Himalayan Cedar Wood
Distillation Method: Steam
Country of Origin: Nepal
Plant Part: Heartwood
Latin name: Cedrus Deodara
Cultivation: Naturally Grown
Drops per ml: 52
About the Oil
Himalayan Wild Cedarwood essential oil has an exceptional therapeutic capacity and a beautifully rounded aroma, especially in its middle notes.
- About The Plant: Cedarwood is a large, evergreen tree native to the western Himalayas. It grows tall, (135-165 feet tall), and has a conic shaped crown. It is widely grown as an ornamental tree, and can survive cold temperatures down to -22F.
- About The Oil: Cedarwood essential oil has been used in medicines and cosmetics throughout the ages. We have two ‘true' Cedarwood essential oils steam distilled from the wood of wild Cedar grown in Morocco and Nepal. These wildcrafted Cedarwoods may be the only true Cedarwoods available today. They're both exceptionally fine oils, with a beautifully well-rounded aromas, and are the best choice for therapeutic applications of Cedarwood.
- Of Interest: The use of Himalayan Cedarwood in ayurvedic medicines is well recorded. The inner wood is aromatic and is the part of the plant distilled for the essential oil. Because of its anti-fungal and insect repellent properties, rooms made with the wood are used to store meat and food grains in the Himalayas. The essential oil was also one of the ingredients of 'mithridat', a poison antidote used for centuries. Cedarwood has been used as a temple incense by Tibetan Buddhists for centuries to enhance mental strength, endurance, and certainty.
Properties
Product Description
Our special aging process brings a new level of warmth and complexity to the aroma and heightens the concentration of therapeutic components in the oil.
Therapeutic Properties
THERAPEUTICS DESCRIBED BY AROMATHERAPY SPECIALISTS
From Salvatore Battaglia’s The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy1:
Expectorant
Stimulates fat breakdown
Loosens mucous
Improves acne
Recommended for hair care
Reduces stress & tension
Antiseptic
Decongestant
Heightens concentration
Grounding & strengthening
Helps “stabilize energies thrown out of balance”
From Chrissie Wildwood’s The Encyclopedia of Aromatherapy2:
Antiseptic
Astringent
Circulatory Stimulant
Diuretic
Expectorant
Fungicidal
Sedative
Aphrodisiac
PROPERTIES OF CEDARWOOD REPORTED IN PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH
Pain relieving3,4
Sedative5
Antibacterial6
Natural mouthwash7
Treatment for alopecia8
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH STUDIES
After undergoing surgery, mice that were allowed to inhale Atlas Cedarwood oil showed significantly less hypersensitive pain behavior.3 In a further investigation, the researchers found that this pain-relieving potential of cedarwood oil may be linked to the endocannabinoid system – the same system that interacts with CBD.4
In a study on rats, the animals that inhaled cedarwood oil had significantly reduced motor activity and also remained asleep longer once they fell asleep. This study also found that the therapeutic effects of cedar oil actually go above and beyond the scent perception of the olfactory system. They were able to determine this fact because the sedative effects were seen even in animals that could not smell. These results suggest that inhalation of Cedarwood oil may be useful in treating sleep disorders.5
Cedarwood oil was shown to exhibit strong antimicrobial activity against multiple bacterial strains in vitro.6
Cedarwood, as well as cinnamon and lemongrass oil, was found to effectively kill oral bacteria that are known to cause tooth decay and compromise oral health.7
Cedarwood oil was used in a blend containing thyme, rosemary, and lavender, as an experimental treatment for balding. The blend was applied daily to the scalps of patients diagnosed with alopecia areata over a 7-month period. These oils were shown to significantly stimulate new hair growth and reduced hair loss.8
Application
Himalayan cedar essential oil has a high sesquiterpene content which stimulates the limbic system (our center of emotions and memory) as well as the pineal gland (which regulates sleep and dreams). These actions likely the cause of its use as a spiritually grounding scent and an aid for meditation.
Cedarwood oil is also considered fortifying and strengthening. It is included in blends to enhance one's overall energy and to support adrenal function.
INHALATION
Direct inhalation, diffuser, oil vaporiser
Use in diffuser to with other wood or needle oils to create a warm, positive atmosphere.
TOPICAL
Massage, compress, bath, skin & hair care
Apply diluted in a carrier oil topically to: balance oily skin, improve acne, improve skin tone, lessen dandruff. Cedar may also have a positive effect on hair loss.
