Carrot Seed Essential Oil
Carrot Seed Daucus carota also known as Queen Anne’s Lace, Wild Carrot, Bird’s Nest, it is a bristly-stemmed annual or biennial plant, which grows to 2 – 4 feet high. The leaves are finely dissected and the flowers appear in a flat cluster with 1 small deep purple floret at the center. The carrot is said to have originated in Afghanistan, was known to the Greeks and Romans and has now spread throughout Europe. The more familiar, edible, orange root was developed by the Dutch in the seventeenth century. The wild flower, Queen Anne’s Lace was brought to the New World by English settlers. In France, in the sixteenth century, carrots were prescribed for their carminative (relieves and promotes the expulsion of flatus or gas from the gastro-intestinal tract), stomachic (strengthens, stimulates, or tones the stomach) and hepatic (stimulates and aids function of liver & gallbladder) properties. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is used to treat dysentery and to expel worms.
The essential oil is steam distilled from the dried seed. Seeds may or may not be crushed before distillation. Generally, carrot seed yields a golden yellow or amber-colored to pale, orange-brown oil with a woody, root-like, earthy odor. The initial notes are sweet and fresh with a tenacious and lasting heavy, earthy, fatty, slightly spicy undertone. The smell is reminiscent of that associated with the edible orange root. Carrot seed oil is diuretic (Increases the secretion and flow of urine) and hepatic, acts as a blood, liver and kidney cleanser and is useful for jaundice and hepatitis. It has relaxing qualities and is used in treatment of premenstrual tension. It’s depurative (cleans or purifies the blood by promoting eliminative functions) qualities make it useful as well for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism. It has a positive action on the skin, being used as a natural tanning agent and skin toner to protect aging and wrinkled skin. It is also helpful for skin problems, including eczema, psoriasis, rashes, etc.
| Adulteration: | |
| GRAS Status: | Carrot seed essential oil has GRAS Status. (49) |
Properties, Indications
and Uses: |
Properties: ()
Indicated for: ()
Uses: ()
|
| Toxicity: | LD50 - (oral) rat >g/kg; (dermal) rabbit >g/kg.
Irritation/Sensitisation - not known
Phototoxicity - Nil reported |
| Perfumery Uses: | |
|
|
|
