It is important to explore the chemistry of Hong Kuai essential oil. It’s a chemistry of a thousand years because the trees stood for 1000-3000 years before Mother Nature harvested them.
Hong Kuai is the most unique essential oil! Let’s look at the chemistry today, then what the chemistry can do for you.
The GC-MS separation and identification of the molecules in Hong Kuaiessential oil contains Monoterpenes, Oxygenated Monoterpenes, Sesquiterpenes, and Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes. Hong Kuai chemistry may seem normal, but it is not.
Remember how the Hong Kuai logs weather in the mountains, streams, and valleys for 50-100 years before they are pulled from the low-elevation rivers? During the weathering process the Monoterpenes are heavily reduced (about 3%). The Hong Kuai leaves mostly contain monoterpenes.
Hong Kuai essential oil contains about 45% Oxygenated Monoterpenes. One unique molecule is nopinone, existing at about 12%. Hong Kuai also contains 16% of trans-myrtanol and another 10% of various related oxygenated monoterpenes. These Oxygenated Monoterpenes love to “hang around” the moist areas of our biological systems, especially the lungs.
The “woody, intense, earthy” aromas of Hong Kuai come from Sesquiterpenes. Hong Kuai essential oil contains about 50% Sesquiterpenes. Of these sesquiterpenes about 8% are Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes. Sesquiterpenes are heavier molecules that linger. Sesquiterpenes move slowly in the air around an open bottle. I tell people that “Sesquiterpenes are like Sumo Wrestlers”.
The Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes have the same “heaviness” of the Sesquiterpenes with the added 1 or 2 oxygen molecules. They are usually present as “Sesquiterpene alcohols” and “Sesquiterpene diols”. The oxygenated portion of the molecules love the moisture in our lungs.
Try breathing in Hong Kuai essential oil. Take in 5 heavy breathes of Hong Kuai essential oil. As you walk away you will notice that you will be able to relive the Hong Kuai aroma for more than 45 minutes as you exhale. Your lungs act as a diffuser of Hong Kuai sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes.
This means Hong Kuai essential oil is packed with biologically active molecules. That’s why Hong Kuai essential oil is one of my favorites.
Source: Dr. Cole Woolley