Elemi Essential Oil

Elemi is an ancient essential oil; it has been used for thousand of years. Elemi essential oil is used in aromatherapy for various health problems.The ancient Egyptians used elemi as a resin to embalm and preserve bodies. It has also been used in the past for skin care and respiratory problems. According to Patricia Davis in Aromatherapy: An A-Z, the name elemi is derived from the Arabic phrase “above and below”. Elemi is said to balance both the body and the spirit on a physical and spiritual level.

Elemi is a tropical tree that is native to the Philippine and Moluccas Islands; however it has had a widespread use in the Middle East for centuries. Elemi belongs to the Burseraceae botanical family. It grows up to 98 feet in height. When the elemi tree sprouts leaves, it exudes a natural resin gum that is collected and then steam distilled to produce elemi essential oil. The elemi tree is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as “vulnerable.”