Habitat: Peninsular India, from Kanara to Trivandrum and in Coorg.
English: White Damar, Indian Copal-Tree, Malabar Tallow tree, Piney Varnish-Tree.Ayurvedic: Sarja, Sarjaka, Karsya, Sasyasumbara, Devdhuupa, Marich-patraka. Chhaagakar- na. Ajakarna and Shaala (related species) are also equated with V indica.Unani: Raal.Siddha/Tamil: Kungiliyam, Vellai Kundarakam.Action: Resin—astringent, antibacterial, antidiarrhoeal, emmena- gogue. Used for chronic bronchitis, piles, skin eruptions, ringworm, scrofula, tubercular glands, ulcers, wounds, boils; urinary discharges; amenorrhoea; gonorrhoea and syphilis. Bark—antidysenteric. Oil and resin—antirheumatic. Resin enters into a number of antiseptic and anti-inflammatory ointments. Leaves—juice is applied to cure burns. Orally administered to prevent vomiting.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the resinous exudate internally (1-2 g) in lipid disorders, anaemia, genitourinary diseases, diarrhoea and diseases due to vitiated blood; externally in gout, abscesses, skin diseases, burns, eruptions.The bark contains polyphenols—dl- epi-catechin, levorotatory isomers of fisetinidol, fzelechin; and bergenin.Resin is a complex mixture of several triterpene hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols and acids, along with small amounts of sesquiterpenes. On distillation, the oleoresin gave an essential oil (76%), consisting of phenolic constituents and azulenes. The essential oil shows marked antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gramnegative micro-organism.The leaves and roots contain berge- nin and hope phenol. The seed also contain bergenin. Hope phenol showed fungicidal activity. The plant exhibited anti-ulcerogenic activity in rats.The fruit shell contains 25% tannins.Dosage: Resinous exudate—1-2 g (API, Vol. IV.)... vateria indicaFAMILY: Burseraceae
SYNONYMS: B. delpechiana, Mexican linaloe, ‘copallimon’.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A tall, bushy tropical shrub or tree, with a smooth bark and bearing fleshy fruit. The wood is only used for distillation purposes when the tree is twenty or thirty years old. The oil is partially a pathological product since its production is stimulated by lacerating the trunk – which apparently must be wounded on the night of the full moon for the tree to produce any oil!
DISTRIBUTION: Native to Central and South America, especially Mexico. It is cultivated in the Far East particularly in India (Mysore). The wood oil is mainly produced in Mexico, the seed (and husk) oil in India.
OTHER SPECIES: There are several species which are all known simply as linaloe: see Botanical Classification section. West Indian elemi (B. simaruba) is a close relative, as are myrrh and frankincense.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The seed oil is known in India as ‘Indian lavender oil’ and used chiefly as a local perfume ingredient and in soaps by the cosmetics industry of Mysore state. It is not much found outside India. In Mexico the wood oil is used in a similar fashion to rosewood, which contains similar constituents.
ACTIONS: Anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bactericidal, deodorant, gentle tonic.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the 1. Wood, and 2. Seed and husk. (An essential oil is also occasionally produced from the leaves and twigs.)
CHARACTERISTICS: 1. A pale yellow liquid with a sweet-woody, floral scent, similar to rosewood. It blends well with rose, sandalwood, cedarwood, rosewood, frankincense, floral and woody fragrances. 2. A colourless liquid with a terpene-like odour, harsher than the wood oil.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: 1. Mainly linalol, some linalyl acetate. 2. Mainly linalyl acetate, some linalol.
SAFETY DATA: Non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE
Skin care: Acne, cuts, dermatitis, wounds, etc., all skin types.
Nervous system: Nervous tension and stressrelated conditions.
OTHER USES: The wood oil is used in soaps, toiletries and perfumes. It is also used for the production of natural linalol, although this is increasingly being replaced by synthetic linalol.... linaloe