FAMILY: Cupressaceae
SYNONYMS: Red cedar, eastern red cedar, southern red cedar, Bedford cedarwood (oil).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A coniferous, slow-growing, evergreen tree up to 33 metres high with a narrow, dense and pyramidal crown, a reddish heartwood and brown cones. The tree can attain a majestic stature with a trunk diameter of over 1.5 metres.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to North America, especially mountainous regions east of the Rocky Mountains.
OTHER SPECIES: There are many cultivars of the red cedar; its European relative is the shrubby red cedar (J. sabina) also known as savin – see entry. It is also closely related to the East African cedarwood (J. procera).
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The North American Indians used it for respiratory infections, especially those involving an excess of catarrh. Decoctions of leaves, bark, twigs and fruit were used to treat a variety of ailments: menstrual delay, rheumatism, arthritis, skin rashes, venereal warts, gonorrhoea, pyelitis and kidney infections.
It is an excellent insect and vermin repellent (mosquitoes, moths, woodworm, rats, etc.) and was once used with citronella as a commercial insecticide.
ACTIONS: Abortifacient, antiseborrhoeic, antiseptic (pulmonary, genito-urinary), antispasmodic, astringent, balsamic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, insecticide, sedative (nervous), stimulant (circulatory).
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the timber waste, sawdust, shavings, etc. (At one time a superior oil was distilled from the red heartwood, from trees over twenty five years old.)
CHARACTERISTICS: A pale yellow or orange oily liquid with a mild, sweet-balsamic, ‘pencil wood’ scent. It blends well with sandalwood, rose, juniper, cypress, vetiver, patchouli and benzoin.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Mainly cedrene (up to 80 per cent), cedrol (3–14 per cent), and cedrenol, among others.
SAFETY DATA: Externally the oil is relatively non-toxic; can cause acute local irritation and possible sensitization in some individuals. Use in dilution only with care, in moderation. ‘The oil is a powerful abortifacient … use of the oil has been fatal.’. Avoid during pregnancy. Generally safer to use Atlas cedarwood.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE
Skin Care: Acne, dandruff, eczema, greasy hair, insect repellent, oily skin, psoriasis.
Circulation, Muscles And Joints: Arthritis, rheumatism.
Respiratory System: Bronchitis, catarrh, congestion, coughs, sinusitis.
Genito-Urinary System: Cystitis, leucorrhoea.
Nervous System: Nervous tension and stress-related disorders.
OTHER USES: Extensively used in room sprays and household insect repellents. Employed as a fragrance component in soaps, cosmetics and perfumes. Used as the starting material for the isolation of cedrene.
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