Ocotea Essential Oil

If you are like me, when you first saw the word “Ocotea” some questions immediately popped into your mind: What is it? What can it do for me? And most of all...how do I pronounce it? Here are some answers.

Ocotea (pronounced: Oh-koh-tay-ah) is a tropical plant found primarily in the Americas. There are over 300 species of Ocotea, many of them being evergreen trees. Young Living's Ocotea essential oil is made from the female trees of the species Ocotea quixos, which are grown and distilled on Young Living's farm in Ecuador. Ocotea trees are often huge, with some growing to be 60 feet tall or higher.



Ocotea has a long history of use among Amazonian peoples who used it for cleansing and purifying the body and also for digestive support [i] Known as American Cinnamon, Ocotea has a warm cinnamon-like fragrance, but is considered to be less irritating to the skin than regular cinnamon oil.

Ocotea also seems to have an effect on blood sugar regulation. Google around the net and you will see lots of anecdotal evidence of folks with diabetes using this oil to help lower their blood sugar levels. (So far, I haven't found any scientific studies that link Ocotea quixos to blood sugar control, but if you know of any, please let me know.)

According to Young Living, Ocotea has the highest level of alpha humulene of any of their oils, which helps support the body's natural response to irritation and injury.[ii] Young Living also uses Ocotea in it's Slique line of products for weight management and in its Stress Away Roll On.

There are some peer-reviewed studies on Ocotea quixos, and they are reporting some interesting findings, for instance:

Fungus Fighter 

One lab study found that Ocotea quixos shows dose-dependent antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, phytopathogen Pythium ultimum and dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Fighting a candida infection? Try using Ocotea as a dietary supplement. Place one or two drops of Ocotea in a capsule with some carrier oil and swallow.

Interesting anecdote: D. Gary Young used Ocotea to help treat school children in Ecuador. He found it effective for treating not only Candida but parasites as well. The children were given one drop of Ocotea in 8 oz..of water daily, and Ocotea was diffused in the classroom.[iii]

Reduces Inflammation

In vivo and in vitro studies show that Ocotea oil and its principle component trans-cinnamaldehyde significantly reduced inflammation (caused by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema) without damaging the stomach mucosa. This study suggests that Ocotea essential oil may be useful in fighting inflammation and irritation, making it a helpful tool for maintaining good health.[iv]

Blood Clot Prevention: Safer than Aspirin

Ocotea might help to prevent blood clots (thrombosis). According to a study done on human plasma, Ocotea essential oil has potent antithrombotic activity due to its antiplatelet and vasorelaxant effects.”[v] What's more, the study considered Ocotea to be safer than Aspirin--the conventional antiplatelet medicine.

Ocotea is:

✔ OK to use as a dietary supplement

✔ OK to use topically – but dilute well and observe for skin sensitivity. Ocotea is a “warm” oil which means it might feel hot on the skin. If irritation occurs, add more carrier oil.

✔ OK for diffusing

If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition, please consult a health practitioner familiar with essential oils before taking Ocotea.

Tip:

Can't Stay Away from Sweets? Trying to Lose a Few Pounds?

Ocotea essential oil is a safe, all-natural way that may help you maintain a healthy weight. If you crave sweets, especially in the evening, try diffusing a little Ocotea oil to help control food cravings and to create a feeling of peace and calm. (Diffusing/inhalation seems to enhance the appetite control effect better than topical application). Young Living also makes a line of products called Slique that contain Ocotea. These include dietary supplements (Slique Essence and Slique Slim Caps) plus Slique tea and snack bars—all which can help you control your appetite naturally.

What's in a Name?

Because there are so many species of Ocotea on the market and because many are actually poisonous (yikes), we can only recommend that you use Young Living's Ocotea oil for ingestion and therapeutic use. Young Living makes it's Ocotea products from the species Ocotea quixos, which is non-poisonous. Other companies might use other species which are not meant for therapeutic use so be sure to read the label before you buy.


Want to know more? Or want to try some Ocotea oil? Contact us

This article is part of our "Living the Essential Life" series by Danielle McElroy.  Danielle is an oil enthusiast who enjoys living the natural life with her cat in a cozy cottage in the Boonies.  We are very fortunate to have Danielle as a part of our team applying her excellent research skills to the field of aromatherapy and essential oils.  She shares more research and essential oil tips on her Facebook page. 


For full abstracts of the scientific studies cited here, please see our Research Page.
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[i]Young Living. Soothe and Balance With Exotic Ocotea. Online video. Vimeo. Vimeo. 24 April, 2013. Web. 1 April, 2015. https://vimeo.com/64754532.

[ii]Ibid.

[iii]YoungLivingconnect.com. Benefits of Ocotea. Pdf file. Web. Accessed 2 April, 2015. http://younglivingconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/BENEFITS-OF-OCOTEA.pdf

[iv]Ballabeni, V, Tognolini M, and Giorgio C. et al. Ocotea quixos Lam. essential oil: in vitro and in vivo investigation on its anti-inflammatory properties. Fitoterapia. 2010 Jun;81(4):289-95. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2009.10.002. Epub 2009 Oct 13.

[v]Ballabenin V, Tognolini M, and Bertoni S, et al. Antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of essential oil from wild Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) calices from Amazonian Ecuador. Pharmacol Res. 2007 Jan;55(1):23-30. Epub 2006 Sep 29.