Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Cajeput oil, derived from the leaves and twigs of the Melaleuca cajuputi tree, has a longstanding history of traditional use as an insect repellent, particularly in Southeast Asian folk medicine. Traditionally, the oil has been applied to the skin, burned, or used in baths to ward off insects such as mosquitoes. The aromatic compounds in cajeput oil, primarily 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), are thought to contribute to its repellent action, as similar compounds are found in other botanicals with insect-repelling properties.

While the use of cajeput as an insect repellent is well-documented in ethnobotanical literature, scientific validation is limited. Some laboratory studies have explored the repellent effects of Melaleuca species, but most focus on tea tree oil rather than cajeput specifically. There is some indirect evidence that cajeput oil may offer mild repellency due to its terpene content, but robust, large-scale clinical trials are lacking. Therefore, while traditional use is strong and there is some plausibility based on its constituents, the scientific evidence remains modest, supporting a rating of 2 out of 5.

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