Using Ginger Essential Oil as a Natural Remedy for Health Issues
Ginger Essential Oil Overview
Ginger essential oil comes from the root of the plant and is steam distilled. The oil itself has a light yellow color and smells warm and spicy. Some people think ginger essential oil has an earthy or a woody smell. Despite the name, it’s a popular scent with men. Historically, many cultures used ginger to improve digestive conditions. In the past, some women would use the leaves of the plant to make belts for their husbands to arouse them. Today, we know ginger essential oil has many health benefits.
Helps with Muscle Pain
Ginger oil can actually help improve muscular pain, strains and sprains from exercise. Add a few drops to about half a cup of massage oil and massage into the affected areas. Ideally, you’d find someone else to give you the massage.
You could also apply a warm compress to the sore area and drizzle a little ginger essential oil onto the cloth.
Helps with Coughs
Ginger oil is an expectorant, meaning it helps release mucus. While it probably won’t take your cough away, it’ll make the coughs more productive, clearing mucus from colds and flu from your lungs. Not only will this relieve your cough long term, but it also may help prevent infection—the longer the mucus is in your lungs, the greater the chances bacteria will grow.
To use ginger essential oil to help with coughs, apply a warm compress to the chest area. You could also massage a little massage oil with a drop of ginger oil onto the chest to help with coughs. Or you could simply add a little to a diffuser and diffuse throughout your room.
Improves Nausea and Vomiting
Everyone knows that ginger ale (from the ginger plant) can help with nausea. But so can ginger essential oil. Simply diffusing a drop in a diffuser, or inhaling a drop on a cotton ball can help relieve nausea and vomiting symptoms.
Some aromatherapists also claim that ginger oil can help with diarrhea and intestinal cramping. Again, simply inhale it to get the best benefits. You could also apply a warm compress to the stomach area and place a drop of ginger oil on the compress.
Never take ginger oil orally without the consent of your care provider.
Warnings
Ginger oil can be a skin irritant, so use with caution. Never apply directly to the skin and remember that a little goes a long way. As with all essential oils, do not use if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and never tdrink ginger essential oil. If you have a serious health condition, check in with your care provider before using an essential oil as it may worsen your health condition.
References
Davis, Patricia. Aromatherapy : An A to Z, Revised Edition. CW Daniel Company Limited, 1988.
Schnaubelt, Kurt. Medical Aromatherapy: Healing with Essential Oils. Frog, Ltd., 1999
Valnet, Jean and Tisserand, Robert. The Practice of Aromatherapy: A Classic Compendium of Plant Medicines and Their Healing Properties. Healing Arts Press, 1990.
Disclaimer
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