Cassia Essential Oil

Product Details Scientific Name: Cinnamomum Cassia Blume Origin: China Plant Part: Bark Scent: Spicy, Sweet, Woodsy, and Earthy Color: Golden Yellow/Brown Consistency: Medium Perfumery Note: Middle - Base Initial Aroma Strength: Sharp Strong Extraction Method: Steam Distilled Cassia Essential Oil: Uses, Benefits, and Blends Cassia essential oil is extracted from the twigs and leaves of the cassia tree. Often confused with cinnamon essential oil, cassia is more difficult to use topically but useful for diffuser blends and sprays. Traditionally, cassia essential oil has always been classed as a hazardous substance in aromatherapy because it can be a spiteful dermal irritant and should be avoided if another oil would serve as well. More recently some of the larger essential oil companies have begun to stock it and it does have uses within the home, so here, we look at some of the ways cassia essential oil can be helpful and offer ideas of gentler substitutions if relevant. Cassia Essential Oil Benefits: Component Breakdown (E)-Cinnamaldehyde and ( Z)-Cinnamaldehyde - Preliminary rodent studies suggest that cinnamaldehydes may have anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. ( E)-Cinnamyl Acetate - may have anti-termite, anti-mildew, and insecticide properties. Benzaldehyde - A commercially interesting chemical, benzaldehyde is a natural component of bitter almond oil, and is synthetically copied and used as an almond extract in baking. It also has uses in beekeeping because bees don’t like its strong almond smell. Keepers spray the crown board that separates the bottom brood frames from the super box containing the honey. When the bees smell benzaldehyde, repelled, they head down into the brood box allowing the keeper to remove their honey. However, please do not use cassia essential oil for this purpose because irritated bees are also dangerously furious bees! 2-Phenylethyl acetate - a well sought-after rosy smelling compound. According to Salvatore Battaglia in The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Third Edition Volume 1, Foundations and Materia Medica cassia essential oil benefits are antimicrobial, carminative, and spasmolytic. However, only the antimicrobial properties are supported by clinical studies and indeed cassia essential oil was found to be one of the most active antibacterial oils against pathogenic bacteria. Elizabeth Ashley in her Complete Guide to Clinical Aromatherapy and the Essential Oils of the Physical Body cites historical successes of cassia essential oil uses including: As an antifungal and anti-mold agent Toenail fungus Diarrhea Viral and bacterial infections Kidney and urinary tract infections Ringworm and intestinal worms Historically, cassia bark has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a yang tonic. Where yin is soft, gentle, moist, receptive, and feminine; Yang is masculine, fierce, aggressive, invigorating, sharp, hot, and dry. These are the energetics you can expect to experience with Cassia ess