ABSTRACT
Thuja oil is the essential oil obtained from the twigs with leaves of the white cedar, Thuja occidentalis L. and from other Thuja species. In folk medicine, Thuja occidentalis has been used to treat bronchial catarrh, enuresis, cystitis, psoriasis, uterine carcinomas, amenorrhea and rheumatism. It has a myriad of other applications in Western herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy and aromatherapy. Cedar leaf essential oil, made from the twigs with leaves of Thuja occidentalis L. by steam distillation or hydrodistillation, has been used for perfumes, cleansers, disinfectants, hair preparations, room sprays, deodorants and soft soaps. Thuja oil is a clear, colorless to slightly greenish mobile liquid, which has a strong, fresh camphoraceous and greenish odor. Allergic contact dermatitis from thuja oil has been reported in one publication only.
