People talked a lot about the emu oil recently and many claims made regarding its benefits for health and beauty. But what is emu oil? Where does it come from? Is it really as good as claims make it out to be?

In this article, we will answer these questions and explore the many benefits of all-natural emu oil. Read on to learn more about the uses and health benefits of emu oil

What Is Emu Oil?

Emu oil came from the fat underneath the skin of the emu bird. Emu is a large, flightless Australian birds, second in size only to ostriches. Australian aborigines treasured these flightless bird for tens of thousands of years. Also, they make an important part of Australian aboriginal culture as they serve as a valuable source of meat, skins, and the precious oil.

The Australian emu birds appear as one of the oldest species of birds on the planet. In fact, emus existed and remained unchanged for around 80,000 years. Aboriginal oral history and cave drawings indicate that the emu has been very much a part of aborigine culture for at least 4000 of those years.

When Europeans arrived on the scene in Australia, the indigenous people introduced them to emu oil as a way of protecting their pale, delicate skin from the ravages of the hot Australian sun.

Emu oil works as sunscreen and all-natural skin moisturizer. It also imparts a wide variety of other benefits both applied topically and taken internally. In addition to many thousands of years of anecdotal evidence, scientific exploration over the last few decades revealed emu oil holds powerful anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.

Doctors often recommend it for scar treatment, wound healing, burn treatment, and much more. When taken internally, emu oil demonstrates its ability to help relieve many kinds of pain and to help soothe gastrointestinal difficulties. [source]

What’s In Emu Oil?

Emu oil’s many therapeutic qualities came from its rich fatty acid (eicosanoid) content. In fact, this natural oil consists of about seventy percent fatty acids. The omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids deliver the superior anti-inflammatory effects of the oil.

Eicosanoids perform as messengers within the central nervous system. They also help prevent and reduce inflammation caused by exercise, stress and/or exposure to pathogens and toxins.

Here’s what you’ll find in correctly processed emu oil:

Oleic Acid

Also known as omega 9 fatty acid, oleic acid helps reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol when consumed. When applied topically, this fatty acid assists in transdermal absorption of the oil and any substances mixed with it.

Linoleic Acid

Linoleic acid or the omega 6 fatty acid inhibits the production of melanin and reduces the appearance of age spots and/or sun spots. Also, dermatologists recommend it for reduction of hyperpigmentation caused by excessive sun exposure.

Linolenic Acid

The omega 3 fatty acid acts as natural anti-inflammatory agents. It is often delivered orally to combat chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and heart disease. Taken orally, it also helps to boost the growth, development, and overall health of the brain.

Working together, these polyunsaturated fatty acids help relieve joint pain, muscular pain, general inflammation, scars, wrinkles and blemishes by nourishing skin cells and promoting collagen development.

Additionally, an ample helping of vitamins and anti-oxidants provide even more benefits to skin, hair, nails and overall good health. The oil contains generous doses of vitamins A and E, along with polyphenol, flavones, carotenoids and phospholipids.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E serves as a powerful anti-aging agent, which works by balancing cholesterol, fighting free radical damage and strengthening the walls of the capillaries within the skin. It also helps moisturize the skin and contributes to elasticity.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant and boosts the immune system to help prevent fungal, viral and bacterial infection.

How Do You Get Oil from Emus?

Throughout history, the Australian aboriginal people located flocks of emu and hunted them selectively taking only what they needed to supply oil, meat, skin, feathers and other necessities of their everyday lives. Just as Native Americans wasted no part of the buffalo, deer and other wild animals upon which they depended, native aboriginals also used every part of the emu. Even beaks and claws were used to make beads, buttons and other decorative items and fasteners.

The traditional way of extracting the oil from the emu skin was to hang the skin in the sun with a basin or other receptacle beneath to catch the oil as it dripped out.

Today emu are farmed in Australia and in many other parts of the world. Farmers raised them as livestock, and depending upon the size of the farm, the farmer himself may slaughter them or they will be sent away somewhere else for slaughtering and processing.

Processing involves extracting the oil from the skin and also from the thick layer of adipose, the fatty tissue located on the bird’s back. This thick layer of fat serves much the same purpose as a camel’s hump. It serves as a receptacle for the storage of calories and nourishment that the bird will use during lean times. [source]

In hopes of developing a non-fatal extraction method, researchers conducted some experimentations with extracting the fat from this “hump” using liposuction. However, this became unsuccessful. Although the actual process did not kill the birds, they got struck with sickness and died within a few days. For this reason, they raised the argument that subjecting an animal to liposuction appears more cruel than a quick, humane slaughter. [source]

Can Emu Oil Be Considered A Vegan Product?

Clearly, since this oil comes from living creatures it does not belong to the category of products vegans or vegetarians would want to use. People concerned about animal cruelty may also want to steer clear of this product. For vegans, jojoba oil comes as a good alternative. [source]

Seek out oil sourced from small farms where the birds own plenty of room to run, range free. and enjoy their lives for as long as they can instead of getting sent to a slaughterhouse. The trip to the abattoir can cause trauma and confusion to the birds resulting to injuries or deaths during transport. Commercial slaughter involves the breaking of the birds’ necks by machine.

If the birds received inadequate care or cruel treatment, the quality of oil and meat declines. In use, emu oil gets absorbed quickly and deeply by the human body. Any impurities or excesses of adrenaline or other hormones it may contain will also be absorbed.

How Will You Know If Farmed Emu Are Well-Treated?

Even though the American Emu Association (AEA) provides guidelines for humane treatment of farmed emus, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals expressed some concern regarding both their treatment in large commercial enterprises and methods of slaughter. [source]

Emu mature very slowly and are usually at least two years old at the time of slaughter. It makes an important practice to provide them plenty of care. All for the sake of experiencing humane, quality life before providing great quality of the oil and meat they produce.

To be well-cared-for, emu need lots of space to run and socialize with each other. Also, they need to free range for bugs, grass, and other natural sources of food. They also need good shelter, good feed, and plenty of water.

Emu Industry Promotional Video

Just as commercially raised chickens crowd dark spaces and receive mistreatment, this may also happen with commercially raised emus. Unscrupulous breeders may give the birds antibiotics on a regular basis to ward off illness caused by overcrowding. They may also treat the birds with hormones and give them genetically modified feed in an attempt to hasten their growth.

For all of these reasons, find a certified cruelty-free oil. In the United States, emu oils should come from manufacturers with license or approval from the AEA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This ensures the animals receive proper treatment and their oil went through proper extraction and other processes.

After the fat gets removed, the extraction proceeds with rinsing and draining of the fat pad before freezing it. Improper handling of the fat pad may cause contamination. Moreover, the oil rendered from the fat pad will receive heating, filtering, and refining for maximum purity. As a result, the oil maintains its light yellow color and gets easily absorbed by skin upon application.

Why Use Emu Oil?

With the tremendous investment of time and resources involved and the death of the bird, it may seem that it would hardly serve its purpose to properly gather and process emu oil. However, emu oil is an astonishingly valuable oil humanity can take advantage of in a wide variety of ways. Due to this, it comes as a worthwhile protocol to follow for anyone involved.

This rich, healing oil works excellently for protecting, moisturizing, and treating many skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, shingles, lichen sclerosus and more. It contains powerful anti-inflammatory, highly moisturizing, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic properties many skin types can easily absorb. [source]

Emu oil helps the skin build healthy new skin cells. This makes it an especially good choice as an anti-aging product or a treatment for a wide number of skin conditions including:

• Hypo-pigmentation
• Stretch Marks
• Canker Sores
• Sun Damage
• Dermatitis
• Wrinkles
• Shingles
• Rosacea
• Psoriasis
• Alopecia
• Eczema
• Burns
• Scars
• Acne
• Sensitive skin remedy

It also serves as an important note that emu farmers do not usually slaughter the birds for their oil alone. The meat gives great value and makes a very healthy addition to an omnivorous diet. The skin is used to make leather similar to ostrich skin.

How Do You Use Emu Oil?

Many ways exist on how you can make good use of emu oil in your everyday life. It makes a wonderful addition to your skin care, hair care, and nail care routines. It also appears as an excellent choice for pain relief and wound healing, as well as a superb dietary supplement.

6 Ways To Use Emu Oil For The Skin

Improve Skin Texture

If your skin thinned as you age, apply emu oil to help boost collagen production and add moisture. The oil will nourish and plump-up the skin cells and stimulate the skin to produce more skin cells thus, reducing wrinkles resulting to a thicker, stronger skin.

