Allspice Berry Essential Oil

Allspice Berry essential oil is steam distilled from the dried, unripe berries of a large evergreen tree, growing to 10m tall, native to the Caribbean area. The fruits are about 0.33 inch diameter, produced in clusters of a dozen or more at or near the terminals of branches. The fruit is harvested while immature, as it is then most strongly flavored. The whole dried fruit is ground to produce the allspice powder of commerce. Christopher Columbus discovered allspice in the Caribbean. Although he was seeking pepper, he had never actually seen real pepper and he thought allspice was it. He brought it back to Spain, where it got the name "pimienta," which is Spanish for pepper. Its Anglicized name, pimento, is occasionally used in the spice and oil trade today.

Botanical Name:

Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr.

Family:

Myrtaceae

Synonyms:

Pimenta officinalis L., pimento, pimento berry oil, pimenta, Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, newspice, spicebush, spicewood, and feverbush

Similar Oils:

Allspice Leaf
Allspice Berry Oleoresin

Parts Used:

Dried, mature, unripe berries. The berries are often imported and distilled in Europe and America.

Extraction Method:

Steam Distillation

Appearance:

Pale yellow to amber mobile liquid

Aroma Description:

Sweet warm spicy.

Perfume note:

Middle

Blends well with:

Ginger, geranium, lavender, orange, patchouli, ylang-ylang.

Historical Uses:

In Jamaica a drink of hot allspice tea is recommended for colds, menstrual cramps and upset stomach. Costa Ricans use allspice to treat indigestion, flatulence and diabetes. Guatemalans apply crushed allspice berries to bruises, sore joints and achy muscles. In recent years, the validity of most of these uses has been confirmed by modern science.

Modern Uses:

Allspice oil can be helpful for the digestive system, for cramp, flatulence, indigestion and nausea. It can help in cases of depression, nervous exhaustion, tension, neuralgia and stress. Used in perfumes, soaps, cosmetics and flavouring in foods, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. No notable difference between leaf and berry oils.

Cautions:

No known toxicity, may cause sensitization and irritation of skin and membranes in some people if used in high concentration. Avoid in pregnancy and use very diluted only. Allspice oil should only be used in low dilutions, as it is found to irritate the mucus membrane and to cause dermal irritation.

Aromatherapy Uses:

Digestive System - Cramp, flatulance, indigestion, nausea.
Muscles and Joints - Arthritis, fatigue, muscle cramp, rheumatism.
Nervous System - Depression, nervous exhaustion, neuralgia, tension and stress.
Respiratory System - Chills, coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis.

Main Constituents, %
Eugenol	75%
Methyl eugenol	>15%
Cineol
Phellandrene
Caryophyllene

Physical Actions

Anesthetic, analgesic, anti-oxidant, antiseptic, carminative, muscle relaxant, rubefacient, stimulant, tonic.

Toxicity

LD₅₀ - (oral) rat >not known mg/kg; (dermal) rabbit >not known.