Tamanu Nut Oil

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(Calophyllum inophyllum) Organically grown; unrefined
Unrefined Tamanu oil is dark green and milky with a nutty aroma. It is moisturizing and supports healthy skin response to minor infections, burns, stings, scars and skin issues. Used sparingly, it is readily absorbed.

 Info

Tamanu / Foraha Nut Oil
Calophyllum inophyllum

If one has allergies to tree nuts, you may want to consider another carrier product.

Country: Madagascar
Extraction Method: Cold pressed nut from Tamanu Tree; unrefined and therefore is brownish-green, dark and milky. It has a rich vegetable scent, is luxuriant and moist. It smooths and softens the skin without leaving a residue because it is readily absorbed, which makes it a great carrier oil.
Aroma: Moderate nutty/vegetable scent; Susan Parker describes it as a "pungent, healing scent." Also described as the scent of bullion cubes.
Color: "Muddy" green
Components: The fatty acid compounds are: Oleic acid, Linoleic acid, Palmitic acid and stearic acid.
Comedogenic Rating: 2 (not likely to clog pores of most people)
Approximate Shelf Life: 1 year when properly stored.
Caution: Potential nut allergy

Shelf Life Suggestions:

Refrigeration will extend shelf life.
Oxygen is a big enemy to shelf life. Keep caps snug.
Write the date of purchase on the label in permanent marker.
Avoid contaminating the oil with fingers or pipettes inserted into the bottle. Unsterilized items such as fingers, cotton balls and pipettes that come into contact with the oils will potentially contaminate them. Pour off the quantity you will need into a smaller container or bottle and work from that.

Is your Tamanu Too Thick?
The viscosity (consistency) of some oils are just naturally thicker while some are thinner.

Unrefined Tamanu can be extremely viscous, especially when cold, and therefore more difficult to use. Gently warming the oil in the hands before use may help (takes patience!), or you may need to warm with rice or in a water bath.

Warm Rice Method
Depending on the size of your bottle, warm enough rice on the stovetop or for about a minute in a microwave. A cup of rice is usually enough; use more if you have a larger bottle. Stir the rice to distribute the heat evenly. I wrap a cloth around the aromatic bottle and set it into the warm rice. I leave it in the warm rice until the rice heats the Tamanu and it becomes pourable.

Warm Water Bath
First, place the oil bottle into a bowl (a glass baby food jar is perfect) and set in a pan of warm water (or double boiler) with enough warm water to affect the temperature of the oil. Avoid any possibility of allowing the water to get into the bottle. (I put my bottle in a ziplock bag and make sure it is standing upright.) Allow it to warm for about 15-20 minutes, replacing the water as needed if it evaporates. Continue warming until you get the oil at the right consistency to work with. You may also want to use a pipette to help dispense.

Tamanu Nut oil may support, aid, ease, soothe, reduce, calm, relax, promote and/or maintain healthy function:
Abscess
Acne
Acne scarring
Age spots
Antibiotic alternative
Antimicrobial
Athlete's foot
Bladder infections
Blisters
Body odor
Boils
Burns: heat, chemical, X-ray burns (add Helichrysum essential oil)
Collagen promoter (per Tisserand's Skin Care Series)
Conjunctivitis
Diabetic sores
Diaper Rash
Diphtheria - the cause of
Dry or scaly skin
Eczema
Fibroid
Foot odor
Fungus
Infection (skin)
Inflammation
Insect bites
Jock itch
Lather (Susan Parker notes in soaps on contact with sea water)
Leprosy: In the 1920s, Sister Marie-Suzanne, a nun stationed in Fiji, topically applied Tamanu oil to leprosy victims with positive results.
Leprous neuritis
Madura Foot, which causes the foot’s skin to swell and split
Neuralgia
Pain
Pink Eye
Pneumonia
Psoriasis
Rheumatism
Ringworm
Rosacea
Scars
Sciatica
Septicemia
Shingles
Skin: absorbs deeply (3 layers), chapping, cracked skin, dry, eczema, inflammation, infection, insect bites/stings, nursing, scars, shingles, skin ulcers, sunburn
Sore throat (applied to the neck)
Urinary tract infections
Vaginal
Wound infections (add Helichrysum essential oil)

When blended with Helichrysum, it is very effective for wounds and burns. Tamanu has traditionally been used in Indonesia internally for heatstroke, but we found no specific recommendations for internal usage.

If using for Acne or Rosacea, please see these detail pages in our Education, Health Care Topics section.

Research
Studies done in 1998 at University of Sherbrooke in Canada, analyzed Tamanu/Foraha and determined coumarin in the oil contained two compounds, calanolide A and calanolide B, which other studies have concluded to be useful against HIV.

