Ravintsara Essential Oil

Ravintsara Essential Oil

The island of Madagascar is the fourth largest in the world. It is a land with an amazing geological history, which gives it a one-of-a-kind diversity and flora. The ‘Big Island’ split from Africa over 100 million years ago. By doing so, its entire animal and plant base is an original separate stock from what was the larger Gondwana supercontinent.

Madagascar’s plants are so unique that it is the primary supplier of vanilla pods that fuel the world’s cake, ice cream, and chocolate industry. Its production of cloves, litchi, and a wide range of unique spices is also world renown. A less known product of the island is Ravintsara essential oil.

 

Rosemary Essential Oil 

History

Ravintsara essential oil is a product of Ravensara aromatica, a tree native to Tasmania, Australia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Madagascar. This tree loves rainforest-like humid conditions.Ravensara aromatica or Madagascar clove tree grows to heights of 20 meters.

It has a reddish bark and small elliptical leaves. It also has miniature green flowers that produce fruits within them. The Ravintsara tree seeds are aromatic spices that have myristic acid in them. Their fruit resembles anise or clove and is a hot and bitter spice with high eugenol content.

Its bark is also a spice and source of valuable Ravintsara oil. Additionally, the bark extracts flavor rum. Its leaves produce high-quality Ravintsara essential oil after distillation processes. The Madagascan Ravintsara tree, unlike most plants on the island, is not indigenous to the island.

Rather, it is an import from China from the early 19th century. Morphing to become a unique species on the island, the Madagascar clove tree lost its ability to produce camphor in its new climate. The tree is an evergreen camphor tree of the Cinnamonum camphora chemotype.

In Malagasy, Ravintsara comes from the words Ravina meaning ‘the leaf” and tsara “good”. The combination of both words means leaf good for everything” or “tree with good leaves.”The Ravensara aromatica tree produces ravensara anisata oil1 from its bark and ravensara aromatica essential oil from its leaves.

Ravintsara essential oil has a spicy and sweet balsamic aroma. It is a diffusive and fresh essential oil with a cineolic aroma. It has a medicinal like eucalyptus note. Its principal chemical components are:

  1. Oxides like 1,8-cineole, which make up for 45% to 55% of the essential oil
  2. Monoterpenes that include beta-pinene, alpha-pinene, and sabinene that make up for 15% of the essential oil
  3. Sesquiterpenes such as beta-carophyllene
  4. Monoterpenic alcohols such as terpineol and alpha-terpineol
  5. Esters like terphenyl acetate
  6. Other trace compounds

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Ravintsara Essential Oil Uses

  1. It has powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties2 that relieve flu, colds, sinusitis, and bronchitis. The potent 1,8- cineole in it revitalizes the body, providing relief for the lethargy and clogged airways caused by colds and flu. Rub a little of it on your scarf or turtleneck for respiratory support.
  2. Ravintsara essential oil has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibiotic benefits1. It will help in draining your lymphatic system. Therefore, it is a must-have essential oil for immune support, nerve tonic, and muscular aches at home.
  3. This essential oil has antifungal, neurotonic, and anticatarrhal properties. It can also help repair tissue damaged by warts, shingles, athletes’ foot, and herpes.
  4. Use Ravintsara essential oil as a revival bath or massage agent after a long day at work. Add a few drops of Ravintsara essential oil to coconut oil, and then massage away the tight knots of fatigue. A few drops of this essential oil in a bath will help ease nervous exhaustion.
  5. Ravintsara essential oil can also help mitigate headaches. Add a few drops of it in a vaporizer, and then inhale the mist, for wellness. Ravintsara essential oil can also help you sleep like a baby if you are suffering from insomnia.
  6. Are your muscles sore from physical exertion? Have a nice hot Ravintsara essential oil bath. A few drops of this magical oil will ease the soreness and pain, keeping your muscles flexible.
  7. Ravintsara essential oil will uplift your mood and energize your spirit. It will help you to detoxify your body and mind via aromatherapy.

Ravintsara essential oil blends well with citrus, woods, cardamom rosemary, frankincense, and laurel.

  1. Pour three drops into a bowl of boiled water and then breathe in the vapors. Place a towel over your head to trap the healing vapors. This process will help you breathe much easier when you have the flu or cold. Repeat this process ten minutes, three times a day.
  2. Add a few drops to your diffuser and place it in the living area or bedroom. Breathing in Ravintsara essential oil will constrain the spread of infection and boost immunity plus low spirits.
  3. Use it after a workout to soothe aching muscles. You can add a few drops of it to your bath or use it as a sports rub.
  4. For sore throats, add a few drops to warm water and gargle.
  5. Dab it on warts to heal the skin

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Contraindications

You should avoid using Ravintsara essential oil during the first three months of pregnancy or if you are lactating. Children under 12 should not inhale, apply, or ingest the essential oil. Any person with biliary or gastrointestinal disorders, epilepsy, should avoid Ravintsara essential oil.

Do not use this essential oil if you have any allergies to its components or have asthma. If you are on medication, talk to your doctor first before use to avoid any interactions with your prescription.

Finally, you should talk to a veterinarian before using this oil on pets.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

The Malagasy people have aptly named the Ravintsara tree after the goodness of its leaves. In folk medicine, its leaves, fruits, and bark treat chest infections, headaches, colds, and stomachaches.

Sources

  1. Materiaaromatica: Ravintsara Oil
  2. puressentiel: Cinnamomum camphora