Ho Leaf (Ravintsara)

1. My grandson was born 8 weeks premature, and his lungs were underdeveloped, so he was on a respirator. I overnighted Ho Leaf to my son since it's the single oil most noted for lung issues. The night before the Ravintara arrived, they noticed his lungs were collapsing. In the morning, the Ho Leaf arrived. My son put a drop of Ho Leaf on each of the baby's feet every 15 minutes and rubbed the lung points [between the pads on the bottoms of the feet] throughout the day. The doctors were able to drop the oxygen levels from 70% to 25% as his lungs responded so well and grew better and were better able to absorb O2 from the air. Ho Leaf is incredible!

2. Ho Leaf is my favorite for allergies and feeling a sinus infection coming on! I just put a dab on each maxillary sinus at night, and in the morning the pain is gone. Occasionally I put some more on the next day if it still hurts. I haven’t had a sinus infection since finding the oils. I have also tried Sinus Relief, Respiratory Relief too and like them all, but Ho Leaf is just a single oil, and it seems to be my favorite, as it does the trick! I told a friend about Ho Leaf and she wanted to try it. She had been having to blow her nose all day long. She barely smelled it and all of a sudden she said she could breathe clearly. I gave her some in a little 2 ml bottle (I buy lots of these so i can give samples to friends), and she has loved it. It cleared her nose blowing up immediately. Then she began asking me for something for migraine for her daughter-in-law so i gave her another little bottle — of Peppermint. I am amazed at how simple life is when you can have a supply of oils on hand for not much money, and we can help so many people to eliminate physical misery! We go to our lake house about every two week, and I always take all my oils with me as someone is always needing help! They now kid me and call me the “oil lady”! - Margaret

3. I have been using Ho Leaf for my allergy issues which often develop into sinus pressure and infection. I have been sharing it all summer when someone I see has respiratory problems. I ordered a large bottle and can’t even tell you how many tiny sample bottles I have given out! People are amazed! It’s my favorite! It helps me to breathe and drains my sinuses immediately. It’s my “wonder drug”!!! I keep running out of your cards as I send one along with every sample I give to people to try! People LOVE it!! This last week Ragweed hit our area and hit me really hard. I kept using the Ho Leaf but finally decided to add Plague Defense and then finally when I KNEW I had a sinus infection, I added Warrior. This was the first sinus infection I’ve since I've known about your oils, and I was NOT planning to go to the Dr.! I switched from Ravintsara to Alive—I was trying everything I had to get over it! I I was pretty sick for three days, but once I added Warrior, I could feel I was going to get better. By the morning of the fourth day, I was BETTER!!!  I am so excited not to have to burden my body with antibiotics and cortisone!! So now I am placing an order for a big bottle of Alive too! I like the Alive once I am sick, but plan to go back to Ho Leaf once I'm over it completely. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I know you give all the credit to our Lord, but you also share your knowledge and help us! - Maggie
Application clarification from Maggie:
Ho Leaf - I apply directly (undiluted) on maxillary sinus (which is where I usually get infections), on throat and near ears, on my lymph glands--wherever I hurt. I have used it for months quite often (not every day though), and it has never bothered my skin. I also read it’s uplifting and good for headaches. Everyone I have shared it with loves it!
Alive - I apply in the same places undiluted instead of Ho Leaf since I had gotten a sinus infection, and it does feel warm for a few minutes, but not hot, so for now I will keep using it undiluted. Alive is not the same as Ho Leaf.
Warrior - I only apply to the bottoms of my feet (undiluted). I put all things on bottom of feet near where vita flex points are. For example: The big toe represents head and brain, so I put it there, and the sinus “line” appears to me to be across the bottom of all toes. I am just learning but to me there doesn’t seem to be a total right or wrong. As long as it goes into body, it seems to help!
[HEO's comment: Although Maggie's done fine with with undiluted use, traditionally the oils are diluted, or rather "extended" with a carrier oil, which reduces any risk of skin irritation or sensitization. For more information, please read Hopewell's OIL USAGE section.

4. I have read that Ho Leaf can be an issue for little ones (an ingredient in Lung Healing), although we used it on my 4-year-old granddaughter (diluted of course) when she was in the hospital with viral pnemonia. She had been in for 5 days and they could not keep her O2 sats above 90. Two hours after using Ho Leaf, her O2 sats started rising and never went down again. It was pretty dramatic. She is not a typical child, as she has a genetic disease that makes her more prone to many problems. That being said she was 4 years old. We applied it on her feet. At the time we had not heard that it "should not" be used on small children. My daughter (who is a pediatric nurse) continued to use it every 3 hours or so, applying just a swipe on the feet, and my granddaughter continued to improve. The hospital had not changed anything; she was not on an antibiotic as it was viral. The only change was the Ho Leaf. Anecdotal testimony, but pretty compelling. [HEO's Comment: The caution with Ho Leaf is that the 1,8-cineole constituent can cause breathing issues if applied on or near the face of a young child. When appropriately diluted and not applied on or near the face, it is an excellent choice. Sometimes, you have to balance risk with benefit, and in this situation, the Lord blessed the decision to use it. ] - Mary Anne

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 are really about 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 (Ho Leaf) 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. Ravensara is mild and suitable for children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Aromatherapist, Valerie Worwood includes Ravensara in the basic care kit for children.Kurt Schnaubelt mentions the effectiveness of Ravensara for shingles in Medical Aromatheapy.

Ravintsara (Ho Leaf) - high 1,8-cineole making 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.