Anything in life that we call ‘evergreen’ is thought to be timeless and constant.
Evergreen trees and their essential oils are the same. Today we’re taking a closer look at one of these enduring and strong stayers who manage to withstand so many extremes: Tsuga.
This energising gem is steam distilled from the needles and twigs of a beautiful pyramid-shaped evergreen conifer with flat sprays of delicate small-needled foliage. These trees grow across Canada in a wide variety of terrains, from woods to ridges to ravines.
Tsuga canadensis is also known as eastern hemlock. But don’t be concerned at the mention of ‘hemlock’. Tsuga is unrelated to the poisonous hemlocks which are part of the parsley family.
All conifers produce essential oils with warming, invigorating and regenerating energies. It makes sense, given that they need these attributes themselves in order to survive and thrive. And they really come into their own in the winter months, when we are battling to stay strong and motivated in the midst of chattering teeth and hunkering down trying to get cosy.
Back in the 1980s, the Japanese developed a method called Shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’. It simply involves walking among the forests to refresh themselves. Getting out into the bush or any kind of nature is highly therapeutic. But when the trees are especially high in properties that help to keep our natural balance in place, even more so.
Diffusing conifers is an easy way to give yourself your own version of ‘forest bathing’ when you can’t escape into nature as often as you need to.
Let’s take a closer look at Tsuga canadensis and find out more.
This tree is a member of the Pinaceae botanical family, so it’s alongside cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Idaho Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), Idaho Blue Spruce (Picea pungens), pine (Pinus sylvestris), White Fir (Abies concolor).
Tsuga essential oil is especially high in alpha-pinene (up to 25%) and bornyl acetate (up to 40%).
For the chemistry-curious, alpha-pinene is a monoterpene. These naturally-occurring compounds are found in all essential oils. Monoterpenes are light in fragrance and they enhance the benefits of other constituents.
Bornyl acetate is an ester, which imparts a strong and sweet aroma and is known to be soothing and balancing to moods and feelings. This particular ester is also the key constituent in pine, spruce, juniper and fir.
Traditionally, the needles of tsuga have been used to make a poultice and the essential oil is refreshing and cleansing to the skin.
To tap into those benefits, add a dozen drops to say 100mL of skin-nurturing carrier oil like jojoba or rosehip in a dark glass bottle and smooth on as desired. Experiment with the dilution ratio to determine what suits your skin best. You could also add tsuga essential oil to your favourite skin toner, like Young Living ART Refreshing Toner which is zingy and vivacious – you’ll love it.
All in all, tsuga essential oil is refreshing and cleansing for body, mind and spirit.
It’s a very lovely companion to yoga and meditation, along with sandalwood and cedarwood. Save an empty bottle and mix up your own blend of these three for a big boost to your zen.
You can apply tsuga essential oil topically (dilute as needed) and it’s energising and uplifting when diffused around the home. You can set your diffuser to run with tsuga for up to 30 minutes up to three times a day. If your diffuser doesn’t come with a built-in timer, I recommend buying a timer for the power point so you can set and forget.
Fun fact: at the time of writing, tsuga is not used in any Young Living product formulations or essential oil blends. So the way to enjoy it is simply to order the single essential oil. Next time you’re looking for something in the conifer family, give tsuga a try. We’d love to help you with ordering and getting started, so please click here and let’s get you up and running!
This oil carries no extra-special cautions, so just follow the usual guidelines for safe use of authentic essential oils and you’re good to go.
Please ensure you are choosing a brand with complete transparency from seed to seal, such as Young Living. You can learn in this short video why we only ever recommend and choose Young Living oils and love them so much!
Enjoy the good oil daily.
The information on this site does not constitute advice. Please consult with your health practitioner. When using any of the products mentioned throughout this site, please be sure to read the labels and follow their suggestions for safe use. We make commissions from sales via many of the products we recommend but we only suggest products we genuinely enjoy and want you to benefit from. Product image used with permission © Young Living Essential Oils.