Get Rid Of Under-Eye Circles

Troubled with dark circles under your eyes? Just add emu oil to a multi-step process to deal with them effectively. Naturally, you must get plenty of sleep to avoid dark circles under your eyes but this may not work enough.

If you are genetically predisposed to under-eye bags, you can deal with them by applying chilled compresses. Used tea bags (especially green tea) or chilled cucumber slices work well.

Apply the compresses for about 5 minutes. Follow up by gently massaging the delicate skin around your eyes with a few drops of emu oil to help relax the muscles, improve circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system. [source]

Treat Acne

Because of its light texture and quick absorption, emu oil makes an excellent choice for oil cleansing for acne. Also, it works great in delivering essential oils such as tea tree oil and lavender oil, to medicate and heal the skin.

This light oil will not clog your pores. Instead, it will help reduce inflammation, moisturize the skin, and improve its texture. In addition to using emu oil for oil cleansing, you can also use it as a spot treatment for blemishes. Additionally, it helps reduce redness and speeds up healing.

Get Eczema Relief

After-bath moisturizing with emu oil has been found to be extremely helpful when dealing with the flaking, itching and redness caused by eczema. Some people say that once a day application is enough, but others find that it’s more helpful to use the oil several times daily. This is perfectly safe as emu oil is generally considered hypoallergenic.

Treat Cracked, Dry Skin

After-bath application is also an excellent idea for people living in cold, dry climates. The oil helps to reduce inflammation and increases cell production. It is especially effective when applied to challenging areas such as heels, knees, elbows and chapped cheeks and hands.

Cracked Heels

Pay special attention to dry, cracked heels. Treat yourself to a foot soak in a tub of warm water with Epsom salts. Rinse your feet with warm water and pat them dry. Use a pumice stone to scrub away flaking, dead skin. Massage your feet with olive oil and then apply pure emu oil directly to damaged, cracked areas of skin. Put on cotton socks to help the oil soak in deeply and put your feet up for at least an hour. This application with the Australian refined emu oil is an especially good treatment at bedtime.

3 Ways to Use Emu Oil For Hair & Nails

Heal Your Scalp

Because emu oil does absorb so deeply and so quickly, it is an excellent choice for soothing and healing your scalp. Its anti-inflammatory activity can help treat a wide variety of scalp conditions such as dandruff, centrifugal alopecia and more. Essential fatty acids and vitamins A and E help nourish your scalp and encourage collagen turnover and development which may prevent hair loss and promote new hair growth.

Condition Your Hair

Stroke a few drops of emu oil through your hair as a leave-in conditioner. You can also make an emu oil shampoo for regular use. The light oil absorbs quickly to nourish dry hair and smooth frizz.

Heal and Strengthen Nails and Cuticles

Apply a few drops of emu oil to your nails and cuticles every night at bedtime to help prevent hang-nails, soften your cuticles and nourish the nail bed for stronger healthier nails. Because of its anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, emu oil is also an excellent treatment for problems such as nail fungus.

4 Ways To Use Emu Oil Topically For Healing

Heal Wounds

Topical application of emu oil is far more effective than topical application of almost any other kind of oil because it is so readily absorbed. When you apply emu oil to scratches, cuts, scrapes and even surgical incisions it delivers a healthy dose of unsaturated fats and nutrients deep into the skin. This stimulates the development of new skin and promotes quick healing with little or no scarring.

Heal Burns

Chinese researchers have conducted some very thorough (if somewhat horrifying) research involving burn healing on rats. [source]

The results of this research found that use of emu oil on second degree burns promoted quick and thorough healing in the group of subjects that were treated especially when compared with the control group which did not recover.

The oil was found to increase the rate of skin renewal and decrease the accumulation of water in blisters that resulted from the burns. The oil also decreased inflammatory cell growth. Interestingly, these results were only attained when the oil was applied one or two days after the injury. It did not work well when applied immediately after the injury. [source]

Heal Virus-Induced Sores

Canker sores, cold sores, shingles and other types of sores that are caused by viral infection can be soothed and healed by direct application of emu oil. Naturally, the virus must run its course; however, use of the oil will help prevent pain, itching and resulting scarring.

Heal and Soothe Nasal Passages

If you do have a stuffy nose or if you tend to get nosebleeds, try using emu oil to moisturize your nasal passages. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help relieve swelling and make breathing easier. It’s moisturizing properties will help prevent cracked, dry mucous membranes and bleeding. [source]

3 Ways to Use Emu Oil To Massage Away Aches & Pains

Pain Relieving Body Massage

It’s easy to understand why emu oil is very popular with professional massage therapists. It is an excellent choice for use when massaging people with arthritis, muscle strains, sprains and other injuries. A massage with emu oil with or without the addition of other therapeutic essential oils can provide a great deal of relief for injury and chronic pain.

Soothe Aching Muscles

Serious athletes and weekend warriors alike can benefit from the use of emu oil to help relieve muscular inflammation caused by overexertion. On its own or in preparations such as Blue Emu, it delivers a great deal of relief and healing.

Blue Emu is a fine example of emu oil products that make good use of emu oil both as an active ingredient and as a carrier oil. This popular product is a combination of emu oil, aloe vera gel, methylsulfonylmethan (MSM) and glucosamine.

Aloe is well-known for its soothing and healing properties. MSM is frequently prescribed for treatment of chronic pain – especially arthritis pain. Glucosamine promotes cartilage health and is often prescribed for treatment of arthritis pain. The addition of emu oil to these three powerful ingredients gives their effectiveness a boost and helps speed and enhance delivery of those benefits.

Soothe Arthritis

The anti-inflammatory properties of emu oil alone can help reduce pain and inflammation in the joints. Massaging the oil directly into the joints several times a day can go far to diminish tenderness.

The fact that the oil does sink in so quickly and thoroughly means that it can also be used as a carrier to provide transdermal benefits using other oils and medications. For example, you might mix it with oil of peppermint or capsaicin to cool and soothe arthritis pain. [source]

3 Ways to Use Emu Oil For Mother & Baby

Prevent & Heal Stretch Marks

You can prevent and treat stretch marks with regular application of emu oil. Use the oil to moisturize the skin of your breasts, stomach, hips and thighs throughout your pregnancy and after delivery to prevent the development of stretch marks.

For existing stretch marks, moisturize daily – especially after bath or shower. Treating existing stretch marks can be a very slow process, so be patient. You may not be able to completely get rid of your stretch marks, but regular, daily use of emu oil will reduce their appearance.

Ease Breast-Feeding Pain

Breast-feeding can cause dry skin, cracked nipples, soreness and pain. To avoid these problems, moisturize the nipples with emu oil several times daily. Be sure to wipe the nipples clean with a warm damp cloth before feeding your baby since it may not be safe for an infant to ingest the oil.

Treat Diaper Rash

Because of its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and healing properties emu oil is a natural choice as a diaper rash treatment. Even though it is considered to be generally hypoallergenic, you should naturally perform a patch test before using emu oil on a large area of your baby’s skin. Place a drop on your baby’s upper arm and allow it to soak in. Monitor the area closely for 24 hours. If no irritation occurs, you can safely use emu oil topically.

5 Ways To Use Emu Oil For Do It Yourself Remedies

Use As a Carrier

Emu oil’s biological compounds are very similar to those of your own skin. It is this quality that makes the oil such an excellent carrier for a wide variety of medicines and remedies. Unlike other animal fats, emu oil is a very good carrier oil because it does not contain any phosphorus and absorbs into the skin deeply and completely. [source]

Emu oil is an excellent soothing, curative oil on its own. It is able to break through skin barriers and penetrate the skin deeply and quickly, so it always pays to take care when mixing anything with emu oil. When you add carefully chosen essential oils you can create your own custom products that deliver deep healing transdermally. This is especially good for making anti-itch products, heating rubs and pain relief rubs.

Safe For Pets

If your pet is plagued by flea bites, emu oil can help ease the itching and speed healing. Protect your dog’s paw pads during very cold or hot weather by applying emu oil regularly to help thicken and soothe the skin. Add emu oil to your pet’s diet as a tonic to help treat inflammatory conditions and boost overall good health.

Repel Bugs

Emu oil contains terpenes which work to repel and disorient many insects. Applying emu oil to exposed areas of skin before you go outdoors may help keep bugs away. Be advised that the effects are not long-lasting. You will need to reapply the oil hourly.

