Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Black spruce

A powerful tonic, Black Spruce essential oil is highly regarded for its ability to relieve fatigue and tiredness. Black Spruce essential oil is also used for its purifying properties. Stimulating, Black Spruce essential oil is a winter favourite.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Suitable

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Appropriate

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Appropriate

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Possible but not recommended

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Needles

Botanical name

Picea mariana

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

Black spruce essential oil is traditionally used for: Arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, fatigue, exhaustion, 'flu, immunity (stimulates the immune system).

Wellness

Beauty

Find out more, etc.

Properties

For health, Black Spruce essential oil is recognised for the following properties:

  • "Hormone-like" effect: cortisone mimetic, stimulant and tonic effect.

  • Anti-infectious, anti-mycotic, anti-parasitic, airborne antiseptic, thanks to its monoterpene content

  • Anti-spasmodic, cough suppressant

  • Anti-inflammatory

Uses

It is traditionally used to improve the following conditions:

  • Weakened immune system

  • Bronchitis, catarrh (blocked nose), sinusitis

  • Inflammatory prostatitis, andropause

  • Rheumatism, osteoarthritis

  • Solar plexus spasms

  • Hyperthyroidism

  • Skin and intestinal parasites

  • Adrenal gland fatigue

In practice

Soothing: Mix with other essential oils in your oil blend and apply locally by massaging or rubbing into the affected area.

Precautions

  • Not to be used by pregnant women during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

  • Not to be used on children under 6 years of age.

  • Skin irritation (dermocaustic oil) possible at high doses, always dilute well before applying to the skin.

  • For external use.

  • 'Cortison-like' action, stimulating the adrenal glands, thyroid and mildly affecting the pituitary gland. Seek medical advice if you have a related medical condition.

  • Keep out of reach of children

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

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

  • Dangerous. Observe safety precautions.

  • Flammable liquid and vapours. Causes severe eye irritation. May cause skin allergy. May be fatal if swallowed and enters the respiratory tract (if accidentally swallowed, do not induce vomiting). Very toxic to aquatic life, causing long-term adverse effects (in the event of a large spill into a waterway).

Find out more

The origin of its name comes from the Latin "spina", meaning thorn. It was part of the medicine and spiritual practices of the North American Indians.

The essential oil comes from the needles of the Black Spruce tree, traditionally used to cleanse the respiratory tract, but it also recharges the batteries, providing vitality and energy when you're feeling very tired!

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.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Mental fatigue / lack of energy / lack of interest (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingLow energy, fatigue

  • Exotic Basil essential oil - 1 ml

  • Black Spruce essential oil - 1 ml

  • Peppermint essential oil - 1 ml

Use: 3 drops of the mixture on the solar plexus morning and noon.

Immune suppression (J-P. Willem)

Health & wellbeingLow energy, fatigue

  • Black Spruce essential oil: 3 drops

  • Mountain Savory essential oil: 3 drops

  • Hazelnut carrier oil for dilution

Use: Apply over each adrenal gland (above the kidney) as soon as you get up.

Adrenal gland fatigue (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingLow energy, fatigue

  • Black Spruce essential oil 1.5 ml

  • Ravintsara essential oil 1.5 ml

  • Scots Pine essentil oil 1 ml

Directions for use: 3 drops of the mixture applied locally to the kidneys twice a day Aroma-Zone Note: Dilute this mixture in a little carrier oil before application.

Arthritis (P. Franchomme)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

Applied to the skin to mimic cortisone, to be combined with an anti-inflammatory treatment:

  • Pinus sylvestris essential oil (Scots Pine): 5 ml

  • Picea mariana essential oil (Black Spruce): 5 ml

  • Hazelnut oil: 20 ml or more

Directions for use: 1 to 2 applications per day on the dorsal-lumbar area (adrenal area) for 20 days.

Osteoarthritis (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Satureia montana (mountain savory) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Thymus satureoides essential oil: 2 ml

  • Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen): 2 ml

  • Thymus vulgaris CT thujanol (thyme vulgaris with thujanol) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Lavandula x burnatii CT Super (Lavandin super) essential oil: 4 ml

  • Eucalyptus polybractea CT cryptone (blue mallee eucalyptus) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Carrier oil: 100 ml

Use: 3 to 4 local applications per day for 15 days (continue if necessary).

AND

  • Picea mariana essential oil (Black spruce): 3 ml

  • Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) essential oil: 7 ml

  • Transcutol: add up to 30 ml extra as required for product optimisation

Use: 8 drops as an adrenal injection (in the kidneys) 2 times a day Aroma-Zone comment: Transcutol is a pharmaceutical product that is not widely used and allows fatty substances such as essential oils to penetrate the skin easily. It can easily be replaced by a dry carrier oil such as hazelnut, kukui or macadamia oil.

Nervousness mix (R. Wilson)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • 1/8 ounce (≈ 3.5 g) Jojoba Oil

  • 4 drops of Clary sage essential oil

  • 3 drops Black Spruce essential oil

  • 2 drops Laurel essential oil

  • 1 drop Benzoin Oleoresin or absolute

Method: Mix the essential oils in the carrier oil. Directions for use: Wear as a fragrance or inhale directly from the bottle when needed.

Fatigue, lack of interest (L. Bosson)

Health & wellbeingLow energy, fatigue

  • Rosemary verbenone hydrosol: 100 ml

  • Bay laurel hydrosol: 100 ml

  • Non-carbonated mineral water: 1 litre

Use: 1 teaspoon of the mixture in a cup of hot water 2 to 3 times a day, depending on progress, or 1 tablespoon in 1 litre of water to drink during the day. Carry out a 40-day course of treatment.

As a complement:

  • Black spruce essential oil

Use : Massage a few drops diluted in a little carrier oil on the adrenal glands in the morning upon waking.

Physical fatigue in adults (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingLow energy, fatigue

  • Black pepper essential oil: 1 ml

  • Black spruce essential oil: 2 ml

  • Scots pine essential oil: 2 ml

  • Peppermint essential oil: 1 ml

  • Balsam fir essential oil: 1 ml

Use: 4 drops of the mixture applied to the lower back (level with the kidneys) morning and noon for one week Aroma-Zone note: Dilute this mixture in a little carrier oil before application.

Angina, laryngitis (L. Bosson)

Health & wellbeingENT problems

Internal use:

  • Mountain savory hydrosol: 100 ml

Use: Mix in a spray bottle. Spray several times a day into the throat as soon as the first tingling sensation appears.

External use:

  • Tea tree essential oil: 5 drops

  • Sweet marjoram essential oil: 5 drops

  • Black spruce essential oil: 5 drops

  • Sandalwood essential oil: 5 drops

Use: Massage into the soles of the feet, neck and thymus area twice a day.

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

The Aromatherapy Bible" by Nerys Purchon

P. Franchomme and Dr D. Pénoël

5

Les huiles essentielles – Médecine d’avenir

Dr J.P. Willem

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

The NARD association

10

'Aromatherapy - Healing with essential oils'

Dominique Baudoux - Editions Amyris