14/03/2014
http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/skin-hair-nails/copaiba-oil-treat-psoriasis-00948/
Copaiba oil has a long history of use in South America, where it has traditionally been used as a topical remedy to help clear up skin problems including dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, rashes, herpes, insect bites, injuries, wounds and boils.
Amazonian healers also recommend diluted copaiba oil for internal use as a treatment for a wide range of conditions. For example, it acts as an expectorant and can help alleviate respiratory problems like bronchitis. In Peru, a traditional sore throat remedy involves taking four drops of copaiba oil mixed with a spoonful of honey. Its antiseptic properties also make it an effective gargle for easing sore throats and tonsillitis.
Copaiba oil was first introduced to the rest of the world in the 17th century, when it was known as Jesuits balsam (because it had been brought back from the New World by the Jesuits). Among other things, it was used as a topical preparation applied to haemorrhoids, and also to soothe chilblains.
Today, its ability to soothe and soften the skin a result of its high content of naturally-occurring essential fatty acids that are the building blocks of healthy skin tissue coupled with its powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, has meant that copaiba oil is routinely used as an ingredient in soaps, bath preparations, cosmetic creams and lotions in the US.
Finally, this healing oil has now become available in the UK for the first time as a topical treatment for skin disorders and nail fungus.
Therapeutic oil is derived from the trunk of the copaiba tree
There are more than 30 different types of copaiba tree, and they are found mainly in the South American rainforests of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Guyana, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. The oil the tree produces is what is known as an oleoresin a substance that accumulates naturally in cavities within the trunk of the tree.
The oil is harvested by tapping or drilling holes into the trunk and collecting the oily resin that drips out. When it is actually leaving the tree, this substance is clear, thin and colourless; but when it comes into contact with the air, it becomes thicker and darker and has a bitter taste.
The copaiba tree is a sustainable crop in that it can provide about 40 litres of oleoresin a year, without destroying the tree or the forest in which it grows.
Studies are uncovering protective benefits against everything from stomach ulcers to cancer
Modern scientific studies have verified many of the traditional therapeutic uses of copaiba oil. In 2002, researchers in Brazil confirmed that it is highly effective as a topical wound-healer.1 In addition, earlier studies had confirmed its role as a powerful anti-inflammatory.2, 3
The active ingredients responsible for these and many of the oils other medicinal actions are attributed to a group of plant chemicals called sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and terpenic acids. The sesquiterpenes, which have mainly been linked to its anti-inflammatory effects, account for well over 50 per cent of copaiba oil.4 These chemicals include caryophyllene, calamenene, copalic, copaiferic, copaiferolic, hardwickic and kaurenoic acids several of these beneficial chemicals are found only in copaiba.
Of all the sesquiterpenes, the one that is known most about is caryophyllene. It has been found to have powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.5 Not only that but it also has pain-relieving, gastro-protective and anti-fungal properties the latter makes it especially useful for overcoming nail fungus.
Its gastro-protective or stomach-protecting properties are well-known by traditional healers who have long used copaiba oil for treating stomach ulcers. Copaiba oil is now widely available in capsule form as an anti-ulcer treatment in pharmacies throughout Brazil. They were produced following research carried out in Brazil in the 1990s that confirmed that the oil acts against stomach ulcers and also helps to protect the stomach lining from further damage.
Brazilian researchers also recently found that copaiba oleoresin appears to have an anti-cancer action on metastatic lung tumour cells and also on melanoma (skin cancer) cells.6 More research is now underway in this area and HSI promises to keep you fully updated on the findings as soon as they become available.
How to use copaiba oil for maximum results
The recommended dosage for the topical relief from skin problems is to apply neat copaiba oil sparingly to the affected area, once or twice per day.
Contraindications: Copaiba oil is intended for topical use only. It should only be taken internally if recommended by a doctor and under their strict supervision. It should be kept away from the delicate eye area, as it can act as an irritant. Some people are sensitive to copaiba oil and may react to it by coming out in a rash. If you experience this side-effect then you should discontinue its use straight away. In addition, it should not be applied to any open sores. There have been no reports of copaiba oil having any adverse interactions with conventional drugs, but as a precautionary measure you should consult your doctor before using it if you are currently on any medication.
1. Paiva LAF, Gurgel LA, De Sousa ET, Silveira ER, Silva RM, Santos FA, Rao VSN, Protective effect of Copaifera langsdorffii oleoresin against acetic acid-induced colitis in rats, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, July 2004.
2. Paiva LAF, Gurgel LA, Silva RM, Tome AR, Gramosa NV, Silveira ER, Santos FA, Rao, VSN, Anti-inflammatory effect of kaurenoic acid, a diterpene from Copaifera langsdorffii, on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats, Vascular Pharmacology, Dec 2002.
3. Basile, AC, Sertie, JAA, Freitas, PCD, Zanini, AC, Anti-inflammatory activity of oleoresin from Brazilian copaifera, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Jan 1988
4. Cascon V, Gilbert B. Characterisation of the chemical composition of oleoresins of Copaifera guianensis Desf., Copaifera duckei Dwyer and Copaifera multijuga Hayne, Phytochemistry, Dec 2000.
5. Martin S, Padilla E, Ocete MA, Galvez J, Jimnez J, Zarzuelo A, Anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil of Bupleurum fruticescens, Planta Med, Dec 1993.
6. Lima SRM, Veiga Jr VF, Christo HB, Pinto AC, Fernandes PD, In vivo and in vitro studies on the anti-cancer activity of Copaifera multijuga hayne and its
fractions, Phytother Res, Nov 2003.
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Copaiba oil has a long history of use in South America, where it has traditionally been used as a topical remedy to help clear up skin problems including dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, rashes, herpes, insect bites, injuries, wounds and boils.