Soothe Insect Bites

If you do get bitten by a mosquito or other insect, you can calm down the swelling, itching and pain by applying a few drops of emu oil.

Make Emu Oil Soap

If you make your own soap, experiment with using emu oil for part or all of the fat. The resulting soap moisturizes your skin deeply because of its rich linoleic and oleic fatty acid content along with vitamins E and A.

Soap made with emu oil is very soothing to dry skin and very effective as part of the treatment for skin conditions. Because emu oil is non-comedogenic it will not clog your pores or cause breakouts on acne prone skin.

6 Ways Emu Oil Helps You When Taken Orally

Dietary Supplement

You can purchase emu oil as an oral supplement in capsule form. These emu oil capsules are available in different independent online shops. As an overall tonic, it’s hard to beat emu oil. It provides a tremendous amount of Omega three, six and nine fatty acids. The benefits of consuming emu oil include regulation of blood pressure levels, improved triglyceride levels, better control of diabetes and even help with weight loss. Taking emu oil orally as a dietary supplement is a great way to add metabolism boosting healthy fats to your diet.

Boost Your Immune System

Emu oil is filled with essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants that can help you build a stronger immune system. This can be a real boon in fighting off cold and flu viruses. Additionally, it can help you get through a cold or flu with less discomfort. Emu oil’s anti-inflammatory properties help soothe sore throats and stuffy noses.

Relieve Inflammation

When taken internally, emu oil can have a very positive effect on inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. It can also be helpful in treating a wide variety of other inflammatory conditions such as inflammation of the ear, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints and other overuse injuries. A combination of use of emu oil is a dietary supplement and topical application can be very effective against swelling and pain associated with these problems.

Lower Cholesterol Levels

The Canadian Nutrition & Metabolism Research Group conducted a study in which they gave one group of participants olive oil supplements and another group emu oil supplements. The group receiving emu oil showed significantly lower and more greatly reduced cholesterol levels at the end of the three month trial.

Get a Healthy Gut

Much of your immune system is located in your gastrointestinal tract, so the fact that emu oil is so very healing and soothing to your gut naturally helps to improve your immune system. Additionally, the oil’s high linolenic acid content provides a very powerful treatment against the antibiotic-resistant infection, H pylori. This is the bacteria that causes a number of gastric diseases such as peptic ulcers, gastritis and gastric malignancy.

Relieve Mucositis

People who are undergoing radiation therapy for cancer often develop a condition known as chemotherapy -induced mucositis. This is very painful ulceration and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. Emu oil has been shown to help repair the damage done by this condition. For this reason, it is very often prescribed as a supplement for patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Does Emu Oil Have Any Side-Effects?

For the most part, emu oil is hypoallergenic and safe for use by people of all ages and degrees of sensitivity. Even so, as with all over-the-counter health, beauty and wellness products, you should exercise caution. Before applying the oil over a large area of skin, be sure to perform a patch test.

For adults, put a few drops of the oil on the thin skin of your inner forearm. Leave it in place for 24 hours and monitor for signs of irritation.

For children under the age of 12, apply a few drops (or a single drop in infants) to the outer skin of the upper arm. Leave it in place for 24 hours and monitor for irritation.

If no signs of irritation appear, you can safely use the oil.

As a supplement, be sure that the emu oil you choose is intended to be taken orally. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, be sure to consult your doctor before taking emu oil. Even though it is generally considered safe for people of all ages, you should be aware that no testing has been done to ascertain its safety for oral use in infants, so you must exercise extreme caution. [source]

Is All Emu Oil Alike?

The quality of emu oil can vary greatly depending on many factors. These include the conditions under which the emu were kept, the quality of their feed and the type of processing to which the oil was subjected. Unlike many other types of natural oil, highly refined emu oil is preferable because it contains a greater amount of fatty acids.

Be sure to check the source of any emu oil you purchase. Oil produced by small farmers is preferable to that produced by large companies. The best oil comes from animals that are well-cared for and humanely slaughtered. Look for cruelty-free emu oil.

Because the demand for emu oil has increased so greatly in the past few years, some larger companies are breeding and keeping the birds in inhumane conditions in an attempt to maximize their profits. Overcrowding and poor conditions always leads to sick livestock and parasite problems.

For this reason, you should always be certain that the oil you are purchasing comes from birds that have not been treated with vaccines and pesticides or fed growth hormones, antibiotics or genetically modified feeds. All of these contaminants are held in the fat of any animal, and emu oil is just emu fat. If you use oil that is sourced from poorly treated, unhealthy birds it will very efficiently convey that abuse to you.

Australian vs. American Emu Oil

Some people feel that it is safest to purchase only emu oil that has been sourced from Australian breeders; however, regulation of breeders in the United States has improved in recent years. The best US breeders are certified by the American Emu Association (AEA) which establishes guidelines on emu care.

To ensure the best quality when purchasing emu oil in the United States, look for certification by the American Emu Association. This will help you purchase with confidence knowing that the oil you are buying is pure and that the emus were handled humanely throughout their lives.

The AEA also maintains certification programs which allow for third-party verification of the stability, purity and composition of oils produced by their members. The agency conveys approval based on a number of criteria, including free fatty acid and water content, as well as the absence of contaminants such as germs, toxic metals, hormones, anti-biotics and pesticides.

US processing of the oil should be performed by an entity that is regulated by the FDA. When properly managed every step of the way, the final product should be 100% pure, safe and stable with a long and reliable shelf life.

What Is Emu Oil Good For?

Clearly adding emu oil to your daily health, beauty and wellness routine is a very smart choice. Always be sure to purchase oil that is 100 percent pure and natural, especially when you intend to use it as a supplement.

Once you have found a reliable source, stick with it. Don’t be tempted to try out bargains because you are very likely to encounter poor quality oils that have been mixed with other types of inferior oils.

Remember that emu oil enhances absorption of anything it is mixed with, so if your emu oil is mixed with petroleum products, alcohol, or other additives the result will be quick absorption of those impurities into your system.

When you choose emu oil that is certified cruelty-free and 100% pure and natural, you can be certain of safe use and great results.

Pumpkin seeds make an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and beta-carotene. Its very fine oil functions well in many applications as a health and beauty aid, food, medicine, and supplement.

In this article, we will explore the history of pumpkin seed oil (PSO) and explain why adding it to your daily health, fitness, and personal care routine serves as a good idea. Read on to learn more about the benefits of pumpkin seeds and its essential oils.

Can You Get PSO From Any Pumpkin Seeds?

Not all pumpkin seeds produce this marvelous oil. The specific pumpkin used for this purpose is the Styrian pumpkin (aka: Cucurbita Pepo). This smallish pumpkin shows an attractive green, ochre striped skin, and fairly soft, deep yellow flesh

Its seeds are dark and plump and without shells, so it is easy to press the oil from them. These seeds are just chock full of nutrition. They boast high doses of vitamins A, C and E, as well as Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, beta-carotene, amino acids, lysine, tryptophan, zinc and much more.

The oil pressed from these seeds contains an interesting characteristic known as dichromatism. This makes it appear with two different colors depending upon the depth of the oil. A thin layer of PSO appears to be greenish or yellowish; however, a thick layer will appear to be red. The reasons for this quality are nicely explained in this interesting video.

The rare property of pumpkin seed oil – dichromatism

The Styrian pumpkin originally hailed from the “New World” and Christopher Columbus brought it back to Europe. The people of Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, and Croatia enjoy its tasty, healthful seeds as a snack, addition to cereals, baked goods, and other dishes ever since.

The seeds look unusual as they look dark, plump, and no hull. They resemble very large watermelon seeds.

You can find lighter colored seeds in many stores. However, they do not contain the same nutritional value as dark seeds and do not produce the same high quality of oil. After harvesting, farmers retain the largest, plumpest, and darkest seeds, and plant them for next year’s harvest.

You can get PSO oil from this: Vivapura Organic Raw Styrian Pumpkin Seeds.

The Styrian pumpkin started growing in southeastern Austria farms since the very late 1600s. Locals cherished it for its health, beauty and culinary value. For a time, they only used the seed oil for medicinal uses by decree of the Austrian Empress, Maria Theresa. In March of 1773, she issued an edict stipulating exclusive production and selling of Styrian by apothecaries as medicine as it’s too precious to become a food product.

Styrian pumpkin, also known for its Latin name Cucurbita pepo. Its oil may be referred to as:

• Pumpkin Seed Oil (PSO)
• Calabaza Seed Oil
• Green Gold Oil
• Pepo Oil

We use these terms interchangeably throughout this guide.

