Cedarwood Virginia (Juniperus virginiana) Research

Latin Name: Juniperus virginiana

Family: Cupressaceae

Virginia cedarwood has been used for cough, muscle pains, and as a bug repellent.  The tree’s essential oil has an earthy and calming aroma.

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

GENERAL

• Lis-Balchin, M.  (2006). Aromatherapy science, A guide for healthcare professionals.  Pharmaceutical Press:  London.
• Petersen, D. (2015). Aromatherapy materia medica.  Essential oil monographs.  American College of Healthcare Sciences.
• WebMD. (n.d.). Virginia Cedarwood.  Retrieved in November, 2015.  Retrieved from www.webmd.com

SAFETY

• Cedarwood Virginia essential oil is not recommended for internal use (Petersen, 2015).
• Do not confuse with Thuja occidentalis, which makes cedarleaf oil, and is toxic (Lis-Balchin, 2006).
• Interacts with sedative drugs (WebMD, nd).

INSECTICIDAL / LARVICIDAL

• Thirteen oils from 41 plants (camphor, thyme, amyris, lemon, cedarwood, frankincense, dill, myrtle, juniper, black pepper, verbena, helichrysum and sandalwood) induced 100% mortality after 24 hours of mosquito larvae.  From:  Amer, A., & Mehlhorn, H. (2006). Larvicidal effects of various essential oils against Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex larvae (Diptera, Culicidae). Parasitology research, 99(4), 466-472.
• Against the moth larvae Spodoptera littoralis, the following oils showed insecticidal activity: catnip,  white cedar, clary sage, thyme,  marjoram, patchouli, pennyroyal, lemon mint, Melissa, and lavender.  From: Pavela, R. (2005). Insecticidal activity of some essential oils against larvae of Spodoptera littoralis. Fitoterapia, 76(7), 691-696.
• Silica gel, in combination with J. oxycedrus, enhanced pesticidal activity against S. oryzae (beetles).  From:  Athanassiou, C. G., Kavallieratos, N. G., Evergetis, E., Katsoula, A. M., & Haroutounian, S. A. (2013). Insecticidal efficacy of silica gel with Juniperus oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus (Pinales: Cupressaceae) essential oil against Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Journal of economic entomology, 106(4), 1902-1910.
• Cedarwood oil was effective against several species of ants and cedrol was effective toward ticks.  From:  Eller, F. J., Vander Meer, R. K., Behle, R. W., Flor-Weiler, L. B., & Palmquist, D. E. (2014). Bioactivity of cedarwood oil and cedrol against arthropod pests. Environmental entomology, 43(3), 762-766.

REPELLENT

• Cedarwood Virgina oil and its cedrol constituent showed red ant repelling activity.  From:  Eller, F. J., Fezza, T., Jang, E. B., & Palmquist, D. E. (2015). Field test for repellency of cedarwood oil and cedrol to little fire ants.
• A cedarwood oil product was excellent in deterring termites and fungi that affect wood.  From:  Eller, F. J., Hay, W. T., Kirker, G. T., Mankowski, M. E., & Sellling, G. W. (2018). Hexadecyl ammonium chloride amylose inclusion complex to emulsify cedarwood oil and treat wood against termites and wood-decay fungi. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 129, 95-101.

ALOPECIA

• The active group who massaged a blend of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood in carrier oils on their scalp daily, had reduced hair loss.  From:  Hay, I. C., Jamieson, M., & Ormerod, A. D. (1998). Randomized trial of aromatherapy: successful treatment for alopecia areata. Archives of dermatology, 134(11), 1349-1352.
• In a study of 40 patients with alopecia, the essential oil treatment in a carrier oil (with thyme, rosemary, lavender, evening primrose oil and cedarwood) was significantly more effective than the placebo.  From:  ÖZMEN, İ., ÇALIŞKAN, E., Ercan, A. R. C. A., AÇIKGÖZ, G., & Erol, K. O. Ç. (2015). Efficacy of aromatherapy in the treatment of localized alopecia areata: A double-blind placebo controlled study. Gulhane Medical Journal, 57(3).

ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIBACTERIAL

• A large number of essential oils tested showed a range of activity against the bacteria that cause foot odor.  From:  Orchard, A., Viljoen, A., & van Vuuren, S. (2018). Antimicrobial essential oil combinations to combat foot odour. Planta medica, 84(09/10), 662-673.
• Antibacterial abilities of 96 essential oils and their constituents were assessed. Marigold, ginger, jasmine, patchouli, gardenia, cedarwood, carrot seed, celery seed, mugwort, spikenard, and orange bitter oils along with the constituents of cinnamaldehyde, estragole, carvacrol, benzaldehyde, citral, thymol, eugenol, perillaldehyde, carvone R, and geranyl acetate were strongest against C. jejuni.  Those most active against L. monocytogenes were gardenia, cedarwood, bay leaf, clove bud, oregano, cinnamon, allspice, thyme, and patchouli and the constituents of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, thymol, carvacrol, citral, geraniol, perillaldehyde, carvone S, estragole, and salicylaldehyde.  From:  Friedman, M., Henika, P. R., & Mandrell, R. E. (2002). Bactericidal activities of plant essential oils and some of their isolated constituents against Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica. Journal of Food Protection®, 65(10), 1545-1560.
• Cinnamon, lemongrass, cedarwood, clove and eucalyptus oils exhibit antibacterial property against S. mutans.  From:  Chaudhari, L. K. D., Jawale, B. A., Sharma, S., Kumar, H. S. M., & Kulkarni, P. A. (2012). Antimicrobial activity of commercially available essential oils against Streptococcus mutans. The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice, 13(1), 71-74.

