(Greek / Latin) Of the spice tree / feminine form of Cassius; one who is hollow; empty
Cassea, Cassiah, Casseah
Cassea, Cassiah, Casseah
FAMILY: Lauraceae
SYNONYMS: C. aromaticum, Laurus cassia, Chinese cinnamon, false cinnamon, cassia cinnamon, cassia lignea.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A slender, evergreen tree up to 20 metres high, with leathery leaves and small white flowers. It is usually cut back to form bushes for commercial production.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to the south eastern parts of China; found to a lesser extent in Vietnam and India (Cochin).
OTHER SPECIES: Not to be confused with the Ceylon Cinnamon bark (C. verum) which is from a related species. There are also several other varieties from different regions used for essential oil production – see Botanical Classification section.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: Extensively used as local domestic spice. It is used medicinally in much the same way as Ceylon cinnamon, mainly for digestive complaints such as flatulent dyspepsia, colic, diarrhoea and nausea, as well as the common cold, rheumatism, kidney and reproductive complaints.
The powdered bark is current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a specific for flatulent dyspepsia or colic with nausea.
ACTIONS: Antidiarrhoeal, anti-emetic, antimicrobial, astringent, carminative, spasmolytic.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil 1. by steam distillation from the leaves, and 2. by water distillation from the bark, leaves, twigs and stalks.
CHARACTERISTICS: 1. Leaf oil is brownish yellow (the rectified oil is pale yellow), with a sweet woody-spicy tenacious odour. 2. Bark oil is a dark brown liquid with a strong, spicy warm, resinous odour.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Leaf and Bark oil contain mainly cinnamic aldehyde (75–90 per cent) with some methyl eugenol, salicylaldehyde and methylsalicylaldehyde.
SAFETY DATA: Dermal toxin, dermal irritant, dermal sensitizer, mucous membrane irritant.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None. ‘Should never be used on the skin (one of the most hazardous oils).’.
OTHER USES: Some pharmaceutical applications due to bactericidal properties, such as mouthwashes, toothpastes, gargles; also tonic and carminative preparations. Extensively used in food flavouring, including alcoholic and soft drinks. Little used in perfumes and cosmetics, due to its dark colour.
CASSIE
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