Uses of Vetiver Essential Oil

Vetiver has been used in traditional medicine in Southeast Asia and West Africa for thousands of years. It is native to India and has wonderful uses for both its leaves and roots. Vetiver is considered a sacred herb and is valued for its uplifting, soothing, healing and protective properties. It is a natural body coolant, making it very popular in tropical countries. In fact, in India and Sri Lanka, it is called the "oil of tranquility".

Some uses of vetiver include regulating heat stroke, joints and skin problems. Use vetiver essential oil to boost your energy levels when you are tired. It can also cool the body in hot weather and relieve anxiety and tension. Studies have shown that vetiver essential oil can be used to treat symptoms of ADHD and ADD. It is also known to increase libido and relieve insomnia symptoms. At home, you can also use vetiver essential oil to make your home more comfortable. The essential oil is a perfect partner for skin care products and relaxation oils.

Six Benefits of Vetiver oil

• Proven Antioxidant

Antioxidants are substances that help prevent certain types of cell damage, especially those caused by oxidation. When certain types of oxygen molecules travel freely through the body, they cause what is called oxidative damage, the formation of free radicals, which are very dangerous to human tissues. The benefits of consuming foods and herbs rich in antioxidants include slowing down aging, promoting healthy and radiant skin, reducing cancer risk, detoxification, and increasing longevity.

A 2005 study by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition a Clemson University in South Carolina evaluated the antioxidant activity of vetiver essential oil. The results showed that vetiver essential oil has strong free radical scavenging activity compared to standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene and methyl-tocopherol (i.e., vitamin E).

• Healing Wounds and Scars on the Skin

Vetiver essential oil is a healing agent that can heal scars by promoting skin and tissue regeneration. It rejuvenates the skin and removes acne or acne marks. It is also an anti-aging essential oil that is effective in repairing stretch marks, wrinkles and other skin diseases. In addition, it can also be used as a first aid oil for home burns and other conditions. Vetiver essential oil is effective for women with stretch marks after childbirth. Add a few drops of vetiver essential oil to skin care products such as facial cleansers, lotions or shower gels, and before you know it, your skin will become smoother and your dull complexion will gradually improve.

Vetiver essential oil is an antimicrobial agent, which means that when it is applied to living tissue or skin, it kills bacteria and reduces the possibility of infection. Studies have shown that using minimal concentrations of vetiver essential oil can kill pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. Vetiver essential oil can also be used for disinfection before and after surgery and for healing wounds after surgery.

• Treating ADHD

In 2001, a study completed by Dr. Terry.Friedman found that vetiver essential oil can effectively treat children with ADHD. The case study was conducted over two years (1999-2001) and involved 40 children between the ages of 6 and 12. A control group of 20 children who had not been diagnosed with ADHD served as a control group, while another group of 20 children had ADHD.

The essential oils used in the study were lavender, vetiver, cedarwood, and Brain Power (a blend of frankincense, sandalwood, lemon balm, cedarwood, cypress, lavender, and helichrysum essential oils). Each oil was tested every 30 days, and the children used the inhalation device at night and inhaled the oil during the day when they were "distracted," about three times a day.

The results were very promising - the benefits of lavender were clear, as it improved performance (effectiveness) by 53%, cedarwood by 83%, and vetiver by 100%! Studies have found that the relaxing and calming properties of vetiver oil can help children combat symptoms of ADHD and ADD, which often include difficulty concentrating, short attention spans, easy distraction, difficulty engaging in organized activities, difficulty following instructions, impatience, and restlessness. Research on vetiver and other essential oils for ADHD is ongoing, but it is very promising as an effective natural treatment.

• Improve physical function

Vetiver oil can enhance immune and nervous system function, and it is a natural tonic. A 2015 study conducted in India found that vetiver oil plays the role of a body protector, reducing the toxicity of a chemotherapy drug called cisplatin, which is used to treat testicular cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, or lung cancer. Due to vetiver's antioxidant activity, vetiver oil significantly inhibited the effects of DNA damage, chromosome breakage, and cell cycle arrest in the bone marrow of mice after cisplatin was applied for five consecutive days.

The soothing and restorative properties of vetiver oil are also responsible for stimulating the immune system and supporting the nervous system. When we are stressed, the body secretes a large amount of adrenaline and cortisol, our blood pressure, breathing and heart rate continue to increase, and then glucose is released into the blood to prepare energy. When we are nervous and anxious, digestion, growth, reproduction and immune system functions are inhibited or suspended, and blood flow to the skin is reduced, while pain tolerance increases.

Try to eliminate stress as much as possible, otherwise it will affect your brain, heart, digestive system, immune system and all other systems in the body, so natural remedies that can relieve anxiety, such as vetiver essential oil, are very useful.

• Relieve anxiety and tension

Traditionally, vetiver has been used in aromatherapy for relaxation, relief of emotional tension, panic disorder, frustration, anxiety, insomnia, hysteria and depression. A 2015 study investigated vetiver essential oil as a tool for relieving anxiety and its effects on neural activity in the central amygdala, the brain's emotional response center. The central amygdala is connected to the brainstem area that controls the expression of innate behavior and is mainly responsible for the perception and consequences of emotions, such as observing changes in heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.

When vetiver oil was given to rats, it was found to alter the stress response of neuronal stressors. In fact, vetiver oil had the same effects as Diazepam.

• Repel Termites

The Louisiana State University Agricultural Center analyzed the repellency of eight essential oils against termites, including vetiver, cinnamon, clove, cedar, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and geranium. Of the essential oils tested, vetiver proved to be the most effective repellent due to its long-lasting activity. Even vetiver oil at concentrations as low as 5 micrograms per gram of sand reduced termite burrowing activity.

Another study demonstrated that vetiver oil can repel and control mosquito larvae, which cause diseases such as dengue, malaria, yellow fever, and filariasis. Some people use vetiver oil on their scalp to kill lice because it is not only harmless to people, but also acts as an insecticide and repellent.

Here are some simple ways to use vetiver oil at home:

I: Put 5-10 drops of vetiver oil in your bath water (this is a bit high; 2-3 drops will do) for a woody aroma that prevents overheating, helps with relaxation, and prevents insomnia. For added effect, add lavender and rose oils.

II: To boost your spirits and improve your mood, diffuse 3-5 drops of vetiver oil or apply 1-2 drops to your wrists, chest, and neck. (Vetiver oil is very thick, so dilute it with coconut oil or use it as a base.)

III: Mix 3-5 drops of vetiver oil with an equal amount of jojoba oil (coconut oil will also work) to make a massage oil that keeps your skin clean, moisturized, and calms your mood.