Jasmine belongs to the genus Jasminum and is a member of the Oleaceae family, its scientific name is Jasminum officinale. This plant is native to the tropics, such as Southeast Asia, Africa and Australia and can reach up to 10 meters high, occurs in warm climates and blooms from May to September, perfuming the gardens or environments with a delicious aroma that comes off especially at night. There are approximately 150 different species of jasmine that grow all over the world. It is popularly cultivated for its fragrance and as an ornamental plant. However, jasmine is also used in tea, and jasmine oils are used in perfumes and cosmetics.

The parts of the plant that are used are the roots and flowers, collected from June to September, and dried in the shade. It has active components: essential oil, saponin, mucilage, vitamin C, tannin, gelsemicin, sempervirin, alkaloids and other substances.

Properties and benefits of jasmine:

Jasmine possesses therapeutic qualities, but can also help us regulate many functions, keep our organs healthy and improve our lifestyle considerably:

• Soothing: jasmine contains soothing properties that make it ideal to help us control anxiety and other nervous problems such as hyperactivity, stress or depression.

• Antispasmodic: it is beneficial to treat muscular and stomach problems, fights pains of the uterus (menstrual cramps)

• Combats insomnio: helps to soften the nerves and puts you to sleep. It is not specifically a sleeping pill, but it can help us regulate sleep when we have trouble sleeping. Jasmine has many components that in our body potentiate the production of melatonin, the hormone necessary for everyone's sleep.

• Anti-thrombosis: the petals of jasmine are rich in salicylic acid (like garlic), so it has great medicinal virtues: it activates the circulation since it fluidizes the blood, purifies the skin since it stimulates the liver functions.

• Hepatitis: contains certain glycosides such as oleeuropein, which helps to significantly inhibit the reproduction of hepatitis B virus in cells.

• Nervous system: having relaxing effects on the nervous system, helps to cure psychosomatic diseases, relaxing the body and increasing defenses.

• Parasites: very useful to fight intestinal parasites. For this, the roots of the plant are crushed and drunk in an infusion until parasites are expelled.

• Analgesic: helps in cases of pain, either muscle or headache and pain caused by some inflammation.

• Antiseptic: it is good to clean the skin and disinfect all types of superficial wounds in it.

• In Chinese medicine: it is used as a stimulant of organs such as the liver and lungs (elements wood and metal respectively), so it helps to avoid conditions related to these vital organs.

• Aphrodisiac: This flower contains indole and benzyl acetate, which are important ingredients in aphrodisiac products.

Other uses of jasmine:

• The essence of the flower is used to prepare perfumes, soaps, and cosmetic or beauty products.

• Jasmine essential oil is used in aromatherapy and to provide relaxing massages. It is important to mention that the oil should be applied directly on the skin, it should be mixed with other oils such as almonds, or add a few drops to the daily cream or to the bathtub. Massage with this essential oil is very useful to combat or reduce depression, nervous tension, stress, impotence, frigidity and menstrual cramps or disorders.

• It is used to make incense and load sensual environments.
In magical rituals it is used to attract fortune and charge the environment with loving and beautiful energy.

How to prepare an infusion of jasmine:

Jasmine tea has great health benefits because it contains epicatechins and is rich in antioxidants. In China this tea has been consumed for centuries and nowadays in the West it is one of the best teas to fight insomnia and relax.

Ingredients:

• Leaves and flowers of dried jasmine
• Water.

Preparation method:

• The delicate tea of ​​the jasmine requires a much lower temperature of the water than the darker teas; the water should be about 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

• In terms of proportion, the ideal balance is about 1 teaspoon of loose leaf jasmine tea for 6 ounces of water. Depending on the quality and intensity of the leaf and your own taste, you could experiment with a smaller or more heaped teaspoon.

• Keep in mind that bitterness is usually the result of an excess of leaves. Whether soaked in an individual cup or in the teapot, jasmine tea tastes better at about 2 to 4 minutes of steep weather.

• The pronounced time, which determines the intensity of the flavor and aroma of tea, is also a matter of preference. Start with 2 minutes and try the tea at 30-second intervals to find the flavor you like.

Source

Tincture of jasmine:

Preparation method:

• Marinate for a week in a jar with frosted cap 20 gm of jasmine flowers minced in 50 gm of alcohol of 70 degrees.

• After the set time, filter the liquid by squeezing the flowers and store it in a small bottle that can be covered well. Pour another 50 gm of alcohol of 70 degrees into the jar and attach the squeezed flowers to it.

• Leave it in maceration for another week, then filter the alcohol, add it to the mixture previously and pour the tincture into a small bottle with droppers.

Contraindications:

In general terms, since any product that contains jasmine is typically very powerful, do not take more than what you want. Start using jasmine only in small amounts and increase the amounts if the patient considers it necessary.