[Foraha, Tamanu, Kamani]
by Jeanne Rose
and Latin binomial.
Calophyllum inophyllum FAMILY: Guttiferś
called Kamani Tree, True Kamani, Alexandria Laurel, oil of Tamanu
and Foraha). calophyllum = calo is beautiful, phyllum is leaves;
inophyllum = ino is fiber and phyllum is leaves. In other words this
plant is named for its beautiful, fibrous leaves.
Botany. Native to India, it is indigenous to Southeast Asia,
especially prevalent in Polynesia. It was naturalized to Hawaii. It
was sacred to Polynesians and mentioned in many old Hawaiian chants.
Grows to 60 feet with seeds that are dispersed by bats and by sea
movement. Seeds germinate well in muddy and saline soils. The tree
can grow inland, but favors the coastal areas. In fact, Polynesian
natives prefer coastal Tamanu for therapeutic uses. The full grown
tree has a thick trunk covered with black, cracked and gnarled bark,
with big, twisted branches. It has firm, dark green oval shiny
leaves and produces small white flowers with a yellow center, that
have a sweet aroma, reminiscent of lime. The fruit is apricot sized,
yellow, and apple-flavored covering a large, thick-shelled nut with
a pale yellow kernel. This nut, when freshly harvested, seems to
have no oil. Once dried for about a month, it turns dark,
chocolate-brown and develops a sticky rich oil. The oil is
screw-pressed from the dark kernels. Chemistry of the Oil. The oil
is cold-pressed from the fruit and seed together. It contains a
unique fatty acid called Calophyllic acid and an interesting
antibiotic lactone which is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory agent
4-phenyl coumarin called Calophyllolide as well as stigmasterol and
about 7% wax. The oil contains 3 basic classes of lipids; 92%
neutral lipids, 6.4% glycolipids, and 1.6% phospholipids. It also
contains xanthones of jacareubin which inhibits Staphylococcus
aureus, S. typhimurium and calophyllum B. These xanthones inhibit P.
aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. Other components calanolide A and
Costatolide are coumarins which inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase.
The components of balsam, Calophyllolide and Calophyllic acid
contained in the oil are thought to be connected to its curative
History. This tree was once considered a sacred tree by the
tropical people and was planted surrounding royal marshes. When the
areas were converted to Christianity, the population of the trees
dropped by the thousands. It has many names, called Dilo oil from
the nuts and the nuts are called Punnai Nuts in Hawaii. The nuts are
also collected in Ceylon. In Madagascar, this oil is called Foraha
or Vintanina. Properties. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory,
cicatrize, anti-neuralgic, analgesic.
Use. The oil is analgesic and is used for sciatica, shingles,
neuritis, leprous neuritis and rheumatism. The pulverized seeds have
been used to cure ulcers and bad wounds. Bark also has medicinal
uses as an infusion or in other herbal remedies.
Folk or Older Uses. Calophyllum oil has been an important
part of Pacific Island folk medicine for a wide range of skin
disorders and conditions, from superficial burns and scrapes to
neuralgia and fissures. Polynesian woman have used Calophyllum oil
to promote healthy, blemish-free skin. It is also used on babies for
diaper rash and skin eruptions. This nut oil has been used since the
late 1920's to alleviate leprous neuritis . A nun in the Society of
Mary, Sister Marie-Suzanne, used an oil called "dolno"
(meaning, no pain) effectively on leprosy victims. The oil was Oil
of Calophyllum called Tamanu. French researchers in the 1930's
became interested in the oil for its wound healing properties. There
are several documented cases in the medical literature of the time,
illustrating that this oil has therapeutic uses in cases of severe
Case Studies. A 57-year old woman was admitted to a hospital
in Paris with a large, gangrenous ulcer on her leg that would not
heal. Normally, the leg would have been amputated. The leg was
treated regularly with dressings of Calophyllum, and healing took
place slowly within 7 months. The wound healed completely leaving
only a smooth, flat scar.
The oil was used to treat a young teenage girl whose leg had been
crushed 4 years before by a cart with iron wheels and on whom grafts
had failed. New grafts were attempted and after a treatment for 10
days with Calophyllum oil the 12 grafts worked perfectly, the wounds
closed and the girl was cured within 2 months after admission. In
1934 Calophyllum was prepared with ethyl ether and injected to treat
leprous neuritis. Since this time, the oil of the seeds was tested
on various skin problems and disorders.
Burns treated with Calophyllum have showed good results. Burns cured
include: burns to the face from phosphorus; burns to the head from a
pot of boiling milk; burns to the hands from a batch of caustic
soda; burns to the scalp from boiling water and burns to the
poplitaeal area (back of the knee) from inflammable oil.
Modern Uses. In its native habitat, both plant and oil have
been used medicinally to treat a variety of ailments, mostly skin
related. This oil can be used on either mucosa or epidermal lesions.
