Marjoram Essential Oil

Marjoram (sometimes called sweet marjoram) is a really wonderful herb that's widely used in cooking. Marjoram essential oil is also pretty popular too. Let's look at the properties, uses, and benefits of (sweet) marjoram essential oil.

Quick Glance at Marjoram Essential Oil

Pros: Marjoram oil is antioxidant, antimicrobial, and repellent for insects and lice.

Cons: Some aromatherapists believe this oil can decrease your libido.

Precautions: Avoid marjoram essential oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Properties of Marjoram Essential Oil

Here are the properties of marjoram essential oil that you should probably know.

Name

The botanical name for sweet marjoram is Origanum majorana.

You'll see sweet marjoram gets easily confused with many other plants. For instance, oregano is sometimes called wild marjoram and its botanical name is Origanum vulgare. Other plants from the thyme family like Thymus mastichina are also sold as marjoram.

So be sure to verify the botanical name before purchasing the essential oil.

Color and Scent

Marjoram essential oil is typically colorless but it may have a very light yellow tint. The scent smells like the herb - warm, woody, spicy and slightly like nutmeg.

Compounds

The main compounds in marjoram essential oil are: terpinen-4-ol (30%), gamma-terpinene (15%), trans-thujanol (10%), alpha-terpinene, beta-terpinene, linalyl acetate, terpinolene, cis-thujanol, sabinene, linalool, eucalyptol, p-cymol, camphene, alpha-terpineol, and beta-caryophyllene.

These properties of marjoram essential oil give the oil tremendous antimicrobial and repellent benefits.

Marjoram Essential Oil Benefits

There are quite a few marjoram essential oil benefits. Let's get into them now.

1. Marjoram oil is antioxidant

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. And free radicals are harmful chemicals that can damage your skin, make you look older, and may, possibly, lead to cancer. Luckily, marjoram essential oil has significant antioxidant benefits.

In fact, a 2011 study tested the free radical scavenging activities of marjoram essential oil and proved it had significant potential as a natural antioxidant agent.

Another study, done in 2009, did a comparative analysis of the antioxidant properties of several oils including black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel seed, caraway, cinnamon leaf, marjoram, ginger, and clove bud essential oils. While marjoram was not the most potent oil (clove bud, ginger and cinnamon leaf were), it still exhibited significant antioxidant effects.

Hooray for marjoram oil!

2. It's good against lice

A 2004 study tested the insecticidal activity of more than 50 essential oils against female human lice. The oils were also compared to two commercial chemicals used against lice (delta-phenothrin and pyrethrum).

The results were pretty amazing. It showed that, of all the essential oils tested, marjoram, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, and rosemary oils were more potent than the commercial chemicals at killing the lice and keeping them away. And the vapors of the oils were enough to have these effects!

Another study from 2009 specifically studied the effects of marjoram essential oil on adult female and drug resistant human lice. This study found several compounds like terpinen-4-ol, eucalyptol, linalool, and alpha-terpineol were responsible for inhibiting egg hatching and killing the lice.

Therefore, marjoram essential oil is a powerful pediculicide (lice-killing agent) even against insecticide-resistant lice.

3. It's also insecticidal

This marjoram essential oil benefit is clearly proven in the point above. But there are many other studies that support these effects.

In fact, a 2007 study tested 34 essential oils on the common housefly. And only marjoram and seven other essential oils (like thyme, oregano, basil, and pennyroyal) were lethal at the lowest concentrations tested. The oils also had fumigant properties, meaning it kept the flies away too.

Studies on the African cotton leafworm (2005 study) and barley midge (2001 study) have also showed similar effects.

4. It repels ticks too

A 2012 study tested three essential oils (rosemary, spearmint and marjoram) on ticks. While marjoram was not as powerful as the other two, it still exhibited an 84% repellent effect in the lab.

5. It is antibacterial

Besides having insecticidal benefits, marjoram essential oil is also a powerful antibacterial oil. In fact, it is one of the top antibacterial essential oils. In a 1999 study, the oil was shown to inhibit multi-drug resistant bacteria at low concentrations of 0.25% to 0.5%.

Yep it's that powerful.

6. It is also anti-fungal

A 2000 study tested several essential oils on the plant fungi species that causes green mold, Penicillium digitatum. And marjoram oil exhibited very strong anti-fungal effects which were actually comparable with oregano and thyme essential oils.

