Plant Description
Cassia oil is extracted from the leaf, branch & twin of Cinnamomum cassia (also known as C. aromaticum and Laurus cassia) of the Lauraceae family. It is also known as false cinnamon and cassia lignea.
Cassia is native to Vietnam and is also known as cassia bark or Chinese cinnamon. This slender, evergreen tree grows up to 20 meters (65 feet) high, with thick, leathery leaves and small white flowers. The flowers are followed by single-seeded berries the size of small olives. Cassia bark is widely used to flavor curries, in baked foods, candies and soft drinks.
Cassia oil is extracted from the leaves, bark, twigs and stalks by steam distillation.
Cassia Essential Oil properties:
Appearance: Clear, Mobile Liquid
Colour: Red – Brown
Specific gravity at 20℃: 1.045 – 1.105
Refractive Index at 20℃: 1.600 – 1.615
Optical rotation at at 20℃: -3 to +6
The main chemical components of cassia oil are cinnamic aldehyde 70-90%, cinnamyl acetate, benzaldehyde, linalool and chavicol.
Cassia Essential Oil uses:
Cassia as a dried herb can be useful for digestive complaints such as flatulence, colic, dyspepsia, diarrhea and nausea. It can also be used for colds, influenza, fevers, arthritis and rheumatism.
– Tonic from Brain: Cassia is known to stimulate and boost the activity of brain hence giving relief from nervous tension and memory loss.
– Purifies Blood: The unique properties of Cassia help to clean the impurities of blood and subsequently reduces and removes pimples.
– Improved Blood Circulation: Cassia Oil has a unique blood thinning compound which reduces the viscosity of blood making it easy to circulate.
– Stops bleeding: This essential Oil when applied on wounds stops bleeding and helps the wounds to heal faster.
– Indigestion: Cassia not only adds flavours and aroma to food it also helps the food to get digested effectively.
– Other therapeutic properties of Cassia oil: Relief from respiratory problems, relief from menstrual discomfort, increases secretion of milk, mouth freshener, diuretic etc.
Precautions:
Cassia oil should not be used on the skin as it is a dermal irritant, dermal sensitizer and is a mucus membrane irritant. It must also be avoided in pregnancy.