Botanical name Ravensara aromatic
Family Lauraceae
Source Bark
Origin Madagascar
Processing Method Steam Distilled
Color/Consistency A thin, clear, yellowish brown liquid.
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma A top note with a medium aroma, Ravensara Essential Oil has a medicinal scent, a camphorous aroma with woody notes.
Blends With CloveBud, Eucalyptus, Lavender and Rosemary.
Product Abstract
This is supposed to be a powerful essential oil containing many natural benefits to keep the human body healthy. But yet it’s virtually unknown in the world of health. It’s a great healing agent and works well in aromatherapy. (the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils in massage or baths) Yet the general population knows little about this prolific essential oil. It is a rare oil as well. It really doesn’t get the media attention it so richly deserves. It just offers too many health benefits to be ignored and not used more often by people.
History
Ravensara essential oil comes from the evergreen havozo tree (Ravensara aromatica). A native to Madagascar and other Indian Ocean islands, the tree has a long history of use in those areas. The seeds were traditionally used in cooking, as noted in 1642, and the islanders use the bark to make rum. Ravensara oil has a history of use in the perfume industry, as a pharmaceutical and in alternative medicine.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
Ravensara essential oil is extracted from the bark using steam distillation. This is pure, organic Ravensara aromatica essential oil. Other methods that employ chemicals and solvents to improve its oil yield are not organic essential oils.The essential oil has slight variations depending on the chemotypes of Ravensara aromatica. There are a few groups of trees in this genus which leads to the variability in the chemical composition of essential oil distilled from them.
Common Usage
Caution
This oil is completely safe, with no toxicity, phototoxicity, associated irritation or sensitization. Still, it is not recommended during pregnancy, since it has aphrodisiac properties. This means that it works on certain hormones whose secretion can have certain adverse effects in pregnancy.
Key constituents
Estragole 90.0–95.0%
Linalool 2.0–6.8%
Safety summary
Hazards Potentially carcinogenic; may inhibit blood clotting.
Contraindications Should not be taken in oral doses.
Maximum dermal use level
EU No limit
IFRA 0.01%
Tisserand & Young 0.1%
Our safety advice
We recommend a dermal maximum of 0.1% based on 95.0% estragole with a dermal limit of 0.12%. Estragole is not restricted in the EU.
Regulatory guidelines
IFRA recommends a maximum dermal use level for estragole of 0.01% in leave-on or wash-off preparations for body and face.
Organ-specific effects
Adverse skin reactions No information found.
Cardiovascular effects Estragole inhibits platelet aggregation, an essential step in the blood clotting cascade.
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity No information found.
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential No information found. Estragole is a rodent carcinogen when oral exposure is sufficiently high.
Comments
Tucker & Maciarello (1995) report 61.6% estragole, 20.1% (E)-anethole and 0.9% methyleugenol for ravensara bark oil. The production of ravensara bark oil is not currently sustainable. Also see comments under ravensara leaf, below.
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