The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (12 page)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION A large shrub or small tree up to 12 metres high, with ovate silver-bronze leaves, pale yellowish-brown bark and small white fragrant flowers. It bears fruits and flowers all year round.

DISTRIBUTION Native to the West Indies, probably the Bahama Islands; found growing wild in Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. The oil is mainly produced in the Bahamas and Cuba; some distillation takes place in America, France and England from the imported bark.

OTHER SPECIES An essential oil is also distilled locally from other
Croton
species. White, red and black cascarillas are also found in commerce.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION The bark is used as an aromatic bitter and tonic for dyspepsia, diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, debility, nausea, flatulence, vomiting and chronic bronchitis. The leaves are used as a digestive tea, and for flavouring tobacco. The bark also yields a good black dye.

ACTIONS Astringent, antimicrobial, antiseptic, carminative, digestive, expectorant, stomachic, tonic.

EXTRACTION Essential oil by steam distillation from the dried bark. (1.5–3 percent yield).

CHARACTERISTICS A pale yellow, greenish or dark amber liquid with a spicy, aromatic, warm-woody odour. It blends well with nutmeg, pepper, pimento, sage, oakmoss, oriental and spicy bases.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS Cymene, diterpene, limonene, caryophyllene, terpineol and eugenol, among others.

SAFETY DATA Non-irritant, non-sensitizing, relatively non-toxic (possibly narcotic in large doses).

AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
Bronchitis, coughs

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:
Dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: ’Flu.

OTHER USES Fragrance component in soaps, detergents, cosmetics and perfumes, especially men’s fragrances. Flavour ingredient in most major food categories, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, especially vermouths and bitters.

Cinnamomum cassia

FAMILY Lauraceae

SYNONYMS C.
aromaticum, Laurus cassia
, Chinese cinnamon, false cinnamon, cassia cinnamon, cassia lignea.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION A slender, evergreen tree up to 20 metres high, with leathery leaves and small white flowers. It is usually cut back to form bushes for commercial production.

DISTRIBUTION Native to the south eastern parts of China; found to a lesser extent in Vietnam and India (Cochin).

OTHER SPECIES Not to be confused with the Ceylon Cinnamon bark
(C. verum)
which is from a related species. There are also several other varieties from different regions used for essential oil production – See Botanical Classification section.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION Extensively used as local domestic spice. It is used medicinally in much the same way as Ceylon cinnamon, mainly for digestive complaints such as flatulent dyspepsia, colic, diarrhoea and nausea, as well as the common cold, rheumatism, kidney and reproductive complaints.

The powdered bark is current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a specific for flatulent dyspepsia or colic with nausea.

ACTIONS Antidiarrhoeal, anti-emetic, antimicrobial, astringent, carminative, spasmolytic.

EXTRACTION Essential oil 1. by steam distillation from the leaves, and 2. by water distillation from the bark, leaves, twigs and stalks.

CHARACTERISTICS 1. Leaf oil is brownish-yellow (the rectified oil is pale yellow), with a sweet woody-spicy tenacious odour. 2. Bark oil is a dark brown liquid with a strong, spicy-warm, resinous odour.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS Leaf and Bark oil contain mainly cinnamic aldehyde (75–90 per cent) with some methyl eugenol, salicylaldehyde and methylsalicylaldehyde.

SAFETY DATA Dermal toxin, dermal irritant, dermal sensitizer, mucous membrane irritant.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE None. ‘Should never be used on the skin (one of the most hazardous oils).’
²⁸

OTHER USES Some pharmaceutical applications due to bactericidal properties, such as mouthwashes, toothpastes, gargles; also tonic and carminative preparations. Extensively used in food flavouring, including alcoholic and soft drinks. Little used in perfumes and cosmetics, due to its dark colour.

Acacia farnesiana

FAMILY Mimosaceae

SYNONYMS
Cassia ancienne
, sweet acacia, huisache, popinac, opopanax.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION A bushy thorny shrub, much branched, up to 10 metres high. It has a very delicate appearance, similar to mimosa, with fragrant fluffy yellow flowers.

