We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Tamanu Oil?

Sara Schmidt
By
Updated: Feb 27, 2024
Views: 17,580
Share

A traditional medicine for many cultures, tamanu oil is an infusion made from the tamanu tree. The green oil is widely cultivated and used for its medicinal properties. Tamanu oil heals damaged skin, alleviates various medical conditions, and is known for its skin smoothing and softening properties.

Revered by ancient Polynesians, the oil was historically used for its medicinal and wound healing properties. Tamanu oil is used for a variety of modern uses. Some of these include treating scar tissue, chapped skin, and other ailments. It has been used as a first aid treatment for burns as well as arthritis, oozing wounds, rheumatism, bruises, and sciatica.

Cosmetically, it can be used to add color and scent to perfumes, lotions, and creams. Also known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, tamanu oil is also used for treating septicemia, conjunctivitis, athlete's foot, ringworm, pneumonia, boils, jock itch, bladder, urinary tract, and other infections. Open sores, heatstroke, hemorrhoids, ulcers, swelling, infected nails, sore throat, and pimples have also been treated with the oil.

Other uses of tamanu oil include treating shingles, insect stings or bites, fissures, post-surgical wounds, cracked or scaly skin, diaper rash, psoriasis, sunburn, eczema, bed sores, and herpes sores. Tamanu oil is considered a relatively costly oil. If stored in a cool, dry area, it can last up to a year or longer. The oil is intended for external use only. People with nut allergies should refrain from using the product.

Also known as the kamani tree, true kamani, the ati tree, or foraha, the tamanu tree from which the oil is made is native to Southeast Asia; however, it can also be found in Polynesia, Malaysia, Hawaii, and the Indian coastline. This wide range is due to the tree's spreading through water. As nuts of the coastal tamanu tree are dropped into the ocean, they are carried onto new shores where they typically thrive immediately.

The thick, cleaved tree is dark, with hardy, shiny green leaves and white flowers. It can grow up to three meters in height. The nut of the tamanu tree is large with a green outer skin. Tamanu nuts are used to make the oil.

After the nuts are collected and cracked open, they are left to dry for several weeks. As they oxidize, their inner yellow kernels develop a sweet oil, which producers press to extract. To produce 11 pounds (five kilograms) of oil, 220 pounds (100 kilograms) of nuts are needed.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Sara Schmidt
By Sara Schmidt
With a Master's Degree in English from Southeast Missouri State University, Sara Schmidt puts her expertise to use by writing for WiseGeek, plus various magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She published her own novella and has other literary projects in the works. Sara's diverse background includes teaching children in Spain, tutoring college students, running CPR and first aid classes, and organizing student retreats, reflecting her passion for education and community engagement.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon129006 — On Nov 21, 2010

And it smells heavenly.

By cmsmith10 — On Oct 11, 2010

@calabama71: Yes, if you are using it for pain relief, you apply the oil to the surface of the skin where you are feeling the pain. You use it the same way for skin treatment.

One of the things that make Tamanu Oil exceptional is its ability to penetrate through all three layers of the skin – the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.

It is even used on animals.

By calabama71 — On Oct 11, 2010

How is the oil used? If you are using it for pain relief, do you just rub the oil on the spot where it hurts?

By wesley91 — On Oct 11, 2010

True tamanu oil is also referred to as “green gold” or “sacred oil of Tamanu”. It has been said that the oil has analgesic properties that have a very fast rate of reducing the body’s pain. This is why it is used for treatment of shingles, sciatica, and rheumatoid arthritis.

It is also used for pulled muscles, sprains, and ligament damage.

Sara Schmidt
Sara Schmidt
With a Master's Degree in English from Southeast Missouri State University, Sara Schmidt puts her expertise to use by writing for WiseGeek, plus various magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She published her own novella and has other literary projects in the works. Sara's diverse background includes teaching children in Spain, tutoring college students, running CPR and first aid classes, and organizing student retreats, reflecting her passion for education and community engagement.
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-tamanu-oil.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.