Natural Ingredients

Here are a few of the most popular and well-researched medicinal properties and benefits of Cedarwood Oil.

Antiseborrheic: Seborrhea or Seborrheic Eczema is a dreadful disease that is caused by a malfunction of the sebaceous glands. This results in increased sebum production and a subsequent infection of the epidermal cells. It looks very ugly as the skin, colored white or pale yellow, starts peeling off, particularly from the scalp, eyebrows, inner ear and anywhere else with hair follicles. Cedarwood oil can be beneficial in curing this inflammatory situation and can reduce this skin peeling regularizing sebum production and treating the infection. The oil also reduces the ugly redness and obvious signs of the condition while treating it.

Antiseptic: Cedarwood oil prevents wounds from becoming septic as well as protecting them from tetanus germs. It can safely be applied externally on wounds as an antiseptic, and it is even used as an ingredient in herbal antiseptic creams. By defending the body against toxins, the cedarwood essential oil relieves the white blood cells and immune system of the extra stress, which allows them to better protect internal functions.

Anti-inflammatory: Although the studies have mainly been done on animals, early human tests have been very positive in terms of cedarwood oil’s anti-inflammatory effects on arthritis. The inflammation of the joints and tissues that results in such debilitating pain or discomfort can be somewhat lessened by the inhalation or topical application of the oil on the skin.

Antispasmodic: Relieving spasms is yet another important medicinal property of Cedarwood Oil. Nearly all types of spasms and related ailments can be relieved using this oil. This includes spasms that affect the respiratory system, intestines, muscles, heart and nerves. People that have trouble sleeping due to restless leg syndrome, respiratory seizures, asthma, and other spasmodic conditions also find relief from the soothing properties of cedarwood oil.

Tonic: Cedar Wood Oil can be used as a general health tonic, since it tones the organ systems and stimulates metabolism. It tightens and tones muscles, skin, nervous system, stomach, digestive system and brain functions. It boosts the functionality of the kidney and liver, which further improves overall health and wellness.

Astringent: As an astringent, Cedarwood Oil helps to cure toothaches, strengthens the grip of gums on teeth and protects them from falling out. It also tightens loose muscles and gives a feeling of firmness, fitness and youth. This property can also be used to cure diarrhea, by tightening the muscles of the digestive system and contracting those spasm-prone muscles. As an astringent, cedarwood oil is also a useful tool for protecting the skin from toxins and bacteria. Astringent substances also cause skin proteins to coagulate, where they then dry and harden, forming a protective shield on the applied area.

Diuretic: Its role as a diuretic is another beneficial property of Cedarwood Oil that can help cure a number of ailments including obesity, hypertension, high blood pressure, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, urinary tract infections and the accumulation of toxins in the blood. Being a diuretic, it increases the frequency of urination which serves as a medium for removal of fat, excess water and toxins like uric acid from the body. These toxins and extra water accumulated in the body are the main causes behind the above-mentioned ailments.

Emmenagogue: Those who are having obstructed and irregular menstruation can definitely benefit from using Cedarwood Oil, as it is an emmenagogue, which means it stimulates and bring about menstruation, while also regularizing the cycle. The pain and side effects like nausea, fatigue, and mood swings associated with menstruation are also relieved through the regular use of Cedarwood Oil because it can impact the hormonal function of various glands in the endocrine system.

Expectorant: If you are suffering from cough, cold and related congestion, you should try Cedarwood Oil to alleviate the irritation. It is an expectorant and efficiently eliminates coughs and removes phlegm from the respiratory tracts and lungs, thereby relieving congestion. It also gives relief from headaches, red and watery eyes, and other symptom of coughs and colds. A small amount of this oil can also help you get a good night’s sleep when suffering from cough and cold. By stimulating the loosening of phlegm and the coughing which will remove it, you also protect your respiratory tract and overall health from toxins and conditions that excess phlegm can cause.

Insecticide: Cedarwood oil has been in use as a mosquito and insect repellant for a long time. When used in vaporizers, it drives away mosquitoes, flies and other insects in a large area around the house. It is regularly sprinkled on pillows or sheets at night so mosquitoes and other similarly irritating bugs and pests are driven away while you sleep.

Sedative: Its popular use as a sedative might be the most unexpected and valuable aspect of Cedarwood oil’s medicinal properties. It is an excellent sedative, and has a great soothing and calming effect on the mind, cures inflammations, itching of skin, while relieving tension and anxiety. This feature also helps in promoting healthy, restorative, and uninterrupted sleep, so it is often used by patients suffering from insomnia. In aromatherapy applications, the scent can induce the release of serotonin, which is converted into melatonin in the brain. Melatonin induces fatigue and calm, restorative sleep. For this reason, cedarwood aromatherapy is also recommended for people with chronic anxiety, stress, and depression, since it can relieve those conditions as well.

Fungicide: Cedarwood Oil has good fungicidal properties and may be employed to cure fungal infections, both external and internal. Specific studies have shown the inhalation of cedarwood oil to protect the body against various types of food poisoning, as well as plant, animal, and human fungal pathogens!

