Linaloe

Burzeradelpechiana

The estate of S. N. Roerich and his wife Devika Rani “Tataguni Estate”, located near Bangalore, is known far beyond the borders of India. It was here that Svyatoslav Nikolaevich was engaged in the cultivation and study of essential oils. He was especially interested in the plant linaloe of the burzer family.

Linaloe is a low tree with smooth bark and fleshy fruits, externally reminiscent of fruit trees of northern latitudes. By the sixth year of life, the trees reach 3 m in height and begin to bear fruit. Myrrh belongs to this family(Commiphoramyrrha), incense(Boswelliacarteri), opopanax (Commiphoraerythaea) and other plants.

Since the 18th century, fragrant wood called “aloe tree” - the so-called linaloe - began to be imported from Mexico and French Guiana to Western Europe. The price of wood was quite high, since “Mexican linaloic oil” was obtained from it by steam distillation. For this purpose, trees that were 40-60 years old were mercilessly cut down, which by the middle of the 20th century led to the almost complete extermination of the linaloe tree in North and South America.

In 1949, S. N. Roerich purchased linaloe seedlings in Mexico. When setting up plantations, he took care not to damage the surrounding nature. Linaloe trees fit well into the local landscape. It was India's first and one of the world's largest ether plantations, which consisted of more than 12 thousand trees. Svyatoslav Nikolaevich has a painting called “Linaloe”. It depicts linaloe trees at the time of flowering. S. N. Roerich abandoned the barbaric method of obtaining essential oil. He discovered that at different phases of the plant's life and lunar cycles, essential oil is contained in sufficient quantities not only in the wood, but also in the seeds, leaves and young shoots. To obtain fragrant oil, Svyatoslav Nikolaevich used the fruits of linaloe.

The yield of essential oil from wood reaches 1.5%, at best - 2%, and from fruits - 3%. The latter is characterized by an increased amount of esters and a smaller angle of rotation of the plane of polarization of light, which is an important qualitative indicator of the essential oil. Its main components are linalyl acetate (up to 47%) and linalool (up to 30%), they dominate in lavender essential oil (linalyl acetate - up to 45%, linalool - up to 38%). Therefore, linal oil in India is often called “Indian lavender oil” [2, p. 146]. Its scent is a combination of lavender and bergamot with a slight hint of rose. In the 70s, up to 3 tons of essential oil per year were obtained from the plantations of S. N. Roerich near Bangalore. The fragrant oil was purchased for perfume production by France and Switzerland.

Medicinal properties

1. Used for inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
2. Activates the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Has a beneficial effect on the kidneys, liver and gall bladder.
4. Improves heart function.
5. Used for dermatitis and acne.
6. In folk medicine it is known as a tonic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, anticonvulsant, and bactericidal agent.
7. Helps relieve nervous tension, antidepressant.
8. Suitable for caring for any skin type. A good deodorant.
9. Eliminates the effects of insect bites.

Dosage

Externally: 6-8 k. per 10 ml of vegetable oil.

Internally: 2-3 k. per 1 tsp. honey 30 minutes before meals 2 times a day.

Baths: 5-7 k.

Inhalations: 2-3 k.

Compresses: 5-7 k.

Enrichment of cosmetics: 6-8 k. per 10 g of base.

Contraindications. Individual intolerance.