Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Saro

A powerful purifying agent, saro essential oil, which means 'that which keeps disease at bay' in Malagasy, is highly reputed during a cold snap. As a tonic, saro essential oil is also traditionally used to stimulate the body's natural defences. These properties make saro essential oil a must-have in winter.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Suitable

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Suitable

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Suitable

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Appropriate

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Leaves

Botanical name

Cinnamosma fragrans

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

Saro essential oil is traditionally used for: Sore throat, bronchitis, flu, ear infections

Health

Beauty

Wellness

Find out more

Properties

Saro essential oil is recognised for its health properties:

  • Antiviral

  • Anticatarrhal, expectorant

  • Antibacterial

  • Immunomodulating, promotes good immunity.

  • Antifungal

  • Antiparasitic

Uses

As complementary treatment, traditionally used for:

  • Viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory tract: flu, colds, sinusitis, ear infections, bronchitis, sore throat

  • Urinary tract infections: cystitis, urtritis

  • Gynaecological infections

  • Oral infections: gingivitis, mouth ulcers, abscesses

  • Dermatological infections: fungal infections

Synergies

  • Purifying, cleansing action: essential oils of tea tree, Manuka, Litsea cubeba, Clove, Blue Mallee Eucalyptus, etc.

  • Clears congestion from the respiratory tract: essential oils of Sweet Inula, Rosemary verbenone, etc.

In practice

Strengthening and toning: Mix into your oil blend. Rub or massage your mixture into the affected areas.

Air freshener: for air diffusion, blended with other essential oils.

Precautions

  • Not to be used during the first three months of pregnancy or by children under 6 years of age (except on medical advice).

  • Not recommended for inhalation by sensitive asthmatics, due to its eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) content.

  • For external use.

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Avoid contact with the eyes.

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

  • As a general rule, always test your product, in the crease of the elbow, at least 48 hours before using it.

  • Dangerous. Observe safety precautions.

  • Flammable liquid and vapours. May cause skin allergy. May be fatal if swallowed or if it enters the respiratory tract (if accidentally swallowed, do not induce vomiting). Toxic to aquatic organisms, causing long-term adverse effects (in the event of massive spillage of the product into a watercourse).

Find out more

Saro or Mandravasarotra was first discovered on the island of Madagascar. In Malagasy, the name of this plant means 'remedy against spells'.

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

Flu, colds (Aroma News - NARD)

Health & wellbeingENT problems

  • Cinnamosma fragans (saro) essential oil: 5 ml

  • Myrtus communis CT cineole essential oil (myrtle): 2 ml

  • Rosmarinus off. CT verbenone (rosemary verbenone) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Eucalyptus radiata (narrow-leaved eucalyptus) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Corylus avellana (hazelnut) carrier oil: 5 ml

Uses:

- children (over 6 years and on medical advice): 6 drops on the chest and back 5 times a day for 3 to 5 days.

- Adults: 15 drops on the chest and back 4 to 6 times a day for 3 to 5 days.

Colds and catarrh (Aroma News - NARD)

Health & wellbeingENT problems

Preparation for inhalation:

  • Melaleuca quinquenervia CT cineole essential oil (Niaouli): 0.5 ml

  • Eucalyptus radiata essential oil (narrow-leaved eucalyptus): 0.5 ml

  • Cinnamosma fragrans essential oil (Saro): 0.5 ml

  • Mentha x piperita essential oil (Peppermint): 0.2 ml

  • Labrasol (for inhalation): additional 10 ml

Directions for use: 20 drops in a bowl of boiling water for inhalation for 10 minutes morning and evening, protecting the eyes.

Ear infections (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingENT problems

  • Saro essential oil: 30 drops

  • Roman chamomile essential oil: 10 drops

  • Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil: 10 drops

Directions for use: 2 to 3 drops as a periauricular ointment (around the ear) 4 times a day for 3 days.

Ear infections in adults (M. Faucon)

Health & wellbeingENT problems

  • Ravintsara essential oil: 2 drops

  • Niaouli essential oil: 2 drops

  • Saro essential oil: 2 drops

Use: Use the mixture in a small amount of sweet almond oil, massaging it into the ear.

Herpes labialis in adults (Aroma News - NARD)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • Melaleuca quinquenervia CT cineole (niaouli) essential oil: 3 ml

  • Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Mentha x piperita (peppermint) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Cinnamosma fragrans (saro) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Calophyllum inophyllum (tamanu) or calendula carrier oil: add up to 15 ml extra as required for product optimisation

Use: 2 to 3 drops locally 6 to 8 times a day until healed.

Fungal infection of the nails (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • 2 drops bay laurel essential oil

  • 2 drops palmarosa essential oil

  • 1 drop True lavender essential oil

  • 2 drops mandravasarotra (saro) essential oil

  • 2 drops Chinese cinnamon essential oil

Directions for use: 2 to 3 drops of the mixture on the affected nail 3 times a day for 3 weeks or until a clear improvement is seen.

Aroma-Zone note: Chinese cinnamon essential oil has the same properties as Ceylon cinnamon bark essential oil and this can therefore be used as a substitute.

Deep fatigue or nervous breakdown in the nervous temperament (Aroma News - NARD)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Cinnamosma fragans essential oil (Saro): 2 ml

  • Thymus vulgaris CT thujanol essential oil (Thyme vulgaris with thujanol): 1 ml

  • Aniba rosaeodora essential oil (Rosewood): 1 ml

  • Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil (tea tree): 1 ml

  • Corylus avellana oil (Hazelnut): additional 30 ml

Use: 20 drops in a back massage on either side of the spine or 5 drops on the solar plexus or arch of the foot once or twice a day.

Bibliography

1

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

Dominique Baudoux

2

'Aromathérapie' Éditions Maloine

Dr Jean Valnet

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 - Dermatologie' - Editions Amyris

Dominique Baudoux

9

Aroma-News newsletters from the NARD association

10

'L'aromathérapie - Se soigner par les huiles essentielles' - Editions Amyris

Dominique Baudoux