The benefits of vetiver oil and its uses

The vetiver essential oilalso know as khus oil, is native to India and has been used in traditional medicine in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Africa for thousands of years. Has a exotic, smoky and sweet fragrancesomewhat similar to patchouli but with a hint of lemon, along with a calm and steady energy, in fact, in India and Sri Lanka Vetiver oil is known as the “tranquility oil«.

The oil is derived from the vetiver plant, Chrysopogon zizanioides, which is a perennial grass that belongs to the Poaceae or grass family. Long before vetiver oil was distilled from the plant, the herb was used for its fragrance, and mats were traditionally woven from its rootlets, hung on doors that were sometimes moistened with water to cool and sweetly scent the air. air.

Vetiver Oil Uses

Vetiver oil is widely used in perfumery, including the creation of body perfumes, aromatic air fresheners, as well as soaps, cosmetics and essential oils for the body.

The vetiver oil offers numerous beneficial properties, among them being an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, sedative, aphrodisiac, among others, which results in a large number of uses and benefits. Here we reveal fifteen reasons why vetiver essential oil deserves a place in your essential oil collection.

Benefits of vetiver essential oil

The vetiver essential oil is effective because it has astringent, antirheumatic and antispasmodic properties. The aroma of vetiver essential oil gives calm and instills strength and security: it is useful in cases of weakness and mental exhaustionto reduce stress levels, anxiety and encourage greater concentration.

Vetiver essential oil can also be used to counteract numerous health problems. It is non-toxic and non-irritating, but it is important to know that, like most essential oils, it is suitable for external use only.

1. Relieve insomnia

Since vetiver is a sedative, helps calm and relax the mind to help one fall asleep and stay asleep through the night, without sleep interruptions. In fact, the calming properties of vetiver oil make it one of the best aromatherapy oils for sleep by reducing stress and improving sleep quality.

It is often considered the best essential oil for deep sleep, as it can also help prevent or lessen anger, anxiety, nervousness, and restlessness that can keep one awake at night.

You can also diffuse a few drops of essential oil with a diffuser for best results while you sleep.

2. Calm the nerves

As mentioned, this is a relaxing oil, which means that it can not only help improve the quality of your sleep, but also help you stay calm during the day.

Vetiver has traditionally been used in aromatherapy to relieve emotional stress, anxiety, and panic attacks. Research(1) conducted in Thailand in 2015, which aimed to determine how anti-anxiety works, found that it provides neurological actions in the central amygdaloid nucleus that connects with areas of the brainstem that control the expression of innate behaviors , which includes physical results of emotions such as high blood pressure, breathing, and elevated heart rate.

Experts discovered that vetiver oil provided effects similar to those of Diazepama pharmaceutical drug used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, seizures, and other conditions.

3. Relieve PMS and cramps

Vetiver oil is not only good for helping to increase testosterone levels, it also offers estrogen-like effects that support the health of the female reproductive system and helps maintain the balance of hormones.

Helps treat PMS symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, bloating, skin breakouts, menstrual cramps, and breast tenderness. It is especially good for relieving painful cramps thanks to its sedative properties that help the body to relax. As it balances female hormones due to the effects of estrogen, it can also help resolve infertility issues.

4. Treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

If you have a child or children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), vetiver essential oil is definitely something you can consider (evaluate its use in conjunction with a psychologist). Research conducted between 1999 and 2001, conducted by Dr. Terry Friedman, demonstrated its effectiveness in treating children with ADHD(2). The study included 20 children diagnosed with ADHD and 20 who had not been diagnosed with the condition who served as a control group.

A variety of oils, including vetiver oil, lavender oil, cedarwood oil, and a blend of oils, were tested individually, over a 30-day period per oil, with the child using an inhalation device at 1 hour. bedtime, as well as inhaling the aroma of the oil three times a day, or whenever they felt the need.

Vetiver oil was the most successful, increasing yield by 100 percent. Cedarwood essential oil was also impressive, at 83 percent, and lavender essential oil managed to increase performance by 53 percent. The researchers noted that it was the soothing properties of the oil that helped reduce common symptoms of ADHDsuch as trouble concentrating, being easily distracted, organization difficulties, impatience, poor concentration, and being restless.

