Cedarwood oil is extracted from Juniperus virginiana through the process of steam distillation from the wood pieces of the Cedar Wood tree a member of the Cupressaceae family and native to North America, it is pale yellow to light orange in colour.
Cedarwood oil is known for its earthy aroma that is soft yet slightly spicy that is soothing and grounding and encourgages feelings of warmth and inner strength.
Cedarwood oil is known for its antiseborrhoeic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, tonic, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, insecticide, and sedative and fungicide properties.
Cedarwood oil’s greatest benefit lays in its ability to calm and sooth the nerves. It relieves skin and hair problems and is important in easing conditions of the respiratory system like bronchitis. It also clears urinary infections, rheumatism and arthritis pain.
Cedarwood have long been used especially in Biblical times it was the tree used by Solomon to build the Temple in Jerusalem and is mentioned numerous times in the Bible.
Health Benefits
- Cedarwood oil prevents wounds from becoming septic as well as protecting them from tetanus germs. It can safely be applied externally on wounds as an antiseptic, and it is even used as an ingredient in herbal antiseptic creams.
- Many people who have trouble sleeping due to restless leg syndrome, respiratory seizures, asthma, and other spasmodic conditions also can use cedarwood oil for an effective relief.
- Cedarwood oil is often used to treat skin disorders because of its antiseptic and astringent properties. It acts to cleanse the skin of any impurities and at the same time tones by tightening skin tissue. In addition, by relaxing the skin, cedarwood oil relieves any itchy irritations.
- Cedarwood is also well known as a powerful nervine tonic, it has the ability to relax the entire nervous system.
- Add a few drops of cedarwood oil to a sitz bath to ease the pain and irritation of urinary infections and to cure the infection more quickly.
- Add two drops of cedarwood oil to every ounce of shampoo or hair conditioner to ease dandruff and possibly slow hair loss.
Cedarwood benefits nearly all systems of the body, from the respiratory system to the skin.
Not only does this oil act on the body, but also it is also a wonderful insecticide and fungicide. Cedarwood oil must not be consumed and a health care provider must be contacted before use.