Ravensara Leaf

1. I am close to four people who have bouts with Shingles, and in every case they have found relief with equal parts of Plague Defense and Ravensara in a capsule ever few hours. For three of them, it took less than a day for relief, and the other one was much better after 2 days. [Hopewell Blend: SHINGLES DEFENSE]

2. We have had great results using your SHINGLES DEFENSE blend in a capsule two-to-three times daily. Blood tests were done before and after, and my doctor was astounded at how significantly the herpes zoster count dropped. I shared this with a friend, and she reported relief within minutes of taking the blend internally. After 3 doses (1 day) the breakout was over and has never reoccurred (in three years). [Shingles Defense is a blend of Ravensara, Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata and Rosemary.]

3. After 3 applications of Ravensara in a 16 hour period, my daughter's shingles look about 90% better! Everything looked so angry and painful. After the 3rd application, she ran to me after a 1/2hr telling me to look, and I could not believe the difference. Just amazing. It stated to dilute with Tamanu oil, but I did not have that, so I used coconut oil instead. I am so thankful for essential oils. - Kim

4. My husband has been using an OTC cold sore medication for as long as I can remember whenever he has a breakout. After doing some research, I suggested that he try Ravensara to see if it might help him. I had him apply a drop to a Q-tip then dab it directly on his lip as soon as he felt the beginnings of a cold sore. It immediately gave him relief, and he never even had a full outbreak. Usually his lips get very cracked, bleed and then scab during an outbreak, but not this time. He had a small red area where the cold sore should have been, but that is it. It was completely gone in 2 days, when it usually takes him 7-10 to recover. I was able to get him to give up his OTC meds for a natural alternative that works even better! Thank you so much! - Teresa  

5. I use Ravensara when I think I have a spot that might develop into shingles, and it immediately stops all the itching with only a couple of applications. The shingles, or whatever it was, never did develop. I had a few more spots occur, and each time the Ravensara did the trick. I have also taken a capsule of it when I felt I needed to. I think this might help others who have itchy rashes.

6. For ear issues, I use Ravensara behind the ears going down the side of the neck with downward strokes to encourage draining. I also have them lay their affected ear on a heating pad for a few minutes and put drops of equal parts peroxide/water in their ears. I let that set a few minutes, then drain. It's been several years since my kids have had ear infections/antibiotics/Dr appts using this method. - Heidi

Let’s Settle the Confusion: RaVENsara or RaVINTsara?
Many years of teaching and literature written about Ravensara have actually served to heap confusion on the distinctions between Ravensara and Ravintsara. In many cases, when one speaker or author spoke or wrote about Ravensara, they were actually referring to Ravintsara. These are well respected people who have mistakenly believed that the oil they referred to and sold as Ravensara was truly Ravensara, where instead it was Ravintsara. Therefore, be aware that many books and testimonials online about Ravensara actually describe Ravintsara!

“Cinnamomum camphora [Ravintsara] from Formosa is also confusingly called “ravensara” by oil sellers, and even worse, is often incorrectly described as Ravensara aromatica . . . As the plant has become adapted to the Malagasy climate, it has lost the ability to produce camphor, and the oil is mainly composed of sabinene (13-15%) and over 50% of 1,8-cineol.
(International Journal of Aromatherapy Vol 11. Number 1, edited by Robert Harris)

The confusion is easily remedied once these oils are tested by a reputable chemist. Both of these oils we sell are organically grown and GC/MS analyzed so there is no doubt that what we sell as Ravensara and Ravintsara will live up to their names.

Ravensara - high in limonene, delta 3-carene and sabinene (monoterpenes that support immune response, are anti-inflammatory and analgesic), making it the preferred choice for shingles, herpes and other viral issues. Ravensara is one of the most powerful anti-viral oils and has been used by our family and friends blended with Tamanu oil to ease the pain and inflammation of shingles and all forms of herpes. Aromatherapist, Valerie Worwood includes Ravensara in the basic care kit for children (Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child page 34). Kurt Schnaubelt mentions the effectiveness of Ravensara for shingles in Medical Aromatheapy. 

Ravintsara - high 1,8-cineole makes it similar to Eucalyptus Globulus, having respiratory and immune-boosting properties. Ravintsara contains at least 45% 1,8-cineole rather than the 5% found in Ravensara aromatica. Kurt Schnaubelt mentions the effectiveness of Ravintsara for shingles in The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils.