Guide To Kunzea Essential Oil Benefits and Uses

Kunzea essential oil (Kunzea ambigua), also called white cloud, has properties similar to tea tree oil.

Plant family: Myrtaceae

Production: Steam distilled from the leaves of a plant native to the coasts of Australia and Tasmania.

Aroma: Woody, eucalyptus-like

Perfume/Aromatic note: Top to Middle

Is kunzea safe to use during pregnancy? Consult a professional.

Is kunzea essential oil safe for children? Yes, for children age 2+, according to Revive Essential Oils.

Cautions: The oil can cause skin sensitization if it becomes oxidized. Do not use old and oxidized oils.

Main components:

• alpha-pinene 33.2%
• 1,8-cineole    14.8%
• viridiflorol     11.5%
• globulol        11.2%
  

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition

Kunzea Essential Oil Benefits

The Heart of Aromatherapy: Uses of kunzea essential oil include supporting the respiratory system, clearing mucous and congestion, relieving sinus headaches, calming inflammation, soothing sore muscles, promoting relaxation and inspiration, and repelling insects.

Working With Unusual Oils: "Kunzea is an essential oil that brings shelter from bodily and emotional pain." The oil has a protective quality that offers safety and peace during tough times and helps relieve nervous tension, stress, and mild anxiety. This essential oil also provides quick relief for insect bites, minor cuts and wounds, and simliar skin irritations. Suggested essential oils to blend with kunzea:

• To help relieve pain: black pepper, ginger, lavender, marjoram, roman chamomile, rosemary, pine, fir, or spruce.
• For emotional strength: cedarwood or sandalwood.
• To help relieve grief: cypress or rose.

Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Volume 2: Kunzea may help relieve painful arthritic and rheumatic conditions involving muscle and tissue tension and is useful for mild-to-moderate stress-related problems, including insomnia relief and mild anxiety relief. The essential oil may also help heal wounds, scars, ulcers, cuts, abrasions, insect bites, acne, and minor burns.

Psychologically, the oil acts as a gentle stimulant in hypotonic/weak conditions involving mental fatigue with loss of concentration, lethargy, low self-confidence, or loss of motivation.

The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Third Edition, Vol. 1: Kunzea eases muscle pain and pain from insect bites, minor burns, recurring headaches, arthritis, and soft tissue injuries. The oil can also help reduce nervous tension, stress, and mild anxiety and help alleviate deep emotional pain caused by suppression. Energetically, the oil is cooling and indicated for hot/inflamed conditions. Suggested essential oil blends with kunzea:

• To relieve anxiety, stress, or nervous tension: bergamot, geranium, lavender, lemon, grapefruit, neroli, sweet orange, or sandalwood.
• To relieve muscle aches and pains: black pepper, ginger, lavender, lemongrass, pine, rosemary, or peppermint.
• To alleviate sensitive and inflamed skin: German chamomile, helichrysum, lavender, neroli, or sandalwood.
  

Stillpoint Aromatics: Energetically, use kunzea to support the second chakra (relationships, creation energy), fourth chakra (unconditional love), and fifth chakra (speaking truth).

Kunzea Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Diffuse kunzea to purify the air and support the respiratory system.

Note: Before using the essential oil on large areas of skin, do a patch test.

Relieve Bug Bites

Combine 30 drops kunzea with 2 tablespoons tamanu carrier oil.
Source: Eden's Garden

Face Cleanser

Add 1 or 2 drops kunzea to 12 drops of carrier oil. Rub the blend onto your face with a cotton makeup pad, and then rinse face.
Source: Young Living

Foot Bath

• 2 tablespoons small grain salt of choice (such as Pink Himalayan or Epsom)
• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 2 drops kunzea essential oil
• 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil
• 2 drops sandalwood essential oil

1. Place the salt in a small glass bowl or jar.
2. Add the jojoba.
3. Drop in the essential oils.
4. Stir gently.
5. Add salt blend to your foot bath.

Adapted from Aromahead

Post-Workout Massage Oil

• 5 drops kunzea
• 3 drops black pepper essential oil   
• 2 drops pine essential oil   
• 2 drops sweet orange essential oil   
• 2 teaspoons carrier oil
  

This is an adult-strength massage oil. For children, add another teaspoon of carrier oil. Adapted from Plant Therapy.

Calming Massage Blend

• 10 ml (about 2 teaspoons) carrier oil
• 2 drops kunzea
• 1 drop vetiver essential oil
• 1 drop frankincense essential oil
• 1 drop grapefruit essential oil

Source: Working With Unusual Oils

Arthritis and Muscle Pain Relief Blend

• 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 3 drops kunzea essential oil
• 3 drops plai essential oil
• 3 drops sweet birch 
• 3 drops sandalwood essential oil

Combine the ingredients in a 1-ounce glass bottle. Shake well. Apply a small amount of the blend to affected muscles and joints every two hours or as needed for pain.

Source: by Anna Doxie, RA, "Using Holistic Phyto-Aromatherapy to Support Lyme Disease," NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Spring 2017.1, p. 47.

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Photo Credit: John Tann from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons