Introduction of Tea-seed oil:Camellia seed oil or Tea oil.

Popular Herbs. ✵The article gives records of the herb Tea-seed oil, its English name, Latin name, common names, property and flavor, its botanical source two plant species, ①.Camellia oleifera Abel., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Tea-seed oil, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Tea-seed oil(Tea oil).

Tea seed oil English Name: Tea-seed oil.
 Latin Name: Camellia oleifera Abel.
 Common Names: Tea seed oil, Tea oil.
 Property and flavor: cool in nature, tastes sweet and bitter.

 Brief introduction: Camellia oleifera is an evergreen shrub that is indigenous to China, tea seed oil is pure natural high-grade oil unique to China. The seeds contain more than 30% oil, which is used for food, conditioning hair, and medicine. It can be used to make candles and soap, and can also be used as a substitute for motor oil. Tea seed oil, together with oil palm, olive oil, and coconut oil, are known as the world's four major woody edible oil plants.

 Botanical source: Common herbal classics defined the herb Tea-seed oil as the fatty oil of the species (1).Camellia oleifera Abel. It is a plant species of the Camellia genus, the Theaceae family (Ternstroemiaceae, tea family). The fatty oil of seeds is used medicinally. This commonly used species is introduced:

(1).Camellia oleifera Abel.


 Camellia oleifera Abel:growing plant with buds Botanical description: Camellia oleifera is an evergreen shrub or small tree, it grows up to 3~4 meters high, and rarely up to 8 meters. The bark is yellowish brown, smooth, and indehiscent; branchlets are slightly pubescent. Simple leaves are alternate; petiole is 4~7 mm long, piliferous; leaf blade is thickly coriaceous, ovate-elliptic or ovate, 3.5~9 cm long, 1.8~4.2 cm wide, the apex is obtuse, the base is cuneate, the margin is serrated, the upper part is bright green, glabrous or hirsute in midvein, back midvein base is piliferous or glabrous, lateral veins are inconspicuous.

 Camellia oleifera Abel:flowering plant with flowers Flowers are hermaphroditic, 1~3 flowers grow on branch tops or leaf axils, 3~5 cm in diameter, sessile; sepals are usually 5, suborbicular, outer is sericeous; petals 5~7, white, separated, obovate to lanceolate, 2.5~4.5 cm long, the apex is often concave, piliferous outside; stamens are numerous, glabrous, outer filaments are only commissural at base; the ovary is superior, densely covered with white filiform hairs, style is three-lobed at the apex.

 Capsularfruit is nearly spherical, 3~5 cm in diameter, thick pericarp, ligneous (woody), 2~3-lobed dorsally. The seeds are dorsally rounded and flattened and grow to 2.5 cm. The flowering period is October to November, and the fruiting period is October of the following year.

 Camellia oleifera Abel:fruiting tree Ecological environment: Camellia oleifera grows in the high mountains and hilly areas in the subtropical regions of southern China, and is a kind of pure natural high-grade oil unique to China. The main production areas are concentrated in the provinces in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

 Camellia oleifera Abel:fruiting tree with fruits Growth characteristics: Camellia oleifera likes warmth but is afraid of cold, so the annual average temperature is 16~18 °C (Celsius, or 60.8~64.4 degrees Fahrenheit), and the average temperature during flowering is 12~13 °C (Celsius, or 53.6~55.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Sudden low temperatures or late frost can cause flowers and fruit to drop. It is required to have sufficient sunlight, otherwise, only branches and leaves will grow, the fruit will be less, and the oil content will be low. Sufficient water is required, and the annual precipitation is generally above 1,000 mm, but continuous rainfall during the flowering period affects pollination. It is required to be planted in places with a gentle slope and weak erosion effect, and the soil requirements are not very strict. Generally, it is suitable for acidic soil with a deep soil layer, but not suitable for places with many stones and hard soil.

 Economic uses: The seeds contain more than 30% oil, which is used for food, conditioning hair, and medicine. It can be used to make candles and soap, and can also be used as a substitute for motor oil. Tea seed oil, together with oil palm, olive oil, and coconut oil, are known as the world's four major woody edible oil plants. Camellia oleifera has a high comprehensive utilization value. Tea seed meal contains tea saponin, tea seed polysaccharide, tea seed protein, etc., which are all raw materials for chemical, light industry, food, and feed industry products. Tea seed shells can also be prepared for furfural, activated carbon, etc., the ash of tea tree can kill lice including lice eggs. The tea tree is fine, dense, and heavy. It is heavy and hard to hold in the hand. It is the best material for making tops and slingshots, and because of its natural texture of tea trees, it is also a high-grade material for making high-grade wooden buttons.

 Camellia oleifera Abel:fruits Edible uses: The unsaturated fatty acid content of tea seed oil is as high as 90%, which is much higher than that of rapeseed oil, peanut oil, and soybean oil. It has twice the content of vitamin E as olive oil, and contains specific physiologically active substances such as camelliaside, which has extremely high nutritional value. Tea seed husk is also a good edible mushroom culture medium. Studies have shown that Camellia saponin also has antibacterial and antioxidant effects.

 Environmental uses: In addition, Camellia oleifera is also an excellent source of honey powder in winter. The flowering period is in the season of a few flowers. From early October to December, honey powder is extremely rich. Camellia oleifera also has a high application value in biomass energy. At the same time, Camellia oleifera is a tree species with strong anti-pollution ability, strong resistance to sulfur dioxide, and strong resistance to fluorine and chlorine absorption. Therefore, scientific management of Camellia oleifera forest has ecological benefits of maintaining soil and water, conserving water sources, and regulating climate.

 Tea seed Characters of herbs: Tea seeds are oblate, the back is dorsally raised, the ventral surface is flat, 1~2.5 cm long, obtuse at one end and concave at the other, light brown on the surface, and rich in oil. The seed is fragrant, and has a bitter taste.

 Tea seed and tea seed oil Tea seed oil is a light yellow clear liquid, it is soluble in chloroform, ether, carbon disulfide, and slightly soluble in ethanol. The relative density is 0.9~0.91 at 25 °C (Celsius, or 77 degrees Fahrenheit). The refractive index is 1.466~1.470 at 25 °C (Celsius, or 77 degrees Fahrenheit). The iodine value is 80~88. The saponification value is 185~196. The acid value is not more than 3.

 Medicinal efficacy: TCM works recorded Tea seed oil functions clearing away heat and detoxifying; moistening the intestines; killing parasites. It is indicated for eruptive disease abdominal pain, constipation, roundworm abdominal pain, roundworm intestinal obstruction, scabies, and scald of fire injury.

 Administration of Tea-seed oil (Tea oil): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Tea-seed oil (Tea oil)
TCM Books: Dosage: Take 30~60 grams with cold water. External use: appropriate amount, apply a coating.
 Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: Not available.

 

 
  

 

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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Tea-seed oil:Camellia seed oil or Tea oil.

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