It should also be noted that marjoram oil was found to be more potent than lavender, rosemary and sage oils!

7. It is antiviral

Here's the final marjoram essential oil benefit. It has antiviral properties!

And this 2009 study gives us the proof. The study tested several essential oils including marjoram, basil, lavender, peppermint, spearmint, and sage against the viruses: Herpes simplex type-1 and parainfluenza type-3 (PI-3).

The study showed most of the essential oils tested including marjoram displayed strong antiviral effects at very low concentrations.

So marjoram essential oil is antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral! It really is an all-round antimicrobial essential oil.

Summary: Here's a quick glance at the benefits of marjoram essential oil.

Marjoram Essential Oil Uses

Marjoram essential oil has tremendous benefits especially antimicrobial benefits. So how to use this oil? Let's take a look at a few ways.

Inhaling

If you're looking for a woody, spicy scent, add 1-2 drops of marjoram oil to your diffuser. And the oil blends really well with other spicy and citrusy essential oils. So you can mix the oil with bergamot, black pepper, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, lemon, peppermint, tea tree and thyme essential oils.

Massaging

Before even considering applying marjoram essential oil to your skin, you should do a skin patch test. Actually, you should do this for all essential oils and all your beauty products too.

For this oil, simply mix 2-3 drops of marjoram oil to one teaspoon of a carrier oil of your choice (like sweet almond or jojoba oil). Then dab a little of the mix on the inside of your elbow or behind the ear.

Monitor this area for a few hours. If you feel any burning or the area gets red or irritated, wash off the essential oil mix immediately. You may be allergic to the oil and shouldn't use it.

If you don't experience any of these, then you can use this same mix on your skin to treat any bacterial, viral or fungal skin problems like nail infections, athlete's foot and more. Note, this mix is about a 2-3% concentration, so you can scale up the mix accordingly.

Cleaning

You've seen just how powerful marjoram essential oil is, so you can definitely use it to clean and disinfect your home. You can use stronger concentrations of 5% (that is, 5 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil, alcohol or even water) to sanitize your surfaces. You can also add your mix to a spray bottle and happily spritz away.

Remember though that essential oils are powerful and can melt plastic, rubber, and other similar surfaces. So it may be a good idea to patch test your surfaces before you thoroughly clean them with this oil.

You can also add other powerful antimicrobial oils to your spray bottle too like thyme, oregano, and lemongrass.

More Precautions

There aren't any major red flags associated with this essential oil. But some aromatherapists believe the oil can lower your libido. Go figure! However, there isn't any clinical evidence proving these effects.

You should also avoid the oil if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from any serious ailments.

Be sure too to check with your doctor before using marjoram oil or any essential oil, for that matter.

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Yarrow Essential Oil

Yarrow essential oil is a gorgeous, deep blue oil with some amazing health care and beauty benefits which we'll see below.

Quick Glance at Yarrow Essential Oil

Pros: Yarrow essential oil is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and repellent.

Cons: You should avoid using high concentrations of yarrow oil too frequently since it can cause headaches and irritate your skin.

Precautions: Do not use this oil if you are pregnant or nursing. And always check with your doctor before using this essential oil.

Yarrow Essential Oil Properties

When buying and using essential oils, you should know about its smell, color and more. So here are some yarrow essential oil properties for you to consider.

Name

The botanical name for yarrow is Achillea millefolium. You should make sure this name is on the bottle when buying the oil.

Color & Scent

Yarrow essential oil has an unmistakable deep blue color. And it has a somewhat herbal scent.

Compounds

There is tremendous variation in the composition of yarrow oil. Thus far though, about 102 compounds (yes, that's over 100 compounds) have been found in the oil. They include chamazulene (which gives it the characteristic blue color), sabinene, alpha-thujone, beta-thujone, beta-pinene, eucalyptol, artemisia ketone, linalool, camphor, borneol, fenchyl acetate, bornyl acetate, (E)-beta-caryophyllene, germacrene D, caryophyllene oxide, beta-bisabolol, and delta-cadinol.

This is a long and extensive list of compounds that have some great skin and beauty benefits.

Yarrow Essential Oil Benefits

So you've seen the properties of this oil, now its time to check out the many yarrow essential oil benefits. Let's see what it truly is good for.