To produce high quality Styrian Cucurbita Pepo oil, manufacturers roast its dark and plump seeds before cold-pressing. The resulting oil comes perfect for use in homemade personal care products such as lotions, creams, soaps, and more.

Pumpkin seed oil also makes an excellent addition to any kitchen due to ease of use as a flavorful oil in a wide variety of dishes. You don’t need the skills of a chef to use it as you can just drizzle it over salads and rice. It also tastes great on desserts such as ice cream for a satisfying, nutty flavor, and an effective nutrition boost. Don’t use it as a cooking oil as heating or browning it tends to reduce its nutritional value.

Watch this charming video that provides a complete history of the Styrian pumpkin and its importance in Austria.

The Green Gold – P.G.I. Pumpkin Seed Oil of Styria, Austria

The Properties & Qualities Of Styrian Pepo Oil

Pure natural “green-gold oil” varies in shade from light yellow through shades of green to deep reddish brown. The color comes from chlorophyll. It always carry along a delicious nutty scent, and a smooth, light texture.

The PSO holds a fairly short shelf life if not refrigerated. You can store it in a cool, dark place for about 6 months. You can further extend its shelf life by keeping it in the fridge.

The oil possess a low comedogenic rating of 2, which means it may clog pores. Nonetheless, it makes an effective acne treatment agent when used in combination with light oils, such as jojoba or sunflower seed oil.

Because of its high nutrient value, along with its powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties, PSO delivers a wealth of benefits to skin, hair and nails when applied topically. It contributes greatly to overall good health when added to the diet and taken as a supplement.

Below includes the components of pure Calabaza Seed Oil from Austria:

• Omega 6 fatty acids
• Omega 3 fatty acids
• Arachidic acid
• Beta-carotene
• Linoleic acid
• Myristic acid
• Palmitic acid
• Stearic acid
• Zeaxanthin
• Phytosterols
• Tryptophan
• Folic acid
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Phosphorus
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Oleic acid
• Vitamin B
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Selenium
• Copper
• Lysine
• Zinc
• Iron

Pumpkin Seed Oil For Skin And Hair

The Anti-Aging Properties of PSO

With bountiful amounts of essential fatty acids, antioxidants and nutrients, pumpkin seed oil makes a perfect choice for care of mature skin. Its high vitamin E content nourishes and heals the skin, and the light easily absorbed oil provides excellent hydration. Used both topically and as a supplement, pepo oil helps promote healthier, younger-looking skin.

The Moisturizing Properties of PSO

The light, smooth texture of PSO gets easily absorbed by all skin types. It provides hydration and nourishment to dry skin, damaged skin, acne-prone skin, and to those suffering from chronic skin conditions.

The Wound-Healing Properties of PSO

Applied topically and taken as a supplement or addition to your diet, PSO can help wounds heal faster. Its rich vitamin K content helps blood clot effectively, thereby helping wounds to heal more quickly. PSO also helps prevent skin lesions caused by inflammatory, chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Add it to your diet, infuse your personal care products with it, and apply it full strength to injuries, abrasions, and scars to promote faster and more effective healing.

The Skin Toning Properties Of PSO

The high vitamin content of pumpkin seed oil effectively improves the suppleness of the skin and evens the pigmentation. Vitamin C comes especially helpful in brightening and lightening skin tone, and all of the vitamins contained in this nourishing oil effectively promote the production of healthy skin cells. If you got a patchy skin tone or you got “ashy” skin, add pepo oil to your daily diet and add it to your skincare routine. Consistent use will bring about positive improvements.

Skin Renewing Properties Of PSO

Adding pumpkin seed oil to your personal care products and your daily diet will help encourage skin cell turnover. This means that your body will slough off old, dead skin cells and replace them with new, vibrant ones more frequently and more efficiently.

How Does Pumpkin Seed Oil Benefit Hair?

For hair care and general hair health, PSO works great for both topical applications and as a nutritional supplement. Its high folic acid and vitamin B content promotes healthy hair, skin, and nails. As a scalp treatment, it helps cleanse, protect and hydrate hair follicles, and it promotes shine as a hair tonic. Also, PSO gives awesome benefits for conditioning and healing over-processed hair.

Men having problems with hair loss caused by male pattern baldness can exploit the benefits of green-gold oil. This oil works effectively in inhibiting the enzyme and 5-alpha reductase which slows hair growth by engaging testosterone to produce DHT.

In 2014, the publication known as “Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine” published results of a clinical study which concluded that consistent use of 400 mg of PSO as a dietary supplement consumed twice daily for a period of 6 months helped men suffering from androgenetic alopecia to increase hair count by 40%. [source]

Experts also found calabaza seed oil effective against central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), a condition which frequently affects African American women. It shows as repetitive hair loss that manifests as itching, inflammation, and irritation at the crown of the head. Moreover, rapid hair loss will set in a circular pattern emanating at the crown and spreading outwards until the patient becomes totally bald. This pattern repeats itself in a cyclical manner. [source]

Doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to treat this condition. Anecdotal evidence shows that the natural anti-inflammatory effects of calabaza seed oil brings a powerful and positive affect on this painful and aggravating condition. Researchers found both topical treatment and nutritional supplementation with PSO to help soothe the inflammation and irritation and promote lasting hair re-growth and scalp healing.

How Does Pumpkin Seed Oil Compare With Prescription Hair Growth Products?

Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), comes as a very common problem among men of a wide variety of ages. In fact, it affects about fifty-million men in the United States. This type of baldness usually begins at the hairline and works its way back to the crown leaving a bald pate with a fringe of hair around the sides and back of the head. [source]

There is a very strong genetic component associated with AGA which involves production levels of the androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When DHT levels increase in the body, testosterone levels decrease and this can lead to hair loss and the stoppage of new hair growth.

In recent years, scientists developed pharmaceutical treatments for AGA. They include Finasteride (aka: Proscar or Propecia) and Minoxidil (aka: Rogaine). Finasteride works as an oral medication that binds to the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT. Minoxidil is a topical application that works by stimulating the hair follicles.

Like all prescription pharmaceutical solutions, these medications can have serious side effects and come with a high price tag. While both are somewhat effective, they take quite a while to work and should not be used on a regular, ongoing basis.

By contrast, Austrian green-gold oil is completely safe, easy to come by, inexpensive and entirely beneficial. It has been clinically proven effective against male pattern baldness and has been used to combat hair loss of all types for centuries.

You certainly have nothing to lose by giving PSO a try (both as an oral supplement and as a topical treatment) before embarking on a course of prescription drugs. Even if you don’t get the hair growth results you hoped for, you will still get benefits when you add this nourishing, healing substance to your daily nutrition, health, and personal care routines.

How Do You Use Pumpkin Seed Oil For Hair & Scalp?

Because of its powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties, calabaza seed oil makes a valuable tool in keeping your scalp clean and healthy and your hair follicles unclogged. Regular use and regular consumption as a supplement and a food can only lead to better overall health and improved condition of skin, hair and nails. [source]

Not only will PSO help you grow more hair, it will improve the condition of the hair you have. Below includes a few easy tips to help you reap the most benefits for your scalp and hair.

1. Deep condition scalp and hair once or twice a month. For deep hair and scalp conditioning add pepo oil to a carrier oil that is appropriate for your hair type at a rate of 6 drops per ounce. Unless you have very long hair, an ounce should be plenty. You needn’t have oil dripping from your hair. Massage the oil into your scalp and comb it through your hair. Put on a shower cap or wrap your hair in plastic wrap and leave the oil in place for half an hour or so.
2. Wash as usual. If you feel concerned about getting excess oil in your shower stall or drain, “dry shampoo” your hair with cornstarch before washing with water. To do this, just sprinkle a bit of cornstarch over your oily hair and distribute it evenly with your fingertips. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes and then comb it out. Your hair will still be somewhat oily, but the cornstarch will absorb quite a bit of the excess.
3. Shampoo once or twice a week. Add PSO to your shampoo at a rate of 6 drops per ounce and smooth a few drops onto your damp hair after washing as an effective leave-in conditioner that calms frizz and adds shine. Take care not to shampoo too often. The western habit of shampooing daily is really counterproductive to healthy hair growth and maintenance. Kick that habit and reduce shampooing to once or twice weekly instead.
4. Take your vitamins and your green-gold oil! To be sure of getting enough PSO daily to really benefit your hair, purchase gel caps to take with your regular multi-vitamin every day. Be sure to look for supplements that are pure, organic, expeller-pressed, unrefined calabaza seed oil. You can take up to 2000 milligrams every day. Remember to store all your supplements in a cool, dark place to retain maximum effectiveness.
5. Keep a bottle of delicious Austrian green-gold oil in your fridge. Learn about the many ways you can add PSO to all sorts of dishes for a delicious, nutty zing. Add it to your smoothies, pour it over ice cream, make salad dressings, top off meat dishes and more.

