Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedarwood oil has a woody earthy scent that can be great for using in skin care product particularly men’s skin care products as it has some amazing properties such as being an anti-fungal and an astringent, it is also an anti-seborrheic which makes it great from treating skin problems. It also has firming and tightening properties so it can make an effective anti-aging product.
But Cedarwood’s great benefit lies in its ability to calm and soothe nerves due to its sedative properties. It is also good for easing respiratory nature and urinary infections.
With so many uses it’s easy to see why Cedarwood is a popular, if not essential oil to have on hand.
BENEFITS
Cedarwood essential oil has the following healing properties:
Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-spasmodic, Anti-fungal, Antiseptic, Astringent, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Tonic, Firming/Tightening, Detoxifying, Stimulating, Soothing, Calming, Antioxidant and Restorative
Calm and soothe nerves – Cedarwood is particularly beneficial to relax, calm and soothe nerves and anxiety, with its sedative properties it is effective and safe to use.
Skincare – Cedarwood has so many properties that make it perfect for adding to skincare products from creams and lotions to shampoo. It can soothe and ease skin and scalp infections, it’s astringent properties can help to dry, firm and tone the skin as well as soothing conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Fungal infections – As an antifungal Cedarwood is effective in treating fungal infections such as athletes’ foot, candida, warts and verrucae.
Haircare – Added to shampoo Cedarwood can soothe scalp conditions and is effective in treating dandruff.
Respiratory infections – such as asthma, bronchitis and catarrh can be soothed and relieved using Cedarwood due to its detoxifying, stimulating and antispasmodic properties.
Urinary infections – As with respiratory tract infections, Cedarwood is effective in easing the symptoms associated with urinary tract infections such as cystitis due to its detoxifying, stimulating and antispasmodic properties.
Muscle and joint issues – such as rheumatism and arthritis can be soothed with the use of Cedarwood due to its anti-Inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.
Insect repellent – Cedarwood is a natural insecticide so it is effective to add to creams, lotions or sprays to ward off bugs.
BLENDS
Whilst most essential oils can be used together some oils can overpower other oils. Cedarwood goes particularly well with oils such as:
Benzoin
Bergamot
Cinnamon
Cypress
Frankincense
Jasmine
Juniper
Lavender
Lemon
Neroli
Rose
Rosemary
WAYS TO USE
DIFFUSE
Cedarwood essential oil can be used in diffusers or oil burners. Using Cedarwood essential oil in this way is particularly beneficial in relieving respiratory tract infections such as asthma, bronchitis and catarrh. Cedarwood also makes a good natural air insect repellent.
Diffuse 1 - 3 drops of Cedarwood essential oil in an oil burner or diffuser.
BATH
Cedarwood essential oil can be added to a warm bath to relieve muscle and joint pain such as arthritis and rheumatism. It can also soothe urinary tract infections such as cystitis. It is also effective in treating oily skin and fungal conditions such as athletes’ foot, warts and verrucas
Adults - Add 1 - 3 drops of Cedarwood essential oil to a warm bath.
Note: Care should be taken not to use more than 3 drops to prevent the bath from becoming too slippery. Essential oils should be added to a carrier oil before adding as oil and water do not mix and essential oils will float on the surface of the water and if used neat can burn the skin.
INHALATION
Inhaling Cedarwood essential oil is effective in helping to relieve symptoms associated with asthma and respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis. Steam inhalation helps to clear congestion in your head, nose and chest.
Simply add 1 - 3 drops of Cedarwood essential oil to a bowl of hot water, place a towel or blanket over your head and shoulders to enclose your head over the bowl and inhale for 5 – 10 minutes.
Note: Steam inhalation may be too strong for children, instead place the bowl in the room or close by and allow the steam to infuse in the air.
MASSASGE
Massage is a great way of relaxing the body and mind and easing aching muscles , due to its anti-inflammatory properties it is especially effective in relieving pain associated with rheumatism and arthritis. It is also effective for toning and firming the skin and soothing skin conditions.
Adults - up to 7 drops in 1 tbsp of carrier oil.
Children over 2 years old - up to 3 drops in 1 tbsp of carrier oil.
SHAMPOO
Add a few drops of Cedarwood essential oil to your normal shampoo to increase the circulation to the scalp which can improve scalp conditions such as dandruff and improve the overall health of the scalp promoting healthly hair.
Add 10 – 12 drops of essential oil to your normal shampoo.
CREAM
Adding a few drops of Cedarwood to a base cream is a great way of harnessing its anti-fungal, astringent, anti-Seborrheic properties which makes it great from soothing skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, cold sores, acne scabies and chickenpox. It can also help to dry out oily skin. It also has firming and tightening properties so it can be an effective anti-aging product.
Add up to 12 drops of essential oil to 30 ml of base cream.
SIDE EFFECTS
As with all essential oils it should not be used neat on the skin, essential oils are very concentrated oils that can irritate the skin unless mixed with a carrier oil. Essential oils should not be used internally unless under the supervision of an aromatherapist.
There are no apparent warnings associated with Cedarwood.
Pets can be particularly sensitive to the effects of essential oils and can even be toxic so where possible should either be avoided or used where a pet is able to go into another room.