1. It is antioxidant

There are many studies that show yarrow essential oil is a great antioxidant including this 2003 one and this more recent study. Both studies used multiple tests to prove yarrow's antioxidant benefits.

Now, antioxidants are compounds that can neutralize free radicals. And free radicals are harmful molecules that can damage the DNA of your skin cells. They can also affect collagen production which is necessary to keep your skin tight and firm. So, essentially, free radicals can cause skin damage, wrinkles, aging and even cancer!

So it's really important to protect your skin from free radicals and yarrow essential oil (like many other antioxidant essential oils) is great way to combat those pesky molecules.

2. Yarrow oil is anti-inflammatory

The recent study mentioned above (done in 2013) also proved yarrow has anti-inflammatory benefits. That means you can use the oil to reduce any irritation or redness on your skin. You can also use yarrow oil to ease tired muscles and aching joints.

3. It is antibacterial

Like many other essential oils, yarrow has antibacterial properties. That is according to the same 2003 study we looked at earlier (in the first yarrow essential oil benefit).

The study tested the oil on both Streptococcus pneumoniae (the bacteria responsible for pneumonia) and Clostridium perfringens (a bacteria that can cause food poisoning) and the results clearly proven yarrow's antibacterial and antimicrobial nature.

4. It is also anti-fungal

A 2011 study attempted to check the anti-fungal effects of yarrow essential oil on several fungi species. These included Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum (which causes nail infections, athlete's foot, and more), Cryptococcus neoformans (which can lead to fungal meningitis) and Aspergillus niger (the fungi that causes black spots on fruits and veges). And the study showed a very small concentration of yarrow oil was sufficient to inhibit and kill all the fungi species tested.

That makes yarrow oil a potent anti-fungal agent that can be used to deal with skin infections, nail fungus, athlete's foot, dermatitis, and other fungi-related skin problems.

5. It repels insects

Lastly, yarrow essential oil can repel insects.

A 2015 study used the odor or vapors of yarrow oil to check the behavioral response of a species of beetle. By simply passing the oil close to the insect caused it to run away. Therefore, yarrow has significant insect repellent effects. So use yarrow to keep ants, flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs away!

There it is, your list of yarrow essential oil benefits! Here's a quick summary of these benefits:

Yarrow Essential Oil Uses

So you've seen the yarrow oil. Now here's some yarrow essential oil uses for you to try out.

Inhaling

Add one or two drops of yarrow oil to your diffuser for a nice, simple herbal smell.

Yarrow also blends well with spicy, floral essential oils. So you can use it with bay, black pepper, cedarwood, cypress, lavender, neroli, vetiver and ylang ylang essential oils.

Massaging

Before using yarrow essential oil, always do a skin patch test. This is really important to make sure you aren't allergic or sensitive to the oil.

Once you react well to the oil (i.e. your skin doesn't get red or irritated with the oil) simply add 2-3 drops of yarrow essential oil to one teaspoon of a carrier oil of your choice like apricot kernel or coconut oil. Then massage it on and enjoy!

You can also scale this blend accordingly to make larger amounts and store it in the fridge (or in a cool spot).

More Precautions

Many aromatherapists strongly advise to use this oil in moderation since it can cause headaches and irritate your skin when used at high concentrations. Also, pregnant women showing avoid yarrow essential oil.

If you're thinking about using this oil, always check with your health care provider first. It's always better to be safe when using essential oils.

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Photo credit (flower): Bogdan Giuşcă
Photo credit (essential oil): Itineranttrader

Food Safety During Hurricane Joaquin

Source: FDA

Hurricane Joaquin may be blowing into your area and let's hope he doesn't take down the power line in your neighborhood. 

  

To prepare yourself for this potential storm, consider this advice by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND):  

Before the Power Goes Out:

• Make sure that your refrigerator is set at 40 degrees F or below. Above this temperature, pathogens, which cause foodborne illness, grow more rapidly.
• Make sure that your milk and eggs are stored in the back of your refrigerator, rather than on the door, to keep them colder longer. The temperature of the refrigerator door is typically higher due to its constant opening and closing.
• Move any fresh meat, poultry, and fish, as well as leftovers in your refrigerator, into your freezer.  Frozen food will stay colder longer.
• Put containers of water in your freezer to create blocks of ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator, or coolers just in case you lose power.

