Carrots have long been hailed for their ability to give good eyesight. Well, carrots are not the only ones with great benefits. Carrot seed oil also joins the ranks as beneficial in aromatherapy, skincare, and even as medicine for various illnesses. Read on to find out the carrot seed oil benefits and its various uses to improve well-being.
What is Carrot Seed Oil?
Carrot oil is an essential oil extracted from the dried seeds of Daucus carota, a wild carrot plant also known as Queen Anne’s lace. You shouldn’t confuse carrot seed oil with carrot oil which is made from carrot roots and a carrier oil like coconut oil. It’s not an essential oil and it’s cheaper than carrot seed oil. Carrot oil is used for culinary purposes while carrot seed oil is only used externally. Carrot seed essential oil can also be confused for carrot seed carrier oil which is used for skin care but is still not an essential oil.
Carrot seed oil is made when the dried seeds of the wild carrot plant are steam distilled while carrot seed carrier oil is made by infusing vegetable oil with cold-pressed wild carrot seeds. Carrot oil, on the other hand, is made when vegetable oil is infused with macerated carrot roots or wild carrot and then strained.
Carrot Seed Oil Benefits, what are they?
Carrot seed oil has several properties that make it beneficial for various aspects of your health. These benefits can mostly be acquired through applying it topically and in other cases through diffusion. Carrot seed oil benefits are as follows:
It’s Antibacterial
Carrot seed oil can be used to fight against bacteria. It contains a compound known as alpha-pinene that has been observed to have antibacterial properties. Some of the bacteria that carrot seed oil is effective against include Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and E.coli.
It’s Antioxidant
Carrot seed oil repairs damage done by free radicals to your cells and prevents further damage from occurring. It has essential vitamins and minerals that boost the repair of damaged tissues and also prevents the increased production of free radicals.
It’s Antifungal
A compound present in carrot seed oil called carotol can inhibit the growth of fungi. A study has been done that shows that carrot seed oil is effective against some yeasts such as Aspergillus and Candida albicans.
It’s Anti-aging
Since carrot seed oil repairs and prevents damage to body cells by free radicals, it delays the appearance of aging signs on your skin. Free radicals damage skin cells and cause the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots.
Anti-inflammatory
Carrot seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties so applying it can soothe inflamed and irritated areas of your skin. In this way, it also prevents damage of skin from inflammation and scratching of irritated areas.
It’s a Detoxifier
Carrot seed oil has the incredible ability to get rid of toxins from the body. It can get rid of toxins from the kidney, liver, blood tissues, and muscles. It can also help in removing water from areas in the body where it has been retained.
It Protects from the Sun
Applying carrot seed oil on your skin will provide you with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of between 24 to 35. An SPF of at least 30 blocks 97% of the sun’s rays. Even as it protects you from UV radiation, it will still let in the useful rays of sunlight.
It’s a Stimulant
Carrot seed oil stimulates better circulation of blood in the body and it also boosts metabolism.
It’s Antiseptic
Carrot seed oil has antiseptic properties so it can prevent infections from cuts or wounds. Due to its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, it will also prevent viral, bacterial, and fungal species from finding their way through these cuts.
It Alleviates Mental Distress
Inhaling carrot seed oil helps in relieving anxiety, stress, fatigue, and weakness. It does this by stimulating blood circulation in the brain and nerve function. It also improves your levels of energy and alertness.
How is Carrot Seed Oil Used?
Carrot seed oil benefits make it suitable for use in many situations that improve physical and mental well being. Some of the ways carrot seed oil can be used include:
Aromatherapy
In aromatherapy, carrot seed oil can be inhaled directly, released into the air using a diffuser, or applied at certain points of the skin like your temples. This stimulates brain function, calms you, and releases mental stress. It also stimulates the digestive system to release digestive fluids, enhances the health of your kidney and liver, as well as detoxifies your body.
To use carrot seed oil in aromatherapy, add 3-6 drops into an electric diffuser or dilute it in half a cup of distilled water before putting it into the diffuser. You can also boil 2-3 cups of water and add 5-10 drops of carrot seed oil.
Diffusing
You can diffuse carrot seed oil by putting 1 drop of it and another drop of lavender oil on the corner of your pillow before you sleep. If you suffer from insomnia, this will help you sleep better. Diffusing also helps improve your respiratory system in resisting infections, strengthening your digestive system, and reducing stress, anxiety, and fatigue.
Tonic
When used as a tonic, carrot seed oil tones your muscles, stomach, tissues, and your skin. It also helps in getting rid of toxins such as environmental chemicals that make their way into the body and natural body waste products like urea and uric acid. When carrot seed oil does this, it addresses issues like muscle and joint inflammation, water retention, and reduces the symptoms of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, and edema.
Skincare
For cosmetic purposes for your skin, carrot seed oil moisturizes, smoothes, evens out your skin tone, promotes the growth of new skin cells, and reduces the signs of aging.
Carrot seed oil also helps in the treatment and reduction of symptoms of various skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, boils, and sores.
Carrot seed repairs skin damaged by environmental pollutants, stress, and injuries. It also promotes faster healing of scars, the disappearance of redness, and smoothing of dry and calloused skin.
Note that since it’s an essential oil, you shouldn’t apply it directly to your skin because it will cause irritation. Dilute it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil. Massage the mixture gently onto your skin in circular motions.
Hair
When carrot seed oil is used on hair, it moisturizes it, deeply conditions it, repairs split ends, soothes scalp irritation, strengthens the hair, and gives it a healthy luster.
To use carrot seed oil on your hair, you can make a hair mask. Take 6 drops of carrot seed essential oil, 2 tablespoons of organic honey, 2 tablespoons of almond oil, and oatmeal. Thoroughly mix all the ingredients in a bowl and massage the mixture gently into your scalp and over your hair strands. Leave it on for 5 minutes and rinse it off with shampoo.
Medicine
When used as a medicine, carrot seed oil can be used to treat numerous illnesses. It can help lower blood pressure, soothe sore throats, heal skin infections, and alleviate the symptoms of coughs, colds, measles, mumps, and the flu. Carrot seed oil can also soothe kidney stones, makes menstruation regular and less painful. After birth, it helps mothers produce milk.
As a tonic to help digestion, carrot seed oil expels gas, alleviates colic, bloating, and flatulence. It also improves your appetite. To make a massage blend to help with treating these problems, dilute 4 drops of carrot seed oil, 4 drops of tangerine oil, and 2 drops of peppermint oil in fractioned coconut oil. You can rub the blend on your abdomen anticlockwise twice daily.
These carrot seed oil benefits are overwhelmingly numerous! This is why you need to make it part and parcel of your skincare, hair, and aromatherapy routine. It will definitely leave you healthier physically and mentally.