In another study, scientists in Japan studied several 4-phenylcoumarins taken from Foraha and concluded that calocoumarin-A produced positive results when trying to inhibit the Epstein-Barr virus.

Tamanu oil possesses significant antimicrobial qualities, as proven in antibacterial and antifungal tests. It contains powerful bactericide and fungicide agents that defeat human and animal pathogens. There are no reports of adverse effects from topical application. Tamanu oil has compared favorably when used instead of antibiotics in alleviating many maladies.

Scientific studies have confirmed that Tamanu oil is a significant healing agent that regenerates cells of the epidermis (production of new skin tissues). Most importantly studies have found that Tamanu oil has anti-inflammatory, anti-neuralgic, antibiotic, and antioxidant properties. Therefore, scientists have confirmed the use of Tamanu oil is a natural way to treat many conditions such as; psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease and eczema and acne.

The Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists has researched Tamanu oil chemical compounds and the beneficial effects in the role of anti-ageing and improvement of scars. The Bioscience Laboratories concluded that Tamanu oil’s ability to improve the appearance of scars was significant after a nine week study was completed on six subjects with obvious scars for one year or more. The effect on the subjects scar length was reduced by an average 0.28 centimeters, and width was reduced by an average 0.12 centimeters.

Tamanu oil was applied twice daily for nine weeks, and obvious improvement appeared after six weeks and continued throughout the nine week test. Quantitative measurements of skin color for melanin (darkness) and hemoglobin (redness) were made on the scar and surrounding normal skin areas, as well scars were rated for roughness, length and width.

Science Direct Study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of feeding the oils Calophyllum inophyllum (and others) to rats. The rats showed good physical appearance and steady weight gain, with no mortality recorded.

Application Suggestions
Apply topically as desired, directly on the skin undiluted is fine for most people (considered non-toxic and non-irritating). "When applied to damp skin, it has a beautiful smooth, silky, non-oily feel" (Susan Parker).

Some prefer to use as spot treatment due to its pungent aroma.

Testimony
1. I got ringworm from some abandoned kittens. I tried a few remedies such as antifungal cream and apple cider vinegar. Finally my daughter came up with the idea of scrubbing the area with a salt/oil scrub. I then added Tamanu since it renews skin and goes deeper than other carrier oils. That was the trick. The ringworm started to heal. I used it morning and evening. Once it started to heal I only used the Tamanu. - Rachelle

2. I just wanted to share what wonderful results my 19 year-old daughter has seen with tamanu oil. Two months ago she started applying it to her washed face at night mixed with a carrier (TuShea Skin Cream - Shea butter, Sweet Almond, Jojoba and Hemp oil). Not only does she not have the acne that she used to, but the acne scars on her face are also incredibly diminished. She came across a picture of herself the other day and couldn’t believe how her complexion is much brighter and clearer now. She's also been taking 5000 IU Vitamin D3. She really feels like the Tamanu oil has made the biggest difference in not getting as many pimples, especially the big ones, but she also feels it really helped to diminish the scars, thus she wants to keep it as her nighttime routine. Her confidence has soared. - Lora

3. Amazing as a spot treatment to reduce my acne scars! - Liz

4. I used Tamanu on my face on a scarred area of my nose, and rubbed it onto my lips. I had a strong allergic reaction within two days---my lips hugely swelled up, my eyes itched and the roof of my mouth became sore. I take responsibility for being reckless and not doing a patch test. This product is extremely potent. My chiropractor prescribed a couple of things to bring the swelling down. They seem to be working, and it's under control, but I thought you should know what happened. - Andrea
[HEO's Response: Wow, that's quite a reaction. Thank you for letting us know. As far as I can recall, you are the first to ever mention having a reaction to Tamanu oil. I'm so sorry! I'm glad to hear that you are improving. We have several oil blends that use Tamanu - so you may want to also steer clear of these:
Ancient Chinese Remedy
Fung-All Spray
MC Away
Rosacea Recover
Shhh-Ingles B Gone
Staff Comfort
Sunshiny Day Spray

References
Source: Dweck, A.C.: Calophyllum inophyllum – Tamanu oil the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea. International Journal of Cosmetic Science 24, 6, 1-8 (2002).
Parker, Susan M., Power of the Seed: Your Guide to Oils for Health and Beauty, Process Self-reliance Series, page 128-129.

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May the Lord guide you continually, preserving your health and watering your life when you are dry. May you be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring full of hope for your future in His care.
From Isaiah 58:11 & Jeremiah 29:11