Medicines
Linaloe
Category: Medicines - plant based
Type
Voluntary
Introduction and description
Bursera delpechiana POISS. (Burseraceae) also called Lignaloe or Linaloe, is a member of the Bursera family.
Bursera, named after the Danish botanist Joachim Burser (1583-1639), is a genus with about 100 described species of flowering shrubs and trees varying in size up to 25 m (82 ft) high. They are native (often for many species endemic) to the Americas, from the southern United States south through to northern Argentina, in tropical and warm temperate forest habitats.
The Linaloe tree is found in Mexico where it is farmed commercially. The wood of Linale is used to make an essential oil, used in perfumery.
Blends very well with Rosewood/Bois de Rose, Rose’s, Sandalwood’s, Frankincense’s, Lavender’s, Cedarwood’s and as such is a very popular material amongst perfumers and soap makers. The aroma of Linaloe Wood is sweet-woody, floral-fresh, clean, dry-woody and a little green. The aroma is consistent from start to finish and it blends easily into all compositions adding lift without altering the character of the blend too much. Clear in colour, it is produced by steam distilling the wood, and thus damaged the trees. It is not uncommon for the fruits from the tree to also be distilled as it bulks up the yield of the essential oil.
It is also used in aromatherapy and inspired this description
Aromatherapy For Your Soul by Dr Silvia Hartmann
Bursera Delpechiana: Insistent, compelling, penetrating, tastes of adventure, taking action, following your heart....... Linaloe helps to alleviate long term stress by compelling towards action - to sit down and give up means to die. Helps catalyse new reserves of strength, and directs attention outward bound towards adventure and the expectation of discovery and possibly, treasure.
Dr Duke's phytochemical database has an entry and a number of observations that describe medicinal uses.