5. Improve concentration and focus

You don’t have to have ADHD to take advantage of the oil’s ability to improve focus and concentration. Its complex and uplifting aroma helps calm the mind so you can better focus on tasks that require careful attention, making it ideal for use when undertaking challenging study or work tasks.

6. Reduce inflammation

The calming and cooling effects of vetiver oil are excellent for reducing inflammation, especially in the nervous and circulatory systems, as well as in the joints. In fact, many arthritis sufferers have found that combining two to three drops with a carrier oil such as olive or almond oil and rubbing it into affected areas provides significant relief. It is also excellent for reducing inflammation caused by dehydration and heat stroke.

7. Decrease the appearance of scars

The vetiver essential oil contains healing agents who are known to help speed up healing. Using diluted oil with a carrier on affected areas can lessen or even eliminate the appearance of scarring as it helps promote the growth of new skin tissue, replacing discolored tissue for a more even appearance. Some have even found vetiver to be effective for stretch marks that occur due to pregnancy or weight gain.

8. Repel insects

The vetiver oil is a very effective insect repellant. Studies have shown that it has the ability to control mosquito larvae that are responsible for mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever.

The oil is so effective that it can even help repel termites. When the Agricultural Center at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center tested the termite repellency of eight different essential oils, including vetiver oil, clove bud oil, lemongrass oil, cassia leaf oil, geranium oil, of cedar, eucalyptus globulus and eucalyptus citrodora, found that vetiver oil was the most effective in repelling termites due to its long-lasting activity.

Vetiver oil can even be used to get rid of a nasty lice infestation. Since it is non-toxic and works to kill pests, it can be applied topically to the scalp to kill lice.

9. Prevent Bacterial Infections

In tropical nations like India, as well as its neighboring countries, bacteria and microbes can quickly grow out of control due to the hot and humid climates in this part of the world. Under these conditions, when one is injured, sepsis is much more likely to develop, which is why residents have used vetiver for a long time as a remedy to prevent a bacterial infection.

Scientific studies have shown why it is so effective for this purpose. In fact, researchers in France have concluded that vetiver essential oil should be considered as a potential alternative to synthetic biocides against emerging antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, as it has less harmful side effects and lower treatment costs .

6 ways to use vetiver essential oil

In addition to inhaling the scent or applying a couple of drops topically, you can also try some of the following methods of use:

1. A relaxing bath

After a long and hard day, there are few better ways to relax and unwind than by taking a vetiver oil bath. With its effects, you will feel relaxed from head to toe by adding approximately 20 drops of the oil to a hot bath and soaking in the calming aroma.

2. Cool off on a hot day

Use vetiver essential oil to cool off on a hot summer day; when temperatures are very high, even can help prevent heat stroke. Simply add 10-15 drops to a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes. If you are not close to home or unable to take a bath, you can also add 5 drops of the oil to a bowl of warm water and splash it on your body and face.

3. Using it as part of a massage

You can make your own soothing massage oil. Combine 3-5 drops of vetiver oil with equal parts sweet almond or coconut oil for gentle massage. This is a great oil to use on sore muscles as it provides virtually instant relief.

4. Strengthening the immune system

By applying vetiver topically, it can be used to boost our immune systems. You can use the massage oil blend as above, add it to a diffuser and inhale the scent, or add a couple of drops to your favorite natural moisturizer.

It is a natural tonic, which is excellent for reducing toxins in the bodyincluding the nervous and immune systems.

5. Using a diffuser to lower a fever

If you have a fever, you can use vetiver oil to bring it down by adding 3-5 drops to a diffuser and inhaling the scent for 30-60 minutes during the day or overnight while you sleep.

Ideally, you should take 5 deep breaths when you first turn on the diffuser before returning to normal breathing, which will help you reach your sinuses. Pure vetiver oil can sometimes clog the diffuser as it begins to thicken, so you may also want to add a couple drops of lavender essential oil.

6. How to beauty product

To purify the skin, reduce sebum production and counteract acne, blackheads and dandruff on the scalp and skin, just add a few drops of vetiver essential oil to your bath water or bubble bath or shampoo for deep cleansing. skin and hair.

Contraindications

Being a very concentrated oil, it is recommended to use vetiver essential oil in small quantities and dilute a few drops in creams or carrier oils. As with any essential oil, consultation with a specialist is recommended before use.