Ravintsara essential oil: how to use it correctly?

Perfectly adapted to the whole family, Ravintsara essential oil is the star of the aromatherapy world! It is indicated in case of infections affecting the ENT sphere, colds, otitis, sinusitis and many others will not resist it. Its antiviral action and its immunomodulating effects are indeed powerful and recognized by all the professionals and followers of essential oils. In Malagasy, Ravintsara means "tree with good leaves", so take advantage of all its benefits now! Latin name: Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl. Distilled part: leaves

Precautions for use

Probably the most flexible of all essential oils! Anyone can use Ravintsara essential oil with the obvious exception of pregnant women under 3 months and babies under 3 months. It is also usable by all the ways. It is however preferable for asthmatics and epileptics to ask their doctor for advice before use.

Authorized users

Adults and Teens Children under 6 years old Pregnant and nursing women

Possible ways of use

Inhalation Dermal route Oral route In broadcasting

Risks of use

No Dermocaustic in its pure state Non Photosensitizing Non Hormon-like No Neurotoxic

Other precautions

Medical advice
  • Be sure to seek medical advice before using Ravintsara essential oil for people with asthma.
  • Be sure to seek medical advice before use for people with epilepsy because of the epileptogenic risk at high doses.
Cutaneous application

In children under 6 years of age, cutaneous application is contraindicated on the neck and face, and not recommended on the upper chest. An application behind the ears, in the back or on the arch of the foot is preferred.

Contraindications
  • After several days of use, be aware of possible drug interference.
  • There is a risk of addiction with prolonged use.
Allergenic components

Ravintsara essential oil contains few allergenic biochemical components.

  • limonene (≤ 2 %)
  • linalool (≤ 0.5%)
  • geraniol (≤ 0.5%)

Note: It is preferable to test the essential oil before using it (two drops in the crook of the elbow for at least 24 hours to ensure there is no reaction).

Properties of the essential oil of Ravintsara

Ravintsara essential oil is highly concentrated in 1,8 cineole, alpha-terpineol and monoterpene alcohols. These different molecules give it the following main properties:

  • antiviral ++++ (α-terpineol,1,8-cineole (eucalyptol)): the essential oil of Ravintsara is known to be one of the most powerful natural antivirals. According to several studies, it acts mainly by inhibiting the replication of the virus. It is particularly effective on enveloped viruses, including those responsible for herpes. It is also effective on the viruses responsible for the flu or gastroenteritis.
  • immunomodulating ++++ (α-terpineol,monoterpene alcohols): ideal during winter periods, it promotes the body's ability to defend itself against certain pathogenic germs such as bacteria, viruses or fungi. Monoterpene alcohols such as α-terpineol help maintain the physiological production of immunomodulators such as IL-10 or certain anti-inflammatory markers.
  • broad-spectrum antibacterial +++ (α-terpineol,terpinene-4-ol,1,8-cineole (eucalyptol),sabinene): the essential oil of Ravintsara contains several monoterpenes that have shown an antibacterial action on many germs, by aromatogram in particular. Its antibacterial action could thus be partly explained by the presence of α-terpineol, terpinene-4-ol, and 1,8-cineole. The latter is able to destroy bacterial cell membranes.
  • expectorant +++ (1,8-cineole (eucalyptol)): the 1,8-cineole, strongly present in the essential oil of Ravintsara, has the ability to stimulate the exocrine glands of the respiratory mucosa. Thus, by fluidifying the secretions clogging the respiratory tracts, it supports their expulsion.

But also these secondary properties:

  • anti-inflammatory
  • anti-oxidant
  • spasmolytic
  • antifungal

In case of viral ENT epidemic, Influenza

Efficiency : ++++

Easy to use

From age 6 and for adults:

  • Cutaneous pathway: 3 drops of Ravintsara to be distributed in the lower back, along the spine and on the chest, 4 to 5 times a day, until improvement.
  • Oral route: 1 drop of Ravintsara in a teaspoon of honey or olive oil or on a sugar, 4 times a day, until improvement.