DISTRIBUTION Believed to be a native of the West Indies, now widely cultivated in tropical and semi-tropical regions throughout the world: mainly southern France and Egypt, also Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria and India.

OTHER SPECIES There are over 400 known species of acacia: other similar species are found in Central Africa, Zaire and Australia. Closely related to mimosa
(A. dealbata)
and Roman cassie
(A. cavenia)
which are also used for the production of essential oils. Not to be confused with opopanax or bisabol myrrh
(Commiphora erythrea)
although they share a common name.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION In India a local ‘attar of cassie’ is made as a perfume. The fresh flowers are used in baths for dry skin, and in the form of an infusion. In Venezuela the root is used for treating stomach cancer. In China it is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

There are many types of acacia employed in herbal medicine, notably the Senegal acacia which yields a gummy exudation from the trunk known as gum arabic or gum acacia, mainly used as a demulcent.

ACTIONS Antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, balsamic, insecticide.

EXTRACTION An absolute by solvent extraction from the flowers.

CHARACTERISTICS A dark yellow to brown viscous liquid with a warm, floral-spicy scent and rich balsamic undertone. It blends well with bergamot, costus, mimosa, frankincense, ylang ylang, orris and violet.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS The absolute contains about 25 per cent volatile constituents, mainly benzyl alcohol, methyl salicylate, farnesol, geraniol and linalol among others.

SAFETY DATA No available data on toxicity.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE Use with care for:
SKIN CARE
: Dry, sensitive skin, perfume.

NERVOUS SYSTEM
: Depression, frigidity, nervous exhaustion and stress-related conditions.

OTHER USES Used in high-class perfumes, especially oriental types. Used as a flavour ingredient in most food categories, especially fruit products, alcoholic and soft drinks.

Cedrus atlantica

FAMILY Pinaceae

SYNONYMS Atlantic cedar, Atlas cedar, African cedar, Moroccan cedarwood (oil), libanol (oil).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Pyramid-shaped evergreen tree with a majestic stature, up to 40 metres high. The wood itself is hard and strongly aromatic, due to the high percentage of essential oil which it contains.

DISTRIBUTION Native to the Atlas mountains of Algeria; the oil is mainly produced in Morocco.

OTHER SPECIES Believed to have originated from the famous Lebanon cedars
(C. libani)
, which grow wild in Lebanon and on the island of Cyprus. It is also a close botanical relation to the Himalayan deodar cedarwood
(C. deodorata)
, which produces a very similar essential oil. (NB the oil is quite different from the Texas or Virginia cedarwood.)

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION The oil from the Lebanon cedar was possibly the first to be extracted, it was used by the ancient Egyptians for embalming purposes, cosmetics and perfumery. The oil was one of the ingredients of ‘mithridat’, a renowned poison antidote that was used for centuries. The Lebanon cedar was prized as a building wood; its odour repelled ants, moths and other harmful insects, as does the oil from the Atlas cedar.

Traditionally, the oil was used in the East for bronchial and urinary tract infections, as a preservative and as an incense. It is still used as a

temple incense by the Tibetans, and is employed in their traditional medicine.

ACTIONS Antiseptic, antiputrescent, antiseborrheic, aphrodisiac, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, fungicidal, mucolytic, sedative (nervous), stimulant (circulatory), tonic.

EXTRACTION Essential oil by steam distillation from the wood, stumps and sawdust. A resinoid and absolute are also produced in small quantities.

CHARACTERISTICS A yellow, orange or deep amber viscous oil with a warm, camphoraceous top note and sweet tenacious, woody-balsamic undertone. It blends well with rosewood, bergamot, boronia, cypress, calamus, cassie, costus, jasmine, juniper, neroli, mimosa, labdanum, olibanum, clary sage, vetiver, rosemary, ylang ylang, oriental and floral bases.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS Atlantone, caryophyllene, cedrol, cadinene, among others.

