FREE USA SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $75

Essential Oil Profile: Caraway

April 14, 2020

by Amelia E. Hoard, RN

Common Name: Caraway

Synonyms: Apium carvi, carum

Latin Binomial: Carum carvi

Family: Apiaceae

Production Method: steam distilled from ripe dried, crushed seed

Countries of Origin: Native to Europe and Western Asia, now widely cultivated.

Typical Constituents: [+]-Carvone (47.3-59.5%), [+]-Limonene (36.9-48.8%),

b-Myrcene (0.2-1.0%)

Description of Oil: pale yellow to brownish with an intense warm, spicy odor

Description of Plant: A biennial herb with a many branched stem, finely defined leaves, and white flowers. The seeds are curved with five distinct pale ridges.

History, Folklore and Myth: Sometimes known as ‘Meadow Cumin’, with a history dating back to the Stone Age. Used in Egypt as flavoring and found in burial places, in Rome to flavor bread and gained a reputation in Arabia for sharpening eyesight and sweetening breath.

Properties and Uses: Antiseptic, antispasmodic, aperitif, astringent, carminative, diuretic, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, spasmolytic, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge.

Precautions and Contraindications: non-toxic and non-sensitizing

References:

Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Virginia, Queensland, Australia: The Perfect Potion. 1995.

Lawless, Julia. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils. Shaftesbury, Dorset. Element Books. 1995.

Tisserand, Robert, and Tony Balacs. Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. 1995.

Sellar, Wanda. The Directory of Essential Oils. London: Random House. 2005

Also in Essential Oil Profile Directory

Essential Oil Profile: Angelica Root

April 14, 2020

by Jeffrey S. Hoard Common Name: Angelica Latin Binomial: Angelica archangelica L. Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) Other Common Names: Angel’s Herb, Root of the Holy Spirit, Garden Angelica, Archangelica officinalis Part Used: Root (An oil is also distilled from the seed – see below.) Production Method: Steam Distillation Countries of Origin: Angelica archangelica is considered to be

Essential Oil Profile: Aniseed

April 14, 2020

by Jeffrey S. Hoard Common Name: Anise, Anise Seed, Aniseed Latin Binomial: Pimpinella anisum Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) Other Common Names: Anisum officinalis, Anisum vulgare Part Used: Seeds, dried and crushed. Production Method: Steam distillation. Countries of Origin: Native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Poland and Russia are among the largest producers of Aniseed oil from locally

Essential Oil Profile: Basil

April 14, 2020

by Amelia E. Stone, RN Common Name: Basil (ct. linalool) Latin Binomial: Optimum basilicum L. Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) Other Common Names: Sweet basil and common basil Production Method: steam-distilled Countries of Origin: tropical Asia and Africa, Egypt Typical Constituents: Linalool (34.4%), Eugenol (33.7%), Linoleic & linolenic acids (9.7%), 1,8-Cineole (3.1%), T-Cadinol (1.9%), Palmitic acid