Jasmine

Jasmine in history

Jasmine is an evergreen climbing shrub or tendril, native to China, western Asia and northern India. From the reading of some sources, jasmine seems to have been imported into Europe around 1500, by the Spaniards; however, some authors are perplexed about it, since the ancient findings concerning the “Liber de Simplicibus” Code move the date of importation to the previous century, considering the representation of jasmine in this text dating back to 1415.

Currently, jasmine is grown for ornamental, phytotherapeutic, homeopathic, cosmetic and even food purposes.

Term analysis

The flower is also known as white jasmine, common jasmine, jasmine of the poets or again, Jasmine or jessamine. The name "jasmine" seems to have Persian origin (yasamin): over time, the word mulberry was superimposed on the original term yasamin, giving rise to the current name recognized for the flower. In botany, jasmine is Jasminum officinale and, when referring to the pendulous variety, J. grandiflorum (the most common species include the jasmine of Catalonia and that of Spain).

Botanical analysis

Jasmine belongs to the Oleaceae family, the same as ash, olive and privet: it is an evergreen plant characterized by opposite leaves - each made up of 5-7 leaflets - and by small fragrant white flowers. Not surprisingly, the cosmetic and perfumery industry extracts jasmine essential oil for the formulation of scented creams and essences.
Jasmine has a typical climbing pattern, with thin and fragile stems; the plant blooms in the warm months, from July to September in particular. In any case, jasmine is a "strong" plant because it can withstand even very harsh temperatures, even below zero; in fact, although the frost can destroy the branches of the jasmine, the roots are unlikely to be heavily affected.

Jasmine essential oil

As we have seen, jasmine is also widely cultivated for its very fragrant and refined essence: the essential oil is extracted from the petals, which preserve the essence inside some epidermal pockets placed on the inner face of the flower itself. [adapted from Reasoned dictionary of herbal medicine and phytotherapy, by A. Bruni]
Among the main constituents, we mention: linalyl acetate, linalool, benzoyl acetate, phenylacetic acid, farnesol and, above all jasmone, the ketone characterizing the extract and responsible for the typical fragrance. [Taken from Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, by J. Lawless]
The chemical components are extracted by steam distillation or enfleurage.

Herbal uses

Jasmine is also used in the herbal-phytotherapeutic field for its antispasmodic and antirheumatic properties: for these purposes, the variety is considered in particular Gelsemium nitidum, typical of the Americas.
Bath salts with jasmine essence are used as a mild sedative and relaxing: it is no coincidence that the chemical compounds act at the cerebral and psychic level, restoring a firm and relaxed character.
Jasmine is also used against diseases affecting the respiratory system, such as cough, hoarseness, phlegm and mild laryngitis.
For internal use, it is also recommended in case of menstrual pains and uterine pains in general.
It seems that jasmine is able to induce optimism and euphoria: in this regard, it is used to counteract depressive states and irritability.
In popular medicine, it is said that the power of jasmine is such as to eradicate envy and jealousy from the people who suffer from it; still, according to tradition, jasmine would help to assume one's responsibilities and to become aware of how one acts and behaves.

Homeopathy

Jasmine is also used for homeopathic purposes: the mother tincture obtained from the roots of the flower seems to act positively in case of myasthenia, insomnia, migraine, memory loss and, again, colds and localized motor paralysis. [adapted from Reasoned dictionary of herbal medicine and phytotherapy, by A. Bruni]

Cosmetics

Thanks to the particular and unmistakable fragrance of jasmine, intense but at the same time delicate, cosmetics wisely use its essence to create perfumes, scented waters, lotions and creams. The most felt problem is represented by the cost: to obtain 1 kg of essence, they must use as many as 8,000 flowers. To avoid burdening the price of the finished product, we often use synthetic products that imitate - albeit perfectly - the essential oil of jasmine.

Tradition and legends

According to an Arab belief, heaven is pervaded by jasmine flowers: not surprisingly, the flower is often used as a symbol of divine love.
In ancient times, jasmine symbolized immortality, while in Spain it has always been considered a symbol of sensuality.
The white color of jasmine flowers indicates affection and love, red indicates desire, while yellow indicates happiness.

Summary

Jasmine: to fix the concepts ...

Jasmine: description and origin Climbing evergreen tendril or shrub, native to China, western Asia and northern India Jasmine: age of import in Europe Hypothesis N ° 1: jasmine was imported by the Spaniards around 1500
Hypothesis N ° 2: jasmine has been present in Europe since 1400 (figure of the flower imprinted in the Code Liber de Simplicibus) Jasmine: cultivation goals Jasmine is grown for ornamental, phytotherapeutic, homeopathic, cosmetic and even food purposes Jasmine: analysis of the term and etymology

1. Synonyms in the common language: white jasmine, common jasmine, jasmine of the poets or again, Jasmine or jessamine
2. Origin of the term: shutters (yasamin)
3. In botany, jasmine is Jasminum officinale or J. Grandiflorum (pendulous variety)

Jasmine: botanical analysis

• Family: Oleaceae
• General description: evergreen climbing plant. It is a "strong" plant because it can withstand even very harsh temperatures, even below zero
• Leaves: opposite, each formed by 5-7 leaflets
• Flowers: small, white and very fragrant
• Stem: thin and fragile
• Roots: hardly affected by frost
• Flowering: July-September

Jasmine and essential oil Very fragrant and refined essence, made from: linalyl acetate, linalool, benzoyl acetate, phenylacetic acid, farnesol and, above all, jasmone Jasmine: extraction of essential oils Steam distillation
Enfleurage Jasmine and herbal uses

• Herbal-phytotherapeutic field of jasmine: antispasmodic and antirheumatic properties
• Mild sedative and relaxing
• Useful in case of diseases affecting the respiratory system: cough, hoarseness, phlegm and mild laryngitis
• Internal use: jasmine is also recommended in case of menstrual pains and uterine pains in general
• Induces optimism and euphoria

Jasmine in tradition

• The power of jasmine is such that it eradicates envy and jealousy from the people who suffer from it
• Jasmine would help you take responsibility and become aware of how you act and behave

Jasmine and homeopathy Mother tincture obtained from the roots of the flower: useful in case of myasthenia, insomnia, migraine, memory loss, cold and localized motor paralysis Jasmine and cosmetics Particular and unmistakable scent of jasmine → wisely exploited by cosmetics to make creams, lotions, scented waters and perfumes Jasmine, tradition and legends

• Ancient belief: "paradise is pervaded by jasmine flowers"
• Symbol of divine love
• Jasmine symbolizes immortality
• Symbol of sensuality (Spain)
• White color of jasmine flowers indicates affection and love, red indicates desire, while yellow indicates happiness

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