Styrax oil – a traditional remedy brimming with health benefits

Styrax is a unique species of medicinal plant, that has been used for centuries for therapeutic, cosmetic and industrial purposes. Currently, the essential oil, and the resin extracted from benzoin are gaining popularity among aromatherapy enthusiasts, who derive immense benefits from its properties. What is benzoin, and what are the characteristics of the oil and resin extracted from it? Let’s explore the potential health benefits of using it.

Benzoin tree – origin of the plant

The benzoin tree is a species belonging to the diverse Styracaceae family. It originates from East Asia, growing on the islands of Thailand and Sumatra. Benzoin is a tall tropical tree with light green leaves that secretes a sticky reddish-brown resin with aromatic, intensely spicy notes. The tree’s leaves are covered in a fine, characteristic whitish fuzz.

The benzoin tree itself has been known to humans since ancient times. Despite the diversity of the Styrax family, the benzoin tree is one of the few species that produces a resin which can be used in the manufacture of perfumes, incense or medicines.

The essential oil extracted from the benzoin tree is not strictly speaking an essential oil, but rather an aromatic extract with a thick, reddish consistency. The oil obtained from the plant is used due to its high density and, consequently, high concentration of active substances; when combined with carrier oils, this causes the mixture to become more cloudy.

Currently, benzoin oil is obtained from plants cultivated in their native range. Benzoin tree, and the associated resin and oil are neither toxic nor irritating. However, it is worth noting, that some people prone to allergies may react adversely to benzoin extracts.

Benzoin resin – how is it obtained?

When incisions are made in the trunk of the styrax tree, it secretes a resinous liquid which, once dried, is treated as an aromatic incense known as benzoin resin. Internally, it has expectorant, xc1949 disinfectant and antiseptic properties. It has been used since ancient times to treat eczema, xc1949 boils and frostbite. It is now also used as an additive in toothpastes for the treatment of oral diseases. The resin itself gives off an intense, sweet, balsamic aroma. Benzoin, like frankincense and myrrh, has been used for thousands of years as one of the ingredients in incense intended to ward off evil spirits. Thanks to its pleasant scent, benzoin resin blends well with sandalwood, juniper, myrrh and bitter orange essential oils.

Styrax oil – what are its properties?

The essential oil extracted from the benzoin tree is a viscous orange-brown liquid, consisting mainly of substances such as, benzyl cinnamate, sumaresinol, benzoic acid, and cinnamic acid. These are also the oil’s most potent active compounds.

Traditional sciences, as well as modern medicine have successfully identified the most common properties of styrax oil. These include, amongst others:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Expectorant
• Carminative
• Diuretic
• Deodorising

Styrax oil also has a calming effect on the central nervous system, and stimulates the immune system. For this reason, the oil’s properties are utilised in the form of balms, or aromatherapeutic inhalations. Due to its natural ability to both stimulate and calm, it appears to stimulate the circulatory system, and the respiratory system, clearing blocked airways, stimulating circulation and increasing urine flow.

Styrax oil – practical applications

Thanks to its rich properties, styrax oil can be used to prevent many unpleasant ailments affecting the human body. Currently, styrax oil is widely used in the treatment of various diseases and symptoms, although modern medicine is still investigating its actual effectiveness.

Despite this, the proven benefits of styrax oil will find application in:

• The treatment of bronchitis and the common cold – the essential oil has expectorant properties, and can therefore be used to treat bronchitis or a cough associated with a chronic cold. Simply prepare an inhalation using a diffuser, by adding 2–3 drops of essential oil to the device filled with water
• Soothing frayed nerves – Styrax has proven relaxing, and toning, effects, as well as mild antidepressant properties, useful for people, who are prone to quick anger and nervousness. Styrax oil is useful for clearing the mind and encouraging action
• Menstrual pain – the oil’s antispasmodic effect is extremely helpful when massaging the abdomen to relieve menstrual cramps. Mix a tablespoon of the oil with a carrier oil (, e.g. sunflower oil, or jojoba oil), simply massage the prepared mixture in circular motions, to feel immediate relief
• It helps combat viral and bacterial infections – styrax oil contains various compounds with powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, particularly helpful in combating recurrent viral, or bacterial
• It accelerates wound healing – Traditional medical practices have used styrax oil for hundreds of years to treat various types of wounds. Modern scientific research has also shown, that anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial compounds play a significant role in stimulating the healing of skin wounds and gastrointestinal ulcers
• Reduces inflammation – the oil is used to treat various inflammatory conditions, such as skin rashes and acne. In addition, it also has internal effects, reducing the symptoms of diarrhoea, or constipation. The oil’s antioxidant compounds can help reduce inflammation and its associated negative symptoms
• It has a deodorising effect – thanks to its aromatic scent, and a rich content of toning and deodorising compounds, styrax oil is able to reduce the intense odour of sweat, whilst killing bacteria developing in the groin area

Styrax essential oil in aromatherapy – what does it help with?

Styrax oil can be inhaled directly from a bowl of hot water or a few drops can be placed in a diffuser and heated, so that the scent permeates the air. Aromatherapy makes use of the benefits of styrax oil, which, in addition to its pleasant scent, helps to alleviate the symptoms of asthma, colds, bronchitis, flu and other respiratory conditions.

The vapours of the oil can also be used in a home, evening bath. Soaking in water containing 5 to 15 drops of benzoin oil helps to reduce nervous tension and alleviate muscle pain, arthritis and inflammation. Please note that during a bath, it is recommended to dilute the oil with another carrier oil.

Interesting facts about benzoin oil

What interesting facts are associated with benzoin oil? The history of the oil’s use is extremely rich; some sources state that styrax oil was already in use in pre-Christian times by the local inhabitants of Sumatra and Java.

Benzoin oil has also gone down in the history of Islam. Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, was a renowned physician, philosopher and writer of the Golden Age of Islam. In one of his medical treatises, he mentioned styrax oil as an extremely important remedy in Islamic medicine of the time.

Benzoin oil did not reach Europe until the second half of the 16th century, coinciding with the growing colonial sentiments of the time and the Age of Discovery. Despite this, the ancient Egyptians had mentioned the scent of the oil long before its discovery by the Arabs and Europeans. They regarded it as a ‘divine’ scent full of magic, which was strongly associated with the figure of Moses, who was said to have used styrax perfume during his flight from Egypt.

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