Should the Power Goes Out:

• Avoiding opening the refrigerator and freezer unnecessarily. The longer the doors are closed, the longer the food will remain at a cold temperature.
• If your power is restored within four hours, the items in the refrigerator should be safe to eat if you don't constantly open it.
• A freezer that is stuffed full will stay at freezing temperatures for two days if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures for one day if the door remains closed.

Once the Power is Restored:

• When your power is restored, check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer. If it is reads 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, the food is safe to eat and/or can be refrozen.
• Wait until the temperature of the refrigerator drops to 40 degrees F or below before you restock it.

Lastly, when in doubt, throw it out.

Be safe, Joan

Twitter: @JoanSalgeBlake

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Roman chamomile essential oil has its own unique properties which are, in some instances, different from the other types of chamomile like German or blue chamomile and Moroccan chamomile (or blue tansy).

So here we'll learn about the properties, uses and benefits of Roman chamomile essential oil.

Quick Glance at Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Pros: Roman chamomile essential oil has anti-anxiety, sedative, antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits.

Cons: -

Precautions: Always check with your doctor before using this essential oil.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Properties

If you're new to this oil, you may want to check out these properties of Roman chamomile essential oil.

Name

Just like German chamomile, Roman chamomile has several names.

It's sometimes called sweet chamomile and English chamomile. And it has a few botanical names like Chamaemelum nobile and Anthemis noblis. Be sure to check these names when buying Roman chamomile oil.

Keep in mind that German chamomile has the botanical names Matricaria chamomilla and Matricaria recutita.

Color & Scent

Roman chamomile essential oil has a light grey to pale blue color and a sweet, apple-like smell, similar to chamomile tea. So if you love the smell of chamomile tea, get this essential oil.

Compounds

The composition of Roman chamomile oil is very different to German chamomile. Roman chamomile actually contains isobutyl angelate, 2-methylbutyl angelate, isobutyl isobutyrate, methyl 2-methylbutyrate, prenyl acetate, 2-methylbutyl 2-methylbutyrate and 2-methylbutyl acetate.

These compounds may have long and complicated names but they do add to the benefits of this oil.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Benefits

Here are a few proven benefits of Roman chamomile essential oil.

1. It may reduce anxiety

A 1999 study looked at the effects of Roman chamomile essential oil on anxiety. The researchers divided 103 cancer patients into two groups - an aromatherapy group and a massage group. The patients in the aromatherapy group were massaged with a blend of Roman chamomile essential oil and a carrier oil while the other group were massaged with only the carrier oil. The researchers then asked the patients to rate their levels of anxiety post-massage.

The results showed both groups felt significantly lower anxiety levels. However, there weren't major differences (about 1%) between the aromatherapy group and massage group; so the researchers couldn't conclusively say Roman chamomile oil reduces anxiety.

What they did suggest is the essential oil seemed to enhance the effect of the massage and the overall quality of life of the cancer patients. And that's not bad at all!

2. Roman chamomile can help you sleep

This essential oil is a proven sedative (just like chamomile tea).

A 2006 article explored the effects of the smell of Roman chamomile oil on the mood and cognitive function of 80 volunteers. The results showed the volunteers experienced lower alertness, memory, and accuracy; thus proving Roman chamomile has a calming, sedative nature.

So if you're having trouble sleeping or just want to get a great power nap, reach for Roman chamomile essential oil.

3. It is antioxidant

Here's another great benefit of Roman chamomile oil - it's antioxidant! And this 1993 study provides the proof.

The study tested eleven essential oils including sweet fennel, rosemary, Roman chamomile, lavender, sage, thyme and tarragon. And Roman chamomile was found to be the most antioxidant among the oils tested! Awesome, right?

So you can use Roman chamomile essential oil to neutralize those free radicals that can damage your skin cells' DNA, affect collagen, cause wrinkles and even cause skin cancer.

4. It is antibacterial

A 2009 study tested Roman chamomile essential oil against several types of bacteria including Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed the essential oil exhibited high antibacterial activity against all the strains tested.

The study also found Roman chamomile contained several antibacterial compounds like 2-methylbutyl 2-methylbutyrate, 2-methylbutyl acetate and prenyl acetate. Way to go Roman chamomile!

