Niaouli Oil
Niaouli oil is extracted from the leaves and twigs of the Niaouli tree. This evergreen tree is a member of the tea tree family, Myrtaceae. Niaouli tree is indigenous to Australia and is found growing in the French Pacific Islands and New Caledonia. Niaouli tree grows up to a maximum height of 60 feet and spreads up to 30 feet wide. These trees are generally characterized with the presence of a spongy or papery bark, flexible trunk, pointed leaves and sessile flowers. The flexible trunk of this tree is smooth, erect and whitish in color. Niaouli leaves are pointed, leathery, ovate, dull and grey-green in color. These alternately arranged leaves measure about 4 inches long and 1 inch wide. Niaouli tree bears white, cream or pale yellow bottle-brush like flowers that are arranged in cylindrical brushes. The normal flowering season is the early spring, between the months of September to March. These flowers are followed by small seed pods that contain numerous tiny seeds. The woody seed pods release the seeds annually.
Niaouli oil is extracted from the leaves, twigs and shoots by steam distillation. This oil has a sweet, fresh, earthy, sharp, musty, camphoraceous, floral, herbaceous, reminiscent and natural aroma. Niaouli oil is clear to pale yellow-green in color. This oil blends well with lavender oil, juniper oil, fennel oil, lime oil, pine oil, coriander oil, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, myrtle oil, lemon oil and Scotch pine oil.
Latin name: Melaleuca viridiflora/ Melaleuca quinquenervia
Alternative names: Gomenol, Paper Bark Tea Tree, Broad-leaved paper bark.
Niaouli trees are found growing in seasonally inundated plains, moist places and swamplands in Australia. It is also spread in the grassland habitats. This tree is highly appreciated for its potential to withstand drought and flood. Niaouli oil contains piperitone, cineol, citrene, a-phellandrene, terebenethene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, a-pinene, b-pinene, y-terpineol, linalool and terpineol. This oil has clearing, vulnerary, antiseptic, mental stimulant, analgesic, insecticide, cleansing, anti-rheumatic, vermifuge, bactericidal, decongestant, balsamic, febrifuge, cicatrisant, stimulant and expectorant properties.
Uses: Niaouli oil is used for treating oily skin, acne, sore throat, sinus, bronchitis, catarrh, cough, whooping cough, chest infections, tuberculosis, flu, laryngitis, fever, pneumonia, burns, ulcers, boils, urinary infections, dysentery, poor circulation, cystitis, intestinal parasites, neuralgia, cold, cuts and rheumatism. With its curative properties, this oil is often related to tea tree essential oil. This natural oil with its antibacterial and antiseptic properties helps in the treatment of respiratory disorders, bladder infections, headaches and general sickness.
