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Black Spruce
Essential Oil Profile
By Dawn Copeland and
Jeanne Rose
PART OF THE AROMATHERAPY COURSE – HOME & FAMILY
(with therapeutic additions)
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Black
Spruce
Picea Mariana
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Name of Oil:
Black Spruce
Everyone should have at least one of the Pinaceae in
his or her repertoire. We have chosen to profile Spruce, but a Pine or
Fir could also have been done.
Latin Binomial/Botanical Family:
Picea Mariana/Pinaceae
Countries of Origin: Native to
Quebec, Canada
General description of plant, habitat
& growth:
“A
northern evergreen tree ranging from Alaska and sweeping down across
Canada to the Maritime Provinces and northeastern states. The trunk
grows straight and is without branches for much of its length”
Canadian Forest Tree Essences, p.73.
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Portion of plant used in distillation, how distilled, extraction
methods & yield: |
Leaves are steam
distilled. Yield is about 1.5- 3%.
Organoleptic
Characteristics:
(see
Vocabulary of Odor Basic 7© for description and organoleptic
qualities)
Color:
Clear
Clarity: Clear
Viscosity: Watery, non-viscous
Taste: Bland, bitter, mildly, astringent,
cleansing, slightly acrid
Odor Intensity: 3
Chemical Components: 55% Monoterpenes, including
Camphene,  -Pinene and
 -3-
Carene, -Bornyl acetate, and
Sesquiterpenes.
Historical Uses:
Respiratory aide
and for parasites
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Interesting
Facts: |
-pinene
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Valuable for
asthmatics who take corticosteroids. “It is known that Black Spruce
roots were used for sewing birch bark canoes. Its resin was used as
chewing gum and a poultice for sores, and the inner bark to treat a
variety of other ailments” —Canadian Forest Tree Essences, p.73.
Hydrosol
Use:
This is a
fragrant hydrosol that can be used in bath, compress, and particularly
in steams or nasal lavage for the health of the respiratory system.
Essential Oil Properties (by IG=ingestion
or IN=inhalation or AP=application):
Ingestion:
Taken with other oils as a treatment for asthma,
allergies, chronic bronchitis.
Inhalation:
Hormone-like, possibly stimulating the thymus gland,
cortisone-like properties that affect the HPA axis, bactericide,
disinfectant, stimulant, expectorant, adrenal stimulant, grounding,
calmative, and uplifting.
Application:
Antifungal for Candida, vulnerary
Physical Uses & How used (IG or AP):
Ingestion:
To expel internal parasites.
Application:
Antifungal for Candida, useful for solar plexus spasms,
and prostatitis. Also used as a household cleaner.
Inhalation:
Bronchitis, asthma, excessive thyroid function, and asthenic
conditions. Also used as an air freshener.
Emotional Uses (AP or IN):
Inhalation:
Sudden fatigue and exhaustion, grounding, anxiety,
stress, and deep healing for the dark side of the male, or
active, principle.
Key Use:
Respiratory ailments and as a vulnerary (a remedy used
for treating wounds)
Safety Precautions:
None known.
Source:
This is one of the essential oils in
the Basic 25
Kit and the
Aromatherapy Conifer Kit.
Essential Oil Profiles were by compiled Dawn Copeland of Chicago, Ill.
with permission.
Bibliography:
(Also References for Essential Oil profiles)
Rose, Jeanne .
Herbal Studies Course,
Jeanne Rose - Institute of Aromatic & Herbal Studies, 1992.
Lawless, Julia. The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils.
Miller, Richard & Ann. The Potential of Herbs as a Cash Crop.
Acres USA. Kansas City. 1985.
Mojay, Gabriel. Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. Rochester,
Vermont: Healing Arts Press,
Prakash, V. Leafy Spices. CRC Press. NY. 1990
Rizzi, Susanne. Complete Aromatherapy. Sterling. NY. 1989.
Rose, Jeanne.
375
Essential Oils and Hydrosols. Berkeley, California: Frog, Ltd.,
1999
Rose, Jeanne.
The
Aromatherapy Book: Applications & Inhalations. San Francisco,
California
Worwood, Susan & Valerie Ann. Essential Aromatherapy, a pocket guide
to essential oils and
Aromatherapy. Novato, CA. New World Library, 2003.
DISCLAIMER:
This work is intended for informational purposes only and is not a
substitute for accurate diagnosis
and treatment by a qualified health care
professional.
The author is neither a chemist nor a medical doctor.
The content herein
is the product of research and some personal and practical experience.
Institute of Aromatic &
Herbal Studies - Jeanne Rose©
©All
Rights Reserved 2002 to Course, Books, Kits and Profile.
No part of this article may be used without prior permission from The
Aromatic Plant Project.
©Author's Copyright and Jeanne Rose,
info@aromaticplantproject.com |
