Cypress essential oil: against coughs, heavy legs and hemorrhoids

the cypress (cupressus sempervirens in Latin) is a tree measuring from 5 meters to 40 meters high. Its leaves look like triangular scales measuring from 2 to 6 mm. They completely cover the branches. The cypress is part of the family of cupressaceouss of which there are many species: Santa Cruz cypress, Arizona cypress, Moroccan cypress, Baker cypress, Bentham cypress, Bhutan cypress, Tassili cypress, Chinese cypress, MacNab cypress, Lambert cypress , Mendocino cypress, evergreen cypress, Tonkin cypress, Himalayan cypress, Vietnamese golden cypress…

In Francethe cypress grows in the South of Franceespecially in Provence. An ornamental tree, many cypresses are found in parks and gardens.

In aromatherapywe use the evergreen cypress. “Essential oils being standardized, the European Pharmacopoeia and Afnor have retained the evergreen cypress, which is the standard cypress in France.says Didier Pesoni, pharmacist specializing in aromatherapy. Because depending on the variety and geographical origin, the composition of the essential oil can change. »

Those are the twigs of the cypress evergreens that are used to make cypress essential oil. It is obtained by distillation complete by steam distillation. It takes about 100 kg of leafy twigs to obtain between 200 g and 500 g only of cypress essential oil !

Cypress essential oil is mainly composed of monoterpenes with virtues antiseptics, disinfectants, immune booster ; of sesquiterpenes which are anti-inflammatories, painkillers and sedatives ; and sesquiterpenols with balancing properties.

“Evergreen cypress essential oil has several health benefits in different areas”, explains the pharmacist. Here they are :

• She is antitussive.

• She is venous and lymphatic decongestants.

• It decongests the prostate.

“Essential oil of cypress is interesting for calming the dry coughthe irritation cough or smoker’s cough or that of the Covid-19and to decongest »explains Didier Pesoni, pharmacist.

Oral use is most effective.but it can also be used for diffusion or inhalation.

Orally : “for adults, place 2 drops ofcypress essential oil on a neutral tablet or brown sugar and take 3-4 times a day for 5-7 days, recommends the pharmacist. In children over 7 years old, the dose should be reduced to 1 drop, 3 to 4 times a day. »

In massage on the thorax : “In adults, dilute 10 drops in 20 drops (or 10 sprays) of macadamia oil and massage the chest 3 to 4 times a day, advises Didier Pesoni. In children, the number of drops of essential oil is reduced: 5 drops in 10 drops or 2 pressures of macadamia vegetable oil. In children between 30 months and 7 years old, only 1 drop in 10 drops of macadamia oil is used. »

Macadamia vegetable oil has the advantage of being non-greasy and of rapidly penetrating into the tissues.

The feeling of heavy legs is due to a poor blood circulation. This results in swelling of the feet, ankles, the dilation of small vessels on the legs, an unpleasant feeling of numbness, pain in the legs… especially when it’s hot, after prolonged standing…

” Cypress essential oil is phlebotonic. It restores elasticity and tone to the veins, it promotes the restructuring of the venous tissue”, explains Didier Pesoni.

Dermal : “Mix 5 drops of cypress essential oil with 5 drops ofrosemary essential oil 1.8 cineole in 10 squeezes – or 20 drops – of macadamia oil. Apply in massage on the legs starting from the ankles and going up towards the knees, 3 to 4 times a day »advises the pharmacist.

Rosemary essential oil complements well that of cypress because it acts on the blood flow. “You can mix 1 drop of cypress essential oil and 1 drop of rosemary essential oil in a knob of red vine or horse chestnut cream and massage it into the legs”, suggests Didier Pesoni.

” The varicose veins correspond to the extreme phase of heavy legsexplains the pharmacist. In this case, cypress essential oil is no longer sufficient, used alone. On the other hand, it can be interesting in addition to the surgical treatment of the vein.L’cistus essential oil is more suitable because it has an astringent action, with a small effect ‘compression stockings. »

But beware, cistus essential oil is more expensive!

The hemorrhoids are a benign and frequent pathology but which can disrupt daily life. It touches approximately a third of the French, both women and men. Their frequency increases between the ages of 40 and 65. Hemorrhoids are characterized by swollen and irritated vessels. Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. They are favored by various factors: pregnancyI’childbirthpostpartum in women, and for everyone, age, constipationthe diarrheathe sedentary lifestylethe overweightbad eating habits (alcohol, spicy dishes).

“Cypress essential oil promotes good blood circulation”informs the pharmacist.

By mouth:“Place on a neutral tablet or brown sugar, 1 drop of essential oil of cypress with 1 drop of essential oil of rosemary 1.8 at cineole and take 3 to 4 times a day for a week, then for 3 weeks continue with a perianal massage »advises Didier Pesoni.

Dermal : “Mix 1 drop of cypress essential oil and 1 drop of rosemary 1.8 cineole essential oil or 1 drop of cistus essential oil in 1 pressure of macadamia vegetable oil and apply to the anus in massage, 3 to 4 times a day for three weekssuggests Didier Pesoni. As symptoms improve, decrease the number of daily massages. »

The essential oil of cypress being decongestant, it can be used in case of inflammation of the prostate. How ?

Orally : “Place on a neutral tablet or brown sugar 2 drops of cypress essential oil and take 4 times a day, recommends the pharmacist. As soon as the symptoms improve, reduce the intake to 2 times a day then to 1 time a day. You can take 1 drop once a day for maintenance throughout the year. »

Aromatherapy has, like allopathy, precautions for use and restrictions. “Evergreen Cypress essential oil should not be used in pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants under thirty months of age, or in patients with asthma or epilepsy,” lists Didier Pesoni, pharmacist.

And, before any use, it is advisable to carry out a preliminary skin test, in order to ensure the non-reactivity of the skin.

Cypress essential oil is estrogen-like. “As a precaution, it is preferable to avoid it in women who have had hormone-dependent cancer, that is to say of the breast, ovaries, uterus, endometrium”, notify the pharmacist.

Another essential oil, with similar properties, can be used as an alternative. “It is the essential oil of Scots pine”, says Didier Pesoni.