Oil Rinsing: Using Pumpkin Seed Oil

What Are The Skin Benefits Of Pumpkin Seed Oil?

As a topical skin care oil, light, non-greasy PSO absorbs quickly and helps heal damaged, cracked, dry and flaky skin. It hydrates the skin and holds in existing moisture to plump up wrinkles and fine lines. When used regularly for oil cleansing, it can help reduce bacteria on acne-prone skin to prevent breakouts, heal blemishes and reduce scarring.

Because calabaza seed oil is so very rich in vitamins, fatty acids, antioxidants, minerals and more, it serves as a powerhouse when it comes to moisturizing, healing, combating free radicals and providing effective anti-aging benefits. Its powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties make it a good choice as an ingredient in oil cleansing for acne. Added to coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) it makes a fine component in stretch mark and scar treatments.

How To Use PSO For Skin Care

You can use pepo oil as a main oil in a wide variety of homemade personal care products such as soaps, lotions, creams and scrubs. Watch this interesting video demonstrating how easy can you make a simple, 2-ingredient green-gold oil and baking soda facial scrub.

Pumpkin Seed Oil Face Scrub

You can also use it as you an essential oil in preparations such as hot oil treatments for hair and scalp or in oil cleansing. Using it in large amounts for these types of preparations would overkill the process.

When using calabaza seed oil as an essential oil mixed with a carrier in a hot oil application, do not to heat the PSO. Instead, heat the carrier oil on its own and add green-coldoil at a rate of six drops per ounce to the heated oil. Always be careful not to heat oil for personal care use excessively. Burning yourself is counterproductive to good skin care!

Pumpkin Seed Oil Skin Care Recipes & Tips

Below lists a few simple recipes and ideas you can use to make the most of PSO for skin care.

Pumpkin Seed Oil Cleansing

The idea behind oil cleansing is to clean your skin gently with organic oil instead of using harsh, oil stripping cleansers and water. Even though it might seem this would make your skin more oily, it actually does the opposite. When you keep your skin cleaned and well-moisturized with an organic oil, it will be less likely to produce excess oil on its own. Oil cleansing softens and removes oil plugs from your pores and helps prevent blackheads, white heads and pimples.

To clean your face with oil, you would simply pour a small amount of the oil of your choosing into the palm of your hand, rub your palms together and massage the oil into your face and neck. Massage well for several minutes to stimulate good blood circulation.

Soak a face towel in hot water and lay it over your face and neck for a few minutes. When it cools, rinse it in hot water again and wipe the oil off your face and neck gently. Finish up with a splash of warm water followed by a splash of cool water.

When using pepo oil for oil cleansing, treat it as an essential oil. Select an appropriate carrier oil, such as jojoba oil or sunflower seed oil (both light non-comedogenic oils) and add pumpkin seed oil at a rate of about a half-dozen drops per ounce. If measuring into the palm of your hand, you can estimate that your palm holds about a teaspoonful of carrier oil. Add 3 or 4 drops of pepo oil.

Make A Face Mask With PSO

When you give your hair a hot oil treatment, you can also treat yourself to a homemade pumpkin seed oil face mask. This is an excellent opportunity to put your feet up, rest, relax and rejuvenate.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Half a teaspoonful of jojoba oil or sunflower seed oil
• About 3 tablespoons of pumpkin puree
• A tablespoonful of plain yogurt
• A tablespoonful of raw honey

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Place all ingredients in a small bowl and stir thoroughly. Use a fork to ensure that the ingredients are well-mixed.
2. Smooth the mixture over your face avoiding the eye area. You may wish to put a little pure pepo oil around your eyes before applying the mask to give that area some extra moisturizing treatment. If you find calabaza seed oil a little irritating around the eyes, use plain vitamin E oil or some other very mild oil. Placing used, chilled chamomile tea bags over the eyes is also very soothing.
3. Rest and relax for 15 or 20 minutes and then rinse your face with warm water followed by cool water. If you are applying this mask while applying a PSO oil treatment to your hair, naturally, you would just hop in the shower to rinse the mask off. Remember to finish up with cool water for both hair and face because this tones the skin and smoothes the hair.
4. No matter what your skin type, you will see improvements from regular use (once or twice weekly) of this mask. Its nourishing ingredients work equally well to help improve skin tone, prevent breakouts on acne prone skin and reduce wrinkles. Try this Piping Rock Virgin Pumpkin Seed Oil Cold Pressed 100% Pure 16 fl oz.
5. Take a PSO bath. For all-over moisturizing of skin, hair, and nails add a teaspoonful of Austrian green-gold oil to a comfortably warm bath and take a nice, relaxing soak. It’s a good idea to shower first so that you can finish up with your soak without using soap or shampoo while bathing. Just soak for half an hour or so and dunk your head under the water to distribute PSO evenly over your skin and hair. Pat your skin dry afterward, and wrap your hair in a warm towel to soak up excess water. This is a great all-over, bedtime treatment.
6. Add a few drops to your makeup and/or apply a few drops directly to your skin before applying makeup to moisturize, even out skin tone and attain a smooth, luminous finish.
7. Remove eye makeup and grow great lashes! Try using pumpkin seed oil as an eye makeup remover. It is less messy and easier to use than castor oil and provides the same eyelash growth stimulating properties as this classic standby.
8. Nourish sparse eyebrows. Like castor oil, pepo oil can be very effective in encouraging sparse eyebrows to grow. Remove eyebrow pencil with PSO and massage the oil into the brow area to promote blood circulation and encourage new hair to grow. Because this oil is light, non-sticky and fast absorbing, it is a better choice for use at bedtime than castor oil.
9. Treat cold sores and blemishes. Use a cotton swab to dab a bit of pure PSO onto cold-sores or blemishes several times daily to ease inflammation and accelerate healing. This treatment is especially effective at bedtime.

Culinary Uses For Pumpkin Seed Oil

You can easily add PSO supplements to your everyday vitamin routine, but that shouldn’t stop you from also enjoying it at your dinner table. Try these easy, fun ways to add this nourishing taste treat to each and every meal. A few dishes to get you started on this:

Simple Styrian Style Pumpkin Soup

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A large Dutch oven or similar cooking pot
• A couple of tablespoons of stable cooking oil (e.g. coconut)
• One medium onion – diced
• One medium Styrian pumpkin – peeled and chopped into chunks
• Pure, filtered water
• Three tablespoons of white wine or white wine vinegar
• One heaping teaspoonful each of curry powder and chili powder
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Five tablespoons of PSO
• Roasted pumpkin seeds

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Place your cooking pot over low/medium heat and add your cooking oil. While it is warming, dice your onions and chop your pumpkin. If you are a slow dicer and chopper, do this in advance.
2. Sauté the onions in the warmed oil for about 3 minutes and then add the chopped pumpkin. Cover the pot and let it cook for 5-7 minutes.
3. Remove the lid, stir, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes longer. Test the pumpkin with a fork to see if it is “fork-tender”. If it’s still hard, stir and cook covered for another 5-7 minutes. When the onions and pumpkin are soft and slightly browned, you can proceed to the next step.
4. Add enough pure, filtered water to just cover the pumpkin chunks. Replace the lid and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes or until the pumpkin is easy to mash. Remove the pot from the heat and add the spices and vinegar or wine. Mash the mixture thoroughly with a potato masher.
5. Add the calabaza seed oil and blend the mixture with a hand-held blender or mixer.
6. Dish out into shallow soup plates and drizzle with a little green-gold oil. Sprinkle with whole, roasted pumpkin seeds and serve. Makes approximately 4 helpings.

Note that Styrian pumpkins are not always available in the US and other non-Austrian parts of the world. You may be more likely to find them at health food stores. Additionally, they sometimes make an appearance at supermarkets as ornamental pumpkins in the autumn.