From 3 months to 6 years, and for pregnant women over 3 months. Prefer the cutaneous route, in the back and on the soles of the feet, diluting the essential oil of Ravintsara to 10% in a vegetable oil (1 dose of essential oil for 9 doses of vegetable oil).

Use in synergy

Restricted to 6+ years. Place 3 drops of the mixture on the chest and upper back. Repeat 6 times a day for 2 to 3 days.

  • 60 drops of Ravintsara essential oil
  • 40 drops of Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil
  • 20 drops of essential oil of Noble Laurel
  • 40 drops of Black Spruce essential oil
  • 80 drops (4 mL) of Nigella vegetable oil

More details or other users: essential oils for the flu.

To boost immunity

Efficiency : ++++

Easy to use

From age 3 and for adults. Per vcutaneous route, 3 drops of Ravintsara on wrists and breathe deeply, as a preventive measure, once a day, during periods of risk. Take a break for one week after three weeks of use.

From 3 months to 3 years, and for women who are more than 3 months pregnant. Same use as above, but diluting 10% Ravintsara essential oil in a vegetable oil (1 dose of essential oil for 9 doses of vegetable oil).

Use in synergy

Reserved for + 6 years. Massage 2 drops of the mixture on the chest and 2 drops on the back. Repeat the application 3 times a day. In case of prolonged use or for sensitive skin, dilute in a vegetable oil :

  • 100 drops of Ravintsara essential oil
  • 30 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
  • 10 drops of Thyme essential oil
  • 30 drops of Lemon essential oil

More details or other users: essential oils to boost immunity.

Against Fatigue

Efficiency : +++

Easy to use

From age 3 & for adults. By skin & inhalation, 2 drops of Ravintsara on wrists and breathe deeply.

Ravintsara or Black Spruce ?

Best candidate for intense fatigue: Ravintsara essential oil will be very effective, but if you have some on hand, Black Spruce will be even better! Dermally: 2 drops in 8 drops of vegetable oil applied to the lower back at the kidneys, 3 times a day. Take a break for one week after three weeks of use.

In case of Depression

Efficiency : +++

Easy to use

For adults and teens. By skin & inhalation, 2 drops of Ravintsara on the wrists and breathe deeply, regularly throughout the day. If this proves insufficient, massage the lower spine with 4 drops of pure Ravintsara essential oil, twice a day.

However, don't just rely on essential oils, get help from friends or a professional to help you overcome your difficulties.

Use in synergy

Restricted to 6+ years. 3 drops on the solar plexus and on the inner side of the wrists, 2 to 3 times a day of the following mixture:

  • 3 drops of essential oil of Marjoram
  • 5 drops of essential oil of Petit Grain Bigarade
  • 2 drops of Ravintsara essential oil
  • 2 drops of Ylang Ylang essential oil
  • 1 drop of lemon verbena essential oil
  • 1 drop of Frankincense essential oil

If the depression is important, massage along the spine with 8 drops of the mixture, twice a day.

Source: Baudoux, D. (2002). Aromatherapy: treating yourself with essential oils. Amyris.

Ravintsara or Neroli?

Best candidate for nervous breakdowns: Ravintsara essential oil will work, but if you have some on hand (and can afford it), Neroli essential oil will be better! Dermally, 2 drops of EO in 4 drops of vegetable oil on the inner wrists, chest and lower back, morning and evening for 3 weeks.

Against Perlèche (cheilitis)

Efficiency : +++

Easy to use

Adults and children over 3 years of age. By skin, prepare a mixture with 15 drops of EO in 9.5 mL of Nigella vegetable oil. Apply to the affected area up to 3 times a day depending on improvement. After 20 days or in case of signs of aggravation, medical advice is recommended.

Ravintsara or Geranium Rosat ?

Ravintsara essential oil will be very effective against perlachia, but if you have some on hand, Geranium will be even better! For children, prepare a mixture with 9 drops of EO in 9.7 mL of Nigella oil. Apply to the affected area up to 3 times a day depending on improvement. After 20 days or in case of signs of aggravation, a medical advice is recommended.

More details or other users: essential oils for perlche.

