All the Wondrous Benefits of Myrtle Essential Oil
This week, I was geeking out with an article that discussed the Oils of Ancient Scripture. Dr. Z really dug deep into these oils of the Bible, citing their references and explaining their traditional uses.
One of my favorite cross-references in the article was a study on myrtle. I knew myrtle essential oil could mildly help with keeping outdoor activities annoyance free and I also knew it supported lung health. However, I was surprised to learn all the other properties and mechanisms of action of myrtle essential oil. The article specifically cited the plant as a powerful antioxidant and modulator of the immune system.
There are 16 different species and various chemotypes of myrtle. Myrtus communis is the species that is highlighted in my selected article. As in any oil, different properties can occur depending on environmental factors, parts of the plant used, the growing region, and the method of distillation. For example, the highlighted article states, “ hydro-distillation and steam-distillation methods yield oils rich in terpene hydrocarbons, while in contrast, the super-critical extracted oils contained a higher percentage of oxygenated compounds.”
(One major reason to know your supplier.)
The article continues on to share all the amazing immune and wellness supporting constituents of myrtle. They can be classified into terpenes (including monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes), terpenoids, and phenylpropanoids, as well as hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds:
Check out the long list of compounds that have been found in myrtle essential oil:
Compounds that have been found in myrtle oils include E-2-hexenal, Z-3-hexenol, hexanol, tricyclene, ?-thujene, ?-pinene, sabinene, ?-pinene, myrcene, ?-3-carene, ?-terpinene, p-cymene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, E-?-ocimene, linalool E-oxide, terpinolene, linalool, terpinene-4-ol, borneol, p-cymene-8-ol, ?-terpineol, myrtenol, nerol, cis-carveol, geraniol, linalyl acetate, bornyl acetate, eugenol, myrtenyl acetate, ?-terpinyl acetate, geranyl acetate, neryl acetate, methyl eugenol, ?-caryophyllene, ?-humulene, allo-aromadendrene, germacrene-D, thiophene, geranyl 2-methylbutyrate, spathulenol, nonadecane, ?-elemene, caryophyllene oxide, camphene, ?-phellandrene, ?-terpinene, cis-linalool oxide, trans-linalool oxide and tridecane.
That’s a chemical soup of some incredible molecules that may have action against unwanted microbes, assist with maintaining healthy blood sugar, and supporting the respiratory and cardiovascular system.
This season, I’m going to be exploring some not so “famous oils” to add to my collection. Myrtle’s on this month’s wish list for the holiday!
In case you missed it, you can get a recap on my webinar on essential oil use in children here.
References:
Antimicrobial and antioxidative activity of extracts and essential oils of Myrtus communis L. Microbial Research. April 2014. 169(4): 240-254.
Essential oil of Myrtus communis L. as a potential antioxidant and antimutagenic agents. Molecules. 2010: 15: 2759–2770.
Myrtucommulone from Myrtus communis induces apoptosis in cancer cells via the mitochondrial pathway involving caspase-9. Apoptosis. 2008: 13(1): 119–131.
Essential oil composition and larvicidal activity of six Mediterranean aromatic plants against the mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasitology Research. November 2010, 107(6):1455-1461.
Disclaimer:
This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents.
There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin.
This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
