Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Mediterranean cypress

Mediterranean cypress essential oil has long been known for its exceptional health and circulatory qualities. A regulator, it is also traditionally reputed to reduce excessive perspiration. Its soothing action makes it an essential for the relief of coughs. In psycho-energetic aromatherapy, it is associated with the father figure and helps to calm emotional and sexual outbursts.

How to use

  • Food grade

    Food grade

    Possible but not recommended

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Possible but not recommended

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Appropriate

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Appropriate

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Suitable

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Leaves, twigs and branches

Botanical name

Cupressus sempervirens

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Properties and uses

Mediterranean Cypress essential oil is traditionally used for: Couperose or rosacea, perspiration, haemorrhoids, heavy legs, varicose veins, menopause

Health

Find out more

Properties

In terms of health, Mediterranean cypress essential oil is recognised for the following properties:

  • Venous, lymphatic and prostate decongestant

  • Antitussive, antispasmodic

  • Sweat regulator

  • Oestrogen mimetic action

  • Studies show interesting activity against the herpes labialis virus (HSV-1)

  • General nerve balancer

Uses

It is traditionally used to improve the following issues:

  • Venous congestion: varicose veins, heavy legs, haemorrhoids, venous stasis, etc.

  • Asthenia, mental fatigue

  • Excessive perspiration

  • Prostate congestion

  • Respiratory infections, coughs

  • Enuresis

  • Menopause and menopausal syndrome

Synergies

  • Helps to stop minor bleeding: Gum Rockrose essential oil

  • Restorative, calming: Spike Lavender essential oil

  • Helps prostate health: Mastic Tree essential oil

  • Invigorating: Ravintsara essential oil

  • Helps regulate sweating: Clary sage essential oil

In practice

Toning, light legs: Mix into your oil blend. Massage or rub the mixture into the affected areas.

Respiratory comfort: Mix in your oil blend. Massage or rub your blend into the chest and upper back.

Revitalised, light legs: Mix into your dispersible bath preparation. Pour the blend into the hot bath water. Breathe in and relax.

Precautions

  • Not for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by children.

  • Do not use for prolonged periods without medical advice.

  • Due to a possible oestrogen-like effect, it is not recommended in cases of fibrocystic breast changes or hormone-dependent cancer (breast, ovarian, endometrial).

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Avoid contact with the eyes.

  • Certain natural compounds contained in this essential oil may present an allergy risk for certain sensitive individuals when the essential oil is incorporated into a cosmetic composition (in accordance with the 7th Amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive (2003/15/EC)): limonene, linalool.

  • As a general rule, always carry out a test application of your mixture, in the crease of the elbow, at least 48 hours before use.

Find out more

An iconic example of Mediterranean flora, Cypress trees appear in many legends as a symbol of eternal life. The Persians saw cypress as a symbol of death, and popes were buried in cypress coffins, but the trees were also used as the guardian of estates.

Thanks to their long roots, they can draw water from deep within the soil, and their narrow leaves with tightly-packed scales limit evaporation. The Mediterranean Cypress is therefore able to keep its brilliant green colour all year long!

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Acne rosacea (A. Maillard)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

Dermal use: Rosacea aroma-tip To make in a 30 ml tinted glass bottle fitted with a dropper

  • 10 drops of mastic tree essential oil, Pistacia lentiscus
  • 10 drops of Mediterranean cypress essential oil, Cupressus sempervirens
  • 10 drops of Corsican helichrysum italicum essential oil, Helichrysum italicum
  • 20 drops of German chamomile essential oil, Matricaria recutita
  • 10 drops of Copaiba Balsam, Copaifera officinalis
  • 10 ml of tamanu carrier oil
  • 5 ml of calendula macerated oil
  • 23 ml of safflower carrier oil

Apply to the face in the morning and evening, massaging in gently but deeply (to encourage circulation), every day until the skin is satisfactorily treated.

Extract from the book "Le grand guide de l'aromathérapie et des soins beauté naturels" by Aude Maillard and Aroma-Zone, published by J'ai Lu, 2016

Couperose (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • 2 drops of Provençal Cypress essential oil
  • 1 drop of Helichrysum Italicum essential oil (Helichrysum)
  • 2 drops of Gum Rockrose essential oil
  • 4 drops of Rose Geranium CV Egypt essential oil
  • 4 drops of tamanu carrier oil

Use: Apply 3 drops of the mixture topically in the morning and evening until you see a noticeable improvement.

