This Cypress Essential Oil is extracted by steam distillation from the Italian or Mediterranean cypress. The oil is taken from the needles and twigs of young branches of these trees made famous by the paintings of Van Gogh. Cypress essential oil is said to calm strong emotions like anger and is therefore useful to have during major changes in one's life.  This essential oil works as a vasoconstrictor, helping with varicose   veins and haemorrhoids. It is supposed to work well to ease all conditions of excess fluid such as heavy menstruation, excessive sweating, cough, bronchitis, haemorrhage, and fluid retention. This oil soothes muscular cramps, helps regulate the menstrual cycle, and eases arthritis and rheumatic pain. Use this oil in a vaporiser to soothe the mind as well as for any respiratory trouble like asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough. It can be used in dilution in a cold compress to stop nosebleeds. The cypress tree is considered a mourning tree according to Greek mythology and is often grown in cemeteries for this reason. It is also associated with the god of the underworld, Hades. Phoenicians and Cretans used the wood of this tree for building ships and houses. Egyptians made sarcophagi from it and the Greeks carve statues of their gods with it. Legend has it that the cross of Jesus Christ was made of this wood, another reason cypress is connected to death. Ironically, the botanical name of cypress is derived from the Greek 'Sempervirens', which means 'live forever'.