African sage (Tarchonanthus camphoratus) has long been recognized by the native peoples of the areas to which it is indigenous, as a valuable plant with multiple medicinal and spiritual properties. It grows wild as a shrub or small tree in the Rift Valley region of Kenya and in parts of southern Africa. It is known by different names from region to region, but internationally it is gaining more and more recognition by its Maasai name: Leleshwa.
Leleshwa leaves are effectively used to relieve foot and leg pain before, during and after long journeys. In southern Africa, a hot poultice of the leaves is placed on the chest to relieve respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis. In addition to these obviously pain-relieving effects, it is also used for bedding to promote restful sleep by repelling both bad dreams and bedbugs and inducing a state of deep relaxation. Even some African savannah animals agree with this, as many of them have been observed rubbing themselves on leleshwa bushes to get rid of ticks and other insects. Warriors of various ethnicities are also known to brush each other with leleshwa leaves to promote courage and increase pain tolerance.
This multipurpose plant is finally being introduced to the rest of the world in essential oil form, which also has the same effects, as mentioned above, on the emotional and spiritual bodies that Africans have long experienced. Research has shown that leleshwa essential oil has antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and detergent properties. Experiments have shown that it is several times faster and more powerful than tea tree oil in killing germs. Dramatically reduces the discomfort of dandruff, psoriasis, fungal diseases and acne. It is also a great insect repellant. This newer essential oil shows great promise as a preservative in emulsions (such as lotions and liquid soaps) that previously could only be effectively preserved on the shelf by synthetic chemical preservatives. The ability to substitute ingredients like parabens and PEG for leleshwa oil would be a huge milestone in the field of natural personal care products.
The collection of Leleshwa leaves and their subsequent distillation of the essential oil represents a completely new source of income for the local population that populates the areas where the bush grows wild. What was once considered a weed on some ranches is now a viable economic enterprise. Purchasing leleshwa oil not only improves your personal well-being and the cleanliness of your surroundings, it helps generate money for low-income rural families in exchange for the healing benefits of the African sage bush.
Leleshwa Oil can be purchased from Essential Oil University at http://www.essentialoils.org or by calling 812-945-5000, from which much of the information for this article was gathered.