Cedarwood, the magnificent tree found mainly in areas of North Africa and North America produces a versatile Essential Oil which has a wide variety of uses making it popular with Aromatherapists.
The trees that can often grow to a height in excess of 30 metres were much prized by the ancient Egyptians
The Egyptians who originally used the splendid trees as a building material in their palaces and temples, also on a smaller scale it was used as an ingredient for perfumes and cosmetics and in temple incenses, Having strong properties as an insect repellent made it popular for making furniture, storage chests and coffins, there is even proof that cedarwood extracts was used in the mummification process.
Other ancient civilisations including the Chinese and Greeks made great use of cedarwood both medicinally and as a perfume, so much so that it became a very valuable commodity and was much sought after.
A subtle woody warm aroma with a faint undertone of sandal wood makes cedarwood easily identifiable.
The essential oil is produced by the process of steam distillation of the actual wood or sawdust and the resulting essence blends well with many other oils including cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, juniper, pine, ylang-ylang, patchouli, lavender, myrtle, rosemary and sandalwood.
Cedarwood is generally recognised as having relaxing properties that soothe the spirit and can produce a calming effect on both body and mind reducing tension and anxiety. It has highly antiseptic properties and can be used as a mild astringent helpful in treating acne, oily skin, dandruff, fungal infections, soothing itchy skin and treating dermatitis. Some respiratory infections such as coughs and catarrh can be greatly relieved by using cedarwood oil and it is often used for its mild diuretic properties.
The wide range of blending possibilities its pleasant aroma and relatively low cost makes cedarwood essential oil ideal for using in baths, as a massage oil, in perfumes and as a room fragrancer.
About the Author
David Bates is a complementary therapy specialist from the UK; he has an interest in several natural therapy sites including:
http://www.therapiesguide.co.uk
http://www.aromatherapy-guide.co.uk
http://www.reflexology-guide.co.uk
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