Aromatherapy Details
This Cedarwood essential oil is yellow and viscous with a warm floral top note, a camphoraceous middle note and sweet, woody, balsamic undertones. Its woody-sweet warm aroma blends well with Rosewood, Bergamot, Cypress, Jasmine, Juniper, Clary Sage, Rosemary, and Ylang Ylang.
The aroma of Atlantic Cedarwood is brighter (a little more prominent in the higher notes) and smells more like a traditional cedar chest, while Himalayan Cedarwood is softer (fuller in the middle notes). We also carry Texan and Virginian Cedarwoods, which are actually from the Juniper family though they also have distinct Cedarwood aromas.
Safety
Generally non-toxic, non-sensitizing and non-irritant. Always test a small amount first for sensitivity or allergic reaction.
Not to be used during pregnancy.
Extra Notes
Cedarwood essential oil has been used in medicines and cosmetics throughout the ages. Our Atlantic Cedar essential oil is wild-harvested from pyramid-shaped, strongly aromatic Cedar evergreens of Morocco.
The wildcrafted Himalayan Cedarwood is new to our line, so we're now able to offer the two 'true' cedarwood essential oils available today. It has a beautiful, rich, full-bodied aroma, a little stronger in the middle notes than the Moroccan, though it may simply be a personal preference as to which aroma you'll prefer.
Cedar's aroma has a warm top note and sweet, woody balsamic undertone. It is recognized for its calming, purifying effects, and its benefits to the skin and underlying tissue. Likely related to its use as a spiritually-grounding scent, the oil may stimulate the pineal gland which releases melatonin (a regulator of sleep and dreams) as well as growth hormone. The limbic system (center of emotions) is also stimulated by the high sesquiterpene content. Cedarwood is used as a temple incense by Tibetan Buddhists.
Cedar oil is considered fortifying and strengthening, being noted as a tonifier of the kidneys, spleen and pancreas. It is included in blends to enhance one's overall energy and to support adrenal function. Cedar can be blended in equal parts with Black Spruce and Pine oils to a 10% total concentration in Hazelnut oil - the blend should be applied on the lower back where it will be absorbed into the adrenal/kidney region. The cedar oil acts as a mild stimulant; the other oils are tonifying to the system, and can be used without the cedar for a purely regenerative effect.
In "Aromatherapy Anointing Oils" by Joni Keim and Ruah Bull, Cedar is noted as "One of the most powerful essential oils for subtle energy work, Cedarwood is grounding, clears away negativity and brings in positive energy. It promotes clarity of mind and invokes the presence and teachings of the Divine."
References
1. Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. International Centre of Holysitc Aromatherapy, 2003.
2. Wildwood, Chrissie. Encyclopedia of Aromatherapy. Healing Arts Press, 2000.
3. Martins, Daniel F., et al. “Inhalation of Cedrus Atlantica Essential Oil Alleviates Pain Behavior through Activation of Descending Pain Modulation Pathways in a Mouse Model of Postoperative Pain.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 175, 2015, pp. 30–38., doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.08.048.
4. Emer, Aline Armiliato, et al. “The Role of the Endocannabinoid System in the Antihyperalgesic Effect of Cedrus Atlantica Essential Oil Inhalation in a Mouse Model of Postoperative Pain.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 210, 2018, pp. 477–484., doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.09.011.
5. Kagawa, Daiji., et al. “The Sedative Effects and Mechanism of Action of Cedrol Inhalation with Behavioral Pharmacological Evaluation.” Planta Medica, vol. 69, no. 7, 2003, pp. 637–641., doi:10.1055/s-2003-41114.
6. Zrira, S., and M. Ghanmi. “Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential of Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood Oil).” Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, vol. 19, no. 5, 2016, pp. 1267–1272., doi:10.1080/0972060x.2015.1137499.
7. Chaudhari, Lalit Kumar D. “Antimicrobial Activity of Commercially Available Essential Oils Against Streptococcus Mutans.” The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice, 2012, pp. 71–74., doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1098.
8. Hay, Isabelle C., et al. “Randomized Trial of Aromatherapy. Successful Treatment for Alopecia Areata.” Archives of Dermatology, vol. 134, no. 11, Nov. 1998, pp. 1349–1352., doi:10.1001/archderm.134.11.1349.