Cajuput

Botanical Name: Melaleuca leucadendron

Family: Myrtacae

Common Names: Melaleuca, Paper bark, Cajaput, Bottle brush

 

Medicinal Properties of Cajuput

Carminative; antispasmidic; antiseptic; stimulant; rubefacient; antihelmintic; expectorant.

Constituents:

According to Stuart (1997) cajuput oil has the following constituents: Oil comprising cineole (60%), terpineol, 1-pinene, aldehydes, including those of benzoic, valeric and butyric acid.

In addition ursane; triterpenoids; 3β-cis-p-coumaroyloxy-2α-hydroxyursa-12; 20(30)-dien-28-oic acid; cis- and trans- 3β-caffeoyloxy-2α-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acids are present (Ching-Kuo Lee, 1998).

 

Traditional Applications in Herbal Medicine:

Highly stimulant, producing a sensation of warmth when taken internally, increasing the fullness and rapidity of the pulse and sometimes producing profuse perspiration. Used as a stimulating expectorant in chronic laryngitis and bronchitis, as an antiseptic in cystisis and as an anthelmintic for round worms, also used in chronic rheumatism. Applied externally, it is stimulant and mildly counter-irritant and is usually applied diluted with 2 parts of olive oil or turpentine ointment. Used externally for psoriasis and other skin affections.

Used internally in the treatment of chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis (the oil is excreted via the lungs), as a gastro-intestinal antiseptic, and for the removal of roundworms.

Externally: Stimulant-rubbing oil for rheumacti pain, in various liniments; to treat scabies; and in tooth cavities to releve pain.

Oil and leaves repell insects.

 

References:

Stuart, M. (1979) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing Limited, London, and Istituto Geografico de Agostini, SpA, Novara.

Ching-Kuo Lee, (1998) Ursane triterpenoids from leaves of melaleuca leucadendronnext term. Phytochemistry, Volume 49, Issue 4, Pages 1119-1122.