Ilang Ilang: the elixir of love
Jimmy Weiskopf meets Lorenzo Santamaría who gave up his job at the Ministry of Health to devote himself to preparing a natural Colombian remedy.
At night the streets of Bucaramanga are perfumed with the sweet, heady fragrance of an exotic flower called Ilang Ilang also known as the flower of love and in the late hours of the new moon, when Venus is ascending to the astonishment of passersby, Lorenzo Santamaría gathers the yellow, six- fingered petals with a long pole and carries this treasure to his laboratory.
Formerly a top official at Ministry of health, Lorenzo now dedicates himself to a more direct and natural form of healing: the preparation of the essential oil of Ilang Ilang, one of nature's most powerful and beneficial remedies.
A tree, which grows throughout the warmer climates of Colombia common sigh in gardens building sites and roadsides cities like Cali, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga, Ilang-Ilang has many peculiar properties.
It only grows where turning human being live and its oils which are produced by the action of sunlight on the petals, can only be effectively extracted through old-fashioned craft methods.
For this reason, Ilang - Ilang are one of the most costly and highly prized components in aromatherapy and the base of many of the highest classes of perfumes.
Ilang - Ilang is called the flower of love for very good reasons: it prolongs concentration when making love and protects impatient inexperienced male from premature ejaculation.
To the extent that it relaxes the lovers who anoint themselves with its oils, it is an aphrodisiac; a characteristic of the plant well known amongst traditional herbal is on the Atlantic coast.
It is also a potent beauty aid and natural tranquilizer. It restores the humidity and brightness of the skin, protects the body against the rays of the sun, and eliminates stains and rashes from the epidermis thanks to its remarkable healing properties derived from the many derivatives of benzoic acid it contains.
For this reason, the clinic when Lorenzo and his wife, Teresa, run in Bucaramanga have established a growing reputation amongst the city's naturalist-minded women as the best, if not the only, refuge for their linear complexions.
Never the less, their Center for Natural Technology is far more than a beauty parlor. -Due to its anti-stress properties their massages with Ilang-Ilang also attract a large number of Bucaramanga´s executives and businessmen.
Ilang Ilang oil lowers arterial tension, is immediately relaxing and acts as a natural restorer of emotional equilibrium. A massage on the temples with Ilang - Ilang activates the inductive hormones for dreams and will power, establishing a state of inner serenity to control nerves strain, anger, or anxiety.
Native to Indonesia, from where it spread to Southeast Asia and East Africa (the production center for the perfume industry nowadays), Ilang - Ilang (his original name in the Tagalok language has a millenary reputation in the East as a natural remedy and beautifier.
Among the many fabulous legends, surrounding the pale yellow flower is the story of how it came to Colombia. Many years ago Aranet, Philippines, arrived in Cali, fell in love with Estrella the most beautiful woman in Colombia, and gave her the seeds of the tree as a wedding present.
Many wondered about the present since Estrella, obviously, had no problems with her skin. Only prince Aranet knew the secret, namely, that Estrella, being infertile, the wold to bear children by using Ilang Ilang Lorenzo Santamaría is planning to commercialize this essential oil, which, because of the favorable growing conditions in Colombia and its high price in overseas markets, has good export potential, especially among the growing number of new age clients in North America and Europe who prefer natural skin aids to synthetic ones.
A one-time student of ancient languages with the late Father Garciaherreros, Lorenzo joined the Ministry of Health after his studies believing at the time that was the best way to help mankind.
His talent of being sent of an international mission while he was still in his twenties. But the limitations of a desk-bound job, corruption, and inefficiency led him to resign and publish a scathing criticism of the governments health programs (El Trashumante¨) which is now considered a classic by professional social workers.
His current beard - and sandals life style gives him the opportunity to directly gather and prepare Ilang - Ilang and use his own hands to anoint the many friends who benefit from the essence, his work has been featured on Bucaramanga television programs.
This missing belief in natural medicine also to spend a lot of time in his farm in Llanos de Palma of Santander, where he carries on his botany studies and live close to the soil, activities which, he says are necessary for both his personal well being and healing power. No one who has experienced one of his treatments in the words of Ruben Cedeño exponent of the metaphysical school of natural healing Ilang - Ilang is the sacred aroma of the third rosy ray of divine love.
For more information about Ilang - Ilang. Post readers can reach Lorenzo Santamaría, Carrera 23 Nº 52-27 Bucaramanga: telephone: 776-477988.
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