Tobacco

Nicotiana tabacum L.

It is known that poison in certain doses becomes an excellent medicine. Nicotine is no exception in this case.

To the botanical genus tobacco There are 66 plant species, the most popular of which isNicotianatabacumL. various varieties.

In 1560, the French envoy to Portugal, Jacques Nicot, sent the queen tobacco. This event was the reason for Carl Linnaeus to give the nameNicotiana a whole genus of plants. Before smoking tobacco became a harmful habit, it was used exclusively for medicinal purposes. In 1548, a book was published in Spain in which you can read the following lines: “Tobacco causes sleep, relieves fatigue, soothes pain, especially headaches, promotes the separation of phlegm, relieves suffocation.”

Mikola Monardes (16th century) recommended rinsing the mouth with freshly squeezed juice of tobacco leaves for toothache, drinking their decoction for constipation, and treating malignant tumors with tobacco ointment.

The poison nicotine contained in tobacco, in small doses, really has a beneficial effect on the human body, but if you exceed the dose, the wonderful medicine turns into an executioner. A Russian proverb says: “He who smokes tobacco is his own enemy.”

Chronic tobacco poisoning is observed not only in smokers, but also in tobacco growers, many of whom suffer from anemia, impaired vision and various nervous disorders.

An absolute oil is obtained from the aerial part of flowering tobacco, containing from 2 to 4% nicotine, which is removed in a special way. Thus, essential oil devoid of alkaloids is supplied for the needs of perfumery and aromatherapy. In addition to nicotine and nicotimine, the oil contains more than 300 different chemical components. The most important among them are beta-dosceon, sclareol derivatives, 15-pentadecanolide, 18-octadec-9-enolide, pyrosines and quinoline derivatives, which influence the creation of the unique smell of tobacco with balsamic and delicate herbaceous-floral shades.

Perfumers use this essential oil to create, according to Marcel Billot's classification, an experiential series of perfumes. It clearly contains notes of smoke, tobacco and leather, the so-called “dry” scents, combined with delicate tuberozoy, fresh neroli and enveloping vanilla. These are the famous perfumes “Tabac blond”, “Alain Delon” by Guerlain; "Leonard", "Cuir de Russie" Chanel; "Scandal" by Lanvin; "Bandit" Pliege and many others.

Medicinal properties

1. Effective for helminthic infestations and digestive disorders.
2. Relieves muscle pain.
3. Recommended for circulatory problems.
4. Helps with seasickness (dizziness, nausea, vomiting).
5. Effective for headaches and severe dizziness.
6. Recommended for visual impairment, amblyopia, amaurosis.
7. Regulates the menstrual cycle.
8. A good remedy for loss of strength.
9. Stimulates the nervous system, prescribed for epilepsy, neuralgia, neuroses, shaking paralysis, multiple sclerosis.

Dosage

Prescribed individually by an aromatherapist.

Contraindications. Individual intolerance.

Note. Avoid overdose. Use only as prescribed by a doctor.