Dragonhead Dracocephalum moldavica
- 2 drops Balm Mint Bush Prostanthera melissifolia
- 2 drop Lemon Myrtle Backhousia citriodora
This fresh, cool, clean lemony scent can be diffused as a multi-purpose powerhouse. Cleansing and clearing, it can help freshen stale air while uplifting and revitalizing the senses. Inhaled through either your diffuser or a personal aromatherapy inhaler, it can support the immune and respiratory systems to help fight seasonal threats, or help with respiratory agitation and easier breathing if already on board.
KidSafe®: No
Cautions: For Moldavian Dragonhead essential oil, we recommend a maximum dilution of 1.7% for topical applications to avoid the risk of various safety issues. For Lemon Myrtle, we recommend a maximum dilution of 0.7% for topical applications.