It has been effectively used to cure chapped feet and hands,
chilblain and skin cracks, vaginitis, erosions and ulceration of the
cervical matrix, breast cracks, bites, stings, acne and acne scars,
diabetic sores, herpes lesions, and anal fissures. It has also been
used for hair and scalp conditions, eczema, psoriasis and facial
neuralgia. Oil of Tamanu has an amazing capacity to accelerate wound
healing and the growth of new tissue, a process called cicatrization.
The unique cicatrizant properties and the anti-neuralgic effect of
Calophyllum are not as yet explained by current scientific
literature. Another principle use of the oil is for radio-dermatitis
and has been used by dressings to heal lesions from X-ray therapy.
Before surgical treatment, the oil has been applied to recent anal
fissures with success. Post-surgical treatments brought about
sedation of pain and resorption of tissue on treatment after breast
surgery, crushing of the leg, and two thigh amputations in which the
femurs were visible over a length of 4 cm. The healing of varicose
ulcerous wounds, leprous wounds, especially when the wound is
infected or becomes eczematous are considerably slower and the
wounds must first be treated with medicine such as Hexomedine or
Neomycin compresses. Calophyllum is used as a treatment for various
problems of the hair and scalp, for eczema, psoriasis and facial
neuralgia as well. The essential oil of Ravensara and the vegetable
oil of Calophyllum have been studied together by Dr. D. PenoŽl and
mentioned in Phytomedicine, 1981 as a treatment for shingles (zona)
and has been shown to have pronounced amelioration of the problem.
The oil of Calophyllum easily saponifies and produces an abundant
lather on contact with sea water.
Herbal Uses. Leaf infusions are calming in skin and ocular
infections. A hot bath for 30 minutes has proven useful in the
treatment of dermatosis, urticaria (hives) and eczema. Maceration of
the young leaves in water is used as a painkiller for eye washings.
Young shoots are used with other plants internally and externally
for treatment of burns, as well as being used to treat hernias. Oil
or a plaster of fresh, crushed seeds diluted in sterilized coconut
oil contains cicatrization properties and is used for scabs,
varicose ulcers, fistulas, leprous ulcers and burns.
Cosmetic Uses. The oil is a rich, thick green oil, however it
is easily and completely absorbed into the skin. Once applied, it
leaves the skin feeling smooth, plump and soft, with no greasiness,
it also adds a healthy glow to the skin. Tamanu oil is safe, it can
be applied neat to the skin and works just as well if diluted by 50%
in coconut or other tropical oils. Calophyllum has a mild and
pleasant aroma and is ideal to be used in lotions, creams, ointments
and many other cosmetic products. It can be easily mixed with most
essential oils for the added benefit of aromatherapy with herbal
Blends with Calophyllum
CARE & ACNE
Any mixture of vegetable oils or creams or lotions can be mixed 50%
with Calophyllum at 50%. Then the essential oils are added at 2-10%.
Essential oils particularly useful are German Chamomile, Lavender,
Rose Geranium and others.
MYALGIA AND NEURALGIA
50% Calophyllum oil, 30% Jojoba unrefined oil or Olive, Sunflower,
Pecan and essential oils of 10% Ravensara and 10% Petitgrain .
Helichrysum might also be a good addition. Mix these together, label
your container, and apply to the area night and morning.
MUSCLE AND JOINT ACHES
To a clear silicon gel add 50% Calophyllum. Add up to 10% essential
oils. [combination of Rosemary, Juniper, Basil and Cypress]. Ex: To
a 1 oz jar of 50% gel and 50% Calophyllum add 15 drops each of the
above mentioned essential oils.
SHINGLES ON SCALP (OR ANYWHERE)
A good mixture would be 50% Calophyllum oil, 25% Walnut oil (for
scalp), 15% Jojoba unrefined oil and 10% Ravensara essential oil.
Mix these together, label your container, and apply to the scalp (or
skin problem) night and morning. You could also use 50% Calophyllum,
40% olive oil and 10% Ravensara.
Definitions: Cicatrization is a property that means the
substance can accelerate wound healing and the growth of new tissue
by producing a scar. Lipids is any of a large group of fats or
fat-like compounds that include oils, waxes and steroids which occur
in living organisms and are soluble in certain organic solvents but
only slightly soluble in water. Urticaria is hives. An allergic
condition of the skin
characterized by the formation of large blotches or welts which itch
Kilham, Chris. Oil of Tamanu. from Total Health, Vol.25, #1
Rose, Jeanne. 375 Essential Oils & Hydrosols. Frog Ltd. 2nd
. The Aromatherapy Book, Applications &Inhalations. North
Atlantic Books. 1992.
Rothenberg, Robert E. Medical Dictionary and Health Manual. New
American Library. 1968.
The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. Clarendon Press. Oxford.
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be used without prior permission from Jeanne Rose.
© Authors Copyright Jeanne Rose,