If you cannot find a Styrian pumpkin, make a smart substitution with a pie pumpkin or acorn squash. Don’t use a jack-o-lantern pumpkin as they are not especially tasty. Do be sure to use authentic Styrian pumpkin seed oil and Styrian pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin Seed Oil Salad Dressing

Make a simple oil and vinegar salad dressing using two parts apple cider vinegar (ACV) and one part PSO. Add salt and spices to taste if you wish. This make a great dressing for any salad, but it is especially fine for chef salads and others that include meat and eggs.

Choose Pumpkin Seed Oil Supplements Wisely

Although supplements made with authentic oil straight from Austria is the very best, a product offered by a well-trusted and established non-Austrian supplements manufacturer can easily be just as satisfactory if the supplement company correctly sources its oil.

Sometimes, you can save quite a bit of money by purchasing from an established company in your own country that has been able to obtain lower prices on raw materials by purchasing in bulk.

When purchasing gel caps, read the label carefully. Avoid formulations that have unnatural additives and preservatives. Make sure the materials used to great the capsule are organic and vegan safe (if that is a consideration for you).

Prices for liquid oil and for gel caps can vary quite a bit. As long as you do your homework and find a brand that satisfies all your requirements, you are sure to be a satisfied customer.

How & Where To Buy Pumpkin Seed Oil

When shopping for calabaza seed oil in liquid or gel cap form be sure to get the genuine article. You should look for Austrian pumpkin seed oil that originally comes from natural, family-run farms.

While it makes an important thing to look for organic labeling, you should know using pesticides on Styrian pumpkins happen rarely because the vines grow so quickly and rampantly. Due to this, it becomes difficult for the farmers to get into the fields to apply pesticides and other products.

As an alternative, they simply sow the biggest, darkest, plumpest seeds into organically enriched earth. They stand and wait to see what will happen next. With good rainfall and plenty of sun, harvesting comes as the next step.

Finding an Austrian green-gold oil made from genetically modified plants comes as a very hard task. The Styrian pumpkin is a traditional and revered heritage plant. Austrian manufacturers of green-gold oil strive far more for authenticity than mass production.

As with all sensitive, natural oils, only purchase the cold pressed ones. Use of heat or chemicals to express the oil from the seeds would damage the oil and detract from its natural benefits.

As with pesticides and GMOs, this point is of little concern if you buy genuine Austrian PSO made from Styrian pumpkin seeds. The fact that the seeds do not contain shells makes it easy to express the oil without the use of harsh chemicals or heat, and cold pressing is the traditional method.

When looking for oil for culinary purposes, seek out the darker oils as they have the richest, nuttiest flavor such as this Flora Certified Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil.

Remember that pepo oil can go rancid if stored improperly, so keeping your gel caps and your liquid oil in the refrigerator is always a good idea. Even so, it’s a good idea to use up your product within 6 months as it can lose aroma and flavor if stored for a very long time. [source]

What Are the Health Benefits Of Pumpkin Seed Oil?

PSO is a great tonic for overall glowing, good health. The conditions it has been proven clinically or anecdotally to benefit are many and varied. Among them are:

• Arthritis & Other Inflammatory Conditions
• Benign Hypertrophic Prostate (BHP)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Internal Parasite Infestation
• High Cholesterol Levels
• Poor Blood Circulation
• Macular Degeneration
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Eczema & Psoriasis
• Brittle, Weak Nails
• Arteriosclerosis
• Kidney Stones
• Brittle Bones
• Depression
• Cataracts
• Hair Loss
• Diabetes
• Acne

One of the most important beneficial qualities of PSO is its anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is the basis of all pain and illness, and the abundant phytosterols found in PSO help soothe and heal a wide variety of ills.

The zeaxanthin found in this healthful oil promotes eye health. It ifights off the development of cataracts and such serious vision problems as macular degeneration.

7 Ways Pumpkin Seed Oil Supports Your Health

Minerals

Plants pull minerals from the soil, and this makes them a very good source of minerals for people and animals. Pumpkins, their seeds and the oil that is made from them are rich in magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, copper, iron and zinc.

Antioxidants

PSO is similar to oils such as evening primrose oil in that it is rich in lignans and phenolic antioxidants, as well as some uncommon forms of vitamin E that are accessed and used by the body in unique ways. Antioxidants help protect against the ravages of aging and the development of cancer and other chronic, life-threatening conditions.

Anti-inflammatory

Calabaza seed oil has been revered for its medicinal value for centuries. Its anti-inflammatory properties come from generous amounts of linoleic, oleic, stearic and palmitic acids. This is what makes this wonderful oil a time-honored, traditional treatment for problems such as leg ulcers, acne and sores caused by viruses and sexually transmitted diseases. Anti-inflammatory properties also support good gut health, which results in strong immune function.

Prevent Diabetes & Enhance Treatment

Use of PSO can help improve insulin regulation and prevent problems associated with diabetes, such as kidney dysfunction. [source]

Fight Off Infection

The powerful antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties of this all-natural oil boost your immune system and help you stay strong to fight off all manner of infection. They also make this oil a top choice in treating skin conditions, dandruff and other problems caused by infection of various types.

Address Some Forms Of Cancer

Green-gold oil contains a great deal of lignan, which has been shown to be effective in combating prostate cancer and breast cancer. [source]

Ease Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

The phytosterols and zinc found in PSO have been shown to successfully address the estrogen induced swelling associated with BPH. [source]

It is abundantly clear that adding pumpkin seed oil to your daily diet is a smart idea. No matter what your age or level of health, its rich mix of nutrients and beneficial properties can help strengthen your body and boost your immune system. A strong immune system can protect you from a wide range of conditions ranging from cancer to central nervous system dysfunction to memory loss and learning disability.

Does Pumpkin Seed Oil Have Any Side Effects?

Generally speaking, this gentle, natural oil is safe for all skin types; however, some people with sensitive skin and/or nut allergies have reported irritation and inflammation. As with any product, it is always wise to perform a patch test before applying calabaza seed oil to a large area of skin. To do this, apply a few drops of PSO to the thin skin of your inner arm. Leave it in place for 24 hours. If no irritation occurs, you can safely use pepo oil on your skin.

When taken as a nutrition supplement, pumpkin seed oil may act as a diuretic and may affect your body’s efficiency in processing lithium. This could present serious health risks. If you are taking lithium or if you are simply concerned about this, you should consult your doctor before consuming calabaza seed oil. Likewise, if you have a nut or seed allergy, or if you are pregnant or nursing a baby talk with your doctor before using this oil.

Who Should Use Pumpkin Seed Oil?

The simple answer to this question is “Everyone should use PSO!” It is beneficial to people of all ages and all levels of health. It is a wonderful personal care and beauty aid for every skin and hair type, and it is truly delicious in combination with such a wide variety of foods that it would be very difficult to find any person who would not enjoy it.

Most especially, people suffering from hair loss should partake of PSO. As both a topical treatment and a nutrition supplement, this marvelous oil has been proven to address hair loss caused by a wide variety of conditions.

It is also an excellent skin moisturizer for people wishing to combat the ravages of aging. Its antioxidant properties make it very effective in healing and soothing worn skin and plumping and lessening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

People suffering from a wide variety of skin conditions can benefit from topical use of green-gold oil. As an addition to oil cleansing for acne-prone skin, its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, nourishing and healing properties make it especially valuable. It is also very effective when added to preparations for treating skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

In short, Styrian pumpkin seed oil has something of value for everybody. Adding this nourishing, tasty oil to your everyday diet and your everyday personal care routines is an enriching and enjoyable way to improve your quality of life and your quality of health.

Lavender essential oil is extracted from lavender flowers. These flowers are also used whole in potpourri. The highly aromatic essential oil is often used in household and personal care products such as cleaners, air fresheners, shampoo, soap, and lotion.

In fact, the common name of the lavender plant or lavandula is derived from the Latin “lavare,” meaning “to wash.”

Apart from its cleaning and purifying uses, lavender also has many medicinal uses. In both standard and alternative medicine, lavender oil is prized for its calming effect and its antiseptic and antifungal properties.

In this article, we will discuss the many uses and health benefits of lavender oil and provide some easy tips to help you make everyday use of this powerful essential oil. Read on to learn more.

8 Uses For Lavender Oil Around The House

Because this popular essential oil packs such powerful deodorizing, antiseptic, antiviral, antibiotic, and insect repellent properties, it is a great addition to your green living arsenal. It can be used to make a variety of natural cleaning and freshening products for the home. [source]

Here are eight quick, easy ideas for you to try:

#1 – Sanitizing Surface Spray

Add lavender essential oil to plain, white vinegar at a rate of 6 drops per ounce. Decant into a spray bottle and use to clean and disinfect countertops, sinks, and other tough surfaces. Don’t use this spray on wood or leather surfaces as the vinegar tends to damage and stain these porous materials.

