Avocado Oil (Persea gratissima) - Oil of the Month

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Oils4life AromatherapySpecialising in Aromatic and Natural products for professional and home useOrder online at: www.oils4life.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Oil of the Month - October 2008

 

 

Avocado Oil - Persea gratissima

General Information

 

 

 

 

Common Name:

 

Avocado

 

 

Scientific Name:

 

Persea gratissima

 

 

Family:

 

Lauraceae

 

 

Origin:

 

Spain, Israel and Americas

 

 

Synonyms:

 

Persea americana

Carrier Oil Properties and Characteristics

Refined avocado oil is pale yellow in colour and is mainly used in the cosmetics industry. Unrefined avocado oil is green and is the preferred oil for Aromatherapy use. Its aroma is similar to that of the ripe fruit in its native country. The specific gravity of avocado oil is typically 0.91 to 0.92.

Typical fatty acid profile %# C16:0 Palmitic - 16.8# C18:0 Stearic - 0.9# C18:1 Oleic - 64.2# C18:2 Linoleic - 10.1# C18:3 Linolenic - 0.6

Origin and History

The avocado tree originates from the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the Americas where it was discovered by the Spaniards in the 15th century and introduced into Europe. It now flourishes in Spain and in many other countries, eg. Israel.

The oil has excellent keeping qualities but should not be kept in the fridge, as some useful constituents would be precipitated. It is quite common for the oil to be slightly cloudy if in cold conditions, and there may even be a deposit present. These two traits can be considered a good sign insofar as they indicate that the oil has not been through an extensive refining process.

Avocado tends to become congealed when cold - indeed the oil solidifies at 0'C but liquefies again at room temperature. The unrefined oil is deep green in colour.

Avocado oil is rich in lecithin and is widely used in cosmetic preparations, including lipsticks. A mask of crushed avocado pulp left on the face for twenty minutes both cleanses and moisturises the skin. Used in equal quantities with sesame and olive oils it affords some protection from the sun.

Avocado oil contains Vitamin A, B1, B2 and D and contains the minerals of potassium, phoshorus, magnesium, sulphur, calcium, sodium and copper.

Method of Extraction

Avocado oil is expressed from dried avocado pears which have been damaged and therefore would be unfit for marketing as fresh fruit. The fruit is peeled and the stone removed before the fleshy portion is sliced and dehydrated in an oxygen free environment at a temperature of about 130'C. Water is removed in this way in order to avoid the formation of an unusable emulsion. The dried slices are then ground before being cold pressed and filtered to produce the oil.

Precautions During Use (Contraindications)

The colourless bleached oil which is more generally available (strangely enough, at a slightly higher price!) should not be used therapeutically for obvious reasons.

Download a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Avocado carrier oil here.

Therapeutic properties

Avocado carrier oil is especially beneficial for dry, dehydrated and inflamed skin. It has a reputation of having a higher degree of penetration into the epidermis than most carrier oils and has a moisturising and softening affect on the skin. Avocado carrier oil is rich in minerals (potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, sulphur, calcium, sodium and copper), vitamins (A, B1, B2 and D) and lecithin. The oil is rich in chlorophyll, the reason for the fruits dazzling green colour. Avocado carrier oil is a clear almost viscous liquid. .

Source: Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy by Len Price (with Ian Smith & Shirley Price)

Click here to access essential oils featured in previous editions of 'Oil of the Month'

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