lesser used / more obscure essential oils

[flower2008]

Just wanted to make a helpful note about three of the more obscure and lesser tested essential oils:

Himalayan Cedarwood - Cedrus deodara G. Don
Maritime Pine – Pinus pinaster Aiton
Chinese Peppermint (aka. Corn-mint) – Mentha arvensis L.

Many writers, including Price, suggest not using them at all.
The main concern being that they contain “over 50% ketones and are toxic or neuro-toxic”.

I asked Karla from www.essentiallyoils.com for their GC / MS and here is their main breakdown:

Himalayan Cedarwood: Sesquiterpenes – 73% (b-himachalene 40, a-himachalene 17, g-himachalene 11) ketones – 10% (Atlantone)

Maritime Pine: Monoterpenes – 95% (a-pinene – 75 ; b-pinene – 15 ; junipene – 3 ; limonene - 2) ketones – NONE

Chinese Peppermint: Alcohols: MENTHOL – 47% ; KETONES – 27% (menthone) ; esters – 7% (Menthyl Acetate) ; limonene - 6%

This is not the place to argue the use of ketone-rich essential oils (especially during pregnancy), but I thought that you should have the facts and (for the professional practitioners amongst you) you may well consider the use of Chinese corn-mint in favour of regular peppermint.

I have bought the first two, and they are really lush. I also intend to buy the corn-mint this week as it is part of their February special offers.

Hope this is useful

 

[Richard Li]

Cornmint is great for sniffing to clear sinuses, and also a good analgesic. My wife carries a bottle everywhere.

 

[xxcutekittyxx]

The Chinese Peppermint sounds nice

Thanks for the info xxx

 

[nnetcbti]

just got the essentially oils Chinese peppermint yesterday, from their special offers.

it smells gorgeous and as I had a wee headache - put it directly to the test with their Indian Basil (also on offer - not my personal favourite, though) - lovely combination and the headache was gone within ten minutes ;-)

 

[cruinispasp]

Wow that's fantastic