#2 – Scented Dish Soap

Add lavender oil to unscented dish soap or plain liquid castile soap at a rate of 6 drops per ounce to make a delightfully scented, antibacterial dish soap. Your dishes will be sparkling clean, and you can enjoy lavender aromatherapy as you work.

#3 – Lavender Laundry Soap

Your scented liquid castile soap can double as a laundry soap, or add lavender oil to unscented commercial laundry detergent for a fresh, bright scent.

#4 – Reusable Dryer Sachets

Use dried lavender to make scented sachets to toss into your dryer. You’ll need dried lavender leaves and flowers, plain cotton cloth, and the ability to do a little simple sewing.

When your sachets begin to lose their scent, you can recharge them by sprinkling them with a little lavender essential oil. You can also use this oil to scent wool dryer balls.

#5 – Scented Ironing Spray

Add the oil to distilled water at a rate of a couple of drops per ounce. Decant the mixture into a spray bottle and use it to dampen clothing and linens as you iron.

#6 – Stain Remover

Pure lavender oil is quite handy for removing small stains from cloth and from a variety of surfaces. It is effective for removing grease, oil, tar, nail polish, paint, and the like.

#7 – Pest Repellent

Repel ants, cockroaches, earwigs, and other creepy crawlers by soaking cotton balls with oil of lavender and placing these repellent balls strategically around, in, and under your kitchen cabinets.

Soak cotton balls with the oil and tuck into closets and drawers to repel moths, roaches, silverfish, and other pests. Replace or recharge monthly.

#8 – Freshen Up

Use cotton balls soaked with lavender essential oil to help deodorize stuffy items and areas. For example, they can really help freshen your workout shoes or keep off-season shoes and boots fresh and pest-free in storage.

How Is The Lavender Essential Oil Used In Medicine & Personal Care?

Lavender oil imparts many health benefits. Some benefits of lavender oil areare:

• Lavender oil is an excellent disinfectant for the skin and scalp.
• It is beneficial for respiratory problems.
• It can help improve blood circulation.
• This essential oil has analgesic properties.
• It can help heal wounds.
• It is natural anti-inflammatory.
• The lavender oil can help relieve pain.
• It calms the nerves.
• It smells good.

The lavender essential oil is used in a variety of aromatic applications. In aromatherapy, it is used alone or in conjunction with other essential oils, such as:

• Cedarwood
• Clary Sage
• Geranium
• Tea Tree Oil
• Nutmeg
• Pine
• Jojoba Oil

…and more to create an assortment of personal care and medicinal products.

The versatility of the lavender essential oil is quite surprising and impressive. In addition to uses in aromatherapy to treat agitation, anxiety, insomnia, stress, pain, and respiratory ailments, lavender oil also has several topical applications.

It has been found effective in treating many different conditions of the scalp and hair. For example, it is often used to treat hair loss. It is also effective as an ingredient in preparations intended to treat head lice.

Its relaxing qualities make it an excellent choice as a supportive product for integrative medical procedures such as chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, and massage therapy.

Because of its antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, it is an excellent addition to soothing salves and creams intended to treat rashes, acne breakouts, ringworm, and bug bites.

Many Benefits Of Lavender Oil In Aromatherapy

In aromatherapy, this oil is invaluable in promoting a calm effect. It is also useful in treating headaches and helping relieve exhaustion. The scent of lavender helps slow central nervous system activity. This can help bring about a sense of peace and well-being. Adding calming lavender treatments to your daily routine can help soothe your nerves and lift your spirits.

Because of its calming qualities, lavender essential oil can be used in aromatherapy to treat:

• Nervous exhaustion
• Nervous tension
• Emotional stress
• Tachycardia
• Restlessness
• Depression
• Confusion
• Migraines
• Headaches

The scent of lavender helps stimulate mental activity. Practicing deep breathing enhanced with oil of lavender before and during test taking can help you cope with test anxiety and focus on the task at hand.

Aromatherapy with oil of lavender calms the nerves, lowers blood pressure levels, helps regulate heart rate, and stimulates better blood circulation. All-in-all, enhancing your atmosphere with this delightfully scented oil can help your cardiovascular system function at optimum levels. This means more nutrition and oxygen delivered to all parts of your body for enhanced muscle strength, greater mental acuity, and better overall good health.

22 Simple Ways To Use Lavender Every Day

This versatile oil is a must-have in every household. It makes a valuable addition to your medicine chest, your dressing table, and your cleaning supplies cabinet! Here are just a few of the many ways you can use oil of lavender.

#1 – Sleep Well

If you suffer from insomnia, you may find that tucking a sachet of lavender flowers into your pillowcase will help calm your nerves and bring you a restful night’s sleep. You can enhance the scent of the sachet by adding a few drops of oil of lavender.

If lavender flowers are not available to you, a dozen drops of lavender on a handkerchief held near your nose can help soothe your nerves and encourage a good night sleep.

Lavender oil, together with a good cooling pillow and a firm mattress, is so effective as a sleep aid that many people have been able to replace over-the-counter and prescription sleep medications with a cup of lavender tea and a bit of aromatherapy at bedtime.

#2 – Total Relaxation

Massage with a natural oil infused with lavender oil is remarkably relaxing and can help calm your nerves for a good night’s sleep. If you are experiencing a great deal of stress, a massage with lavender-infused oil can provide some much-needed rest and relaxation.

#3 – Calm Your Nerves & Soothe Your Tummy

Organic Tea made with lavender flowers is also calming and can soothe an upset stomach. Purchase prepared tea or steep a teaspoonful of dried lavender flowers in a cup of hot water for about 10 minutes. Strain, sweeten to taste, and enjoy.

#4 – Aid Digestion

When used correctly, lavender oil can help increase food mobility in the intestines. Furthermore, it can stimulate the production of bile and gastric juices for better digestion. It’s one of the most effective natural remedies for problems such as:

• Stomach pain
• Indigestion
• Flatulence
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Colic

Before taking lavender essential oil internally, talk with your doctor to determine just the right amount for you.

#5 – Relieve Nausea Or Motion Sickness

Treat motion sickness or nausea by placing a drop of the oil on the tip of your tongue. It may also be helpful to place a drop behind each ear and/or at the base of your navel.

#6 – Help With Hair Loss

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which the body wages war against the hair follicles. The result is hair loss. Both studies and anecdotal evidence indicate that massaging the scalp with lavender oil every day can help reverse this process and stimulates new hair growth if practiced consistently. It takes about 7 months of daily scalp massage with lavender oil to promote significant hair regrowth.

#7 – Fight Fungal Infections

Topically applied, lavender oil has been shown to be effective against candidiasis and tinea (fungal infections). It is also useful in treating skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema.

#8 – Soothe Aching Joints & Muscles

Used in conjunction with Epsom salts in the bath, this powerful essential oil can help relieve pain in the muscles and joints while delivering a delightful dose of relaxing aromatherapy.

#9 – Relieve Pain

Add lavender essential oil to heating rubs or make your own rub using oil of lavender, coconut oil, or olive oil and a warming essential oil such as clove oil, oil of peppermint, or oil of cinnamon. Use 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. Massage this mixture into sore joints and muscles for natural healing and pain relief.

When added to the oxygen supplement used during surgery, lavender oil can help reduce post-operative pain.

#10 – Treat Head Lice

Head lice can be effectively treated with a mixture of neem oil and lavender oil. Mix at a rate of one ounce of neem oil to 6 drops of lavender oil. See our neem oil article for full instructions. (CLICK!)

#11 – Repel Pests

In addition to treating head lice, lavender essential oil is quite effective at repelling pests such as flies, midges, and mosquitoes. Apply to exposed skin to keep midges and mosquitoes away.

#12 – Soothe Bug Bites

If you are bitten by a mosquito or other stinging insect, dab a few drops of the oil directly onto the insect bites to reduce inflammation and itching, and help promote faster healing.

#13 – Treat Minor Injuries

The oil can be used full strength or mixed with a carrier such as olive oil, coconut oil, neem oil, or aloe vera gel to treat problems such as:

• Minor cuts and scrapes
• Minor burns
• Sunburn

Treat minor cuts and scrapes by washing the injury immediately and using oil of lavender as an antiseptic treatment. If you do not have access to water, just apply a few drops of oil immediately to help prevent infection.

