Essential Oils ~ G-L

Galanga Major (Ind. P.C.). Greater Galangal; Java Galangal. The dried rhizone of the greater galangal, Alpinia galanga (Zingiberaceae). It is used in India as an aromatic carminative and in the treatment of rheumatism and catarrhal affections..       

Geranium Oil (B.P.C.). Ol. Geran.; Pelargonium Oil; Rose Geranium Oil.
Foreign Pharmacopeias: In Belg., Chil., Cz., Dan., Hung., and Swed.
A colourless, greenish or brownish oil with a pleasant rose-like odour, obtained by distillation from the acrial parts of various species and hybrid forms of Pelargonium (Geraniaceae). It is produced commercially in Reunion (Bourbon), Russia, various Mediterranean countries, and the Belgian Congo, and East Africa. French and African oils contain not less than 20 % w/w and Bourbon oil not less than 25 % w/w of esters, calculated as geranyl tiglate, C₁₅H₂₄O₂. Wt per ml. 0-889 to 0-900 g. (French and African) or 0-883 to 0-892 g. (Bourbon). Soluble 1 in 3 of alcohol (70 %) with not more than a slight opalescence.
Uses. Geranium oil is often used for perfuming toothpowders, ointments, talcum powders, and various cosmetics.       

Ginger (B.P.) Zingiber; Gingembre; Ingwer.
Dose: 0-3 to 1 g. (5 to 15 grains).
Foreign Pharmacopeias: In Belg., Chin., Dan., Egyp., Fr., Ger., Ind., Jap., Jug., Mex., Nor., and Swed. Also in U.S.N.F.
The scraped and dried rhizone of Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae), known in commerce as unbleached Jamaica ginger. It contains not less than 4-5 % of alcohol (90 %)-soluble extractive and not less than 1-7 % of water-soluble extractive. Protect from moisture in a cool place.
Uses. Ginger has carminative properties and is sometimes added to purgatives to prevent griping. It is also used as a flavouring agent. 

Ginger Fluidextract (U.S.N.F.). A 1 in 1 alcoholic extract. Dose: 0-3 to 1 ml. (5 to 15 miinims).
Mist. Zingib. C. Rheo (N.F. 1939). Strong tincture of ginger 2 �  m., sodium bicarbonate 10 gr., peppermint oil � m., concentrated infusion of rhubarb 15 m., concentrated compound infusion of gentian 15m., chloroform water to � fl. oz. Dose: 15 ml. (� fl. oz.).
Oleoresin of Ginger (B.P.C.). Oleores. Zingib.; Gingerin. The acetone-soluble matter of ginger. Dose: 16 to 60 mg. (1/4 to 1 grain).
U.S.N.F. allows acetone, alcohol or ether as menstruum and specifies an essential oil content of 18 to 35 % w/w.
Strong Tincture of Ginger (B.P., Ind. P.). Tinct. Zingib. Fort.; Essence of Ginger. Prepared by percolating ginger 50 g. with alcohol (90 %) to 100 ml. Dose: 0-3 to 0-6 ml. (5 to 10 minims).
Belg. P., Mex. P., and Swiss P. Specify 1 in 5.
Syrup of Ginger (B.P., Ind. P.). Syr. Zingib. Strong tincture of ginger 5 ml., syrup to 100 ml. Dose: 2 to 8 ml. (30 to 120 minims).
Weak Tincture of Ginger (B.P., Ind. P.). Tinct. Zingib. Mit.; Tincture of Ginger. Strong tincture of ginger 20 ml., alcohol (90 %) to 100 ml. Dose: 2 to 4 ml. (30 to 60 minims). 

Juniper (B.P.C. 1934). Juniper Berry; Juniper Fruit; Genievre; Wacholderbeeren.
The dried ripe fruits of Juniperus communis ( Cupressaceae).It contains 0-5 to 2 % of volatile oil and about 10 % of resin.
Foreign Pharmacopeias: In Belg., Cz., Fr., Ger., Hung., Jug., Nor., Pol., and Swiss. Also in Ind. P.C. and U.S.N.F. The U.S.N.F. allows also the fruits of J. Communis var. depressa.
Uses. Juniper resembles juniper oil in its action. An infusion (1 to 20 of boiling water) has been used.