Spasmodic cough (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingRespiratory problems

  • 2 ml of Tarragon essential oil
  • 3 ml Mediterranean cypress essential oil
  • 1 ml Seville orange essential oil

Use: 6 drops of the mixture 4 times a day on the chest and upper back for 5 days, or 2 drops 3 times a day on 1/4 lump of white sugar.

Spasmodic cough in adults (P. Franchomme)

Health & wellbeingRespiratory problems

  • 1 ml of Artemisia dracunculus essential oil (Tarragon)
  • 1 ml of Cupressus semperviren essential oil (Mediterranean Cypress)
  • 1 ml Thyme CT thujanol essential oil (can be replaced by thujanol marjoram essential oil)
  • 2 ml of Origanum majorana essential oil (Sweet Marjoram)
  • 50 ml carrier oil

Use: Apply to the chest (front and back) 3 to 5 times a day for 4 to 6 days.

Haemorrhoids (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingCirculatory disorders

  • 1 drop of Gum Rockrose essential oil
  • 1 drop of Mediterranean Cypress essential oil
  • 1 drop of Scented Geranium essential oil
  • 20 drops of St John's wort carrier oil

Use: Apply topically.

External haemorrhoids (P. Franchomme)

Health & wellbeingCirculatory disorders

  • 1 ml Pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree) essential oil
  • 4 ml of Melaleuca quinquenervia CT cineole essential oil (Niaouli)
  • 4 ml of Cupressus sempervirens essential oil (Mediterranean Cypress)
  • 4 ml of Calophyllum Inophyllum carrier oil (tamanu)
  • Combined with 60 ml of Gel

Use: Apply 3 times per day in situ for 3 to 7 days.

Heavy legs (J-P. Willem)

Health & wellbeingCirculatory disorders

  • 10 drops of Eastern Red Cedar essential oil
  • 10 drops of Rosemary Cineole essential oil
  • 10 drops of Cypress essential oil
  • 30 ml of Macadamia carrier oil

Use: Gently massage a few drops into the arch of the foot, the ankle and the legs (consult a specialist if necessary).

Varicose veins (on medical advice) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingCirculatory disorders

  • 2 ml Peppermint essential oil
  • 2 ml of Mediterranean Cypress essential oil
  • 1 ml of Mastic Tree essential oil
  • 1 ml of Helichrysum Italicum essential oil (Helichrysum)
  • 1 ml of Vetiver essential oil
  • 3 ml of tamanu carrier oil

Use: Apply 4 to 6 drops of the mixture to the area 3 times a day until symptoms disappear.

Hot flushes (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingHormonal and metabolic disorders

  • 3 ml of Peppermint essential oil
  • 2 ml cypress essential oil
  • 1 ml of Helichrysum essential oil

Use: Swallow 2 drops of the mixture on 1/4 of a sugar cube or in a teaspoon of olive oil 2 or 3 times a day as required, and apply 3 drops diluted in 3 drops of carrier oil to the solar plexus twice a day.

Hot flushes (D. Festy)

Health & wellbeingHormonal and metabolic disorders

  • 1 drop of Cypress essential oil
  • 1 drop of Helichrysum essential oil
  • 1 drop of Mastic Tree essential oil
  • 1 drop of Clary sage essential oil
  • 1 teaspoon of tamanu carrier oil

Use: Massage this mixture into the the solar plexus and lower back 2 to 3 times a day, 20 days out of the month.

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml


However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Bibliography

1

"Huiles essentielles - 2000 ans de découvertes aromathérapeutiques pour une médecine d'avenir"

Dominique Baudoux

2

"Aromatherapy"

Dr Jean Valnet - Éditions Maloine

3

'L'aromathérapie exactement'

P. Franchomme and Dr D. Pénoël

4

'La bible de l'aromathérapie'

Nerys Purchon

5

'L'ABC des huiles essentielles'

Dr Telphon

6

'Aromatherapy'

Nelly Grosjean

7

'Les huiles essentielles pour votre santé'

G. Roulier

8

'Les cahiers pratiques de l'aromathérapie française - Pédiatrie'

Dominique Baudoux - Editions Amyris

9

Aroma-News newsletters from the NARD association

10

'Aromatherapy - Healing with essential oils'

Dominique Baudoux - Editions Amyris