Geranial

Posted on January 1, 2026 by AyurvedicOils

Geranial is an oily liquid aldehyde, also known as citral A and is an E-isomer of Citral. Citral is a pair or a combination of terpenoid which goes by the name lemonal or 3, 7-dimethyl-2, 6-octadienal.

Geranial cannot be characterized alone, and it goes hand in hand with the nature and qualities of citral. It has a rich lemon aroma.

Citral is widely available in natural form and can be extracted from several plant oils such as lemon(2-5%), Calypranthes parriculata (about 62%), Litsea lemon verbena (30-35%), lemon ironbark (26%), lemongrass (65-85%), cubeba (70-85%), Lindera citriodora (about 65%), lemon balm (11%), lime (6-9%), petitgrain (36%), Ocimum gratissimum (66.5%), lemon myrtle (90-98%), Litsea citrata (90%), lemon tea-tree (70-80%), and orange.

As you can see that its derived from most plant that belong to the lemon family, and this makes it quite obvious where Geranial expresses its prominent lemon fragrance.

Due to this citrus effect, it is used in perfumery. Therapeutically geranial has a strong fragrance and is highly capable in keeping away insects, and also exhibits sedative and antimicrobial qualities.

Uses of Geranial:

Geranial in citral is seen to have a sensitivity effect on use, and as per the International Fragrance association, it has been advised that citral be used with desensitizing agents.

On the grounds of therapeutic usage, citral is seen to be effective in regards to genotoxicity and as a carcinogenic, though test claim that they have dose dependent effect on the kidneys. Geranial can also be used to treat infections in relation to the urinary tract and also in the treatment of kidney stone.

Effect of Geranial in Chemotherapy:

A study was conducted to understand the effect of ginger on chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. The chemical constituents of ginger include neral, borneol, b-fellandren, sogaoles, gingeroles, geranial, sineol, bisabolen, oleoresin, zingiberen, diterpenes, lypids, protein, starch and vitamins.

During the study the participants were divided into 2 groups, one received the anti-emetic, and the other was given ginger. The results proved that the group receiving the anti-emetic was only 75% effective when compared to the group receiving only ginger which proved to have completely absence of nausea and vomiting.

Effect of Geranial attributes in Lemon Grass:

To understand the therapeutic qualities of lemon grass a study was carried out. The result proved that lemon grass with the constituents of lemon grass, Citral α, Nerol Geraniol, Citral β, Terpinolene, Citronellal, Myrecene, Geranyl acetate, and Terpinol Methylheptenone showed several therapeutic activities.

Lemon grass had proved hypoglycemic, antimutagenicity, antimalarial, antimycobacterial, antioxidants, neurobehaviorial, anti-amoebic, antidiarrheal, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Prophylactic & Antinociceptive effects of Geranial:

A study was carried out to understand the effects of citral when administered orally to treat conditions of inflammation, acute and chronic nociception, and gastric ulcers caused by the usage of NSAIDS.

The result suggested that citral repressed the pain responses caused by inflammation and the neurogenic effects caused as an effect of intra-plantar injection of formalin; it also displayed therapeutic anti-nociceptive and prophylactic effects towards mechanical hyperalgesia seen in plantar incision surgery.

Citral was also seen displaying gastro-protective effects towards ulcers caused by NSAIDs. All these effects prove the positive response of citral towards the treatment of pain.

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Ayurvedic Essential Oils To Freeze Up Your Heat This Summer

Posted on December 31, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

Hmmm…… Summer has knocked your door and no ways to escape it as its nature’s rule to pass on both the extremes. I have a medley of feelings especially during this bright summer season and had a sizzling conversation this morning while the day woke me up with the mighty hands spread ‘SUN’. Wanna listen to what I heard today? Fine then end your curiosity here.

Sun: Hey buddy! Wake up I’ve come and I’m waiting to drain you with my heat rays……..

Me: No you can’t….. I’m no more the ordinary chum to get exhausted by you..!!..

Sun: Ouch!!! Poor thing… Are you dreaming to escape behind your Air Conditioners and rest often in your favorite Ice Cream Parlors? If it’s so…. Then listen, your lip smacking ice creams and cooling A/Cs spreads adverse effects than you might think and can harm you rigorously during my ruin (Summer Season)… Ha! Ha! Ha! Am I right my pal???

Me: No you’re not…. You are thinking about the temporary regimens and I’m talking about the enduring, natural, everlasting and completely safe ways of saving my head from your control.

Sun: Think you’ve gone mad in the morning!!! Nothing can shield you from my assail…

Me: Please stop your envious goofs… I’m talking about the Ayurvedic essential oils that can keep me cool from within all throughout the frustrating summer season.

Sun: To itself (Think I’ve knocked the wrong door.. He looks stronger with nature…Let’s flee)

Yes!!! My dear readers, you’ll never believe if I say that the Ayurvedic essential oils can freeze up your heat this summer without any kind of second opinion. Let’s have a look at the most effective essential oils that ‘Mother Nature’ has gifted us to fight against its conflicting counterparts.