Juniper Oil (B.P.C. 1949). Ol. Junip.; Juniper Berry Oil; Essence de Genievre; Wacholderol.
Dose: 0-03 to 0-2 ml. (� to 3 minims).
The entire distillate from the dried ripe fruits of Juniperus communis.
Foreign Pharmacopeias: In Cz., Ger., Hung., Nor., Pol., and Swiss. In Ind. P.C. which allows also the oil from the fruit of  J. macropoda. 
A colourless or pale greenish-yellow limpid liquid with a characteristic odour and a somewhat bitter burning taste. Wt per ml. 0-859 to 0-890 g. Soluble 1 in 4 of alcohol, becoming less soluble and more viscid with age; misible with most organic solvents.
Uses. Juniper oil is carminative and antiseptic and has been used in flatulence and colic. During excretion it irritates the genito-urinary tract and may cause contraction of the uterus. It has been used as a diuretic but it should not be employed during pregnancy or in the presence of renal disease.
Sp. Junip (B.P.C. 1949). Spirit of Juniper. Juniper oil 0 ml., alcohol (90 %) to 100 ml. Dose: 0-3 to 1-2 ml. (5 to 20 minims).
Oleum Juniperi Ligni. A trade name for a fictitious juniper oil supposed to be made from juniper wood but usually a mixture of juniper berry oil and turpentine oil.  

Lavender Oil (B.P.). Ol. Lavand.; Lavender Flower Oil.
Dose: 0-06 to 0-2 ml. (1 to 3 minims).
Foreign Pharmacopeias: In Belg., Chil., Cz., Dan., Egyp., Fr., Ger., Hung., Jap., Jug., Mex., Nor., Pol., Span., Swed., Swiss, and U.S.
Lavender Flower (Flos Lavandulae), the dried flowers or flowering tops of Lavandula officinalis (=L. Spica L.; L. vera), is included in Fr., Ger., Hung., Jug., Nor., Pol., Span., and Swiss.
A colourless or pale yellow or yellowish-green oil with a characteristic fragrant odour and a slightly bitter pungent taste, obtained by distillation from the fresh flowering tops of Lavandula intemedia (English and Commonwealth oils) or of L. officinalis (foreign oil) (Labiatae). English and Commonwealth oils contain 7 to 14 % w/w of esters calculated as linalyl acetate, C₁₂H₂₀O₂, have a wt per ml. Of 0-875 to 0-895., and are soluble 1 in 3 of  alcohol (80 %). Foreign oil contains not less than 35 % of esters has a wt per ml. Of 0-880 to 0-892 g., and is soluble 1 in 4 of alcohol (70 %). The oils become less soluble with age. Cineole occurs in some quantity in the English oil which is usually considered to have the finer odour.

Uses. Lavender oil has carminative properties and is sometimes used in the treatment of flatulence and colic. It may be given on sugar or as the compound tincture, which is also used as a colouring and flavouring agent. It is sometimes applied externally as an insect repellent. Its chief use is in perfumery.
Tinct. Lavand. Co. (B.P.C. 1949). Compound Tincture of Lavender. Prepared from lavender oil 0-5 ml., rosemary oil 0.05 ml., cinnamon 1 g., nutmeg 1 g. and red sanders wood 2 g. by macerating with 90 ml. of alcohol (90 %) for 7 days, filtering and adjusting with more alcohol (90 %) to 100 ml. Dose: 2 to 4 ml. (30 to 60 minims).

Spike Lavender Oil (B.P.C.). Ol. Lavand. Spic.; Spike Oil.
The oil from Lavandula latifolia (=L. Spica DC.) And other species of Lavandula (Labiatae) containing not less than 30 % w/w of free alcohols, calculated as linalol.
Foreign Pharmacopeias: Fr., has Essence de Lavandin from hybrids of L. latifolia X L. Officinalis.
A colourless or pale yellow liquid with an odour similar to lavender but more terebinthinate. Wt per ml. 0-894 to 0-915 g. Soluble 1 in 6 of alcohol (65 %) and 1 in 3 of alcohol (70 %).
Uses. It resembles lavender oil in its properties and is mainly used in perfumery.   

Lemon Grass Oil (B.P.C.). Oleum Graminis Citrati; Ol. Gram. Citrate.; Indian Melissa Oil; Indian Verbena Oil.
The oil obtained by distillation from Cymbopogon flexuosus and C. citratus (Gramineae).
Foreign Pharmacopeias: In Ind. Which specifies the oil from C. flexuosus only.
Indian or 'Cochin' lemon grass oil, the principal lemon grass oil of commerce, is from C. flexuosos which is indigenous to India, and the so-called 'West Indian' oil is from C. citratus which is widely cultivated in India, Guatemala, Haiti, East and West Africa, and other tropical countries. The Indian oil is a reddish-yellow or brownish-red mobile liquid with a very strong verbana-like odour, while the 'West Indian' oil is pale yellow to yellowish-brown and has an odour similar to but somewhat lighter in character than that of the indian oil. The oils contain not less than 70 % w/w of aldehydes, calculated as citral, C₁₀H₁₆O. Wt per ml. 0-893 to 0-906 g. (Indian) and 0-870 to 0-895 g. ('West Indian'). Soluble 1 in 3 (Indian) or incompletely soluble ('West Indian') in alcohol (70 %).
Uses. It was formerly given as a carminative but is now employed mainly in perfumery and as a source of citral which is used for the manufacture of ionones and vitamin A.

Reproduced from
Martindale's Extra Pharmacopeia 24th Edition

Essential Oils