Research on Tagetes

[Guest guest]

Hi Emily

Taget or tagetes essential oil (Tagetes patula, T. erecta, or T.

minuta/glandulifera) is made in South Africa, and no doubt elsewhere too.

The common name is African marigold or even French marigold, and this is where

the

confusion sometimes arises between it and the common marigold, Calendula

officinalis. I quote from Tisserand & Balacs' Essential Oil Safety:

" Great caution needs to be exercised with taget oil, since there is a very

strong

risk of phototoxicity if the oil is applied to the skin in the amounts normally

used

in aromatherapy ... Undiluted taget oil is an orange colour, and may stain

clothing.

They also say that it contains 50-60% tagetone, and furanocoumarins which are

responsible for it being severely phototoxic. Do not expose the skin to

sunlight or

a sunbed for 12 hours. Use a maximum of 0.25% in a preparation.

Hope this helps.

Helen in Cape Town

[Guest guest]

All the info. I have is this.

Same family as Yarrow,Chamomile(Roman),Chamomile(German).

Tagetes Minuta:- Family ASTERACEAE

A strong scented annual herb, 30cm high, bright orange daisy like flowers

with soft feathery leaves.

The oil is extracted by distillation of the fresh flowering herb.

Its actions are:- Anthelmintic, antispasmodic, bactericide, carminative,

diaphoretic, emmanagogue, fungicidal and stomatic.

Its characteristics are a dark orange to yellow liquid which slowly

solidifies on exposure to air and light.

It has a bitter-green herby odour, and blends well with clary-sage,

lavender, jasmine, bergamot, and other citrus oils in very small

percentages.

Its scent is bitter-green, herbaceous, fruity, citrus like and powerful.

Its key qualities are Penetrating, hyposensitive, soothing, relaxing,and

norcotic in excess.

Its odour intensity is Very High.Less than 1 drop per 10ml. (Sorry I dont

know how to get less than 1)!

Aromatherapy use is Skin care. Use for Bunions, calluses, corns and fungal

infections. Use with care and in moderation.

Its Chemical constituents are upto 95% Ketones and upto 35% Monoterpenes

Its scent scale is Tot to Middle Note

Its psychological scale is high side of balancing with the tendancy to

soothing.

Its physiological scale is high as a sedative.

***************SAFETY INFORMATION. PLEASE NOTE.*****************

********* It is quite possible that the main constituent , tagetone is

toxic.*********

**** There have been some reported cases of dermatitis with the tagetes

species.****

 

 

Thats all I know.

Hope it helps your research.

Good luck

 

Ron (Celestial)