Cajuput Oil, the people’s Green Health Cares.

Cajuput Oil, Genuine, Natural, Pure,

Essential Oil of Indonesia Origin.

Having broad medicinal properties,

multi purpose uses by people for generations

Cajuput History 1848

Oil of Cajeput / Cajuput Oil has been known in Europe for above two centuries, Rumphius first described the tree which produces it under the name of Arbor alba, a literal translation of one of its Malay names, Cayu-puti [Kayu Putih], or White-tree, several botanists have described it in more recent times, but the species was generally mistaken until the researches of Sir J.Smith, published in 1819 in Rees' Cyclopaedia, and those of Roxburgh, first made public after his death by Mr.Colebrooke in the Medico Botanical Transactions for 1828.

Rumphius accurately distinguishes two closely allied species under the names Arbor alba, major and minor, the former was generally considered the source of cajeput-oil / cajuput oil, probably because the Malays apply to it chiefly the name of Cayuputi, its more correct Malay name, however, being Cayu-Gelam. This is the Melaleuca Leucadendron of modern botanists, an inhabitant of most of the Moluccas Isles [Maluku Islands], and abounding on Amboyna [Ambon], but more especially on Boerou [Buru Island] and Ceram [Seram Island].

It appears, however, from the inquiries of Smith and of Roxburgh that the usual reference to this species is a mistake; that the Arbor alba major of Rumphius, contrary to his statement, has no odour ; and that cajeput oil is the produce only of his Arbor alba minor, the Melaleuca minor of Smith as well as Decandolle, or Melaleuca cajuputi of Roxburgh, Lindley, and others, this plant belongs to the Linnaean class, order Polyadelphia, and to the natural family Myrtacese, it is a crooked tree, about twenty feet high, a native of several of the Moluccas Isles [Maluku], especially of Boerou [Buru Island] and Manipa, and also of the southern part of Borneo [Kalimantan], but not of Amboyna [Ambon]

Map of Indonesia,

showing the location of Moluccas / Maluku Islands

Map of South Moluccas Islands Group,

showing the location of Buru Island, west of Ambon Island.

Buru Island’s Cajuput Oil

well-known as one of the premium quality.

Cajuput Tree:

The tree has a long flexible trunk with irregular ascending branches, covered with a pale thick, lamellated [fibrous] bark it is soft and spongy and from time to time throws off its outer layer in flakes, a tall evergreen tree up to 30 metres high, the flexible trunk has a whitish spongy bark, which flakes off easily, in Indonesia it is called kaju-putih, meaning white wood, leaves entire linear, lanceolate [slender and pointed, needle-like], ash colour, alternate on short foot-stalks, flowers sessile, white, on a long spike, the leaves have a very aromatic odour, cajuput tree also known as White tea-tree, Broad-leaved tea-tree, Paper-barked tea-tree, Swamp tea-tree, and White-wood.

image for illustration only

Cajuput Oil

Cajeput oil / Oleum Cajuputi USP 1820 – 1936, Chemical Abstract Service [CAS] Registry Number 008008-98-8, is an essential oil / volatile oil obtained by steam distillation in copper vessels / stills [at a home industry] of fresh leaves and twigs of the plant Melaleuca leucadendron Linn / Melaleuca cajuputi Roxburgh / Melaleuca minor Decandolle, family Myrtaceae, and rectified by steam distillation, it takes approximately 60-70 kg of leaves and twigs to make 1 kg of cajuput essential oil, a pale yellow or greenish volatile oil due to the traces of copper [from copper still used in steam distillation] that have been detected in the oil and this may explain its green tint, the green color is not essential, and may be removed by distillation, it is due chiefly to the presence of copper, and partly to the presence of some altered chlorophyll, it has a distinctly camphoraceous odour, and an aromatic, bitterish taste, levorotatory [leftist optical rotation] has specific gravity of 0.922 to 0.929 at 15° C [equivalent to 59° F]. it is originally produced in Indonesia, previously well-known from Buru Island, in South Molucass Islands group [see map], but now has been heavily cultivated in various regions in Java Island [see map], several other species of Melaleuca leucadendron are utilized such as Melaleuca hypericifolia, Melaleuca veridifolia, Melaleuca lalifolia, Melaleuca paraguayensis, the Australian species Melaleuca decussata and Melaleuca erucifolia are also used, cajeput oil / oil of cajuput contains 50 to 65 % of 1,8-cineole / eucalyptol [also called cajuputol], it is used internally as a carminative, stimulant and diaphoretic, externally used as a parasiticide.