Other Benefits: Cedarwood oil is equally beneficial in curing acne, arthritis, bronchitis, cystitis, dandruff, dermatitis, stress, kidney disorders and as a treatment against oily skin.

A Few Words of Caution: Cedarwood Oil may produce irritations on the skin if used in high concentrations. Pregnant women should avoid its use altogether, and others should speak with their doctor before making any sort of drastic change or adding something new to their dietary regimen. Unlike some essential oils, cedarwood oil cannot be ingested in any quantity. It is a highly potent oil, and can cause vomiting, nausea, and thirst, and extensive damage to the digestive system.

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-cedar-wood-essential-oil.html

According to livestrong.com, “Cinnamon-in both grated and essential oil forms-is beneficial to the skin because it brings blood and nutrients to the skin surface while also helping to dry skin. An article at organicfacts.net reports that cinnamon can be used to help dry acne and relieve an itchy scalp, but works best when applied in a preparation with an oil or petroleum jelly, which can moderate some of the harsh effects of cinnamon.”

http://www.livestrong.com/article/91597-benefits-ground-cinnamon-skin/

Cocoa’s high antioxidant count has been shown to help reverse signs of skin damage and prevent free radical damage from the UV Rays and other harmful sources. “It’s packed with antioxidants that help repair skin cells and neutralize harmful free radicals,” says dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD.

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20528189_4,00.html

Antioxidants: Cocoa butter is high in antioxidants, which help fight off free radicals. Free radicals are causes of skin stressors and signs of aging.

Stretch Mark Reducer: Cocoa butter is widely noted to help reduce stretch marks. Palmers has a product just for stretch marks. It may also help fade scars and other previous skin damage, and has been shown to help with skin irritations such as eczema and dermatitis.  

http://skincare.about.com/od/spa/a/Benefits-Of-Cocoa-Butter-To-Your-Skin.htm

Ginger has been shown to help clear bruises, carbuncles, sores on the skin, arthritis, rheumatism, muscle aches and pains, relieve acne, lighten age spots, fight skin damaging free radicals, reduce cellulite, promote smoothness and evenness of skin tone, and decrease inflammation. 

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/benefits-of-ginger-homemade-skin-care

The benefits of grapefruit seed extract expand into many different fields. For skin care and soap making purposes, some of the benefits include a high content of vitamin C, vitamin E, and powerful antioxidants. 

http://www.soap-making-resource.com/grapefruit-seed-extract.html

Lavender oil is very gentle, yet also a powerful healer. It comes from the steam distillation of the flowering tops of the plant, and is mainly produced in Bulgaria, France and Spain. The oil suits most skin types, but is especially good for acne, athlete’s foot, eczema, dermatitis, burns, psoriasis, ringworm, stings and insect bites. It is one of the few essential oils so gentle it can be applied undiluted to the skin to heal burns and insect bites. 

http://www.examiner.com/article/10-affective-and-healing-skin-care-essential-oils-that-suit-most-skin-care-needs

Lemon essential oil is commonly used for various skin conditions. The antibacterial effects treat cuts and wounds on the skin so they can heal. Lemon essential oil soothes itchiness caused by bug bites. It relieves eczema and similar skin conditions and improves signs of aging on the skin, such as age spots. Lemon oil is also good for acne, due to its antibacterial and astringent qualities. Since it is astringent, it can improve oily skin.

http://www.naturalhandcraftedsoap.com/lemon-oil.cfm

Facial blemishes caused by acne occur when dirt, oils and dead skin cells clog your pores. Bacteria trapped in facial pores causes inflammation and contributes to redness and soreness. Cleansing your face with lime may help keep acne-causing bacterial growth at bay. Limes possess natural antibiotic properties, as noted in the results of a study published in the November 2006 issue of the journal “BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” When researchers exposed a variety of bacteria, including E. Coli and Staphylococcus aureus, to lime oil, the results showed inhibited growth of these bacteria.

Tightens Pores

Astringents cause a minute, temporary tightening of muscles. For this reason, astringents are used to improve the appearance of facial skin and are found in a number of commercially available beauty products. They’re used to tighten pores and temporarily reduce oil production for a clearer, brighter complexion. Lime oil has astringent properties when applied topically, according to author Dorie Byers’ “Natural Beauty Basics.”

http://www.livestrong.com/article/528332-the-benefits-of-lime-for-the-face/

Finely ground oatmeal is a natural exfoliant gentle enough to use every day. By exfoliating dead skin cells, the soap will unclog your pores and improve the texture and appearance of your skin. Removing accumulated dead skin also enables moisturizers to penetrate to deeper layers of the skin, so they can be more effective at combating dry skin and preventing premature aging.

Reduce the frequency of exfoliation if you experience redness or irritation after using oatmeal soap.