In case of Herpes

Efficiency : +++

Easy to use

Children from 6 years of age. By skin, apply 1 drop to the herpes pimple 5 to 6 times a day, using a cotton swab or clean finger, for 7 to 8 days. Wash hands well after application. In case of sensitive skin, dilute in 1 drop of Nigella oil or a touch of Shea butter.

From 3 years and for reactive skin. By skin, prepare a 20% mixture (60 drops of essential oil in 8 mL of vegetable oil). Apply 1 drop of the mixture to the affected area, 5 to 6 times a day, using a cotton swab or clean finger, for 7 to 8 days.

Use in synergy

For adults and adolescents. Apply 1 to 2 drops of the pure mixture to the pimple, 5 to 6 times a day for 5 days :

  • 80 drops (4 mL) Ravintsata essential oil
  • 20 drops (1 mL) of Peppermint essential oil

Source: Millet, F. (2022). The great guide to essential oils. Marabout.

Ravintsara or Niaouli?

Ravintsara essential oil will be very effective, but if you have Niaouli essential oil on hand, it will be even more suitable! Dermally, 1 drop of Niaouli on the affected area every 2 hours until the herpes disappears.

Against Gastroenteritis

Efficiency : +++

Easy to use

From 6 years and for adults. Orally, place 1 drop of Ravintsara essential oil on a neutral medium (neutral tablet, teaspoon of honey, vegetable oil), up to 4 times a day, for up to 4 to 5 days.

From 3 years and for adults. By skin, apply 2 drops in massage on the stomach, 3 to 5 times a day for 3 days. In case of sensitive skin, dilute in a few drops of vegetable oil.

Use in synergy

For adults and adolescents. Place on a neutral carrier, take 3 times a day for 4 to 5 days :

  • 1 drop of Ravintsara essential oil
  • 1 drop of essential oil of Niaouli
  • 1 drop of essential oil of Palmarosa

Source: MANSARD, M., LAURAIN-MATTAR, D. & COUIC-MARINIER, F. (2019). Ravintsara essential oil.

Ravintsara or Chinese cinnamon?

Ravintsara essential oil will be very effective, but if you have Cinnamon essential oil, it will be even more powerful. Orally, 1 drop on a carrier, combined with 1 drop of Lemon essential oil (liver protector). To let melt in mouth, 3 times per day until improvement. Do not exceed 5 days of use.

Other reputed applications of Ravintsara

Ravintsara essential oil is used on a wide variety of occasions, particularly related to its antiviral, immunomodulating, antibacterial and expectorant properties. For most of the following uses, it will be effective, but not necessarily the best essential oil. So we are telling youthe best substitute for Ravintsara for the following different problems.

Zona

Ravintsara effective, but... it is better to use Niaouli essential oil against shingles: dermally, 2 drops pure (or 50% dilution in a vegetable oil) on the affected area, up to 6 times a day.

Sleep disorders, Insomnia

Ravintsara effective, but ... it is better to use the Roman Chamomile essential oil against insomnia.It can be used from the age of 3 months in diffusion for example, 10 minutes before bedtime or dermally, 1 drop diluted in 9 drops of vegetable oil, massaged on the solar plexus and / or the soles of the feet.

Mononucleosis

Ravintsara will be effective in relieving the symptoms of mononucleosis, following the same procedure as for boosting immunity, described above.

Anxiety, Stress

Ravintsara effective, but ... it is better to use the Essential oil of Petit Grain Bigarade against stress: by inhalation and skin application, 1 drop on the wrists to inhale deeply, 3 times a day (very fast effect).

How to choose your Ravintsara essential oil ?

One rarely buys a Ravintsara essential oil for the beauty of its fragrance, or for its cosmetic properties. We buy a Ravintsara essential oil for its therapeutic properties. As a result, you will need to choose a Ravintsara essential oil that provides you with solid guarantees:

  • an ORGANIC essential oil of course: you're not going to treat yourself with pesticides ;
  • an essential oil whose chemotype you know: Cinnamomum Camphora, origin Madagascar, by distillation of the leaves ;
  • An essential oil for which you know the batch number, which allows you to access an online analysis bulletin.