Distillation of Cajuput Oil

home industry, cajuput oil distillation using copper still.

The steam containing essential oil vapour, leaves the still and passes into a condenser by way of a "goose-neck", some sort of gauze or screen is often fitted at the mouth of the goose-neck to prevent plant material being blown over into the condenser, in the condenser the vapours are cooled and condense, the vapours pass through a coiled tube contained in a water bath, and condensate is obtained at the bottom of the condenser tube, it is important that condensation is complete or oil may be lost by evaporation, the mixture of water and essential oil then leaves the condenser and flows into a separator, called a florentine flask, in which they separate into two layers, the essential oil will generally be lighter than water, the oil floats to the surface and the distillate water drains away.

Constituents of Cajuput Oil:

The principal constituent of Cajuput oil is 1,8-cineole [cajeputene hydrate / eucalyptol / cajuputol / C₁₀H₁₈O], which should average 50 to 65 %, solid terpineol is also present and several aldehydes such as valeric-aldehyde, butyric-aldehyde and benzoic-aldehyde, terpinyl-acetate, pinene, nerolidol, both free and as an ester of acetic acid, and small amounts of terpenes, such as laevo-pinene, other compounds include: farnesol, phytol, squalene, alloaromadendrene, ledene, palustrol, viridiflorol, ledol, betulinaldehyde, betulinic acid, platanic acid, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene, α-terpinene, limonene, γ-terpinene, ρ-cymene, terpinolene, linaolool, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol.

1,8 Cineole / Eucalyptol / Cajuputol

Medicinal actions and Therapeutic uses:

Cajuput essential oil has stimulant and relaxant activity and is used both internally and externally.

Externally uses / Topical uses:

• as embrocation [rubbing] for the relieve of stomach disorder, colitis with hemorrhage and impetigo.
• works by stimulating the circulation around the point of application, has been used since the 17^th century as a remedy for rheumatism, it provides deep, penetrating action and soothing relief for muscular and rheumatic aches / pains, pulled muscles or ligaments, sprains, bruises, muscle tension, slipped disk, low-back pain, and sciatica.
• mildly counter-irritant for mosquito and insect bites.
• used as baby massage oil or an ointment for all painful conditions, especially arthritis and rheumatism, may also be helpful due to its pain relieving properties for sports injuries, muscle stiffness and general aches and pain.
• has strong antibacterial activity, shows antiseptic properties, for the treatment of psoriasis and other skin infections, treatment of candida yeast infections, external sores and abscesses, boils, carbuncles, cuts, scrapes, ringworm and external fungus infection such as athletes foot, head lice
• as a vaginal douche in cases of “erosion of the cervix” and gonorrhea.
• useful for the treatment of oily skin.
• used as a fragrance and freshening agent in soaps, cosmetics, detergents and perfumes

Internally uses / Inhalation uses:

• when vaporized soothes bronchial and sinus passages and relieves sore throat, stopped up sinuses, fever, tight chest, laryngitis, pains, toothaches,
• Aromatherapic uses: as a tonic to the nervous system and may be used to alleviate fatigue, drowsiness and restlessness.
• in combination with other medicinal oils, by promoting sweating, cajuput oil cools down the body and helps with such infections as colds / flu, pharyngitis and pneumonia, it is also helpful for asthma, sinusitis and a sore throat.

Internally uses / Ingestion:

• it warms the stomach, highly stimulant, producing a sensation of warmth, it calms the digestive system, soothes colic, enteritis, dysentery, vomiting and spasms, as carminative and local analgesic properties
• as an antiseptic in cystitis and as an anthelmintic for round worms,
• as a stimulating expectorant in chronic laryngitis and bronchitis,
• occasionally employed as a flavor component in food products and soft drinks

Safety used of Cajuput Oil:

1. Cajuput oil is non toxic and non sensitizing, however may irritate the skin, therefore it needs to be well diluted with carrier oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil etc, and never allowed to come into contact with mucous membranes, open wounds and eyes.
2. Possible drug interactions: no interactions have been reported.
3. For pregnant or breast feeding women: no harmful effects are known.

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