Blue Cypress Essential Oil (Callitris columellaris)

Overview

Blue Cypress may also be referred to as White Cypress Pine, Coast Cypress Pine, Emerald Cypress, Emerald Cypress CO2 Extract, Murray River Cypress Pine, Northern Cypress Pine, Australian Blue Cypress. It is typically processed using steam distilled as a method for extracting oil from the wood and bark.

Summary

The aroma of Australian Blue Cypress Essential Oil is woody yet sweet with a fruity/lemony quality. It is quite pleasant, and I can see its aroma being well suited for emotional as well spiritual applications. Although I would not exactly describe Blue Cypress Oil as being similar to Rosewood, Rosalina or Petitgrain, you are likely to enjoy the aroma Blue Cypress if you have a kinship to these other lighter, sweet wood oils.

I've read several references to Blue Cypress Oil being a grounding oil, and I can see it being useful for that purpose or for work with the root chakra especially where balance is needed. Within chakra work, Blue Cypress Oil may be helpful for use with the Root or Sacral chakras.

As its name indicates, Blue Cypress Essential Oil is typically pale blue in color. Salvatore Battaglia indicates that guaiazulene, a sesquiterpene, is responsible for the oil's beautiful blue hue and its anti-inflammatory properties. Guaiazulene is not present in the botanical material itself, but is formed during the distillation process. [Reference: Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Third Edition Volume 1 - Foundations & Materia Medica (Brisbane Australia: Black Pepper Creative, 2018), 263.]

This would be similar to the matricin present in German Chamomile converting to chamazulene during the distillation ofGerman Chamomile Oil.

Blue Cypress is a conifer.

Essential Facts

Aroma Description:
Fresh Fruity Lemony Resinous Sweet
Common Name(s): White Cypress Pine, Coast Cypress Pine, Emerald Cypress, Emerald Cypress CO2 Extract, Murray River Cypress Pine, Northern Cypress Pine, Australian Blue Cypress
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Synonyms(s) for Callitris columellaris: Callitris arenosa, Callitris columellaris var. campestris, Callitris columellaris var. intratropica, Callitris columellaris var. microcarpa, Callitris glauca, Callitris glaucophylla, Callitris intratropica, Frenela columellaris, Frenela moorei, Frenela robusta var. microcarpa, Frenela verrucosa var. laevis, Octoclinis backhousii, Widdringtonia equisetiformis
Botanical Family: Cupressaceae
Botanical Genus: Callitris
Major Compounds: B-Eudesmol, Dihydrocolumellarin, Guaiol, Gamma-Eudesmol, a-Eudesmol
Perfumery Note: Middle to Top Note, Fixative
Consistency: Thin
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
Color: Pale Blue
Indigenous Country: Australia
Cultivation: Sustainably Wild Grown
Processing Methods: Steam Distilled
Part Typically Used: Wood and Bark

Ethically and sustainably sourced
Wild Harvested
Vegan
Not recommended or safe if pregnant or nursing
Not recommend or safe for children

Essential Details

Benefits & Uses

May be benefitial for addressing the following ailments:

Allergy Arthritis Burns Gynaecological Conditions Insect Bites Insect Repellents Skin : All types Wounds

Benefits of Blue Cypress:

Reddened, congested skin, can help keep minor skin breaks clean, and can help with respiratory support

Therapeutic Benefits of Blue Cypress:

Analgesic Anti-bacterial Anti-inflammatory Calming Cicatrisant Insect Repellent Wound healing

Other Uses for Blue Cypress:

Repels mosquitoes, Blue Cypress Essential Oil is also used in used in wound care as it is helpful in reducing pain and inflammation. Is calming and grounding.

Aromatherapy Natural Perfumery

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using Blue Cypress:

Avoid during pregnancy and lactation. It may interact with drugs and may be fetotoxic. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 266.]

Safety Precautions for Blue Cypress:

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.

Contraindications of Blue Cypress:

Hypotensive (may lower blood pressure); otherwise no known hazards. Dilute before using. A patch test should be performed before use for those with sensitive skin.

Botany

Botanical Description of Blue Cypress:

Callitris columellaris also knows as white Cypress pine, Northern Cypress pine and Murray River pine is a species of coniferous tree in the cypress family, found across the drier interiors of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

The tree can grow up to 20 meters, but most are about 12 m high, with a trunk of up to 50 cm in diameter.

The oil has a very earthy, woody aroma and is a mild yellow honey color and is extracted via steam distillation from the leaf or twigs.

History

History of Blue Cypress:

The Blue Cypress Oil has long been used for medical purposes and to repel mosquitoes, among other uses, by some mainland aboriginal groups and by the Tiwi people of Bathurst and Melville Islands, northeast of Darwin, Australia.

Energetic, Spiritual, and Emotional Qualities

Energetics and Chakras Qualites of Blue Cypress:

Balancing Grounding

Articles

Blue Cypress Articles or Publications:

Blood Orange Essential Oil

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