ACNE

• In a reported case study, the use of cedarwood essential oil was useful in treating acne.  From:  Hassoun, L. A., Ornelas, J. N., & Sivamani, R. K. (2016). Cedarwood Oil as Complementary Treatment in Refractory Acne. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 22(3), 252-253.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY / WOUND HEALING

• Essential oil from cedarwood displayed significant wound-healing and anti-inflammatory activities in vivo.  From:  Tumen, I., Süntar, I., Eller, F. J., Keleş, H., & Akkol, E. K. (2013). Topical wound-healing effects and phytochemical composition of heartwood essential oils of Juniperus virginiana L., Juniperus occidentalis Hook., and Juniperus ashei J. Buchholz. Journal of medicinal food, 16(1), 48-55.

ANXIETY

• Cedrol inhalation, as found in cedarwood, had a relaxant effect in humans, increasing parasympathetic activity and reducing sympathetic activity.   From:  Dayawansa, S., Umeno, K., Takakura, H., Hori, E., Tabuchi, E., Nagashima, Y., … & Nishijo, H. (2003). Autonomic responses during inhalation of natural fragrance of “Cedrol” in humans. Autonomic Neuroscience, 108(1), 79-86.
• The cedrol constituent found in J. virginiana had an anxiolytic effect in rodents.  From:  Zhang, K., & Yao, L. (2018). The anxiolytic effect of Juniperus virginiana L. essential oil and determination of its active constituents. Physiology & behavior.
• In a study with 498 people, spending time in the forest improved emotions and reduced stress. From: Morita, E., Fukuda, S., Nagano, J., Hamajima, N., Yamamoto, H., Iwai, Y., … & Shirakawa, T. (2007). Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction. Public health, 1.
• This paper reviewed research on 24 studies with 12 subjects each across Japan, totaling 280 people. Each subject walked in a forest one day, and walked in the city another day. Results showed that the forest walking resulted in lower concentrations of cortisol, pulse rate, blood pressure, and improved parasympathetic nerve activity, with lowered sympathetic nerve activity compared to the city environments. From: Park, B. J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2010). The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental health and preventive medicine, 15(1), 18.
• Research on the stress reducing benefits of a forest bath, immersing oneself in the trees, is discussed.  From:  Tsunetsugu, Y., Park, B. J., & Miyazaki, Y. (2010). Trends in research related to “Shinrin-yoku”(taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing) in Japan. Environmental health and preventive medicine, 15(1), 27.

SEDATIVE

• Cedrol inhalation, as found in cedarwood, had a relaxant effect in humans, increasing parasympathetic activity and reducing sympathetic activity.   From:  Dayawansa, S., Umeno, K., Takakura, H., Hori, E., Tabuchi, E., Nagashima, Y., … & Nishijo, H. (2003). Autonomic responses during inhalation of natural fragrance of “Cedrol” in humans. Autonomic Neuroscience, 108(1), 79-86.
• Laryngectomized people who inhaled cedrol still had a calming effect of their central nervous system.  Hori, E., Shojaku, H., Watanabe, N., Kawasaki, Y., Suzuki, M., De Araujo, M. F., … & Nishijo, H. (2012). Effects of direct cedrol inhalation into the lower airway on brain hemodynamics in totally laryngectomized subjects. Autonomic Neuroscience, 168(1-2), 88-92.
• Cedrol inhalation had a sedative effects in multiple animal species.  From:  Kagawa, D., Jokura, H., Ochiai, R., Tokimitsu, I., & Tsubone, H. (2003). The sedative effects and mechanism of action of cedrol inhalation with behavioral pharmacological evaluation. Planta medica, 69(07), 637-641.
• Cedrol inhalation resulted in a sedative effect with pupil dialation among all three groups studied:  people from Norway, Thailand, and Japan.  From:  Yada, Y., Sadachi, H., Nagashima, Y., & Suzuki, T. (2007). Overseas survey of the effect of cedrol on the autonomic nervous system in three countries. Journal of physiological anthropology, 26(3), 349-354.
• Laryngectomized people who inhaled cedrol still had a calming effect of their central nervous system.  Hori, E., Shojaku, H., Watanabe, N., Kawasaki, Y., Suzuki, M., De Araujo, M. F., … & Nishijo, H. (2012). Effects of direct cedrol inhalation into the lower airway on brain hemodynamics in totally laryngectomized subjects. Autonomic Neuroscience, 168(1-2), 88-92.

IMMUNE STIMULANT

• Phytoncides (like alpha pinene, carene and myrcene) found in wood essential oils significantly enhance human natural killer cell activity, important to the immune system.  From: Li, Q., Nakadai, A., Matsushima, H., Miyazaki, Y., Krensky, A. M., Kawada, T., & Morimoto, K. (2006). Phytoncides (wood essential oils) induce human natural killer cell activity. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology, 28(2), 319-333.

Compiled By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 7/30/19