In This Article
- Cinnamon Essential Oil
- Manuka Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Calamus Essential Oil
- Black Pepper Oil
- Lemongrass Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Mustard Essential Oil
- Tarragon Essential Oil
- Vanilla Essential Oil
- Lemon Essential Oil
- Calendula Oil
- Bay Essential Oil
- Bush Onion Seed Oil
- Helichrysum Essential Oil
- Conclusion
Organic essential oils have been used for thousands of years in healing and disease-fighting. There are around 90 different types of organic essential oils, some of which are especially beneficial for the skin, and you’ll often see those being added to body scrubs. But other than making your skin look gorgeous, adding oils to body scrubs also provides a range of other health benefits. To learn more about the many benefits of essential oils in body scrubs, here are 15 best uses of organic essential oils.
1. Cinnamon Essential Oil for Acne
The delicious smell of cinnamon comes from a naturally-occurring constituent of the cinnamon bark called cinnamaldehyde. The oil made from the cinnamon bark is known for its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, making it a popular treatment for various skin diseases, including acne. A review published in the journal Nutrients explains that cinnamon extract was found to be effective against two of the most common acne causing strains of bacteria. If you suffer from acne on your face as well as your back and chest, adding cinnamon oil alongside a non-comedogenic carrier oil such as grape seed oil will slowly kill off the bacteria causing your acne.
2. Manuka Essential Oil for Dandruff
Manuka essential oil is steam-distilled from the flowers of the manuka plant that grows in New Zealand. The Maori people of New Zealand have traditionally used this oil for wound healing. However, this oil seems to exhibit strong antidandruff properties as well. Adding the oil to your favorite body scrub will keep your skin protected from UV radiation and you may also apply it to your scalp to get rid of stubborn dandruff. The oil was also found to help your skin heal from insect bites and cuts.
3. Lavender Essential Oil for Anxiety-Relief
Lavender oil has one of the strongest anxiety-relieving properties of all the essential oils. A review published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that there is growing evidence that lavender oil works as an anxiolytic, mood-stabilizer, sedative, pain-reliever and that it protects brain neurons. You can make lavender oil body scrubs for relaxation and better sleep by mixing it with salt, coconut oil, and a carrier oil to prevent the oil from evaporating too quickly. But other than using the oil in body scrubs, you can also use it for massage therapy and in a scent diffuser.
4. Calamus Essential Oil for Better Circulation
Calamus is a perennial herb also known as sweet flag, and it is native to India. The essential oil from this herb was found to improve blood circulation and thus, reduce muscle spasms. The oil is also used to fight rheumatic pain which is also attributed to the oil’s circulation-improving effect. The oil may also promote relaxation and calm the nerves which are important if you suffer from muscle spasms and arthritis. Add the oil to a gentle body scrub and massage the affected area with this oil for instant pain relief.
5. Black Pepper Oil for Neck Pain Relief
Black pepper essential oil has unique warming properties that improve blood circulation to inflamed areas. If you are someone suffering from chronic neck pain, then using black pepper oil in daily body scrubs can mitigate your pain after consistent use. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found than when used in conjunction with other essential oils, black pepper oil was effective in reducing neck pain.
6. Lemongrass Essential Oil against Fungal Infections
If you are someone who frequently develops ringworm, jock itch, athlete’s foot, or nail fungus, then adding lemongrass oil alongside another anti-fungal carrier oil can help you find relief. A study published in the Libyan Journal of Medicine found that this oil had strong fungus-fighting properties. The oil was especially efficient in fighting candida infections, as well as many other more dangerous strains of fungus.
7. Peppermint Essential Oil for Better Memory
Particularly volatile oils such as peppermint oil are known to have a strong impact on our nervous system. The stress-reducing properties of peppermint oil are well-documented, and this is why this oil is frequently used in aromatherapy. But adding the oil to your body scrubs may also improve your memory and thinking skills according to current research. The oil is known to induce calmness which is important when you need to increase your focus and memory skills.
8. Mustard Essential Oil for Thicker Hair
When speaking of mustard, salad dressings and deviled eggs usually come to mind. But it turns out that the mustard plant is also used for essential oil making. The essential oil made from mustard seeds is rich in important vitamins (A, D, K, and E) and minerals while also providing conditioning properties. Making a facial scrub with this oil can help men grow stronger beards and women can use it to thicken their brows and lashes. You can also add it to your shampoo for thicker and shinier hair.
9. Tarragon Essential Oil for Appetite
Tarragon oil is popular for cooking oil in many countries worldwide. But the essential oil made from this herb native to every continent in the Northern hemisphere is great when used in body scrubs. The pleasant smell of tarragon is said to boost your appetite. As cooking oil, the oil has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract as well. So, if you are feeling queasy lately and need something that will stimulate your appetite, add tarragon oil to your body scrub.
10. Vanilla Essential Oil for Better Mood
Everyone loves the scent of vanilla in their desserts, pancakes, and oatmeal. You’ve probably noticed that vanilla’s enticing scent can make your mood go from grumpy to happy within an instant. Well, this mood-boosting effect of vanilla is well-documented in numerous studies. One study on mice even found that vanilla has a strong anti-depressive effect. If you put essential oil made from the vanilla bean into your body scrub, chances are you’ll get the uplifting benefits of vanilla throughout your day as this oil tends to absorb easily into the skin and linger for a long time.
11. Lemon Essential Oil for Firm Muscles
While it is true that you’ll only truly get a toned body if you work out regularly, there’s no denying that a drop of lemon essential oil in your body scrub can make your efforts even more noticeable. Lemon essential oil is cold-pressed from lemon rinds and the smell is quite enticing and invigorating. The oil will help your muscles recover from vigorous workouts and lightly firm them. Rumor has it that the oil can also help with cellulite.
12. Calendula Oil for Sun Protection
The oil from the calendula plant is known for its soothing effects on the skin. Other than being the gentlest oils in treating various skin conditions, the oil can also work as a natural sun protectant. A study published in the Journal of Young Pharmacists found that the oil did exhibit significant SPF protection. While the oil may not be enough to protect your skin from the sun when used in a body scrub, it is nevertheless, a good addition if you are a fair-skinned person prone to sunburns.
13. Bay Essential Oil to Help Wake You Up
The bay essential oil is obtained from the evergreen bay tree. Specifically, the oil is extracted from the fresh leaves of the bay tree and it is widely known as a tonic. Adding the oil to your body scrubs will help you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and invigorated. The oil can also help with a range of skin disorders which is another plus.
14. Bush Onion Seed Oil against Cancer
This rare type of essential oil if a popular addition in African cuisines. The oil contains unique constituents that studies found was potent in killing skin cancer cells. The cancer-fighting properties of this unique essential oil can be obtained even when the oil is used in body scrubs. Adding the oil to your body scrub may be a good idea if you’ve suffered skin cancer before or live in areas where skin cancer is common.
15. Helichrysum Essential Oil
The Helichrysum plant is of a pale yellow color and has a rich scent similar to that of honey. The essential oil made from this plant is known for its rejuvenating properties so it is a popular addition to anti-aging treatments. Adding the oil to your body scrub will help keep the skin conditioned and looking youthful. Make sure to use a carrier oil with this essential oil to easily deliver beneficial properties.
Conclusion
Essential oils are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that provide a range of health benefits. The pleasant aroma coming that evaporates from these oils are also known to have a strong impact on the nervous system. Adding these oils to your body scrub is easy when you mix them with a carrier oil to make them stay on your skin and prevent quick evaporation. You can also mix different oils together to create a unique scent and get multiple benefits in one body scrub.