Zinziba Monograph

Alan Howell Essential Oils

Shechina

21, Chatsworth Crescent

HOUNSLOW

Middlesex

England

TW3 2PE

Telephone:

0208 569 8440

Facsimile:

0208 569 8440

0845 458 5757

Telephone and Facsimile

International:

+4420 8569 8440:

Touch Life With Beauty

www.shechina.co.uk

oils@shechina.co.uk

Shechina

Essential Oils

By Alan Howell

ZINZIBA OIL MONOGRAPH

Lippia javanica

Verbenaceae

INTRODUCTION

Zinziba is probably Africa’s most under rated fragrant medicinal plant. It is used to treat a variety of medicinal ailments, as well as pest control in grain stores. Some of Zinziba’s potential has only recently come to light. Lippia javanica is a woody shrub which can reach a height of two metres. The leaves have stiff hairs, with conscious veins. The small white and yellow flowers form heads of dense clusters.

DISTRIBUTION

Zinziba has a wide distribution, from the eastern parts of South Africa and north into tropical Africa.

EXTRACTION

Essential oil by steam distillation of stem and leaves. Harvested from wild plants.

DESCRIPTION OF THE OIL

The oil of Zinziba is red-brown in colour, with a pleasant, fruity and sweet smell with a peppery top note. Somewhat reminiscent of tagette oil. At times a honey-like note comes through.

MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS

Ipsdienone, myrcene, "-phellandrene, myrcene oxide, linalool, caryophyllene, trans-tagetenone, germacrene D.

FLAVOURS

The Masai, in Kenya, use Zinziba in marinades, and store meat with the leaves to preserve it, at the same time it imparts a delicious flavour.

FRAGRANCES

In some areas the leaves are used as a natural perfume.

ANTI-MICROBIAL

The Xhosa in South Africa use zinziba to disinfect anthrax infected meat. The essential oil has been found to completely inhibit Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella gallinarum, Klesiella pneumomiae, Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

COSMETICS

A simple cream containing zinziba leaves is been used in the Zululand region of South Africa to treat the skin conditions that arise in AIDS patients. The essential oil is now been tested in the cream.

INSECT REPELLENT

Twigs of zinziba are placed in grain stores to repel insects. The Tswana use the tea to treat scabies and head lice. The essential oil is high in ipsdienone, which has been shown to repel European tree insect pests, ie, pine shoot beele and ash bark beetle.