Description
Arborvitae is in the cypress family. Synonyms: Eastern Arborvitae, Chinese Arborvitae, Chinese Thuja, Morpankhi (in Hindi)
In Chinese medicine for thousands of years it has been categorized as a blood-cooling and homeostatic herb. (1)
Energetic Properties: Arborvitae is often referred to as ‘the tree of life,’ because of its longevity and its ability to withstand rot. It can easily live hundreds of years and sometimes even thousands. Great for working with balance and alignment, and due to its longevity and it being an evergreen it can make a good ally for ancestral work. It is used in Chinese medicine for its astringent and cooling energy that helps staunch bleeding. Florian says, “if you are having trouble sleeping or wake up in the night and can’t get back to sleep, leave the bottle by the bed and smell it until you start to feel sleepy again. It works wonders.”
Smell: Arborvitae has a sweet musky woodiness to it, with notes of conifer needles and eucalyptus. To me (Cathy), it smells like very old forests.
Perfumery note: Base note
Safety: Generally considered safe, but the plant can cause skin irritation. (2)
Main Chemical Constituents: The essential oil has been evaluated for its antifungal, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. (3) We have had its oil GCMS tested, and its dominant component is thujopsene, which is sesquiterpene and has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, tonic, astringent, diuretic, sedative, insecticidal, and antifungal activities. The second main component is cedrol which is known for its anti-anxiety and sedative qualities. (4)
Adulteration and quality: A review of the literature did not reveal any research suggesting adulteration of this essential oil is a common phenomenon.
Citations:
(1) Platycladus orientalis leaves: a systemic review on botany, phytochemistry and pharmacology by Ming-Qui Shan, Jing Shang, and An-Wei Ding.
(2) https://greg.app/oriental-arborvitae-toxic-to-humans/
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6091795/
GC/MS RESULTS: PLATYCLADUS ORIENTALIS EO_ABP-PO-09-23_LD85-GC_A
Cynthia Ayton (verified owner) –
Such a beautiful oil, I feel like I know this oil from long ago, it brings you back to yourself. I wanted to say , your packaging is always so lovely , it feels like you are receiving a very special gift, which you are! Thankyou for all the thought and caring that goes into your oils and packaging, very special!