Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.)



Updated 17 January 2024

Botanical characteristics

  • Kingdom: Plantae 
  • Division: Magnoliophyta 
  • Class: Magnolopsida 
  • Order: Apiales
  • Family: Apiaceae 
  • Genus: Crithmum
  • Part used: Plant
  • Country of origin: France

Precautions for use

Caution! Sea fennel essential oil should be used with caution and for short periods of time.

Its oestrogen and cortisone properties, as well as its irritating effect on the skin, mean that it should only be used by adults and adolescents.

It is therefore banned for use by babies, children and pregnant women.

However, all routes of application are permitted with prior dilution for skin applications.

Other precautions

Warning:

  • It is advisable to use this essential oil for short periods and with caution.
  • People with asthma should seek medical advice before use.
  • Do not use this essential oil without the advice of a doctor if you are taking medication to treat high blood pressure.

Cutaneous use:

  • Sea fennel essential oil is irritating to the skin and should be diluted to 20% in vegetable oil (20% essential oil to 80% vegetable oil) before application to the skin.

Allergenic components:

Sea fennel essential oil contains two biochemical allergenic components:

  • Limonene (≤12%)
  • Linalool (≤0.5%)

Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).

Authorised users

 Adults and adolescents

Children under 6 years

  Pregnant and breastfeeding women

 Pregnant women younger than 3 months

 Infants under 3 years old

How to use

 Inhalation

 Cutaneous

 Oral

 Diffusion

Risks of use

 Cortisone-like

 Skin irritation

 Oestrogen-like

Properties

  • Diuretic, depurative
  • Digestive tonic
  • Anti-cellulite
  • Antiplectic
  • Intestinal parasiticide
  • Anxiolytic
  • Carminative
  • Anti-infectious

Indications

Directions for use/usual dosage

  • For its anti-cellulite properties, this essential oil is mainly used for massage, diluted with other EOs and in a vegetable oil.

Cosmetic

Firming and regenerating, anti-free radical: 

  • Care for mature skin
  • Care for oily skin
  • Cellulite