5. It is anti-fungal too

The 2009 same study mentioned above also tested Roman chamomile essential oil on the fungi, Candida albicans. In fact, the study proved the oil was just as powerful against fungi. So use Roman chamomile oil to treat any fungi related skin care and beauty problems you may have.

6. It is a fumigant and insecticidal

Lastly, Roman chamomile has exhibited both fumigant and insecticidal benefits.

This 2014 study investigated the use of Roman chamomile on Japanese termites and proved the oil exhibited strong fumigant toxicity against the termites.

So keep bugs, flies, and termites away with Roman chamomile essential oil!

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Uses

You've already seen the many benefits of Roman chamomile oil. Now it's time to get into the uses of this essential oil.

Inhaling

Roman chamomile has proven calming and soothing benefits. So if you want to relax, ease your nerves and anxiety, calm hyperactivity, or have a great nap, add 1-2 drops of this essential oil to your diffuser.

You can also blend Roman chamomile with spicy, floral oils like bergamot, cinnamon, German chamomile (of course), jasmine, lemon, rose, sandalwood and ylang ylang essential oils.

Massaging

While Roman chamomile is a mild essential oil, you should still do a skin patch test to verify you're not allergic to it.

To do this, simply add 1-2 drops of the oil to 1 teaspoon of your favorite carrier oil (here's a great list to choose from). Dab a little of the blend on the inside of your elbow or the back of your ear.

Monitor the area for a few hours. If you find it's getting red, irritated or burns, wash the area immediately. You may be sensitive or allergic to the oil and shouldn't use it on your skin. If everything is fine and there's no redness, then you can use this mix on your body.

You can also blend Roman chamomile with some of the essential oils mentioned earlier like jasmine or ylang ylang for a wonderful, floral massage blend.

More Precautions

You should always check with your doctor before using Roman chamomile essential oil (or any other essential oil for that matter). This is especially important if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from any health complications.

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Photo credit (flower): Melanie Shaw

Understanding Vanilla as an aromatherapy perfume

With the onset of the fall season and return to school I get drawn into my kitchen to bake wholesome school snacks for the kids.  While my selection of baking varies from almond butter chocolate chip cookies (from the Oh She Glows cookbook, its excellent you have to try them!), to zucchini muffins (we grew lots of zucchini this year) and even to a pumpkin/kale smoothie there is one main ingredient that flows through all these things and that is vanilla.  I love this smell and the magic it brings to baking! 

Vanilla has been appearing in more places than my kitchen since at one of the last summer night markets I meet a woman who was asking about vanilla in an aromatherapy perfume.  Her request intrigued me and I took this curiosity into my lab and began playing with vanilla absolute oil in various carriers and with other oils.  Playing with vanilla in this setting was extremely fun and satisfying as I got to know Vanilla as more than a flavoring for baking but also as a scent for perfumes.  Wow!  The possibilities are endless.  At the time of writing this article there is not yet a completed product but I can say that I do anticipate a vanilla inspired aromatherapy perfume to grace the markets and website in the near future.  For now both my home and lab will be wafting wonderful vanilla smells as I enjoy Vanilla in all its heavenly forms!

To better understand Vanilla I gathered some information on growing, harvesting and how Vanilla is named that helped me to further appreciate this well used spice and perfume fragrance.  

Vanilla beans are actually the seeds from the orchid species Vanilla plantifolia.  This orchid is the only species of orchids out of 35,000 orchid species to have edible seedpods.  The Vanilla plantifolia orchid was originally only grown in the tropical rainforest of South Eastern Mexico and Central America.  Now however it is being grown in Indonesia, Tahiti, Reunion Islands and Madagascar.  I have also seen the vanilla orchid growing on a tree at a farm on Kauai, Hawaii.  The Vanilla orchid grows like a vine twining itself up trees reaching lengths of up to 30 feet.  In the regions where Vanilla is a native plant (South Eastern Mexico and Central America) it is pollinated by the Melipone bee that is only found in those regions.  All other Vanilla Orchids are hand pollinated.  The resulting bean pod takes up to 9 months to reach maturity. The Vanilla bean is odorless when harvested.  Then when cured in a 3-6 month long fermentation process the pods turn dark brown to black with reddish drops of crystal Vanillin lining the pod.  The crystal drops of Vanillin give the bean pod the familiar smell of Vanilla.

