Davana Essential Oil (Artemisia pallens)
Overview
Davana may also be referred to as Artemisia Potentillifolia Flower, Wormwood Flower, Russian Wormwood. It is typically processed in Germany, Southern India using steam or hydro distillation as a method for extracting oil from the flowers.
Summary
Davana Essential Oil is typically steam distilled from the leaves and flowers of Artemisia pallens, a shrub that is primarily found in India.
According to Brian Lawrence (as cited in Essential Oil Safety, Edition 2) and various GC/MS reports, Davana Essential Oil is comprised primarily davanone, a ketone. Not much is known about this specific ketone, but ketones generally tend to be anti-viral, analgesic, mucolytic and can help promote the healing of wounds. Refer to the Uses section below for more information on the potential applications for Davana Essential Oil.

Essential Facts
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Aroma Description:
Balsamic
Earthy
Exotic
Fresh
Herbaceous
Musky
Rich
Slightly floral
Sweet
Warm
- Taste Description: Sweet fruity jammy floral magnolia tropical dried fruit apricot plum peach
- Common Name(s): Artemisia Potentillifolia Flower, Wormwood Flower, Russian Wormwood
-
Synonyms(s) for Artemisia pallens: Artemisia absinthii
- Botanical Family: Asteraceae
- Botanical Genus: Artemisia
- Chemical Family: Esters, Ketones, Sesquiterpenes
- Major Compounds: grandisol and 1,8‑cineole
- Perfumery Note: Base
- Consistency: Thick; Pourable but gloopy viscosity
- Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
- Color: Burnt Orange or Pale yellow to yellow clear
- Countries of Production: Germany, Southern India
- Indigenous Country: India, Morocco, E. Asia from Pakistan to China and Tibet
- Cultivation: Unsprayed
- Processing Methods: Steam or Hydro Distillation
- Part Typically Used: Flowers
- Storage: Store in cool, dry place in tightly sealed containers, protected from heat and light.
- Shelf Life: 5 years
-
Conservation Status:
[NE] Not Evaluated
-
Vegan
-
Not recommended or safe if pregnant or nursing
-
Not recommend or safe for children
Essential Details
Benefits & Uses
Therapeutic Benefits of Davana:
Anti-anxiety
Anti-depressant
Anti-septic
Anti-spasmodic
Anti-viral
Cicatrisant
Disinfectant
Diuretic
Emmenagogic
Expectorant
Insect Repellent
Sedative
Sudorific
Vermifuge
Wound healing
Usage Tips:
Usage tips for Davana:
- Apply to the wrists and neck.
- Rub in palms and inhale deeply
- Add to a skin care routine
Blends
Cautions & Safety
Cautions when using Davana:
Slight neurotoxicity
Tisserand and Young do not indicate any known hazards for Davana. 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), 268.]
Safety Precautions for Davana:
Irritating to eyes, respiratory system, and skin. Harmful: may cause lung damage if swallowed. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting: seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.
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.
Avoid Davana if:
Pregnant or Breastfeeding
Traditional Folklore
Traditional Folklore of Davana:
Artemisia Vestita Essential Oil is used for religious purposes, especially for appeasing Lord Shiva.
Traditionally, Ayurvedic healers in India have long used Davana for all to assists with minor allergies.
Energetic, Spiritual, and Emotional Qualities
Energetics and Chakras Qualites of Davana:
1st Chakra - Survival and Support
2nd Chakra - Relationships
Balancing
Creation Energy
Grounding
Introspective
Uplifting
Articles
Davana Articles or Publications:
- PubMed: Isomeric enhancement of davanone from natural davana oil aided by supercritical carbon dioxide.
- PubMed: Gas chromatographic analysis of essential oils with preliminary partition of components.
- PubMed: Influence of plant growth stage on the essential oil content and composition in Davana (Artemisia pallens wall.).
- PubMed: Anthelmintic activity of the essential oil of artemisia pallens wall.
- PubMed: Sesquiterpene lactone, a potent drug molecule from Artemisia pallens wall with anti-inflammatory activity.
- PubMed: Studies on aerial parts of Artemisia pallens wall for phenol, flavonoid and evaluation of antioxidant activity.
- PubMed: Validated reversed-phase column high-performance liquid chromatographic method for separation and quantification of polyphenolics and furocoumarins in herbal drugs.
- PubMed: A comparative pharmacognostical evaluation of two Artemisia species found in Nilgiris biosphere.
- PubMed: Gas chromatographic analysis of essential oils with preliminary partition of components.
- PubMed: Influence of plant growth stage on the essential oil content and composition in Davana (Artemisia pallens wall.).