SAFETY DATA Non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing. Best avoided during pregnancy.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE

SKIN CARE:
Acne, dandruff, dermatitis, eczema, fungal infections, greasy skin, hair loss, skin eruptions, ulcers.

CIRCULATION, MUSCLES AND JOINTS
: Arthritis, rheumatism.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
: Bronchitis, catarrh, congestion, coughs.

GENITO-URINARY SYSTEM
: Cystitis, leucorrhoea, pruritis.

NERVOUS SYSTEM
: Nervous tension and stress-related conditions.

OTHER USES Fragrance component and fixative in cosmetics and household products, soaps, detergents, etc, as well as in perfumes, especially men’s fragrances.

Juniperus ashei

FAMILY Cupressaceae

SYNONYMS
J
.
mexicana
, mountain cedar, Mexican cedar, rock cedar, Mexican juniper.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION A small, alpine evergreen tree up to 7 metres high with stiff green needles and an irregular shaped trunk and branches, which tend to be crooked or twisted. The wood also tends to crack easily, so it is not used for timber.

DISTRIBUTION Native to south western USA, Mexico and Central America; the oil is produced mainly in Texas.

OTHER SPECIES The name
J
.
mexicana
has erroneously been applied to many species; botanically related to the so-called Virginian cedarwood
(J. virginiana)
and the East African cedarwood
(J. procera).

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION In New Mexico the native Indians use cedarwood oil for skin rashes. It is also used for arthritis and rheumatism.

ACTIONS Antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, sedative (nervous), stimulant (circulatory).

EXTRACTION Essential oil by steam distillation from the heartwood and wood shavings, etc. (Unlike the Virginian cedar, the tree is felled especially for its essential oil.)

CHARACTERISTICS Crude – a dark orange to brownish viscous liquid with a smoky-woody, sweet tar-like odour. Rectified – a colourless or pale yellow liquid with a sweet, balsamic, ‘pencil-wood’ scent, similar to Virginian cedarwood but harsher. It blends well with patchouli, spruce, vetiver, pine and leather-type scents.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS Cedrene, cedrol (higher than the Virginian oil), thujopsene and sabinene, among others. Otherwise similar to Virginian cedarwood.

SAFETY DATA See
Virginian cedarwood.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE See
Virginian cedarwood.

OTHER USES See
Virginian cedarwood.

Juniperus virginiana

FAMILY Cupressaceae

SYNONYMS Red cedar, eastern red cedar, southern red cedar, Bedford cedarwood (oil).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION A coniferous, slow-growing, evergreen tree up to 33 metres high with a narrow, dense and pyramidal crown, a reddish heartwood and brown cones. The tree can attain a majestic stature with a trunk diameter of over 1.5 metres.

DISTRIBUTION Native to North America, especially mountainous regions east of the Rocky Mountains.

OTHER SPECIES There are many cultivars of the red cedar; its European relative is the shrubby red cedar
(J. sabina)
also known as
savin – see entry. It is also closely related to the East African cedarwood
(J. procera).

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION The North American Indians used it for respiratory infections, especially those involving an excess of catarrh. Decoctions of leaves, bark, twigs and fruit were used to treat a variety of ailments: menstrual delay, rheumatism, arthritis, skin rashes, venereal warts, gonorrhoea, pyelitis and kidney infections.

It is an excellent insect and vermin repellent (mosquitoes, moths, woodworm, rats, etc.) and was once used with citronella as a commercial insecticide.

ACTIONS Abortifacient, antiseborrhoeic, antiseptic (pulmonary, genito-urinary), antispasmodic, astringent, balsamic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, insecticide, sedative (nervous), stimulant (circulatory).

EXTRACTION Essential oil by steam distillation from the timber waste, sawdust, shavings, etc. (At one time a superior oil was distilled from the red heartwood, from trees over twenty five years old.)