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The health benefits of Cassia Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties like anti diarrhoea, anti depressant, anti emetic, anti galactogogue, anti microbial, anti rheumatic & anti arthritic, astringent, anti viral, carminative, circulatory, emenagogue, febrifuge and stimulant.
The scientific name of Cassia is Cinnamomum Cassia. It is also known by two other botanical names, Laurus Cassia and Cinnamomum Aromaticum. This evergreen tree is native to China and Burma. This plant is commonly known as Chinese Cinnamon and its bark is actually used flavour food and beverages, just like original Cinnamon. The essential oil of Cassia is derived by steam distillation of its leaves and twigs. Bark is also used sometimes to extract the oil. The chief constituents of Essential Oil of Cassia are benzaldehyde, chavicol, cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamyl acetate and linalool. Chinese knew the medicinal uses of Cassia previously. It is believed that it is from them the medicinal uses of this plant spread to other parts of the world.
What are these medicinal uses? We shall see now.
- Anti Diarrhoea: The Essential Oil of Cassia has varied benefits on the digestive system and being an anti diarrhoea agent is one of them. It can be used to bind bowels and stop diarrhoea. Being an anti microbial agent, it also cures diarrhoea caused due to microbial action. It inhibits the microbial growth and stops diarrhoea.
- Anti Depressant: The effect of this essential oil fights depression, uplifts mood and induces warm feelings.
- Anti Emetic: This oil can be used to treat nausea and to stop vomiting. It induces a refreshing feeling and drives away those feelings which bring a tendency of nausea and vomiting.
- Anti Galactogogue: This oil can reduce secretion of milk and hence not recommended for lactating mothers.
- Anti Microbial: The Essential Oil of Cassia inhibits microbial growth and protects from microbial infections. This property is useful in treating microbial infections in urethra, colon, kidneys, urinary tracts and other parts.
- Anti Rheumatic & Anti Arthritic: Being a circulatory and a stimulant, it improves circulation of blood and brings warmth to the joints and other parts affected with rheumatism and arthritis, thus giving relief from them.
- Astringent: This property of this essential oil does a lot of good. It strengthens gums and hair root, tightens muscles and lifts skin. It also helps stop haemorrhage by contracting blood vessels.
- Anti Viral: This oil is also effective in countering viral infections and gives sound protection from cough & cold, influenza and other viral diseases.
- Carminative: Gives relief from gases forming in the intestines and drives them out of the body. It also stops further formation of gases.
- Circulatory: Improves circulation of blood and thereby facilitates distribution of nutrients and oxygen to all the body parts. This property is also beneficial in fighting rheumatism and arthritis.
- Emenagogue: The Essential Oil of Cassia relaxes menstrual cramps or opens blocked menstruations. This also gives relief from symptoms such as headaches, nausea, drowsiness etc. associated with menses.
- Febrifuge: Being an anti microbial and anti viral agent, it fights the infections causing fever and thus helps lower body temperature. The circulatory property of this oil also helps boost the immune system of the body. The warming effect of this oil gives relief from the fever too.
- Stimulant: It stimulates body functions, metabolism, secretions, discharges, circulation and also the nervous system and the brain, thereby helping to be more active and alert.
- Other Benefits: It can be used to treat uterine haemorrhage and other internal & external haemorrhages due to its astringent properties, loss of libido and sexual disorders such as frigidity and impotency, digestive disorders, flatulence, colic, stomach disorders, headaches and body pain.
Few Words of Caution: It produces irritations and sensitization in skin and the mucus membrane and should be avoided in pregnancy.
Blending: The essential oils of balsam, black pepper, caraway, chamomile, coriander, frankincense, ginger, geranium, nutmeg, rosemary and some citrus oils blend well with the Essential Oil of Cassia.
This article was contributed by Aparup Mukherjee
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