If you have never heard of cajeput, you are not alone. In fact, many — if not most — people have no idea what it is. “Cajeput” is derived from its Indonesian name, “kayu putih” which means white wood as cajeput trees have grey-white bark with paper-like texture. Closely related to niaouli, tea tree, and eucalyptus, cajeput essential oil has a clean, fruity, and somewhat medicinal scent that is rather similar to hyacinth’s odor.
Chock-full of benefits, it is high time you acquaint yourself with cajeput essential oil. Read on to learn more about this essential oil including how it is extracted, its benefits, other oils it mixes well with, and more.
What is Cajeput Essential Oil Made Of?
Cajeput essential oil is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca cajuputi, Melaleuca leaucadendra, and other Melaleuca species. Growing to about 30 meters in height, these trees are found in Vietnam, Malaysia, hotter parts of Australia, and across the Indonesian archipelago. As for cajeput essential oil, the majority of it is produced in the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
How is Cajeput Essential Oil Extracted?
To collect the oil, the leaves and twigs of the trees are harvested on a hot and dry day and then macerated in water into a thick pulp. Next, the pulp is fermented overnight before undergoing the steam distillation process to get the final product — cajeput essential oil.
Benefits of Cajeput Essential Oil
1. Fights infections and viruses
Boasting antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic properties, cajeput essential oil helps your immune system to combat infections and viruses. With a reputation as the go-to for traditional medicine, historically, the oil has been used to treat wounds, fever, flu/colds, cough, and bacterial/fungal infections. In fact, it was once even used to treat cholera in the 1800s — with varying results.
According to a study in 2018, while there are many compounds in cajeput oil that contribute to its potent infection-fighting power, the main one appears to be alpha-terpineol — a naturally-occurring terpene alcohol found in some flowers and herbs.
For wounds, cuts, and such, clean the wounds and then rub a couple of drops of cajeput essential oil with a few drops of coconut oil to ward off infection. Rinse (quite literally so) and repeat until the wound heals. If you are using the oil to treat a fever, apply one or two drops of the oil to your forehead and massage it in.
2. Relieves pain
Besides fighting infection, cajeput essential oil’s analgesic properties can also help to alleviate and soothe the sensation of pain. It is often used in the treatment of joint pain. Plus, its antispasmodic property also helps with sore muscles, muscle cramps, and menstruation cramps.
As a matter of fact, if you are familiar with the very popular — and very revered by mothers in South East Asia — Tiger Balm, you will see that cajeput oil is one of the ingredients in it. The Balm is used to relieve all types of pain from bug bites to arthritis.
For joint and muscle pains, mix a few drops of cajeput essential oil with a carrier oil. Massage it into the affected areas for quick relief. If you want to take it further, carefully heat up the oil in the microwave. If you are suffering from chronic pain, on the other hand, mix the cajeput oil with a carrier oil or your lotion and rub it into the area daily.
3. Maintains a healthy digestive system
You can do away with those painful stomach cramps, bloating, and excess gas with cajeput essential oil. The antispasmodic property of the oil helps to relax the tight muscles that cause stomach cramps. Additionally, cajeput oil is also a carminative — an herb or drug that is meant to either prevent the formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or help with the expulsion of gas
For stomach cramps, mix the cajeput essential oil with a carrier oil and rub it on your abdomen in a clockwise motion. The above method would work fine to relieve bloating, too. Alternatively, add a drop of the oil to just below your nose. Breathing in the oil before or after a meal helps to prevent excess gas.
4. Smoothes and brightens skin
A popular ingredient in the beauty industry, cajeput essential oil is often used in skincare especially in toners and creams. The oil’s rich antioxidants help to fight free radicals, thus, diminishing the signs of premature aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation.
Apart from the above, there is good news for those of you looking to get your glow on, too. As a result of the compounds in the oil, it naturally removes toxins/impurities from the skin, regulates sebum production, and treats acne. You will notice that, with frequent use, your skin is healthier and smoother. Plus, cajeput essential oil also diminishes the appearance of scars and blemishes while it brightens the skin to reveal crystal-clear dewy skin.
To incorporate cajeput essential oil into your beauty routine, replace your toner with a mixture of equal parts cajeput essential oil and carrier oil. Alternatively, adding two drops of cajeput essential oil to your face cream and lotion would also do the job.
5. Eliminates insects
A heaven-sent especially in tropical countries, cajeput essential oil possesses strong insecticidal properties that help to get rid of insects, including mosquitoes, ants, and termites. A study in 2012 shows that cajeput essential oil could be used to kill mosquitoes, even Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes — the two principal vectors of dengue virus.
For those of you with mosquito nets, you can soak it in cajeput oil to ward off the mosquitoes. A more effective way is to DIY your own mosquito spray by mixing cajeput essential oil with other oils in a spray bottle. Alternatively, place a few drops of the cajeput oil — or the mixture of cajeput essential oil with other oils — in a diffuser to use as a repellent against insects.
Not only is cajeput essential oil excellent at eliminating insects in your home but it can also keep head lice and other bugs away from your hair and body. It is truly the epitome of a multi-tasking product, indeed.
Mixing Cajeput Essential Oil with Other Essential Oils
Cajeput essential oil’s fresh and somewhat camphorous scent synergizes well with floral fragrances such as ylang-ylang and geranium. It also blends well with woody oils including pine and cedarwood oils. As for carrier oil, Jojoba oil is perhaps the most complementary for cajeput.
Other Good-to-Know Information
While cajeput essential oil is (for the most part) non-toxic, it can cause skin irritation in some cases. Make sure to do a test patch on the skin before applying liberally. Give the test a few hours to confirm that you are not allergic to the oil.
If you suffer from asthma, do exercise caution when using cajeput essential oil as the inhalation of the oil can potentially trigger asthma attacks.
Is Cajeput Essential Oil Right for You?
There is no doubt that cajeput essential oil is not a very popular or well-known essential oil. However, it has managed to hold its own in the saturated market of essential oils because of its many benefits and unique scent.
If you are looking for a powerhouse essential oil that is not the usual run-of-the-mill oils, cajeput essential oil should be right there in your list of must-try.
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