OIL: cold pressed, expeller pressed, & chemical extractions

Information below brought to you by Recherch'e Organics:

OILS: 

We have all heard the terms cold pressed, expeller pressed and chemical extractions used in conjunction with the oils we buy.  What do all of these terms mean? Which are healthy and to what degree? In these next few paragraphs I am going to try and break down just what is going on in each individual process.  If you have read any of my other numerous posts about individual oils, these terms should be at least somewhat familiar (if only by sight). 

Expeller Pressing Oils:

     Expeller Pressed Oils:

An expeller pressed oil is an oil that has come about by means of chemical free, mechanical or physical methods.  The raw material (usually nuts, seeds and occasionally algea) is pressed, squeezed, and or crushed under high pressure until oil begins to seep out from the "parent material".  This is the method that oil has been extracted for centuries world wide. The temperature reached during this crushing and pressing process often depends on the hardness of the object being crushed. The harder the seed/nut the more friction, thus heat, is created. There is no external heat added in expeller pressed oils only what is generated by the friction of material being pressed.  Expeller pressing will only remove approximately 65-70% of the oil within the raw material, often being seen as a down fall to this method of extraction.

Cold Pressed:

 Cold pressed oils are a form of expeller pressed oils.  These oils follow the same guidelines of no chemicals used in the process and extracted only by mechanical or physical means.  The difference being, that Cold Pressed oils can not be brought to a temperature over 120 degrees F (approx. 49 degrees C).  This method preserves all of the delicate phytochemicals that make the nut or seed oil truly beneficial. All of the nuances of flavor (if using for cooking) are preserved, nutritional values, color, natural odor are all held intact. It is important to note that Europe has rigorous standards in place when it comes to using the words "cold processed" with oils.  California is another place the upholds the value of the wording in labeling, however not all places are as stringent as the two above mentioned places.  It is wise to know where your oils are coming from and look into the companies "policies" about their product.  

Expeller Pressed Oils

Chemical Extraction and Conventional Methods of Oil Extraction:

Solvent or Chemical extraction methods are by far the most popular oil rendering method of today.  Often a chemical called hexane is used in this process, which is known as a toxic substance.  Other chemicals often used are heptane, octane, or pentane, all four of which are types of naptha or petroleum distillates.   This chemical method has found it's popularity by how inexpensive and time efficient it is.  Using hexane and other chemical solvents allows a company to recover about 99% of the oil from the parent material.  In order to rid the oil of hexane, it is heated to very high temperatures, thus destroying most or all of the beneficial constituents naturally occurring with in the oil.  Not only are the natural beneficial properties of the individual oil destroyed but trace amounts of the chemical are allowable with in the food grade oil.

REMEMBER: 

Your skin is the largest organ of your body! What you put on the outside will certainly have effect on the internal workings and health and well being of the rest of your organs.

A Tribute to Tamanu Oil~

INFORMATION BROUGHT TO YOU BY: 

Tamanu Tree Calophyllum tacamahaca

 The Tamanu tree, Calophyllum tacamahaca is indigenous to Southeast Asia.  Found throughout Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka and Polynesian islands.  This slow growing evergreen tree can exceed 30 meters tall (over 90 feet) and is part of the Mangosteen Family.  The oil derived from the nut of this tree has been used topically as far back as history can date. Growing both coastally as well as inland with equal vigor, it is interesting to note that the natives of this region consider the trees growing close to salt water to be the ones with the most potent medicine.

Tamanu Fruit

Flowers of Tamanu Tree

The Tamanu tree (pronounced TAW-man-oo) has been considered a sacred gift by the natives of Southeast Asia.  It has been said time and again that "the God's hide within it's branches."  This beautiful tree flowers twice annually, yielding white fragrant flowers which later bring about clusters of yellow fruit.  The fruit has a similar taste to an apple and embedded with in the meat of this fruit lies a kernel (also called a punnai in some areas) which houses all of the delicate Tamanu oil.

Punnai or Kernal of Tamanu tree

Tamanu Oil also called foraha or doomba (no-pain) oil, is processed from the kernels harvested from the Tamanu tree.  Once the nuts are collected they are allowed to sit and dry in the sun for approximately 2 months of time. During this time of waiting, the kernel it's self becomes dark and sticky with the thick rich oil. It is crucial while drying that the nut is protected from both humidity and rain.  Then each nut is separated from it's shell and ground down into a pulp.  Through the pressing and grinding process friction does occur, but it is imperative that the temperature does not exceed 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) for the oil to be considered "cold pressed".  It is the cold pressed oils that maintain the integrity and the healing properties originally bestowed up on this plant. It takes 100 kilograms of Tamanu fruit, approximately the amount that 1 tree produces annually, to produce just 5 kilograms of this oil (approximately 220 pounds of fruit compresses into just under 11 pounds of oil).

Prepairing the Fruit to Make Tamanu Oil

 Traditionally this oil has been used throughout Southeast Asia to aid in the healing many different disorders of the skin and nervous system.  Almost always used as a topical aid or an single ingredient for these said ailments;  abrasions, acne, blemishes, blisters, body odor, burns, diabetic sores, diaper rash, dry skin, eczema, herpes sores, insect bites and stings, neuritis and neuralgia, psoriasis, rheumatism, sciatica, shingles sunburn and wrinkles.

In the early 1900's Tamanu Oil made it's first debue in the Western World.  A French nun by the name of Sister Marie Suzanna, had used tamanu oil to treat symptoms of leprosy with quite remarkable effect.

In 1918 researchers for the French Pharmacopoeia began to look deeper into the topical use of Tamanu Oil.  The scientists were immediately awed by the cicatrizing effects, the ability of this oil to regenerate skin cells and tissue.  There are many stories to be found in the French medical literature from the turn of the century stating the remarkable healing benefits of this prized oil. 

Cold Pressed Tamanu Oil

Tamanu oil should have a rich deep earthy scent and present in a dark greenish gold color.  This oil has a remarkable ability as a topical healing ingredient.  It is antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti neuralgic (nerve pain), and filled with antioxidant properties. It also contains a unique  fatty acid called calophyllic acid and a non steroidal anti inflammatory agent called calophllolide.  Tamanu contains coumarins which are another potent anti-inflammatory agent.     Tamanu oil contains 3 essential classes of lipids (fats): neutral, glyco- and phospholipids.  Over all Tamanu oil is wonderful for scar tissue reduction, and in any case where regeneration of skin cells is needed.  Over an 8 week period, daily application of Tamanu oil to stretch marks and other scars has been seen to reduce the visibility, color and depth of scar tissue. It can be used as a night application to fine lines and wrinkles with great success to it's users.  This makes a wonderful ingredient to a night cream or under eye serum.  Always look for cold pressed, organic and preferably fair trade labeling.


*The information found within these blog posts is brought to you by Recherch'e Organics.  The owner of this small batch bath and body care company is a trained Mater Herbalist, Holistic Nutrition Consultant and a Certified Holistic Health care Practitioner.  Many of these wonderful natural ingredients are used in our product line currently or are being considered for future products of Recherch'e.  For more information or to buy from Recherch'e Organics; Please visit our website http://www.rechercheorganics.com  or follow us on facebook for many great deals and information and through BEAUTIFUL YOU (this blog).
Thank you for reading,

Truly,

Hillari Ladd MH, NC, HHP