Why should I check my Ravintsara essential oil analysis report card?

  • First and foremost, to verify that the brand that sells the product has done some analysis;
  • To verify that your essential oil will truly have the properties listed above, via an adequate concentration of active ingredients 1,8-cineole (51-60%), sabinene (10-18%) and α-terpineol (5-11%);
  • To verify that your essential oil is really pure, that it has not been cut (which happens regularly in Madagascar), in particular via the analysis of the density and the refractive index of your Ravintsara essential oil.

Ravintsara or Ravensare?

Caution! It is important to distinguish between Ravintsara essential oil and Ravensare essential oil. The latter is much less flexible in use, does not have the same properties and is forbidden to children! To find your way around, check the Latin names.

  • Ravensare:Ravensare Aromatica or Ravensara Anisata.
  • Ravintsara: Cinnamomum camphora L.

How to recognize a good essential oil of Ravintsara?

Botanical characteristics
  • Latin name: Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl
  • Botanical family: Lauraceae
  • Part used : leaves
  • Country of origin: Indonesia, Madagascar.

Physical characteristics
  • Density at 20°C: 0.900 à 0.920
  • Refractive index at 20°C : 1.460 à 1.470
  • Rotational power at 20°C : -25 à -15
  • Flash point: 50

Organoleptic characteristics
  • Appearance: clear mobile liquid
  • Color: colorless to light yellow
  • Odor: fresh, spicy, sweet, eucalyptol, balsamic.

Biochemical characteristics
  • 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol): 51 à 60 %
  • sabinene: 10 à 18 %
  • α-terpineol: 5 à 11 %

A short history of Ravintsara, to relax

between maritime expeditions and Venetian merchants

If Marco Polo is extremely famous today, it is thanks to his numerous expeditions at sea to discover new horizons and new peoples with whom he could trade. The thirst for discovery of this Italian merchant born in Venice in the 13th century took him to the other side of the world: to China. At the time, this unknown region of the world was the object of all the envy, the wildest dreams and the most picturesque images.

It was in this part of Asia that Marco Polo discovered the essence of the Chinese Camphor tree. The Chinese had been using it for hundreds of years in their traditional medicine: lotions, ointments, balms... The great explorer brought it back to his family to let them benefit from its incredible healing properties. It is therefore thought that the Ravintsara Camphor is an acclimatized species of the Chinese Camphor...

The delights of the perfume island

Later, Etienne de Flacourt, a native of Orleans, was appointed Commander of Madagascar in the middle of the 17th century. He wrote several books on this wonderful "island of perfumes", including Histoire de la Grande Isle Madagascar (1658) in which he described Ravintsara and its most effective properties to counter all kinds of diseases and infections. Its essential oil was described only two centuries later.

At the very beginning of the commercialization of Ravintsara essential oil, the producers would simply pick the leaves from the trees they found: in the forests but also in the cities: parks, school playgrounds, large avenues, village squares, etc... This overexploitation and the savage cuts made to improve the yield as much as possible have damaged a large part of the Ravintsara trees. The lure of profit almost led to its disappearance. The catastrophe was avoided thanks to a general awareness in the middle of the 20th century. Planting projects flourished and the tree grew quickly and well.

RAVINTSARA Organic essential oil

3260 notes

See the product

Related articles

GUIDE How to use Ravintsara essential oil for the flu?

GUIDE Acne pimples: does Ravintsara work?

GUIDE Does Ravintsara have an effect on high blood pressure?

GUIDE Using Ravintsara essential oil for herpes

GUIDE Can you do a detox with Ravintsara essential oil?

GUIDE Why pair Ravintsara with honey?

GUIDE How to relieve wet cough with Ravintsara essential oil?

GUIDE How to relieve a stomach bug with Ravintsara essential oil?

GUIDE How and why to use Ravintsara on the skin?

GUIDE Why use Ravintsara on the soles of the feet?

GUIDE Can Ravintsara essential oil be used for asthma?

GUIDE How to use Ravintsara in babies?