The 1,8-cineole content in rosemary is 42%.
Image by A_Different_Perspective from Pixabay
In the last post on Eucalyptus, https://www.justessentialstoday.com/what-to-know-about-eucalyptus-essential-oil/, I wanted to keep talking about 1,8-cineole because there is so much to learn! Realizing that the blog would be a ramble down a rabbit-hole, I decided to make this a part 2. The chemical component in most eucalyptus is 1,8-cineole. But it is also in Rosemary, Ravintsara and cardamom, so let’s learn more about these Oxides.
The percentage of high 1,8-cineole rich oils.
- Helichrysum ct. Gymnocephalum 59%
- Hyssop ct. 1,8-cineole 56%
- Ravintsara 56%
- Niaouli ct. 1,8-cineole 54%
- Cajeput 48%
- Laurel leaf 46%
- Rosemary 42%
- Saro 39%
- Cardamom 32%
- Myrtle (red) 31%
- Spike lavender 29%
- Rosalinda 29%
There is significant 1,8-cineole content in all the oils listed above, if there are safety concerns with this component it is good know. Always research oils before blending.
In future blogs, I will go into more of the individual oils listed above. For now, I just want to focus on the chemical components.
Helichrysum gymnocephalum is a 1,8-cineole rich oil at 59%. This percentage is almost as high as the percentage in radiata.
Uses for cineole-rich oxides other than a cold.
Cardamom is an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic. It is best used for digestion, but can be irritating to the skin and mucus membranes. Use at a dilution of 1% or less in blends.
Spike lavender has many therapeutic benefits: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal as well as being a decongestant and expectorant. This oil is also high in linalool at 45%.
Ravintsara is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral.
Rosemary is also many of the above, plus a CNS stimulant for memory and alertness. Rosemary is rich in a-pinene at 12% and camphor at 11% which enhances its therapeutic benefits.
So, the point is—if 1,8-cineole is a problem for you, there is more than Eucalyptus to research and be concerned about.
Safety is always the first concern when working with essential oils.
Happy Blending,
Crystal