Ayurvedic essential oils to resist the burning heat: Using cooling essential oils during this summer season is the best way to keep you away from the summer turmoil and help you enjoy the fullest fun that this season can aid you with. Ayurvedic essential oils that belong to the citrus, mint and other flower-patterned families are really great to partner you and balance your body. You can either gently massage your body or add few drops to your bathing tub to enrich your day with fresh, aromatic, cool and refreshing effects. Few such gracious essential oils are:

Lavender essential oil: As the sweetness in its name indicates, the essential oil of lavender is skin-friendly and seals your summer worries with its antidepressant, analgesic, deodorant, carminative, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-convulsive and immune stimulant properties to regenerate your cells and restore the excess energy lost.

Peppermint essential oil: The fresh, cool and minty aroma of this oil is more than enough to calm your nerves and revive your senses with its vermifuge, analgesic, digestive, anti-inflammatory, astringent, antiseptic and nervine properties.

Rosemary essential oil: With an exemplary meaning of ‘Dew of the Sea’, Rosemary is an uplifting herb and is the essential oil extracted from this mystical plant. This oil is exceedingly effective for treating hair and scalp problems. Frequent mood swings, stress, depression, hair fall, dull hair, rough hair, seborrhea, dandruff and few other hair related complexities that anguish you during the scorching summer season can be simply and superbly taken care of with Rosemary essential oil.

The essential oils of Cypress, Juniper Berry, Clove, Chamomile, Tea Tree, Lemon, Fennel, Bergamot, Dill, Basil, Eucalyptus and Spearmint along with the above mentioned essential oils can attend to your summer health needs efficaciously.

Ayurvedic essential oils can grace your summer with their incredible presence and pull the plug that your other contemporary or chemical remedies might fail to do.

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Carvone

Posted on December 31, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

Carvone is a monoterpene hydrocarbon seen in excessive quantities in the seeds of caraway, dill and spearmint. The chemical belongs to the family of terpenoid. It is a liquid and is seen in a color that is slightly yellow to colorless, and is soluble in ether, alcohol, propylene glycol, chloroform, and mineral oils.

Carvone is seen as two mirror images, R-(–)-carvone and S-(+)-carvone. They two have very different distinctive smells that can be identified even by squirrel monkeys.

R-(–)-carvone smells like spearmint leaves and S-(+)-carvone smells like that of caraway seeds. It has been in use from ancient times, and has been used for its medicinal purpose in Rome.

It was only in 1877 when a pure form of carvone was isolated by Franz Varrentrapp. When it was first discovered, Schweizer called it carvol. Carvone is isolated in large quantities from caraway seeds (60-70%), in dill seed oil (40-60%), in spear mint oil (50-80%) and is also found in mandarin orange peel oil.

R-(–)-carvone is extracted from spearmint leaves, and is recognized to be a valuable source that helps with Carvone extracts naturally. R-(–)-carvone, which hits upon its use in commercial purposes finds it’s availability in limonene, kuromoji oil, gingergrass oil and peppermint oil.

Studies conducted state that carvone possesses decongestant, diuretic, antiviral, and tonic biological properties. They also seem to a have an elevated anti-tumor effect as seen in one of the studies conducted at the US National Cancer Institute on mice.

Uses of Carvone:

In general carvones are used in the food industry, and in aromatherapy like many essential oils, it is also used in air fresheners for it pleasant smell. It also has several therapeutic effects that make it a perfect choice in the treatment of certain medical conditions.

Carvone in Food:

It has been used in food for over millennia. The very famous Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum uses natural spearmint oil that has been extracted from Mentha spicata, and the other spearmint flavored Life Savers use the same.

Carvone that has been extracted from dill and caraway have also been in use in the food industry. The famous European drink Kummel is created with a mixture of an extract from caraway and alcohol.

Carvone in Agriculture:

It is commonly used in Netherlands to prevent the sprouting of potatoes that have been kept in storage.

A study was conducted to understand the antifungal activity of carvone on potato tubers and other plant diseases, it was also meant to analyze the suppression of sprout in potatoes.

The results suggested that during in-vitro experiments, carvone exhibited antifungal activity towards various fungal species. Thus carvone has taken the trade name ‘talent’ to serve as an antifungal agent in the treatment of potato tubers in Netherlands.

Carvone as a Pesticide:

The extract of carvone is seen to be effective as a mosquito repellent, and at present it is being reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to check its potency and safety as a pesticide.

Carvone & its Therapeutic Uses:

Carvone displays biological activities as an expectorant tonic, disinfectant, cardiac, stomachic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, and digestive stimulant.

Carvone as a Relaxant:

Carvone is a major constituent of the oil extracted from the caraway seed and is seen in huge quantities with a percentage as far as 99%. As a relaxant it helps relieve from stress, emotional exhaustion, and clear respiratory tracts by acting as an expectorant in the treatment of coughs, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma.

In the treatment of laryngitis and sore throats it helps by flushing out the toxins to aid in a speedy recovery. It aids in relaxing the digestive system and in the treatment of stomach colic, gastric spasms, flatulence, and nervous digestion. It’s also used in clearing the urinary tract as well.

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