| |
Tamanu OIl ( Foraha, Calophyllum inophyllum)
 |
Tamanu oil is a remarkable topical healing agent with
skin healing, antineuralgic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic and
antioxidant properties. Tamanu oil’s botanical name is Calophyllum tacamahaca
and/or Calophyllum Inophyllum--but it's been called everything from Alexandrian
Laurel to Pannay Tree to Sweet Scented Calophyllum, and in London it was once
sold as Borneo Mahogany. The Tamanu tree is indigenous to tropical Southeast
Asia; it is found in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, South India, Sri
Lanka, and the Melanesian and Polynesian islands. It is grows up to three meters
tall, sporting cracked, black bark and elliptical, shiny leaves. The Tamanu tree
blooms twice annually with fragrant, white flowers, which later yield clusters
of yellow-skinned spherical fruit. The fruit's pulp tastes similar to an apple,
within which a large nut is embedded. The nut contains an odorless pale kernel,
called punnai in some Pacific areas. This kernel is dried in the sun for two
months until it becomes sticky with a dark, thick, rich oil; it must be
protected from humidity and rain during drying. This sticky oil is cold-pressed
to make a greenish yellow oil similar to olive oil. To put this spectacular oil
into perspective, and to further justify its relatively high cost, It takes 100
kilograms of Tamanu fruit, the amount that one tree produces annually, to yield
just 5 kilograms of cold pressed oil! Natives believed the Tamanu tree was a
sacred gift of nature and that gods hid in its branches. It was their answer to
skin protection from hot sun, high humidity and ocean wind.
Indonesians soak the leaf in water; the resulting blue
solution is applied to inflamed eyes or taken internally for heatstroke. It is
used as an astringent for hemorrhoids in Philippines. The Manus of Papua New
Guinea heat leaves over a fire until they soften, then apply them to skin
ulcers, boils, cuts, sores and pimples. On Dobu Island, leaves are boiled, and
the resulting solution is used to wash skin rashes.
In the Philippines,
the sap is mixed with sulfur to create an ointment for boils, open sores and
wounds. In the 18th century, native Jamaicans used a similar species for wounds
and sores.
Fiji natives use Tamanu oil for joint pains,
arthritis, bruises, oozing wounds, chapped lips and preventing diaper rash. In
most south sea islands it is utilized as an analgesic for sciatica, rheumatism
and ulcers.
Pacific islanders apply Tamanu oil to scrapes, cuts,
burns, insect bites and stings, acne and acne scars, psoriasis, diabetic sores,
anal fissures, sunburn, dry or scaly skin, blisters, eczema, diaper rash and
herpes sores--and even to reduce foot and body odor!
In Europe, sometimes
called Domba oil, it has a 70 to 75 percent success rate in alleviating
rheumatism and scabies. It’s also effective on gout and ringworm. It can be
applied to mucous membrane lesions. It heals chapped skin, post-surgical
wounds, skin allergies, cracked skin, bed sores, wounds, rashes, abrasions,
athlete’s foot, boils, and infected nails.
Tamanu oil has even
healed severe burns caused by boiling water, chemicals and X-rays. Its
anti-inflammatory properties reduce rashes, sores, swelling and abrasions.
Tamanu oil promotes new tissue formation, accelerating healing and healthy skin
growth.
Tamanu oil reputedly relieves a sore throat when it is
applied to the neck. It’s pain-relieving properties have also been used
traditionally to relieve neuralgia, shingles and believe it or not, leprous
neuritis! In the 1920s, Sister Marie-Suzanne, a nun stationed in Fiji,
topically applied Tamanu oil to leprosy victims with positive results.
Tamanu oil possesses significant antimicrobial
qualities, as proven in antibacterial and antifungal tests. It contains
powerful bactericide and fungicide agents that defeat human and animal
pathogens. Tamanu can be applied directly to skin, undiluted. There are no
reports of adverse effects from topical application. Tamanu oil has also
compared favorably against antibiotics in alleviating these maladies:
Benefits of Foraha/Tamanu Oil:
•Promotes new tissue formation, accelerating healing and healthy skin growth
•Wound healing and assists the growth of healthy skin. Greatly aids wound healing of severe cuts and burns.
•Can be applied liberally to cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites and stings and abrasions
•Effective against acne and acne scars
•Acts as an effective germicide to kill or prevent infection
•Almost magical for scars and stretch marks
•Great germicide as it is anti-bacterial and anti fungal, relieves Athlete's foot
•Helpful with psoriasis, diabetic sores and anal fissures. Used for shingles and skin ulcers
•Relieves sunburn, dry or scaly skin, blisters and eczema
•Effective against herpes sores and shingles
•Relieves neuralgia, rheumatism and sciatica. Analgesic effects, useful with St. John’s Wort herbally infused oil for sciatica
•Effective against skin ulcers.
•Promotes healthy, clear, blemish-free skin
•Relieves a sore throat when it is applied to the neck
•Prevents diaper rash and skin eruptions on babies
•Anti-inflammatory. Anti-bacterial. Anti-fungal
It can be used undiluted on the skin or blended with other carriers, butters and essential oils. Melt it with shea butter, jojoba oil, beeswax and coconut oil for a rich and healing body butter.
Tamanu oil fades
stretch marks with incredible results. It also works miracles on scar tissue,
making scars look less unsightly. BioScience Laboratories conducted a study of
Tamanu oil’s ability to improve the appearance of scars. Six subjects with
obvious scars aged for one year or more participated in the test. Subjects were
not allowed to use moisturizers on their scarred areas for seven days before the
test or throughout the nine-week test period. Scars were rated for roughness,
length, width and degree of difference from surrounding normal skin.
Measurements of darkness and redness were also taken for scarred and surrounding
normal skin. Digital photos of scars were taken prior to initial application and
at the end of week nine. Tamanu oil was applied to the scarred area twice daily
for nine consecutive weeks. There was significant improvement in appearance of
scars after six weeks, and improvement continued through week nine. Scar length
was reduced by an average 0.28 centimeters, and width was reduced by an average
0.12 centimeters!
Disclaimer: The information presented herein is intended for educational
purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not
intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may
vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with
your own health care provider. |
|