Vanilla is the most popular food flavor in the world.  It is the second most expensive spice flavoring (with saffron being the first) due to its labor intensive harvesting and curing process.

Vanilla can’t be steam distilled to extract its oil content like most other essential oils because of the delicate structure of the bean pods.  Instead there are 3 other extraction methods that are used:

1.  Vanilla CO2- uses carbon dioxide to pull the vanilla smell from the pod.

2. Vanilla absolute- uses solvents to extract the vanilla.  This method is preferred by perfumers.

3. Vanilla oleoresin- is another type of solvent extraction that uses the macerated beans.

Each of these methods produce slightly different smelling vanilla oil all of which are not considered to be a true essential oil.  When Vanilla in used in an aromatherapy blend it is usually considered a “fragrance” addition.

Vanilla is sold under many different names such as Mexican Vanilla (Mexico), Bourbon Vanilla (Madagascar), Tahitian Vanilla (French Polynesia) or West Indian Vanilla (Caribbean and Central/South America) all of which are named based on the geographical regions they are grown.

I hope that you enjoyed this article about Vanilla.  Please visit our website to view our product line.
We would love to connect on social media!  You can find us on the links below.

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Spearmint Essential Oil

Spearmint essential oil is a milder version of peppermint oil. But it still has amazing properties. Let's check out the spearmint essential oil benefits, properties and uses.

Quick Glance at Spearmint Essential Oil

Pros: Spearmint essential oil is antiemetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial.

Cons: But it may irritate your skin and possibly the mucous membranes in your nose, throat and lungs.

Precautions: Like all essential oils, check with your doctor before using spearmint oil especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

Properties of Spearmint Oil

It's always important to learn about the properties of essential oils. Here we'll see the properties of spearmint oil.

Name

The botanical name of spearmint is Mentha spicata. Be sure to check this name when buying spearmint essential oil. And, remember, the botanical name for peppermint is Mentha piperita.

Color & Scent

Spearmint essential oil typically has a clear to pale yellow color. And, as if it needs to be said, spearmint oil has a warm, minty scent which is not as sharp as peppermint oil.

Compounds

More than 60 compounds have been found in spearmint essential oil. The most notable compounds are carvone (which makes up between 40-78% of the oil) and limonene (11-20%).

Other chemicals in spearmint oil include: beta-bourbonene, cis-dihydrocarveol, trans-caryophyllene, menthone, menthol, eucalyptol, beta-pinene and terpinen-4-ol.

These compounds are responsible for spearmint's many benefits which we'll see below.

Spearmint Oil Benefits

As you've seen, spearmint is a bit milder and gentler than peppermint but it's just as good! So let's get into the proven benefits of spearmint essential oil.

1. Spearmint can help with nausea and vomiting

Spearmint essential oil is a natural remedy for nausea and vomiting. And that's according to several studies done recently.

One from 2013 looked at the use of peppermint and spearmint essential oils on the nausea and vomiting of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients were given a capsule containing 2 drops of either oil or a placebo in addition to their normal nausea medication. And they were asked to record the number of times they felt sick or threw up, how intense these feelings were and any side effects they experienced.

The findings of this study were interesting. Both oils showed a significant decrease in the number of times the patients felt ill and their feelings were less intense than before. Plus these findings happened within the first day of taking the capsules and no side effects were reported. Amazing right?

Now, another (unrelated) 2013 study used aromatherapy blends with ginger, spearmint, peppermint, and cardamom essential oils to treat the nausea of 300 post-op patients. The blends were given to the patients to inhale three times and, five minutes later, they were asked about their levels of nausea. The results were similar to the previous one! The patients felt a significant decrease in the nausea after inhaling the essential oils.

These studies prove spearmint does have antiemetic benefits. So when you're feeling nauseous or ill, take a whiff of spearmint oil!

2. It is antioxidant

Spearmint essential oil has antioxidant benefits which means it can neutralize any free radicals on your skin. Remember, free radicals are terrible compounds that can damage your cells' DNA, affect your skin's collagen production, and can even cause wrinkles and cancer.

Yikes! Not to worry though, like many essential oils, spearmint is antioxidant, as proven by this 2015 study. In fact, the study used four different tests to check the antioxidant potency of spearmint oil. And all showed excellent results!

Way to go spearmint!

