Vetivers are native to India, and its oil has been used as folk medicine since at least a thousand years ago in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Western Africa. Interestingly, the leaves and roots of vetivers also have the same amount of benefits as much as its oil!
Vetiver essential oils are also renowned to be very helpful for the body and soul first due its health benefits, and also for improving one’s psychological condition. The soul-healing property of vetiver essential oils have nonetheless earned the nickname “the oil of tranquility” back in the Indian Subcontinent. And here they are, vetiver essential oil for emotional benefits.
An Introduction to Vetiver Plant
Like what is mentioned above, vetivers (Chrysopogon zizanioides) are native to India. They are precisely perennial bunchgrasses belonging to the Poaceae family, and despite having close genetic relationship with conventional sorghum, vetivers also have several similar traits and charateristics with other types of fragrant grasses, such as lemongrass, citronella as well as palmarosa.
Vetiver oils are distilled from its roots, in which it contains at least 100 components on its own right. The oil’s colour is amber, and its scent is described to be a combination in between woody, sweet and smoky.
What are its Health Benefits?
- Vetiver Oil as an Antioxidant
Here is the first benefit of vetiver essential oils. In 2005, a study conducted at the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition of Clemson University, South Carolina evaluated the antioxidant content of vetiver oils.
It is revealed that the antioxidants possess strong free-radical scavenging activity compared to the antioxidants found in other oils.
- Vetiver Oil for Treating Skin Scars and Marks
Being a cicatrisant, vetiver oils promote skin and cell regeneration. It heals scars and marks, rejuvenates the skin, removes dark spots, how to get rid of acne, pox as well as prevents signs of aging!
- Vetiver Oil Treats ADHD
A study done back in 2011 proved that vetiver oil is in fact effective in treating benefits karate ADHD in children. The study had been conducted since 1999 and it involved 20 children ranging from 6 to 12 years old.
The result was, vetiver oils increased their performance by 100% after being inhaled whenever the kids went out of control
- Vetiver Oil is an Aphrodisiac
Emotional stress and disturbance may affect libido. Vetiver oils in fact not only works in improving libido, but also increasing testosterone and estrogens too!
For women, vetiver oils also strengthen their reproductive system, balances hormones and also regulates the menstruation cycle.
- Vetiver Oil Improves Bodily Functions
Being a tonic, vetiver oils improve bodily functions, such as immunity and nervous system.
A 2015 Indian study discovered that vetiver oils minimize the amount of toxic in the body caused by chemotherapy drug named “cisplatin.”
- Vetiver Oil Helps to Reduce Anxiety and Nervousness
Here is the main vetiver essential oil for emotional health benefits! Vetiver oils are aromatherapeutic and have been used for relaxation, and reducing emotional stresses like anxiety, nervousness, panic attack, and symptoms of depression.
- Vetiver Oil Repels Termites
The Louisiana State University Agricultural Centre analyzed the termite-repelling potentials of eight essential oils, which are geranium, lemongrass, eucalyptus oil benefits globulus, eucalyptus citrodora, cedarwood, clove bud, cassia leaf and vetiver.
The result was, vetiver essential oils are the most potential repellents due to its long-lasting activity!
- Vetiver Oil as an Anti-Inflammatory Oil
The soothing and cooling nature of vetiver oils made it ideal for healing various forms of inflammatory, particularly those found inside circulatory and also nervous system.
In addition to that, it is also deemed appropriate for treating inflammation caused by extreme heat such as dehydration and also heat stroke.
- Vetiver Oil Prevents Bacterial Infections
Bacteria and microbials grow very rapidly in hot and humid climate like the tropics. In this type of climate, wounds are exposed to an additional danger known as sepsis, thanks to increased bacteria presence of the tropics.
Vetiver essential oils can prevent this from happening by halting the growth of the bacteria that causes sepsis, known as Staphylococcus aureus.
- Vetiver Oil for Insomnia Treatment
Finally, vetiver oils are also ideal for insomnia’s treatment because it is a sedative in nature. In addition, it can also treat other forms of emotional outbursts like anger, benefits of lorazepam for anxiety, restlessness and nervousness.
How to Use Vetiver Essential Oil
Vetiver essential oils are almost available in wherever essential oils are being sold. These are some ideal ways that vetiver oils can be used upon purchase;
- For Bathing
Put 5-10 drops of vetiver essential oil inside the bathtub filled with hot water. This mixture provides many benefits such as in giving aroma and cooling effect to the water, it also prevents the body from overheating to provide ultimate relaxation. For maximum results, one can also combine vetiver essential oil with lavender and rose essential oils inside the bath as well!
- For Massaging
Mix 3-5 drops of vetiver essential oil with jojoba oil. After that, the mixture can be used as a massage oil and massage as regularly. Apart from relieving physical tension, this treatment gets the mind at peace, and the skin being smooth and moisturized.
- For Emotional and Mood Improvement
For this purpose, vetiver essential oils can be diffused by dropping 3-5 drops of the oil into the diffuser, or apply 1-2 drops at the neck, wrists and chest.
Cautions and Recommendations
On a general note, vetiver essential oils are completely safe in terms of being non-sensitizing, non-irritant, and non-toxic products. They can also be possibly safe for oral consumption provided that it is taken in smaller doses, such as in vetiver water.
However, it should be noted that vetiver essential oils may be unsafe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. This is so because first, there are no proven evidences of its effects to a nursing infant, and secondly, it is also widely believed that oral consumption of vetiver oils by pregnant women may lead to miscarriages. This claim however, is still remained to be proven empirically.