Extracted through the steam distillation process, vetiver essential oil has been in use for centuries. It's not that popular today because its aroma is not as outstanding as other essential oils available today. It's not that kind of oil that you fall in love with at first whiff, but you develop a liking once you keep using it and know about its amazing benefits. Vetiver essential oil is obtained from a plant that can be of six feet in height with a lifespan of about 50 years. It has a sweet, earthy aroma, but without the "piney" feel that you get from cedar wood. It's gaining popularity in the western world mainly due to its health benefits. Keep reading to learn more about why you may want to use vetiver essential oil.
How Does Vetiver Essential Oil Benefit Us?
Quite like other essential oils, vetiver essential oil offers numerous health benefits that you get when you start using it more consistently. Here's more about the benefits.
1. Fight Inflammation
The cooling and soothing effect of vetiver essential oil helps fight inflammation in the nervous and circulatory system. It also helps reduce the inflammation caused by dehydration and sunstroke.
2. Soothe Wounds, Scars and Marks
Cicatrisant agents in vetiver essential oil help reduce the appearance of scars and other skin blemishes. By promoting the growth of new tissues, it helps get rid of dead cells, helps with disappearance of scars, and lightens post-delivery stretch marks. Its regular use promotes healing and prevents your scars from becoming infected.
3. Act as Pesticide
If you live in a tropical country, you will develop bacterial infections more quickly as compared to people living in less humid climates. Vetiver essential oil is your savior in this situation. It prevents sepsis by stopping the growth of Staphylococcus Aureus, the bacteria that causes sepsis in the first place. Moreover, this oil should be your friend if you're in a tropical area because it has insecticide, pesticide and antitermitic properties. It also helps control mosquito larvae to protect you from mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever.
4. Improve Libido
When mixed in beverages, vetiver essential oil leaves aphrodisiac effect on your body. It improves libido and helps resolve sexual issues, such as impotency, frigidity, etc. The oil contains certain compounds that stimulate certain areas in brain that help you have a good time in bed.
5. Aid Functions of Various Systems
It works as a tonic and improves your overall health. It works great for every system of the body, including respiratory, digestive, excretory, circulatory, nervous, immune and endocrine systems. It helps keep your metabolic system in order, boosts immune function, and rejuvenates your body in an easy way.
6. Benefit for Your Nerve
Vetiver essential oil is extremely beneficial for your nerves. It improves nerve function and even repairs any damage done due to fear, shock and stress. The oil also helps you get rid of nervous disorders, as well as hysteric and epileptic attacks. It proves beneficial in treating neurotic disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
7. Calm You Down
Vetiver essential oil works as an effective sedative and helps relax your nerves. It sedates afflictions, nervous irritations, convulsions and emotional outbursts, such as anxiety, anger, hysteric and epileptic attacks. You may even notice positive results when you use it to treat insomnia.
How to Use Vetiver Essential Oil
It is possible to use vetiver essential oil in different ways to achieve many different results. For instance, you can simple add a couple drips of vetiver oil to tea or other hot drinks to boost your immune system. Use it as a massage oil to relax your nerves or take a warm bath with vetiver oil added to water. If you're using it for aroma therapy, only use 3-4 drips of oil in the diffuser. For internal use, be sure to dilute it by adding one drop of oil to 4oz. of liquid. Don't use more than 2 drops when applying it on your skin.
Precautions When Using Vetiver Essential Oil
Although vetiver oil is quite safe and touted as non-sensitizing, non-irritation and non-toxic oil, you should still keep a few important things in mind before using it. For starters, avoid using it on children or talk to your doctor about it. If you're pregnant, you should not use vetiver oil because it may cause miscarriage. It is also a good idea to do a patch test to test for skin sensitivity before applying it on your skin. Be sure to use carrier oil, such as coconut oil to dilute vetiver oil to avoid facing any negative effects. Avoid contact with inner ears, eyes and other sensitive areas.