Thyia: Tree of Wisdom (via An Ethiopian Journal)

Western Civilization owes its intellectual accomplishments to the achievements of two great cultures. Egyptians are credited with the origin of language and writing, the basis of scholarship, while ancient Greeks lay claim to our understanding of nature, science and reason. But while these two great empires are often blazed in the books of human history there remains an unknown and mysterious benefactor in the … Read More

via An Ethiopian Journal

http://www.viewzone.com/thyia.html
Additional information from http://www.viewzone.com/thyia.html

Ancient healing applications

John McGovern told us that the Australian aboriginals hold the 14 or so native Callitris species in the highest regard and have used their medicine since the Dreamtime, (the creative beginning), i.e. for at least 60,000 years.

Traditional methods of using essential oil-bearing plants include:

1). Crushing the leaves or plant parts either by hand or in a container, and inhaling the oil vapors.
2).Crushing the leaves or plant parts and applying the paste as a poultice, covered with clay or bound with bark.
3).Cutting pieces of bark from the tree and wrapping the part of the body being treated, tying the bark on with vines.
4).Throwing the bark or leaves onto heated stones or into warm ashes, and inhaling the vapors.
5).The bark is pounded, placed in water, and heated. The liquid is then spread over the body part being treated.

The Tiwi islanders and some mainland aboriginal groups use Callitris intratropica in very specific ways:

1). As a wash: To relieve abdominal cramps. Also applied to sores and cuts. Occasionally used internally to treat abdominal pain and discomfort. About a handful of freshly gathered inner bark is pounded and heated in about 500 ml of water. The cooled liquid is spread over the body, and a long strand of inner bark is wrapped around the abdomen (to relieve abdominal cramps).
2).As an insect repellent: The bark is thrown into the camp fire to drive off mosquitoes and midges.
3).As an analgesic: To relieve minor aches and pains. The wood ashes are mixed with water and smeared over the affected part of the body.

It is used for the treatment of stomach problems like cramps and diahorrea; viruses; sunburn damage; skin ulcers, wounds; complaints like Scoricis and drying of old skin in the elderly. The essential oil from the tree alleviates the pain and swelling of arthritis with anti-inflammatory properties; in particular the clear oil from the leaves and twigs.

The Essential Oil today

The essential oil from the heartwood is Cobalt Blue, very rare and special, having only been successfully extracted as recently as 1996. The Blue cypress oil is one of the world newest essential oils and in very limited supply from a few Australian aboriginal plantations. It is the essential oil for the third Millennium with many as yet undiscovered properties. Blue Cypress Oil is unique in the essential oils world, since it is the only essential oil from wood containing ‘guaiazulene’, with many pharmaceutical applications. It is also the only blue oil with a woody, smoky fragrance. All other natural blue oils are derived from flowers (such as chamomile, matricaria, artemisia and tansy) and so lack the fragrance of Blue Cypress Oil. The oil also contains selinenes, eudesmols, and other compounds with significant fragrance properties. Aesthetically important is its striking blue color, which has positive connotations in all culture. It is an interesting fact that all existing blue oils have anti-inflammatory properties. While Blue Cypress and Chamomile oils have similar low volatility profiles, Blue Cypress Oil is one-third the price of Chamomile Oil, and is more color-stable. There are good marketing opportunities for Blue Cypress Oil as a viable alternative in many cosmetic and toiletry applications, and as a future therapeutic alternative.

The Golden THY-ION resin, sacred to Apollo and the Muses, is still the source of the finest natural wood varnish known to mankind being used even today to protect fine musical instruments, and the secret of the ‘Stradivarius’; the beat goes on endlessly through ten’s of million of violins, violas, chelos, bases, harpsichords grand pianos and mighty church organs. Every symphony played every where and anytime in the world from the past are sounded through THY-ION, Apollo’s (musicians’) fine wood varnish. (Thy-ion sets the ‘Light Tone’).

Will the future hold even more uses for this remarkable tree? It is speculated that this wood, because of its aromatic fragrance, could become a viable substitute for scarce sandalwood, in great demand for Hindu funeral rituals, as well as an important additive in sun screen lotions. John McGovern is currently examining the tree for its pharmaceutical potential. Only time will tell. But the Cypress tree stands as one of the most important plants in human history.

Also See: http://www.australessence.com/blue.htm#Perfumery