Treat minor burns by applying a few drops of straight lavender oil to the burn immediately. This can help prevent blistering, pain, and scarring.

#14 – Treat Acne

Dermatologists say that lavender essential oil can be incredibly valuable in treating acne. Its antiseptic properties help combat the bacterial infection, while its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce redness, swelling, and pain. Its calming properties help soothe the nerves and manage post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety that often accompany this taxing condition.

Treating acne with healthy oils instead of excessively drying chemical products will help reduce sebum production because the skin will not be constantly struggling to replace lost oils. Lavender oil can be added to healthy oils for oil cleansing. It can also be used full strength as a spot treatment for existing blemishes.

#15 – Everyday Skin Care

Even if you do not have a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, acne and other kinds of skin irritations, this healthy essential oil can work wonders for your skin. Add a few drops to your nightly moisturizer to impart natural anti-inflammatory properties and to help fight wrinkles and other signs of aging.

#16 – Breathe Easier

Lavender oil applied topically, placed in a diffuser and/or added to a pot of steaming water can be helpful in treating problems such as:

• Whooping cough
• Throat infections
• Sinus congestion
• Bronchitis
• Laryngitis
• Tonsillitis
• Asthma
• Cough
• Cold
• Flu

For topical application, apply the oil full strength or combined with a carrier oil as desired to your back, chest, and throat.

Use a cool mist diffuser to diffuse the oil into the air of your room at 15-minute intervals on an hourly basis.

Add the oil at a rate of 6 drops per cup of water to a pot of recently boiled water. Position your face over the steam and drape a towel over your head to inhale the scented steam in a concentrated form.

These treatments can help combat bacteria and viruses, loosen phlegm, relieve congestion and coughing, and soothe sore and dry nasal passages and airways.

#17 – Boost Your Immune System

When you make lavender oil a part of your daily life, you will naturally boost your immunity to numerous illnesses. The antiviral and antibacterial properties of the oil help your body defend itself against several illnesses including colds and flu.

#18 – Relieve A Nosebleed

Enhance nosebleed treatment by adding a few drops of lavender oil to the cloth you use to make your icepack. Wrap an ice cube or small handful of ice chips in a cotton cloth and dispense 3-4 drops of lavender oil on the cloth. Hold this firmly on your upper lip under your nose and rest comfortably with your head back until the bleeding stops.

#19 – Soothe Chapped Lips

Make a soothing lip balm by adding 6 drops of lavender oil to an ounce of coconut oil. Keep this mixture in a small tub with a tightly-fitted lid to use daily and/or as a treatment for chapped lips.

#20 – Manage Dandruff

Treat and prevent dandruff with regular scalp massages using lavender essential oil. Adding a few drops to your shampoo or conditioner will also help with dandruff. If you use the no-poo method, add the oil to the baking soda you will use as your wash and to the vinegar you will use as your rinse.

#21 – Heal Cold Sores

Get relief from the pain of cold sores and promote quick healing by treating with full strength lavender oil. Apply the oil with a cotton swab up to 4 times daily.

#22 – Soothe the Savage Beast

Do not use this oil for treatment of animals without first consulting a professional, with one exception. If you are an equestrian dealing with an anxious horse, mule, or donkey, a dozen drops of lavender oil rubbed between your palms and then gently stroked and massaged over the animal’s nose can work wonders.

Of course, if your equine is too dangerous to approach or tends to bite, you should not do this, but if he or she can be safely handled, add lavender to your regular grooming routine. This practice will instill the idea that the scent of lavender signals calming. This can be very useful when preparing for a visit from the vet or farrier, or simply as a regular part of training. For use with other types of animals, consult your veterinarian.

Techniques to Try

#1 – Cupping

For anxiety, pain, headache, or to clear your nasal passages and/or lift your spirits, use “cupping” anywhere and anytime. Just keep a vial of lavender oil in your purse or pocket, and when you need a quiet moment, shake half a dozen drops into the palm of your hand.

Rub your palms together and cup your hands over your mouth and nose. Inhale deeply for relief of anxiety, respiratory distress, allergy symptoms, or just bad smells.

You can use this technique at work, on public transport, or anywhere else you like. It is also a great practice at bedtime to help enhance sleep.

#2 – Scenting

Use the oil in all your personal care products (6 drops per ounce) and/or wear it as a scent. Dabbing a few drops behind your ears, on your throat, and at pressure points can surround you with a relaxing, pain-relieving scent all day long.

As a bonus, your calming scent will calm others around you and may even help enhance your interactions throughout your day.

#3 – Here Are Some General Guidelines For Use By Adults:

• One drop should be sufficient if you use full-strength for a small injury or blemish.
• If mixing with a carrier product (oil, aloe vera gel or existing personal care product), 6 drops per ounce should be about right.
• If mixing with water for inhalation, one or two drops per cup of water should suffice.

Is It Safe To Ingest?

Lavender essential oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for oral consumption by the FDA, but there is still some controversy regarding this topic. Some sources say it is safe to use internally in small doses. Others say taking it orally is not safe at all and that you should avoid contact with open wounds and mucous membranes.

The problem with ingesting essential oils is that they are almost unbelievably concentrated, so it is very easy to overdo. It often takes 200 pounds or more of the raw plant to produce only a single pound of the concentrated oil. [source]

In such strong concentrations, the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of these oils can have negative impacts on the balance of friendly fauna in your system and on your organs in general if you ingest too much or take an oil internally for an extended period.

The lavandin essential oil, an extract coming from lavandin or lavandin grosso, a hybrid of true lavender and spike lavender. Lavandin can also serve as an aromatherapy agent, but it usually comes as ingredients to solutions that can cure skin irritation and other types of inflammation. However, because lavandin oil carries stronger properties compared to the true lavender essential oil, you should not use lavandin for skin care.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that use of small amounts (a few drops) occasionally is not harmful and can be helpful. Remember that it is always best to err on the side of caution. Think of lavender essential oil and all essential oils as you would medicine and consult a professional before ingesting.

Proceed with Caution

It is important that you understand that essential oils are natural medicines. They are concentrated and can cause adverse side effects if used incorrectly (or even if used correctly). Always begin by using the smallest amount of the oil possible. Increase gradually to get the desired effect.

Do not mix oils willy-nilly. Always follow recipes carefully and consult with a professional before mixing more than two types of oil

Don’t use the oil on children without first consulting a pediatrician. There are some aromatherapy applications that can be safely used on or around children, but you should be aware that exposure to lavender has been shown to cause development of breast tissue in boys and early puberty in girls. This is because the oil can mimic the hormone estrogen.

For this reason, you should avoid using lavender essential oil in treatments for children and do not purchase the commercially prepared bath products, shampoos, baby oil, etc. that contain lavender. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should not use lavender oil or personal care products that contain lavender.

If you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes, discuss use of essential oils with your doctor before adding them to your personal care routine. For asthma, ask your doctor if you can use essential oils and discuss the various types of oils with him or her.

Before using any essential oil, perform a patch test to be certain you are not allergic. Always proceed with caution so that any negative reaction you may have can be small and contained at the outset.

Possible Side Effects

If you experience a negative reaction to lavender, it may take the form of:

• Increased appetite
• Difficult breathing
• Blurred vision
• Burning eyes
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Chills

It is important to note that these reactions are mostly associated with internal use of the oil; however, if you experience any adverse side effects (even from external use), you should stop using the oil immediately and (when used topically) wash it off your skin.

Possible Drug Interactions

Because true lavender essential oil does have a calming effect and can act as a pain reliever, it may interact negatively with prescription or over-the-counter medications intended for these effects of lavender. If you are currently taking a prescription medication for hypertension, depression, or pain, talk with your doctor before adding lavender oil to your health care routine. If you are using an over-the-counter product for these purposes, try substituting lavender oil, but don’t use the two together.

Oil of Lavender Simplifies Essential Oil Use

If you’ve always wanted to use essential oils but feel daunted by the prospect of studying up on them, lavender oil is the oil for you. It is the most versatile of all the essential oils, and it comes in handy for numerous uses in personal care, first aid, and around the house.

As an antiseptic, analgesic, and mood-lifting pleasant scent, lavender essential oil simply can’t be beaten. Be warned, though! It may be considered a “gateway oil!” Once you’ve dabbled in essential oils with this powerhouse, you may find yourself inspired to learn more about all the other fascinating and useful essential oils.