Oatmeal soothes skin irritation and itchy rashes, such as those that occur with contact dermatitis, eczema and poison ivy. It also helps relieve sunburn pain when used in the bath or applied directly to burned skin. Colloidal oatmeal controls itching by restoring moisture to the stratum corneum layer of the skin, and you can use oatmeal soap instead of traditional bar soap for eczema. The Nemours Foundation suggests adding oatmeal to bathwater to relieve itching from chicken pox.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/137228-oatmeal-soap-benefits/

The skin benefits of patchouli oil are plentiful. It regenerates skin cells, which makes it useful for hastening the healing of wounds and to fade scars. It tightens and tones sagging skin. Because of patchouli’s anti-inflammatory properties, it can calm skin problems such as sunburn, acne, eczema, and other forms of dermatitis. It regulates sebum production and helps treat acne and dandruff. The fungicidal properties make it appropriate for combating athlete’s foot, jock itch and fungal problems of the skin such as Candida. It soothes and smooths cracked skin and is said to be beneficial for helping brittle and weak nails.

Patchouli is also known to be an antidepressant and helps treat anxiety, nervous disorders, and other stress-related conditions. 

http://www.motherearthliving.com/natural-health/beauty-ingredient-benefits-patchouli.aspx#axzz33ULGjOTv

dPeppermint, known botanically as Mentha pipperita, is a hybrid between watermint and spearmint, says Simon Mills in his book “The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.” It grows in all parts of the world and has smooth and often purple leaves and purple labiate flowers. It is widely used in soap making due to its aromatic and antimicrobial nature as well as its toning properties. It is also a drying herb and is not recommended for dry or flaky skin conditions.

According to acupuncturist David Crowe in his book “The Pharmacy of Flowers,” peppermint essential oil added to skin soaps works as an antiseptic skin cleanser used to treat urticaria and pruritis. It also relieves itchiness and irritation when used with moderation; otherwise, it may cause skin irritation. Peppermint soap acts as a refreshing skin tonic and cools down inflammation cause by skin blemishes and acne.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/127221-benefits-peppermint-soap/

Regular use of sage oil or herb delays aging of the skin by preventing wrinkles and fine lines. Massaging your skin with sage oil has a rejuvenating effect—it promotes regeneration of skin cells. Sage also helps treat acne, skin blemishes, eczema, psoriasis, athlete’s foot and cracked skin. It is due to such skin-friendly properties that oil extracted from the leaf is added to skin care products such as face washes, body washes, deodorants and massage oils. It also has insect-repellent properties.

http://completewellbeing.com/article/leaves-of-health/

Sea salt is an excellent exfoliating treatment, and according to CareFair.com, is found as a primary ingredient in many high-end spa treatments. In a June 2010 article in the “San Jose Mercury News,” Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter, a natural beauty product retailer, recommends paying attention to the grade of sea salt used to exfoliate. Sea salt used to rub into the skin shouldn’t have rough, sharp edges. The texture of the sea salt should be smooth to the touch, as you want it to gently slough off the dead skin cells, not scratch the skin. It can also be used as a rub to exfoliate and soften tough skin. Sea salt is a natural detoxifier, as the salt absorbs the toxins from the skin.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/156225-benefits-of-sea-salt-for-the-skin/

Shea butter’s phenolics, a constituent element of polyphenols, have anti-aging benefits and properties similar to green tea. Shea butter contains five essential fatty acids, (a major amount coming from stearic and oleic acids), phytosterols, vitamins E and D, allantoin (good for healing skin irritations), and vitamin A. This combination of ingredients helps neutralize free radical damage, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and fading age spots, as well as stimulating collagen production.

The texture, consistency, as well as skin care benefits depends on the stearic acid and oleic acid content, which can be different in each crop of nuts harvested. The variety found in Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan (vitellaria nilotica) is more expensive because it’s harder to obtain due to civil unrest. It’s also higher in olein (the liquid part of shea butter), which makes it softer and more fragrant. There’s also better absorption into the skin because of lower content of saturated fatty acids. Shea butter in the west (vitellaria paradoxa) is higher in vitamin A, which is better for wrinkles and stretch marks.

Shea butter’s healing skin care benefits are numerous. It helps fade acne and other scars, heals sunburned, cracked and peeling skin, soothes skin allergies like poison ivy and insect bites, and skin conditions like contact dermatitis and psoriasis. It is also believed to reduce muscle aches and rheumatism by stimulating the elimination of toxins from muscles.

http://multiculturalbeauty.about.com/od/Natural/a/Shea-Butter-What-It-Is-Why-It-Works.htm

Tea tree oil soap can help beat body odor. Offensive body odor is caused by bacteria on the skin and clothes, according to the Health Services at Columbia University. Antibacterial soaps can help resolve body odor, as can tea tree oil soap, which is antimicrobial. Bathing regularly with tea tree oil soap can diminish the bacteria that lead to body odor. The tea tree oil in soap also has a fresh, invigorating, clean scent, according to The Body Shop, a leading purveyor of natural body care products. Liquid tea tree oil soap can also be used as a shampoo as well as for adding a fresh scent to laundry.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/146030-tea-tree-oil-soap-benefits/

Some of the therapeutic properties of wild orange oil include anti-bacterial, anti-depressant, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, carminative (expels gas from the alimentary canal, to relieve colic and spasmodic pain of bowels), choleric, digestive, hypotensive, sedative, stimulant, stomachic and tonic.

http://www.doterra-aromatics.com/products/singles/wildOrange.html