(Spanish) From the island Cubah
Habitat: A native to South America and the West Indies; now cultivated throughout India.
English: Custard Apple, Sugar Apple, Sweet-sop.Ayurvedic: Gandagaatra, Sitaa phala (also equated with Curcurbita maxima).Unani: Sharifaa.Siddha/Tamil: Sitaaphalam, Atta.Action: Leaves—insecticide (seed powder, mixed with leaf juice is used for removing lice from scalp). Seeds—abortifacient. Root— purgative, used in blood dysentery.
Fruit—invigorating, sedative to heart, antibilious, antiemetic, expectorant. Dried, powdered unripe fruits—used for treating ulcers. Ripe fruit made into paste with betel leaves is applied to tumour to hasten suppuration. Leaves, bark, unripe fruit—strongly astringent; used for diarrhoea and dysentery.A fraction of total alkaloid from roots exhibits antihypertensive, antispasmodic, antihistaminic and bron- chodilatory properties. Leaves contain a cardiotonic alkaloid, quinoline. Squamone and bullatacinone were selectively cytotoxic to human breast carcinoma.In Cuban medicine, leaves are taken to reduce uric acid levels.... annona squamosaHavanah, Havanna, Havannah, Havane, Havann, Havanne... havana
FAMILY: Myrtaceae
SYNONYMS: P. officinalis, pimento, pimenta, Jamaica pepper.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: An evergreen tree which reaches about 10 metres high and begins to produce fruit in its third year. Each fruit contains two kidney-shaped green seeds which turn glossy black upon ripening.
DISTRIBUTION: Indigenous to the West Indies and South America, it is cultivated extensively in Jamaica, Cuba and, to a lesser degree, in Central America. Imported berries are distilled in Europe and America.
OTHER SPECIES: Four other varieties of pimento are found in Venezuela, Guyana and the West Indies which are used locally as spices.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: Used for flatulent indigestion and externally for neuralgic or rheumatic pain. Pimento water is used as a vehicle for medicines which ease dyspepsia and constipation since it helps prevent griping pains. It is used extensively as a domestic spice – allspice is so called because it tastes like a combination of cloves, juniper berries, cinnamon and pepper.
ACTIONS: Anaesthetic, analgesic, anti-oxidant, antiseptic, carminative, muscle relaxant, rubefacient, stimulant, tonic.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from 1. the leaves, and 2. the fruit. The green unripe berries contain more oil than the ripe berries, but the largest percentage of oil is contained in the shell of the fruit. An oleoresin from the berries is also produced in small quantities.
CHARACTERISTICS: 1. Pimenta leaf oil is a yellowish-red or brownish liquid with a powerful sweet-spicy scent, similar to cloves. 2. Pimenta berry oil is a pale yellow liquid with a sweet warm balsamic-spicy bodynote (middle note) and fresh, clean top note. It blends well with ginger, geranium, lavender, opopanax, labdanum, ylang ylang, patchouli, neroli, oriental and spicy bases.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Mainly eugenol, less in the fruit (60–80 per cent) than in the leaves (up to 96 per cent), also methyl eugenol, cineol, phellandrene and cryophyllene among others.
SAFETY DATA: Eugenol irritates the mucous membranes, and has been found to cause dermal irritation. Pimenta leaf and berry oil should therefore be used with care in low dilutions only.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE:
Circulation, muscles and joints: Arthritis, fatigue, muscle cramp, rheumatism, stiffness etc. ‘Used in tiny amounts … in a massage oil for chest infections, for severe muscle spasm to restore mobility quickly, or where extreme cold is experienced.’1
Respiratory System: Chills, congested coughs, bronchitis.
Digestive System: Cramp, flatulence, indigestion, nausea.
Nervous System: Depression, nervous exhaustion, neuralgia, tension and stress.
