West Indian Bay Rum Essential Oil Benefits and Uses in Aromatherapy

West Indian bay rum essential oil (Pimenta racemosa) "brings the angels of our future closer. It can assist us in looking forward and... allows us to see ahead and plan for that rainy day," writes aromatherapist Valerie Ann Worwood in Aromatherapy For the Soul.

West Indian bay rum, also called bay leaf, is sometimes confused with bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) essential oil. Though the two share some broad aromatic similarities, they are different oils.

Basic Bay Rum Facts

Plant family: Myrtaceae.

Production: Steam distilled from the leaves of the bay rum tree, a tropical evergreen.

Aroma: Fruity, spicy, herbaceous—often considered masculine. The scent is popular in men's personal care products.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle to top.

Is bay safe to use during pregnancy? No, according to aromatherapist Penny Price.

Is bay essential oil safe for children? Some sources recommend not using the oil with children under age 2.

Cautions: Bay rum may inhibit blood clotting. The oil has a low risk of skin sensitization and mucous membrane irritation. Essential Oil Safety recommends a maximum skin use of 0.9%, based on typical eugenol content.

Main components:

Bay rum essential oil has three known chemotypes. The most common, and the one you'll likely find for sale, is ct. eugenol. The other two are ct. citral, which has a lemony scent, and ct. methylchavicol, which has an anise-like aroma. The components of the eugenol chemotype:

• eugenol         44.4–56.2%
• beta-myrcene   6.4–25.0%
• chavicol         9.3–21.6%
• linalool          1.7–6.0%
  

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition

Bay Rum Essential Oil Benefits and Uses

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Use bay rum for muscle aches and pains, neuralgia, arthritis, circulatory conditions, and digestive problems.

The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition): Use bay rum to stimulate the scalp, to make a hair rinse to help get rid of dandruff, to improve greasy & lifeless hair, and to promote hair growth. The oil may also help relieve colds and flu, muscle aches and pains, sprains & strains, rheumatism, neuralgia, and poor circulation.

The Essential Guide to Natural Skin Care: Bay rum is very good at controlling dandruff and strengthening the hair, plus the oil helps fight bacteria. Use the oil for oily, dull, damaged hair and to prevent hair loss.

Essential Oils: A Comprehensive Handbook for Aromatic Therapy: West Indian bay rum oil is most often used to help relieve muscle and joint pains, neuralgia, and poor circulation. The oil blends well with lime, grapefruit, lemon, ylang ylang, lavender, geranium and black pepper.

The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness: The main use of bay rum is in hair preparations. This essential oil may stimulate the scalp, improve the appearance of greasy hair, encourage hair growth, and help get rid of dandruff. Use up to 1 drop essential oil in 2 teaspoons carrier oil.

The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Third Ed., Vol. 1: Suggested essential oils to blend with bay rum:

• To relieve cold and flu symptoms: 1,8-cineole-rich eucalyptus, lemon eucalyptus, Fragonia, peppermint, lemon, tea tree, or thyme.
• To relieve muscle aches and pains: cajeput, clove bud, ginger, kunzea, peppermint, or rosemary.

Aftershave

• 1/2 cup witch hazel
• 1 drop cinnamon essential oil
• 5 drops bay leaf essential oil
  
• 5 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 6 drops cedarwood essential oil

Put all ingredients in a 4-punce dark glass bottle. Shake well before each use.

Source: Rocky Mountain Oils

Diffuser Blend

• 4 drops bay leaf essential oil
  
• 2 drops orange essential oil
• 1 drop clove essential oil

Adapted from Aromaweb

Split-End Hair Treatment Oil

• 10 teaspoons jojoba oil
• 9 teaspoons coconut oil
• 3/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil
• 7 drops bay leaf essential oil
• 8 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops tangerine essential oil
• 4 drops star anise essential oil

Mix all the ingredients in a dark container. Rub a small amount of the oil into your palms and apply sparingly to split-ends. Leave in.

For a more intensive treatment, apply a generous amount of the blend to the split-ends. Cover hair with a shower cap. After one hour, shampoo your hair.

Adapted from Base Formula

Circulation-Supporting Body Lotion

• 6.5 tablespoons (about 3.2 ounces) unscented lotion
• 19 drops bay rum essential oil
• 19 drops bay laurel essential oil
• 19 drops sweet orange essential oil

Blend the oils into the lotion and put into a pump bottle. Apply to body once a day after a warm shower.

Adapted from Penny Price

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Carol Wiley is a retired massage therapist and freelance writer. She uses her deep interest in aromatherapy and essential oils to research their benefits and uses and bring you summaries and blends with links to more resources.

If you find this site useful, you can show your support by buying through my affiliate links. The site is a labor of love, and I appreciate any income that helps keep it up and running.

Buy essential oils at Aromatics International or Rocky Mountain Essential Oils.
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But anything at Amazon.

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Photo Credit: David Stang. First published at ZipcodeZoo.com, CC BY-SA 4.0 via WikiMedia

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