Cabreuva Essential Oil

Cabreuva essential oil may not be the most popular oil, but it definitely has some interesting benefits. Here is more about cabreuva essential oil.

Quick Glance at Cabreuva Essential Oil

Pros: Cabreuva oil may be anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.

Cons: Cabreuva oil may affect your hypothalamus.

Precautions: All should check with their doctor before using cabreuva oil.

Properties of Cabreuva Essential Oil

Below are some properties of cabreuva essential oil.

Name

The botanical name for the cabreuva tree is Myrocarpus frondosus.

You may sometimes see wild cabreuva oil being sold. It is the same thing. But verify the botanical name before buying this essential oil.

Color & Scent

Cabreuva wood chips are used to make the oil. So cabreuva essential oil typically has a pale yellow color and a sweet woody scent.

Compounds

The main compounds in cabreuva essential oil are e-nerolidol (75% of the oil), e,e-farnesol, and alpha-bisabolol.

Benefits of Cabreuva Essential Oil

There isn't a great deal of research on cabreuva essential oil. However, the compounds in the oil have been well studied. So we would expect that the benefits of these compounds may translate to the benefits of cabreuva essential oil.

Here are some of these benefits.

1. Cabreuva oil may be anti-cancer

Two main compounds in cabreuva essential oil have demonstrated cancer fighting properties.

A 2010 study tested nerolidol on human breast and colon cancer cells. Nerolidol was able to inhibit the cancer cells and induce apoptosis (i.e. cell death).

Another study, done in 2011, tested alpha-bisabolol on 50 human leukemia cells. And alpha-bisabolol behaved just like nerolidol. It caused cell death of the cancerous cells. Other studies (like this one) have also shown bisabolol has anti-tumor, anti-mutagenic, and cytotoxic benefits.

So cabreuva essential oil may have cancer fighting properties due to these two compounds.

2. It may be anti-inflammatory

Cabreuva oil may be anti-inflammatory due to the presence of alpha-bisabolol.

A 2014 study provided extensive evidence for the anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-bisabolol. The study showed the compound was able to inhibit inflammation in cells as well as skin inflammation. And topical application on the skin was deemed very safe and effective.

Note, however, cabreuva oil is still an essential oil and must be diluted before applying it to your skin.

3. It may be antioxidant

Besides being anti-inflammatory, bisabolol is antioxidant. And a 2009 study demonstrated these free radical scavenging, antioxidant effects.

So cabrueva essential oil may be antioxidant since it contains bisabolol.

4. Cabreuva oil is antibacterial

This is a proven benefits of cabreuva essential oil. A 2010 study tested a few essential oils including cabreuva, cedarwood, and myrrh on eleven types of bacteria. The bacteria ranged from animal and plant pathogens, food poisoning and spoilage bacteria. All essential oils inhibited the bacteria under investigation. But, higher concentrations of cabreuva essential oil were necessary to see these effects.

5. It may be insecticidal

A 1998 study tested e-nerolidol on the larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito is the vector for dengue fever, yellow fever and other potentially fatal viruses.

The results showed e-nerolidol was very toxic to the larvae; thus demonstrating potent insecticidal benefits.

So you can expect that cabreuva essential oil may have potent insecticidal effects too.

Uses of Cabreuva Essential Oil

You have seen the potential benefits of cabreuva essential oil. Now, let's look at some ways to use the oil.

Inhaling

You can add 1-2 drops of cabreuva essential oil to your diffuser for a wonderful woody scent.

The oil also pairs well with other woody and flowery scents like cedarwood and rose essential oils.

Massaging

There have been reports of skin sensitization due to alpha-bisabolol. So it is even more important to do a skin patch test if it is your first time trying the oil. If you don't see any redness, add 1-2 drops of the oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and apply this mix to your skin.

More precautions

There are some sites that claim cabreuva essential oil has a hormone-like effect on the hypothalamus (which is the part of your brain that is responsible for hormone production). And others say, persons with prostate cancer should avoid the oil.

I have not seen any scientific studies that verifies these claims. However, you should be cautious nonetheless.

Raise these concerns with your doctor and check with him/her before using the essential oil, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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