OTHER USES: Used in aromatic carminative medicines; as a fragrance component in cosmetics and perfumes, especially soaps, aftershaves, spicy and oriental fragrances. Both leaf and berry oil are used extensively for flavouring foods, especially savoury and frozen foods, as well as alcoholic and soft drinks.... allspice
FAMILY: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
SYNONYMS: Toluifera balsamum, Balsamum tolutanum, B. americanum, Myrospermum toluiferum, Thomas balsam, resin Tolu, opobalsam.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A tall, graceful tropical tree, similar in appearance to the Peru balsam tree. The balsam is a pathological product, obtained by making V-shaped incisions into the bark and sap wood, often after the trunk has been beaten and scorched. It is a ‘true’ balsam.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to South America, mainly Venezuela, Colombia and Cuba; also cultivated in the West Indies.
OTHER SPECIES: There are many types of South American balsam-yielding trees, such as the Peru balsam – see entry.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The balsam works primarily on the respiratory mucous membranes, and is good for chronic catarrh and non-inflammatory chest complaints, laryngitis and croup. It is still used as a flavour and mild expectorant in cough syrups and lozenges. As an ingredient in compound benzoin tincture and similar formulations, it is helpful in the treatment of cracked nipples, lips, cuts, bedsores, etc.
ACTIONS: Antitussive, antiseptic, balsamic, expectorant, stimulant.
EXTRACTION: The crude balsam is collected from the trees. It appears first in liquid form, then hardens and solidifies into an orange-brown brittle mass. An ‘essential oil’ is obtained from the crude by 1. steam distillation, or 2. dry distillation. (A resinoid and absolute are also produced for use primarily as fixatives.)
CHARACTERISTICS: 1. A pale yellow-brown liquid with a sweet-floral scent and peppery undertone. 2. An amber-coloured liquid with a rich balsamic-floral scent, which slowly solidfies on cooling into a crystalline mass. Tolu balsam blends well with mimosa, ylang ylang, sandalwood, labdanum, neroli, patchouli, cedarwood and oriental, spicy and floral bases.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: The balsam contains approx. 80 per cent resin, 20 per cent oil, with cinnamic and benzoic acids, small amounts of terpenes, and traces of eugenol and vanillin.
SAFETY DATA: Available information indicates it to be non-toxic, non-irritant, possible sensitization, see Peru Balsam.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE
SKIN CARE: Dry, chapped and cracked skin, eczema, rashes, scabies, sores, wounds.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: Bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, croup, laryngitis. ‘It may be used as an inhalant by putting about a teaspoon into a steam bath.’6
OTHER USES: As a fixative and fragrance component in colognes, cosmetics and perfumes (especially the dry distilled type). Some use in pharmaceutical preparations, e.g. cough syrups. Low levels used in many major food products, especially baked goods.... balsam, tolu
FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
SYNONYMS: Cascarilla, sweetwood bark, sweet bark, Bahama cascarilla, aromatic quinquina, false quinquina.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A large shrub or small tree up to 12 metres high, with ovate silver-bronze leaves, pale yellowish-brown bark and small white fragrant flowers. It bears fruits and flowers all year round.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to the West Indies, probably the Bahama Islands; found growing wild in Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. The oil is mainly produced in the Bahamas and Cuba; some distillation takes place in America, France and England from the imported bark.
OTHER SPECIES: An essential oil is also distilled locally from other Croton species. White, red and black cascarillas are also found in commerce.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The bark is used as an aromatic bitter and tonic for dyspepsia, diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, debility, nausea, flatulence, vomiting and chronic bronchitis. The leaves are used as a digestive tea, and for flavouring tobacco. The bark also yields a good black dye.
ACTIONS: Astringent, antimicrobial, antiseptic, carminative, digestive, expectorant, stomachic, tonic.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the dried bark. (1.5–3 per cent yield).
CHARACTERISTICS: A pale yellow, greenish or dark amber liquid with a spicy, aromatic, warm-woody odour. It blends well with nutmeg, pepper, pimento, sage, oakmoss, oriental and spicy bases.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Cymene, diterpene, limonene, caryophyllene, terpineol and eugenol, among others.
SAFETY DATA: Non-irritant, non-sensitizing, relatively non-toxic (possibly narcotic in large doses).
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE
Respiratory System: Bronchitis, coughs
Digestive System: Dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea.
