Menthol

Posted on July 29, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

Menthol solid at room temperature, and is white, crystalline and waxy in nature. It retains its solid state at room temperature and melts slightly above. It is originally found in the form of corn mint, peppermint, or other mint oils, and the organic compound made synthetically from it.

It imparts a minty flavor, fragrance and cooling effect to essential oils it’s seen in.

It is widely used to relieve minor throat irritation, as menthol has local anesthetic and counter-irritant qualities. This makes it very common in non-prescription products for short-term relief of minor sore throat and minor mouth or throat irritation.

It is also used to relieve minor aches and pains, such as sprains, muscle cramps, headaches and similar conditions. It is mixed with chemicals such as camphor, eucalyptus oil or capsaicin to form topical analgesics.

It is also used as an antipruritic to reduce itching. In perfumery, menthol is used to prepare menthyl esters to emphasize floral notes. It is used as a decongestant for chest and sinuses, used to treat sunburns and in aftershave products to relieve razor burns.

Menthol is used in certain cigarette brands as a smoking tobacco additive, which also increases the density of nicotine receptors, making it an addictive potential of tobacco products. It is used in soda to alleviate nausea, in particular motion sickness, by pouring a few drops on a lump of sugar.

A study on ‘Menthol: a simple monoterpene with remarkable biological properties’ stated that menthol can only be found as a constituent of a limited number of aromatic plants, and hence not a prime compound of most essential oils.

This compound is known to show signs of high biological activity in vitro and in vivo, displaying antibacterial, antifungal, antipruritic, anticancer and analgesic effects, and are also an effective fumigant.

Menthol is used in food and in oral hygiene products such as mouth and tongue-spray, mouthwash, toothpaste and more generally as a flavoring agent in chewing gums and candies. It acts as an antispasmodic or a muscle relaxant in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. It is also used in the cosmetic industry in products such as hair conditioners.

A 2013 study on ‘Chemical composition and biological properties of essential oils of Two mint species by Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science and Providence University, published in the Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research’ established the effects of menthol against inflammation and microbes.

This study showed that the two mint essential oils contain more alcohol and terpene and the major compound was menthol. The antimicrobial activity of peppermint against E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was stronger than that of chocolate mint.

For the anti-oxidation test using DPPH radical and β-Carovtene-linoleic acid assay, peppermint showed better properties than chocolate mint. However, for the scavenging NO radical activity, chocolate mint was superior to peppermint. Chocolate mint also showed stronger anti-inflammatory activity than peppermint.

Based upon the Gas chromatography report and Material Safety Data Sheet, both the oils of Peppermint and Chocolate mint contains menthol as the primary chemical constituent, responsible for its promising remedial attributes.

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Lavandulyl acetate

Posted on July 28, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

Lavandulyl acetate is the acetate ester of lavandulol, and an important component of lavender oil. It has several biological activities and is known for the treatment of acne, anxiety, athlete’s foot, itching, asthma, bruises, allergies, burns, headache and insect bites.

It has been a proven component in essential oils like Lavender that support the treatment of colic, cuts, chicken pox, cystitis, dermatitis, depression, dysmenorrhea, earache, flatulence, hypertension, labor pains, migraine, oily skin, rheumatism, scabies, sores, scars, sprains, stress, stretch marks, strains, vertigo and whooping cough.

Therapeutic uses of Lavandulyl acetate:

Helps maintain skin health:

Lavandulyl acetate of lavender oil is used to treat various skin disorders like psoriasis, acne, eczema, and wrinkles. It can also help soothe insect bites and itchy skin, help form scar tissues, which may be essential in healing wounds, cuts, and burns. It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory, so it helps reduce itching, swelling, and redness.

Relieves respiratory disorders:

It can be applied on your neck, chest, or back, or inhaled via steam inhalation or through a vaporizer. By this method of treatment, it can help alleviate respiratory problems like throat infections, colds and flu, cough, whooping cough, sinus congestion, asthma, bronchitis, tonsillitis, and laryngitis.

Keeps your hair healthy:

When used on your hair, Lavender oil aids in killing lice and nits. According to ‘The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCB)’ lavender is possibly effective for treating dandruff, alopecia areata (hair loss), and boosting hair growth by up to 44 percent after just seven months of treatment.

Relieves pain and soothes the nervous system:

The constituent of Lavandulyl acetate in Lavender oil may also help to reduce pain after an insertion of needle acting like a topic anesthetic. By massaging the oil onto the affected area it can be used to relax tensed muscles, ease pain in joints, which also includes conditions of rheumatism, and treat sprains, backache, and lumbago.

A 2013 study on ‘Lavender and the Nervous System’ reported to be useful in the treatment of acute as well as chronic or intractable pain.

Studies that have been conducted prove that foot massages using aromatic oils like lavender among a group of 100 ICU patients, of whom 50% were receiving artificial ventilation proved to be extensively positive in treating patient by increasing the wakefulness, reducing blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate and pain.

In the case of recurrent aphthous ulceration, a study was conducted on 115 patients and usage of lavender oil did make a difference.

From the very first dose, many experienced significant pain relief, speedy mucosal repair, reduction in the size of the ulcer, and complete to partial healing within three day from the initiation of treatment. In another group of 30 volunteers, the bispectral index, stress levels, intensity of pain felt after a needle insertion was said to be minimal to nil after receiving oxygen with a face mask coated with lavender oil for a period of 5 minutes.

