Guide To Cedarwood Essential Oil Benefits and Uses

"Headiness is the message of the spirit of cedarwood. It is the spirit of integrity, of stability, of solidarity in all things," states aromatherapist Valerie Ann Worwood in Aromatherapy For the Soul. She list the emotional benefits of atlas cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica) as encouraging strength, focus, balance, fortitude, persistence, confidence, protectiveness, and concentration.

Cedarwood comes in several varieties. The two most common in aromatherapy are atlas cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) and Virginian cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana). They have similar properties, although the Virginian variety, which is technically a juniper and not a cedar, is a milder oil. This profile covers both oils. Other cedars include Texas cedarwood (Juniperus ashei), Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara), and Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani).

Basic Cedarwood Facts

Plant family:

• Pinaceae (atlas cedarwood, also called Atlantic cedar and Moroccan cedar)
• Cupressaceae (Virginian cedarwood, also called red cedar and Eastern red cedar)

Production: Steam distilled from wood chips and shavings of the tree.

Aroma: Warm, woody, balsamic, sweet.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Base

Is cedarwood safe to use during pregnancy? Most sources say no.

Is cedarwood essential oil safe for children? Yes.

Main components:

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition

Cedarwood Essential Oil Benefits

Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art: This essential oil is an astringent for oily hair and skin conditions, acne, and dandruff and relieves dermatitis, insect bites, and itching. The oil may also help reduce cellulite and encourage hair growth.

The Heart of Aromatherapy: Use Virginian cedarwood for daily skin care, soothing damaged or irritated skin, respiratory support, clearing mucous and congestion, relaxation and soothing the nervous system, repelling insects, and freshening closets and drawers. You can use this essential oil as a substitute for eucalyptus or tea tree in respiratory blends.

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Atlas cedarwood helps relieve congestion, acne, cellulite, anxiety, stress, tension, and physical exhaustion. Virginian cedarwood helps relieve respiratory problems, congestion, coughs, and cellulite.

The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition): Use both atlas and Virginian cedarwood for skin care, arthritis, coughs and congestion, nervous tension, and stress-related disorders.

Aromatherapy For Healing the Spirit: In Traditional Chinese Medicine atlas cedarwood fortifies and strengthens. It tones both the Kidney and Spleen-pancreas and may be useful for relieving nervous debility, general lethargy, lower back pain, and poor concentration. This oil is astringent and helps drain cold dampness.

Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Volume I: Physically, atlas cedarwood decongests, strengthens, and relaxes hypotonic/weak, congestive/damp, and hypertonic/tense conditions. Psychologically, the essential oil stabilizes the mind and promotes emotional security, realism, and cognitive flexibility. Traditional Chinese Medicine sees the essential function of atlas cedarwood as nourishing the Yin, calming the Shen, and reducing dampness.

Aromatherapy and Subtle Energy Techniques: Cedarwood clears and cleanses, brings in positive, optimistic energy, and steadies the mind while promoting concentration. Especially useful for the sixth chakra.

The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing: Cedarwood is helpful for meditation and prayer. Use the oil in synergistic blends to help clear away negativity. This essential oil is grounding and helps create mental focus.

Sacred Oils: Atlas cedarwood helps you find power and strength, supports optimism and hope, helps ground and anchor you, and releases negative thoughts and emotions. The oil supports strength of spirit and has an affinity for the first chakra.

Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Both cedarwood oils strengthen psychic abilities, stimulate dreamwork, offer psychic protection, and support clairvoyance, element magic, and divination.

Cedarwood Essential Oil Uses and Blends

For sinus and respiratory problems: Use the essential oil in a steam inhalation.

Moisturizing hair conditioner: Blend 5 or 6 drops cedarwood into 2 to 3 teaspoons coconut oil or argan oil. Massage the blend into your hair. Wait 30 to 60 minutes and then wash your hair as usual.

For a bladder infection: Use cedarwood essential oil in a sitz bath to help relieve the pain, according to Essential Oils & Aromatherapy for Dummies.

For chronic stress-related conditions: Combine atlas cedarwood and patchouli, according to Aromatica. This combination may also help relieve varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and swollen ankles.

Insect Repellent

• 1/2 cup water
• 20 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 10 drops patchouli essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• One 4-ounce PET plastic spray bottle
  

Put the water in the spray bottle. Add the essential oils. Shake well to mix.

To use: Shake before using. Spray your skin and clothes every hour. Do not directly spray on face. You can spray your hands and wipe them onto your face, but do not use this blend  on the hands and faces of young children and babies.
Source: Aromahead

Diffuser Essential Oil Blends with Cedarwood

For a relaxing diffuser blend:

• 2 drops cedarwood
• 2 drops orange essential oil
• 1 drop ylang ylang essential oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
  

For a fun diffuser blend that creates an outdoor, woodsy scent:

• 1 drop cedarwood
• 2 drops balsam fir essential oil
• 3 drops frankincense essential oil
  

You can also diffuse cedarwood for meditation or to help you focus.

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Photo Credit: Virginian cedarwood By USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons and atlas cedarwood by David J. Stang [CC BY-SA 4.0] via Wikimedia Commons