Cajeput (Melaleuca minor) Essential Oil

Cajeput Essential Oil


BOTANICAL NAME
Melaleuca minor

COMMON METHOD OF EXTRACTION
Steam distillation

PARTS USED
Leaves and twigs

NOTE CLASSIFICATION
Top

AROMA
Strong, slightly sweet, camphoraceous, medicinal.

LARGEST PRODUCING COUNTRIES
Nepal, Indonesia, and Australia

TRADITIONAL USE
It is known for producing a sensation of warmth. In Australia the crushed leaves and twigs have been utilized in traditional medicine applications.
By promoting sweating, cajuput oil cools down the body and helps with infections such as colds, laryngitis and bronchitis. It is also helpful for asthma, sinusitis and a sore throat.

It calms the digestive system, soothes colic, enteritis, dysentery, vomiting. Spasms, arthritis, rheumatism and muscular aches and pains can also benefit from it.

Not only does it help with skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis, it is also used to ward off insect bites from lice and fleas.

The greatest benefit of cajuput oil lies in its antiseptic properties for the respiratory tract and the urinary system, the combating of infections such as colds, bronchitis and laryngitis and its pain relieving properties for headaches, earache, toothache, gout and rheumatism.

Burners and vaporizers
Cajuput oil can be used in vapor therapy for the respiratory tract, relieving infections and pain. It also helps to promote clear thoughts and dispels a feeling of sluggishness.
Massage oil
It helps for pain relief and is useful in gout, rheumatism, arthritis and general aches and pains. Its antispasmodic properties make it useful for treating painful periods, delayed menses and spasmodic dysmenorrhoea.
In the bath
In the bath cajuput oil can help to reduce fevers by exerting a cooling influence - but take care not to irritate the mucus membranes.
Blended cream
When used  as part of a formulation, it can be helpful to sort out persistent and chronic conditions such as acne and psoriasis.

PROPERTIES
Analgesic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antineuralgic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge, insecticide, sudorific, tonic, vulnerary

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

The main chemical components of Cajuput oil include a-pinene, b-pinene, myrcene, a-terpinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene, p-cymene, terpinolene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol and a-terpineol.

BLENDS WELL WITH
Clary sage, geranium, lavender, marjoram, oakmoss, pine, rosemary, spice oils, ylang ylang

OF INTEREST
Also sometimes referred to as the white tea tree, the cajuput tree originates from the Malayan coastal plains.

An evergreen, vigorous growing tree, it can reach 30 meters (98 feet) and has a whitish spongy bark with a crooked trunk. It is known in ancient India as Kayaputi and was also revered in the East for all its uses.

Not only was it used as an ingredient for cosmetics and perfumes, it was also well known for its antiseptic properties and was a traditional remedy for the stomach, for rheumatism, cholera and as an insecticide.

Cajeput is a good addition to bug repellants. It has a sweet, fruity middle note.

SAFETY DATA
Avoid while pregnant. May cause skin irritation.