The result, “Forty-seven patients suffering with migraine issues were studied, and most of them reported decline in pain, the severity of the occurrence of migraines also decreased. This result was noted with jut as simple remedy of rubbing lavender oil on the upper lip of the person. Relief was felt within 15 minutes after the application. Off-course this was only monitored during the early stages of the migraine attack.”

Cognition:

Medicinal plans have been analyzed and used as cognitive enhancers’ right from the medieval ages. It is said that the aroma of the essential oil have the characteristics to boost the mood.

To study the effect of essential oil on cognition abilities, Lavender oil, proven neuro-protective oil was used in 144 healthy participants. It was extremely effective in augmenting general mental health and quality of life in neurasthenia (post-traumatic stress disorder) patients.

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Lavender and the Nervous System by Universitätsklinikum Münster, Germany, published in the Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine and PubMed

Lavender oil by Wikipedia

Limonene

Posted on July 28, 2025 by AyurvedicOils

Limonene is a neutral liquid hydrocarbon classified as a cyclic terpene. Limonene is the name that has been derived from the word lemon as it’s one of the major constituents seen in the rind of citrus fruits.

It is the Limonene in the rind that contributes to their odor. The more common d-isomer possesses a strong smell of oranges. The chief element of most citrus odor is (+)-limonene which can be up to 97% of the oil. It is in charge for the base sensory character of the citrus oils.

Limonene is a chiral molecule, and biological sources produce one enantiomer: the most important developed source, citrus fruit, contains D-limonene ((+)-limonene), which is the (R)-enantiomer. Racemic limonene is known as dipentene.

D-Limonene is retrieved for commercial purposes from citrus fruits through two primary procedures: steam distillation and centrifugal separation. It is commonly used as base in producing cleaning product as a solvent; and is also used in chemical synthesis as a precursor to carvone.

Essential Oils with Limonene:

The few essential oils that contain Limonene are, Wild Orange (90% D-Limonene), Bergamot (30% D-Limonene), Lemon (70% D-Limonene), Grapefruit (92% D-Limonene) and Lime (65% D-Limonene)

Medicinal uses of Limonene:

The most important therapeutic uses of Limonene are:

Metabolism and Weight loss:

Appetite Control:

Limonene acts as a mild appetite suppressant, which can be used by individuals who are looking to curtail their appetite in case of diet plans or in nutritional requirements.

According to a study in 2002, limonene was seen to exhibit characteristics of probiotics such as adjuvants , digestive enzyme inhibitors such as hibiscus tea, marine algae, L-arabinose, Nomame Herba, inhibit glucose intake like phlorizin, and anorexics like monoterpenes such as perillyl alcohol, d-limonene.

This makes things a lot safer and easier for individuals looking to execute appetite control, as they can opt for the more natural, healthy option rather than to go in for lethal procedures.

Fatty Liver:

Limonene helps combat a fatty liver. Limonene was included in the diet of animals that were regularly fed a high fat diet. The D-Limonene helped prevent the fat buildup resulting in a non- fatty liver seen in animals. It even showed signs of preventing insulin resistance.

According to a study in 2012, regular supplementation of D-limonene caused a reverse action on HFD and L-NAME-induced changes, and retuned pathologically damaged liver and pancreas to normal. The study showed that it eased out insulin resistance and the effects of oxidative stress-induced liver injury in conditions of a fatty diet.

Anti- Inflammatory:

Limonene is a naturally found nutrient that helps manage inflammation. Limonene has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used on a daily basis as a routine health program. A study in 2010 suggests that “D-limonene may be considered a potential anti-inflammatory candidate.”

Antifungal & Antibacterial Properties:

Citrus oils are composed of monoterpenes, in particular D-limonene, which exhibit antibacterial and antifungal characteristics, and even inhibit the growth of certain parasites as well.

The 2016 study concluded that, “The mixture of oils containing limonene like most citrus oils, along with MgCl could be used as a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent”

Cytotoxic Properties:

Limonene is good for the body in general and should be a part of daily diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle program toward the goal of reducing breast cancer risk. The mechanism of benefit is not limited to breast cancer; researchers have proved that Limonene has anti-cancer properties for liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer.

D-Limonene Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer, a study conducted in the year 1994 suggested, “Usage of limonene was seen to decrease the development of mammary carcinoma, and also increased the dormancy period or carcinogenic cells. However the usage of Limonene did make much of a difference in the percentage of carcinomas with activated rats.”

Non- Medicinal uses of Limonene:

It is used as a botanical insecticide, the element d enantiomer is most active as an insecticide.

D-limonene is an alternative medicine that is marketed to relieve gastro esophageal problems and heartburn.

It is used as a fragrant alternative to turpentine, and also as a paint stripper.

Philatelists use air propellants, containing limonene to remove self-adhesive postage stamps from envelope paper.

It is also seen in all-natural commercial air fresheners.

Its ability to dissolve oils and its lemony fragrance makes it an important ingredient in cleaning products such as hand cleansers.

Limonene is obtained from a renewable source such as citrus oil and as a byproduct of orange juice manufacturing. It is extremely strong and hence it’s increasingly being used as a cleaning solvent to remove oil from machine parts, and in household cleaning as well.

Limonene is also frequently seen in cosmetic products such as aftershave lotions, masks, bath products, perfumery, and many other products as a flavoring agent.

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