Alpha-terpineol

Posted on January 18, 2026 by AyurvedicOils

Alpha-terpineol is one of the isomers of terpineol, which is a monoterpene alcohol found in Pine oil, Cajeput oil and petitgrain oil. It is present in the barbed skull cap, Lapsang souchong tea, a black tea from China. When the leaves of Lapsang souchong is dried using the pine smoke, alpha terpineol and longifolene are produced.

Alpha-terpineol is the major constituent of the mixture of the isomers that together form terpineol. Its molecular formula is C₁₀H₁₈O and it is also referred by various other names such as 1-alpha-terpineol, DL-alpha-terpineol, alpha terpineol sodium salt and so on.

Attributes of alpha-terpineol:

It is a colorless oily liquid to solid with floral lilac aroma. It owns sweet lime taste. It is used as a flavoring agent due to its distinctiveness. It is used as intermediates, solvents and as a fragrancing agent in perfumery.

Therapeutic properties of alpha-terpineol:

Antimicrobial activity:

Alpha-terpineol exhibits antibacterial activity. In the study “Antimicrobial effect of linalool and α-terpineol against periodontopathic and cariogenic bacteria” it was established that alpha terpineol showed antimicrobial activity against periodontopathic and cariogenic bacteria.

According to the study, “The proposed mechanism of bactericidal action of eugenol, alpha-terpineol and gamma-terpinene against Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli”, it was found that alpha terpineol was active against the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli.

Antifungal activity:

Alpha terpineol possesses antifungal effect against a range of fungi. It is evident from the study “Antifungal activity of the components of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil” that alpha terpineol present in Melaleuca alternifolia is active against a range of fungi with minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicidal concentrations.

In another study titled “Antifungal activity of citral, octanal and alpha-terpineol against Geotrichum citri-aurantii”, it is also made clear that alpha terpineol exhibit antifungal activity against Geotrichum citri-aurantii.

In the book named “Candidiasis—Advances in Research and Treatment: 2012 Edition: Scholarly Paper”, it is mentioned that alpha terpineol present in the essential oil of Artemisia princeps pamp., reduces the growth of Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalisis.

Anti-inflammatory effect:

Alpha terpineol is also acclaimed for its anti-inflammatory effect, which is evident from the study “Characterization of α-Terpineol as an anti-inflammatory component of Orange Juice by in Vitro Studies Using oral Buccal Cells”. In this study, it was found that alpha terpineol found in the orange juice possess anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the formation of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6.

In another study “The water-soluble components of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) suppress the production of superoxide by human monocytes, but not neutrophils, activated in vitro”, it was made clear that alpha-terpineol suppress the production of silver oxide and regulates the functioning of cells during inflammation.

Anti-proliferative effect:

A study titled “Antiproliferative activity of essential oils derived from plants belonging to the Magnoliophyta division” was conducted to test the anti-proliferative effects of the essential oils from different plants in Magnoliophyta family. It was determined that alpha terpineol and caryophyllene present in the essential oils exhibited remarkable anti-proliferative effects on human erythroleukemic K562 cells.

Anticancer activity:

Alpha-terpineol exhibits anticancer activity against human cell lung carcinoma. According to the study “Alpha Terpineol: A Potential Anticancer Agent which Acts through Suppressing NF-κB Signalling” the cytotoxic effect and anticancer activity of alpha terpineol was examined. It was found that alpha terpineol when treated on human cell lung carcinoma reduces the growth of the tumour cells through suppression of NF-κB pathway.

Skin penetration enhancement:

In a study “Terpenes and the Lipid–Protein–Partitioning Theory of Skin Penetration Enhancement”, it was reported that alpha terpineol acts as a skin penetration enhancer by enhancing the permeability of skin to lipid soluble compounds.

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Best Christmas Gift Idea 2012: Adoring Ayurvedic Essential Oils

Posted on January 17, 2026 by AyurvedicOils

Are you thinking ‘What is wrong with me?’ wondering what’s the need for Christmas gift idea now, while there are still 4 full months for December 25^th to knock your door? Come on! This is scorching summer season and to think about something that will enchant your mind, chill your senses and hearten your spirits will certainly be a brilliant idea and nothing else other than Christmas Eve has the glory to splash such joy on you. Sounds great now….. Right!! This is the right time to start your Christmas count down. Every year Christmas is exceptional in its special way. This year, you make it out of the ordinary by gifting your loved ones with warm and healing Ayurvedic essential oils rather than your usual gifts.

