Myrtle comes from the same family as eucalyptus, tea tree, bayberry and English bog myrtle. Myrtle is a small tree or large bush with lots of small, tough branches, small shaply pointed leaves and flowers followed by small, black berries. The leaves and flowers have a prominent fragrance.

Myrtle has been used in herbal medicine since ancient Egyptian times, as there are records showing the leaves being steeped in wine to combat fever and infection. The plant was dedicated to Aphrodite in Ancient Greece and Dioscorides prescribed macerated Myrtle wine to patients suffering from lung and bladder infections, as well as for tuberculosis. Dr Delious de Savgnac (1876) recommended Myrtle for the treatment of haemorrhoids, pulmonary infections, genital infections and problems with the bladder and urinary system.

Myrtle Oil is extracted from the leaves and twigs of myrtus communis by stem distillation.

The therapeutic properties of myrtle essential oil are anticatarrhal, antiseptic, astringent, bactericidal, expectorant and balsamic.

The main chemical components are alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, limonene, cineole, alpha-terpinen-4-ol, myrtenol, geraniol, linalyl acetate, myrtenyl acetate and carvacrol

The mild and gentle Myrtle oil has an uplifting effect on the body and mind and is helpful when used in cases of addiction and self-destructive behavior – it is said to cleanse the inner being and dissolve disharmony. It has an excellent healing effect on acne prone skin as it is bactericidal and antiseptic. These properties have made it an ancient popular remedy for chronic bronchial cattarh. The gentle nature of Myrtle essential oil makes it very effective when used to treat coughs and other chest complaints in children and the elderly. The uplifting and harmonizing effect is also useful as a sleep aid.

Myrtle oil is primarily used for chronic pulmonary conditions, to expel phlegm and cattarh from the lungs. It is useful for acne prone skin and also as a sleeping aid, to uplift, refresh and restore. Myrtle oil is said to be of great benefit in helping people to cope with withdrawal from addiction and also to soothe and ease self destructive behavior.

In vapor therapy Myrtle Essential Oil can be helpful with combating symptoms of addiction withdrawal and feelings of anger, greed, envy and fear. Using Myrtle essential oil in vapor therapy is also useful for the removal of bronchial cattarh and for other lung infections. Its gentle effect is said to be of great influence when treating lung complaints in children and the elderly.

As a blended massage oil or diluted in the bath, Myrtle essential oil will assist with physical exhaustion, insomnia, depression, anxiety, nervous tension and stress while having a calming and uplifting effect, reducing the effects of addiction withdrawal and will help to conbat infection and open the lungs.

In a cream or lotion it is used to balance the production of sebum in the skin and thereby correcting and balancing overly-dry as well as overly-oily skin. The astringent, deodorizing and non-sensitizing effects of Myrtle essential oil are most effective when used on acne and oily, infected skin. Myrtle oil has an astringent effect on piles, if used in a diluted form together with cypress essential oil and witch hazel hydrosol.

Although most essential oils blend well together, myrtle oil blends particularly well with Bergamot, clary sage, clove, hyssop, eucalyptus, ginger, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, thyme and tea tree essential oils.