FAMILY: Cupressaceae
SYNONYMS: Sabina cacumina, savin (oil).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A compact evergreen shrub about 1 metre high (though much taller in the Mediterranean countries), which tends to spread horizontally. It has a pale green bark becoming rough with age, small, dark green leaves and purplish-black berries containing three seeds.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to North America, middle and southern Europe. The oil is produced mainly in Austria (the Tirol), a little in France and Yugoslavia.
OTHER SPECIES: Closely related to the common juniper (J. communis) and other members of the family – see juniper.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: It was used at one time as an ointment or dressing for blisters, in order to promote discharge, and for syphilitic warts and other skin problems. It is rarely administered nowadays because of its possible toxic effects.
ACTIONS: Powerful emmenagogue, rubefacient, stimulant.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the twigs and leaves.
CHARACTERISTICS: A pale yellow or olive oily liquid with a disagreeable, bitter, turpentine-like odour.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Sabinol, sabinyl acetate, terpinene, pinene, sabinene, decyl aldehyde, citronellol, geraniol, cadinene and dihydrocuminyl alcohol.
SAFETY DATA: Oral toxin. Dermal irritant. Abortifacient. ‘The oil is banned from sale to the public in many countries due to its toxic effects (nerve poison and blood circulation stimulant).’.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None. ‘Should not be used in therapy, whether internally or externally.’.
OTHER USES: Occasional perfumery use. Little employed nowadays.
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