Ravensara Oil (Ravensara aromatica / Ravensara anisata / Agatophyllum aromaticum)

Experienced as a cool, mild, and crisp winter breeze; opens the throat and lungs to ease breathing. Ravensara aromatica has antiviral properties and provides a subtle mental clarity making it a perfect tool for combating respiratory congestion, relaxing into cognitive functioning or preparing the body for aerobic exercise.

• Anti-viral
• Congestion
• Enhances massage oils
• Respiratory expansion
• Steam baths ( Experience)

Dr. Nick Notes

Ravensara aromatica is described to have similarities of a natural mentholatum product without any of the petroleum additives. This EO has true anti-viral properties in addition to enhanced bronchodilatory effects. Through practical experience, individuals have reported increased ease of breathing for conditions including asthma & COPD – this is NOT a cure, but perhaps another tool to utilize concurrently amongst other respiratory treatment options.

Ravensara is said to have anti-viral properties. Topically applied directly onto cold sores or herpes simplex, healing speed may increase. May dilute into carrier oil Tamanu oil for an aromatic massage oil, great for massages during flu season. Enjoy adding this to massage oil for a eucalyptus-like tingle – apply to chest, neck & lymph during times of colds/flus. One valid literature source recommends limiting the concentration of ravensara oil applied to skin to 1% in carrier oil (estragole content).

Phenomenal to use with an Essential VAAAPP – my favorite usage of Ravensara. One heated inhalation opens up the lungs and eases respiration. Can make disposable vaporizer using certain coffee cups w/ lids - fill with hot water and add several drops of ravensara. This is surely one of my go-to oils for a weekend out in nature with dust and great to keep around.

Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt in Advanced Aromatherapy states: 'For the treatment of acute flu, ravensara is best taken internally 1 drop every 2 hours for acute flu) and/or applied externally'. I've also read about a concern of the estragole concentration in ravensara so I would suggest rubbing the oil over the chest or on the bottom of the feet in lieu of pure internal ingestion.

Clinical experience demonstrated to me the following relevant ideas:

- Try applying on cold sores, shingles or chicken pox directly ~ Have personally heard quick success stories!
- I've applied this oil both neat & diluted in carrier oil ~ it's non-irritating. Read safety section below.
- I don't recommend infusing this oil into water for a beverage. Sometimes I have taken 1 or 2 drops in a capsule orally to aid in stifling an oncoming cold. The maximum recommended oral dose is 29 mg (which is generally about one drop).

~ RavINTsara vs. RavENsara? ~

Ravensara aromatica, an evergreen member of the lauraceae family, is native to Madagascar and has an interesting and controversial taxonomic history. Often confused (even by prominent aromatherapists) as being synonymous with Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora) , it’s now appears they are two distinct entities.

Ravintsara is not native to Madagascar and is a non-camphor producing chemotype of a Chinese tree named Cinnamonum camphora that was introduced to Madagascar in the 19th century. Ravintsara has been hypothesized to have lost its ability to produce camphor due to the tropical Madagascan climate. While RavINTsara is high in 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), RavENsara aromatica contains very little 1,8-cineole. Nevertheless, due to confusion over the species they’ve been used similarly in folk medicine and Ravensara oil is often contaminated with Ravintsara and vice versa (Juliani et al 2006).

How to Use

To fight cold, flu or congestive symptoms, a few drops of Ravensara aromatica can be added to a hot bath or warm bath towel & placed on chest.

Add a drop or two to a cup of hot water then close your eyes and place a warm towel over your head to trap in vapor. Inhale deeply for 10 minutes up-to three times daily to ease breathing.

Vaporize appropriately anytime you feel the need for ease of breathing. Use 1 drop in an Essential VAAAPP OR try making a water vaporizer using a coffee cup/lid with hot water [see YouTube Essential Oil Wizardry video for instruction on making your own disposable essential oil vaporizer].

Dilute in carrier oil for a topical massage to ease aching muscles & bodies. Try gentle massage over the front and back sides of the thorax region similar to applied areas of a mentholatum vapor rub.

Dilute appropriately in occlusive carrier such as room temperature coconut oil or beeswax. Apply liberally and frequently to cold sore to hasten healing.

An experiment for any people who have reoccurring episodes of herpes on the lips: Maybe used once or twice daily as prophylactic chapstick/lip balm – try it and let us know if you have any benefits PREVENTING new cold sores with its regular use!

Safety Summary

Hazards: Potentially carcinogenic, based on estragole content.
Contraindications: None reported
Maximum Oral Dose: 29 mg/day (about 1 drop)
Maximum Dermal Use Level: 1%

~ Adopted from Tisserand & Young, Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed. 2013 ~

Notes: Wildcrafted, Leaf
Origin: Madagascar

Constituent Range (Behra et al. 2001)

( )-Limonene (13.9 - 22.5%)
Sabinene (10.2 - 16.4%)
Isoledene (0.9 - 14.2%)
Estragole (2.4 - 11.9%)
β - Caryophyllene (1.5 - 8.4%)
β - Myrcene (5.0 - 7.3%)
α - Terpinene (1.8 - 7.1%)
α - Pinene (3.0 - 6.4%)
Linalool (3.0 - 5.7%)
Δ – 3-Carene (4.9 - 5.0%)
Terpinen-4-ol (1.7 - 4.8%)
γ – Terpinene (1.8 - 4.1%)
1,8-Cineole (1.8 - 3.3%)
β – Pinene (2.2 - 2.9%)
β – Phellandrene (1.0 - 2.9%)
α – Thujene (0.4 – 2.1%)
Camphene (0.9 – 1.8%)
γ – Cadinene (trace – 1.8%)
α – Coapene (0.2 – 1.7%)
p – Cymene (0.5 – 1.6%)
β – Elemene (trace – 1.1%)
(Z)-β-Ocimene (0.3 – 1.0%)

This information was documented in Behra et. al. 2001 and published by Robert Tisserand & Rodney Young in 2013 and is posted to demonstrate some general range of chemical constiuents of this EO. EO all vary and may have some variance to the information published above. When possible, we will post current GC-MS analysis separately for our oils sold on this site, correlating with batch numbers for your enjoyment & awareness.

~ Be Blessed ~

References

JulianiHYPERLINK "http://0-www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.library.touro.edu/pubmed?term=Juliani HR[Author]&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=16634289" HR, Kapteyn J, Jones D, Koroch AR, Wang M, Charles D, Simon JE. Application of near-infrared spectroscopy in quality control and determination of adulteration of African essential oils. PhytochemHYPERLINK "http://0-www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.library.touro.edu/pubmed/16634289" Anal. 2006 Mar-Apr;17(2):121-8.

Costa R, Pizzimenti F, Marotta F, Dugo P, Santi L, Mondello L. Volatiles from steam-distilled leaves of some plant species from Madagascar and New Zealand and evaluation of their biological activity. Nat Prod HYPERLINK "http://0-www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.library.touro.edu/pubmed/21213986"CommunHYPERLINK "http://0-www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.library.touro.edu/pubmed/21213986". 2010 Nov;5(11):1803-8.

Tisserand, Robert, and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety. Second ed. Churchhill Livingstone, 2013. Print.

* 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. *