Your 2011 Christmas might not have been the same as your 2008 Christmas. You might have missed your loved ones or there might have been a new member to your family last year (baby!), much more adventure and a variety of gifts and that is what Christmas is all about. Make your 2012 Christmas outshine all the other festive seasons that you’ve passed in your lifetime with a wonderful pack of sensational essential oils that can take your entire family out of this world. Yes! There are certain mind-blowing Ayurvedic essential oils that suit everyone and can be used all through the year till the next Christmas comes by your way. Such enlivening essential oils are:

Lavender essential oil: According to me ‘Lavender is the queen of all essential oils’ and is my all-time favorite. How can anyone keep themselves away from this magnificent oil with a mystique fragrance in it? Fill your love in a bottle full of Lavender essential oil that can uplift the spirits and refresh the mind. Wow! The wonderful color, the exuberant aroma, immense health benefits and numerous therapeutic properties like nervine, sedative, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antiseptic, analgesic, anti-rheumatic, anti-convulsant and many more make Lavender very special at all the good times and sick times too!
Ylang Ylang essential oil: Nothing can be so very romantic, tender, quixotic, passionate and magical like the transfixing fragrance of Ylang Ylang essential oil. This oil has emmenagogue, sedative, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, hypotensive and antidepressant properties that alleviates pain, supports mood fluctuations, controls high blood pressure, aids in frigidity problems, brings down rapid heartbeat and treats your senses.
Rose essential oil: Shakespeare rightly said that ‘Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose’. Very popularly known as the symbol of love all around the universe, Rose essential oil can give you the joy of being together in a garden full of fresh, fragrant roses. Rose oil has been proven effective in treating various health conditions with its aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antiviral, antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, uterine, bactericidal and nervine properties.
Grapefruit essential oil: Grapefruit oil with its light and fresh aroma is trusted to have great effects in shedding the extra pounds of the body. Any weight loss program with essential oils cannot get fulfilled without Grapefruit essential oil. It is also an excellent skin toning agent and natural skin purifier.

Apart from these essential oils, you can also include Peppermint essential oil, Sandalwood essential oil, Sweet orange essential oil or Jasmine essential oil as per the preference of your near ones.

Love is known only when it is shown. Express your unconditional love this Christmas season with the never-ending bliss of these Ayurvedic essential oils gift pack. There’s nothing to get surprised if the love of your life asks for one the next Christmas also. Wait and watch!!!

Merry Christmas and let it be a Mesmerizing Christmas as well.

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Think Ayurveda To Think Better

Posted on January 17, 2026 by AyurvedicOils

Your thoughts decide your actions and your actions define ‘YOU’. There are myriad emotions that are exclusively indulged with humanity. Only you can smile, you can talk, you can discover and you can create. Thinking positive indicates that you are a proud owner of a healthy physique that keeps your thinking sound as well. Ayurveda talks about the constructive effects of positive thinking that helps you keep going on and on. Pessimism or negative thinking can even stop the functioning of your heart and collapse the brain’s functionality. Every human being has his own problems but just the severity of the problem differs. You can laugh at a person if he says he is free of troubles because in this materialistic world only a five-headed snake can be free of worries. It does not count whether you have problems or not but it matters how you deal with it and Ayurveda paves way for such an optimistic living.

Optimistic thinking: There’s a popular book named ‘You Can Win’ by Shiv Khera where the author beautifully lists the mentality of Pessimists’. 3 of my favorite lines in that excellent piece of writing are:

‘Pessimists don’t see the doughnut, only the hole,

Pessimists forget their blessings and count their troubles

Pessimists stop sleeping in bed when they hear that more people die in bed than anywhere else’

Yes my dear friends! This is the way that negative thinking affects your life and the best way to come out of this dark world is to think better with the natural and holistic healing of the ancient science named Ayurveda.

Ayurvedic treatment for optimism: According to Ayurveda, a healthy mind is the key to a healthy body and your attitude decides it. In this mechanical epoch that drains you, demands more than your potential with taut deadlines and cumbersome workload ends up in mental stress, difficulty in striking balance between your work and your family, anxiety, fear, fatigue and deep depression. When every single problem is placing you in the darker side of the world, let it know that you are strong with the real power granted by the natural Ayurvedic essential oils, meditation and yoga along with the robustness to turn the tide.

Ayurvedic essential oils for positive thinking: Essential oils of lavender, marjoram, grapefruit, thyme, sandalwood, jasmine, lemon, peppermint and ylang ylang possess an adorable fragrance in nature. These oils have soothing, calmative, stimulating, energizing and revitalizing properties that can enrich your spirits along with your mind and body. Using these essential oils either as a massage oil or to your bath tub or in your diffuser will calm your nerves, relax your muscles, alleviate stress, lighten your pressure, uplift your mood, kindle your thoughts, augment your mind power, improve your memory power, balance your emotions, fortify your immune system, strengthen your will power, encourage a peaceful sleep while invigorating your system for a replenished crack of dawn.

Meditation: Ayurvedic way of treating humanity can never be fulfilled without meditation. Spend some quality time for yourself and let that time of eminence be your meditating time especially in the early hours of the day when your environment is calm and composed. Meditation with deep breathing exercises can empower your mind while promoting positive feelings and preparing your body to adapt to new challenges and your mind to learn luminously, think undeniably, regulate stressful situations, recall your past and retain your balanced system for the days of harmony ahead you.

Being an optimist is the best way to setting your life as a role model for your younger ones to lead their life with great trust as real optimists always see an opportunity in every threat:)

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