Thuja Occidentalis

Other names : White cedar (in the United Kingdom), Yellow Cedar, Atlantic White Cedar, Swamp cedar, Cedrus Lycea, Eastern White Cedar, False White Cedar, Hackmatack, Lebensbaum, Thuia du Canada, Techny Arborvitae, American Arborvitae or just Arborvitae, the last particularly in the horticultural trade in the United States. The name 'Arbor vitae', is Latin for "tree of life" - due to the supposed medicinal properties of the sap, bark and twigs.Despite its common names it does not belong to the cedar genus, nor is it related to the Australian White cedar, Melia azedarach.

Special Precautions of Thuja Occidentalis

• Thuja seems to be safe in food amounts, but there isn't enough information to know if it is safe when used in usual medicinal amounts. An overdose of thuja can cause queasiness, vomiting, painful diarrhea, asthma, seizures, and death.
• Thuja products can contain a chemical called thujone. Thujone can cause low blood pressure, asthma, seizures, and death.
• Pregnancy and breast -feeding: It’s UNSAFE to use thuja if you are pregnant. Thuja might cause a miscarriage.
• It is also UNSAFE to use thuja if you are breast-feeding because of possible toxicity. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• “Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Thuja might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using thuja.
• Seizures: Taking thuja might cause seizures in some people. Don’t take thuja if you have a history of having seizures.
• Medications that increase the chance of having a seizure (Seizure threshold lowering drugs) interacts with thuja.
• Medications used to prevent seizures (Anticonvulsants) interacts with thuja.

The benefits of Thuja Occidentalis are

• Stimulating immune function.
• Bronchitis.
• Pneumonia.
• as Expectorant : to loosen phlegm
• Skin infections.
• Cold sores.
• Nerve pain.
• Strep throat.
• Abortions.
• Arthritis : directly to the skin
• Joint pain : directly to the skin
• Muscle aches : directly to the skin
• Skin diseases : Thuja oil directly to the skin
• Cancer : Thuja oil directly to the skin
• Warts : Thuja oil directly to the skin
• as Diuretic
• as an insect repellent.