Allspice

​Allspice
 
Allspice is also known as Pimenta dioica
 
Allspice falls under the family of Myrtaceace
 
It is also known as P.officinalis, Jamaica pepper and pimento. 
 
Allspice is a greenish tree which is about 10 meters high. It begins to produce fruit in its third year. The fruit consists of two kidney shaped green seed and upon ripening will turn into glossy black. 
 
Allspice is distributed indigenously in South America, West Indies. It is cultivated in Jamaica and Cuba extensively and to a lesser degree in Central America. 
 
Four other variation of allspice is also found on Guyana, Venezuela and the West Indies. 
 
Traditionally, allspice is sided for indigestion, flatulence, and for rheumatic pain or neurological pain externally. Allspice water is used for constipation and dyspepsia. It also helps to prevent griping pains. Domestically, it used as a spice. It is called allspice because it tastes like the combination of juniper berries, cloves, pepper and cinnamon. 
 
Allspice may also acts as analgesic ( to relieve pain), anaesthetic ( reduce sensitivity to pain), anti oxidant, anti septive, muscle relaxant, carminative( to relieve flatulence), stimulants, tonic and rubefacient ( substance that increase redness on the skin due to the increase in blood circulation).
 
Allspice essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the fruit and the leaves. The green unripe berries have more oil than the ripe berries of allspice.The largest percentage of the oil present in the shell of the fruit. Steam distillation may also lead to the production of oleoresin in small quantities. 
 
Allspice essential oil originated from the leaves is a yellowish red or brownish liquid with a powerful sweet spicy scent. Allspice essential oil from the fruit is a play yellow liquid with a sweet warm balsamic spicy bodynotes and fresh clean top note. It mixed well with geranium, ginger, opopanax, lavender , ylang ylang, labdanum, neroli, patchouli, oriental and spicy bases and neroli. 
 
Allspice essential oil consists of Eugenol which is less in the fruit than in the leaves. Other substances include, cineol, caryophyllene and phellandrene.
 
Eugenol in allspice essential oil may lead to irritation of the mucous membrane and the skin. 
 
Allspice is useful for aromatherapy, muscle and joints and home use circulation. It used to treat fatigue, arthritis, rheumatism, muscle cramp and stiffness. Used in tiny amounts as massage oil for chest infections, extreme cold and severe muscle spasm to restore mobility. 
 
Allspice is used for chills, bronchitis and congested cough. It is also used for cramp, flatulence, nausea and indigestion. Depression, neuralgia ( nerve pain), stress and tension as well as nervous exhaustion can also be treated with allspice essential oil. 
 
Allspice essential oil is also used for aromatic carminative medicine ( to relieve flatulence) and as a fragrance component in cosmetic and perfumes such as aftershaves or soaps. The allspice essential oils from leaf and fruit are also used substantially for food flavourings such as frozen foods and savoury, alcoholic and soft drinks.