Cassia Essential Oil
Cassia essential oil is made its claim to fame by flavoring food and drink in a very similar way to cinnamon. For over 500 years, humans around the world have known about the health benefits of cassia – particularly in China, and in fact, the cassia tree is known as the Chinese cinnamon tree. Although cassia essential oil has some of the same benefits as many of the other essential oils that you have in your homeopathic medicine cabinet, there are a number of unique benefits that cassia offers and because of this is solely suited to treat certain conditions.
The Basics about Cassia Essential Oil
The cassia tree can be found in China and Burma. In casual terms, the tree is known as the Chinese cinnamon tree. The bark from the tree is used extensively in both food and beverages, just like regular cinnamon. But the tree actually has three botanical names, which makes it quite unique. Cinnamomum Cassia, Laurus Cassia and Cinnamomum Aromaticum, are the three scientific names for the cassia tree that is used to make essential oil. The Chinese have been using the cassia tree for healing for hundreds of years; they were the first to recognize its medicinal value and then that knowledge spread to the rest of the world.
How is Cassia Essential Oil Manufactured?
Like so many other essential oils, cassia essential oil is manufactured by using the steam distillation process to create the oil out of the components of the plant. In this case, the steam distillation is applied to the leaves and twigs of the plant. In some cases, the bark of the Chinese cinnamon tree is used to create the essential oil as well.
Types of Cassia Essential Oil
When it comes to cassia essential oil, there is really only one type of base that is used to create the oil. As you know, this is called the Chinese cinnamon tree and that’s often where people get confused and think that there are two different types. The truth is, there is only one type of cassia tree. True cinnamon, which is called Ceylon cinnamon, is a completely different plant altogether.
How to Use Cassia Essential Oil
There are lots of ways that you can use cassia essential oil. Many essential oils cannot be ingested and are not all that healthy to put on the skin either. However cassia essential oil is one of the ones that you can digest without any problems. As long as you take a reasonable amount and you make sure that you research carefully before hand, no problems ingesting or using cassia essential oil topically.
Composition of Cassia Essential Oil
Understanding how cassia essential oil is made cannot only help you use it better but it may even inspire you to create your own essential oils. Many people enjoy creating their own essential oils through the process of steam distillation as a hobby or in order to save money on their own supply of essential oils. Cassia essential oil is created by that same steam distillation process. It is made of the bark and the leaves and twigs of the cassia tree. The composition of cassia essential oil includes the following: cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, chavicol, benzaldehyde and linalool.
Aromatic Description of Cassia Essential Oil
Cassia essential oil has a very pungent smell but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a negative one. In fact, many people enjoy the smell of cassia in aromatherapy. The fragrances rather hard to pin down however and can best be described as a warm, pungent aroma that has just a little bit of spice – a kick to it.
Precautions & Side Effects of Cassia Essential Oil
There are a few things that you want to be aware of when it comes to cassia essential oil. The first thing is that you definitely don’t want to use cassia essential oil on the skin because it will burn your skin and damage it. Even in tiny amounts, you need to avoid skin contact. As far as the other methods of using it, make sure that you follow the rule of research first and when in doubt don’t use that method or process with the essential oil. For example, if you are not 100% sure that you can ingested – even diluted – then don’t do it. As always, women who are pregnant or nursing should not be using this essential oil and it should not be given to children.
Attributes of Cassia Essential Oil
Below are the standard essential oil attributes, marked off so that you can see what cassia essential oil includes. But there is a lot more to cassia than just those that are marked. Here are some of the other attributes that are not included: it controls diarrhea, is antiemetic, antimicrobial, is an astringent, is circulatory, is an emenagogue, febrifuge and is anti-galactogogue.
| Attribute | X | Definition |
| analgesic | Reduces pain in muscles and joints | |
| anti-infectious | Prevents infection | |
| anti-inflammatory | Reduces inflammation | |
| antibiotic | Keeps biotic infections from developing | |
| antidepressant | X | Helps to alleviate depression |
| anti-neuralgic | Counteracts nerve pain | |
| anti-rheumatic | X | Counteracts pain from rheumatoid arthritis |
| antiseptic | Prevents growth of organisms which cause disease | |
| antispasmodic | Prevents spasms from occurring | |
| antiviral | X | Kills viral agents |
| aphrodisiac | Increasing someone’s sexual desires | |
| bactericidal | Kills bacterial agents | |
| carminative | X | Prevents formation of gas in the GI tract |
| cholagogue | Assists with the discharge of bile | |
| cicatrisant | Assists in the formation of healthy scar tissue | |
| decongestant | Reduces or eliminates congestions of nasal cavities | |
| expectorant | Loosens mucous and helps clear it from the body | |
| digestive | Helps with the digestion of food | |
| emenagogue | Promotes healthy menstrual discharge | |
| febrifuge | Aids in the reduction of fever | |
| hepatic | Promotes healthy liver function | |
| hypotensive | Helps to lower blood pressure | |
| Insecticide | Kills certain types of insects or pests | |
| muscle relaxant | Relaxes tight muscles and prevents muscle spasms | |
| nervine | Reduces anxiety and calms the nerves | |
| sedative | Aids in calming or induces sleepiness | |
| stimulant | X | Increases physiological or nervous system activity |
| Stomachic | Aids in a healthy appetite or digestion | |
| sudorific | Promotes or aids in activation of sweat glands | |
| tonic | Tones the skin or muscles | |
| vermifuge | Kills parasitic worms |
What is Cassia Essential Oil Primarily Used For?
There are quite a few different uses for cassia essential oil. It has a major effect on the digestive system and one of its main strengths is that it essentially cures diarrhea – something that even some anti-diarrhea medicines don’t do completely. It actually binds the bowels so that the diarrhea stops plus it heals and kills microbes that may be causing the diarrhea, and returns you to healthy bowel movements once again. In addition, cassia essential oil is a painkiller, an antidepressant, an astringent and supports the circulatory system; it also gives your system a release from gas and other related digestive problems. It is one of the best treatments for bloating and gas pains that just won’t go away because it removes the gas from the digestive tract and prevents it from coming back.
Other Uses for Cassia Essential Oils
There are lots of other benefits that you get from cassia essential oil as well mostly due to the qualities and attributes discussed above. For example, the astringent quality of cassia is able to treat conditions as serious as internal hemorrhaging, as well as external, if necessary. Also, cassia essential oils can treat a number of sexual disorders such as impotence, lowered libido and more. Headaches and pain can often be treated by cassia, and then a number of digestive disorders can all benefit from cassia essential oil, such as: upset stomach, gas, bloating, flatulence and even more serious digestive conditions.
Recommended Combinations Involving Cassia Essential Oil
When it comes to mixing cassia essential oil with the others that are out there, there are a number of them that make really good combinations. Many people choose to experiment with their mixtures and try to come up with their own blend and it depends a lot upon what you are trying to accomplish. For example, if you’re trying to create the perfect fragrance for aromatherapy, you have a great deal of latitude. But if you need specific health benefits from an essential oil, there are more restrictions on what you can use.
The Final Word on Cassia Essential Oil
When it comes to cassia essential oil, there are some really great reasons to use this particular oil, and really no reasons at all why you shouldn’t. So, make sure that cassia essential oil is part of your alternative medicine pharmacy.