3. Spearmint oil is anti-inflammatory

Besides being antiemetic and antioxidant, spearmint essential oil has also shown anti-inflammatory benefits. This 2008 animal study demonstrated these effects. So you can ease any rashes, dermatitis, acne, red, irritated skin, tired muscles, aching joints and more with spearmint essential oil.

4. It is antibacterial

Spearmint oil has shown good antibacterial benefits according to a very recent study.

The study tested spearmint on common food-related pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus. And the results showed spearmint oil inhibited all the bacteria tested. It also found the combination of both carvone and limonene was responsible for the antibacterial nature. This is valid since carvone is considered one of the most efficient antimicrobial compounds that can be found in plants.

That being said, another 2015 study done on the Vibrio bacteria (which is responsible for illness due to under-cooked seafood) showed spearmint oil only had moderate antibacterial effects. The study did compare spearmint to some powerful antibacterial essential oils like cumin, thyme, rosemary, and clove. And, while spearmint did perform well and inhibited the bacteria, it just wasn't as potent as the others.

Still, spearmint oil is a moderate antibacterial oil that you can use for general cleaning.

5. It is also anti-fungal

There are several studies that validate spearmint's anti-fungal effects.

A 2009 study tested thyme, peppermint and spearmint essential oils on 17 different species of fungi. Now, spearmint oil was not as potent as thyme; probably because thyme is one of the best anti-fungal essential oils. Nevertheless, it still surpassed the anti-fungal effects of peppermint essential oil and the commercial fungicide, bifonazole. That means spearmint is very powerful, especially against fungi!

So you can use spearmint essential oil to deal with athlete's foot, nail infections, dandruff, and other fungi-related skin and beauty problems.

6. It repels and kills insects

There is tremendous literature proving these spearmint oil benefits. A 2013 study tested the repellency of 21 essential oils (including spearmint, geranium, citronella, Roman chamomile, and anise) on yellowjackets (wasps). And spearmint was one of 17 essential oils that showed significant repellency against the wasps. Furthermore, carvone and eugenol were identified as the compounds responsible for these benefits.

Another study, done in 2012, looked at the effects spearmint oil had on the larvae of three mosquito species. The results showed spearmint was a potent larvicidal agent and found that carvone and limonene were the compounds responsible for these spearmint oil benefits.

Isn't this oil awesome?

7. It repels ticks

Finally, spearmint is a powerful tick repellent. That is according to this 2012 study. Researchers of this study performed lab and field tests on the nymphs using rosemary, spearmint and marjoram essential oils. Spearmint provided a 93% repellency in the lab and a 60% repellency in the field.

Again, carvone and eucalyptol were identified as the tick repellent compounds. So use spearmint oil to keep ticks, mites, spiders and other arachnids away!

Spearmint Oil Uses

There are so many spearmint oil benefits! It really is an amazing oil. So now let's look at some ways to use spearmint essential oil.

Inhaling

You can simply add 1-2 drops of spearmint to your diffuser for a wonderful minty smell. And it is milder and gentler than peppermint essential oil, with somewhat similar benefits. So if you find peppermint is too aggressive, swap it for spearmint!

Don't forget you can use this oil to ease your nausea and vomiting. Just add a few drops of spearmint oil to a tissue and inhale deeply!

You can also blend spearmint with many other floral and spicy scents. You can use it with basil, eucalyptus, jasmine, lavender, lemon, peppermint, and rosemary essential oils.

Massaging

Before using spearmint oil on your skin, always (always, always, always!) do a skin patch test. Like with all essential oils, simply mix 1-2 drops of the oil with a carrier like jojoba or coconut oil. Then dab a little of the mix onto the inside of your elbow or behind your ear. If that area burns, gets red or irritated in any way, then you're allergic to the oil and shouldn't use it on your skin. If, however, you don't see these effects, then you can use it on your skin.

You can add 3-4 drops of spearmint oil to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil and use it to treat any inflammatory, bacterial, or fungal skin problems you may have.

More Precautions

Although there are many wonderful uses of spearmint oil, you should know that it can irritate your nose, throat, lungs and other mucous membranes. And it can also irritate your skin. That's why it is so important to test a little of the oil before using regular amounts.

So even though it is gentler than peppermint oil, it can still irritate your body.

Finally, like with all essential oils, check with your medical practitioner before using spearmint oil especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or suffer from any ailments.

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