Immune System: ’Flu.
OTHER USES: Fragrance component in soaps, detergents, cosmetics and perfumes, especially men’s fragrances. Flavour ingredient in most major food categories, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, especially vermouths and bitters.... cascarilla bark
FAMILY: Rutaceae
SYNONYMS: Pernambuco jaborandi, P. pennatifolius, iaborandi, jamborandi, arrudo do mato, arruda brava, jamguaraddi, juarandi.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A woody shrub up to 2 metres high with a smooth, greyish bark, large brownish-green leathery leaves containing big oil glands and reddish-purple flowers.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to Brazil; other species are found in Paraguay, Cuba, the West Indies and Central America.
OTHER SPECIES: There are many members of the Rutaceae and Piperaceae family known simply as jaborandi, such as Piper jaborandi. Others include maranham jaborandi (P. microphyllus), ceara jaborandi (P. trachylophus) and aracti jaborandi (P. spicatus).There is consequently some confusion about the exact botanical source of the oil.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: Jaborandi induces salivation and most gland secretions; it was also used at one time to promote hair growth. ‘Useful in psoriasis, prurigo, deafness ... chronic catarrh, tonsillitis and particularly dropsy.’ .
ACTIONS: Antiseptic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, galactagogue, stimulant (nerve).
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the dried leaflets.
CHARACTERISTICS: An orange or yellow liquid with a sweet-herbaceous fruity odour.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Pilocarpine is the main active constituent; also isopilocarpine, pilocarpidine, methyl nonyl ketone, dipentene and other hydrocarbons.
SAFETY DATA: Oral toxin, skin irritant, abortifacient.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None.
OTHER USES: Various hypodermic solutions are prepared from pilocarpine: the crude oil is rarely used. Little used in perfumery or flavour work due to toxicity.... jaborandi
FAMILY: Rutaceae
SYNONYMS: C. medica var. acida, C. latifolia, Mexican lime, West Indian lime, sour lime.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A small evergreen tree up to 4.5 metres high, with stiff sharp spines, smooth ovate leaves and small white flowers. The bitter fruit is a pale green colour, about half the size of a lemon.
DISTRIBUTION: Probably native to south Asia; naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is cultivated mainly in south Florida, the West Indies (Cuba), Central America (Mexico) and Italy.
OTHER SPECIES: There are several species of lime such as the Italian lime (C. limetta) which is used to produce an oil called ‘limette’; and the leech-lime (C. hystrix) which is occasionally used to produce an essential oil called combava.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The fruit is often used indiscriminately in place of lemon with which it shares many qualities. It is used for similar purposes including fever, infections, sore throat, colds, etc. It used to be used as a remedy for dyspepsia with glycerin of pepsin.
ACTIONS: Antirheumatic, antiscorbutic, antiseptic, antiviral, aperitif, bactericidal, febrifuge, restorative, tonic.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by 1. cold expression of the peel of the unripe fruit; the expressed oil is preferred in perfumery work, and 2. steam distillation of the whole ripe crushed fruit (a by-product of the juice industry).
CHARACTERISTICS: 1. A pale yellow or olive-green liquid with a fresh, sweet, citrus-peel odour. 2. A water-white or pale yellow liquid with a fresh, sharp, fruity-citrus scent. It blends well with neroli, citronella, lavender, lavandin, rosemary, clary sage and other citrus oils.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Limonene, pinenes, camphene, sabinene, citral, cymene, cineols and linalol, among others. The expressed ‘peel’ oil, but not the ‘whole fruit’ oil, also contains coumarins.
SAFETY DATA: Non-toxic, non-irritant, nonsensitizing. However, the expressed ‘peel’ oil is phototoxic (but not the steam-distilled ‘whole fruit’ oil).
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE See lemon.
OTHER USES: Both oils, but mainly the expressed, are used as fragrance components in soaps, detergents, cosmetics and perfumes. Mainly the distilled oil, but also the terpeneless oil, is used by the food industry, especially in soft drinks – ‘lemon and lime’ flavour. The juice is used for the production of citric acid.... lime
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