Garlic essential oil comes from the steam distillation of crushed garlic. Even though the oil is less known it possesses some medicinal properties that one shouldn’t ignore. [1]
Garlic oil can help to combat health conditions like respiratory infections, high blood pressure, and heart problems.
The article covers the properties and benefits of garlic essential oil along with some safety tips and precautions that you may find useful.
Benefits and Uses of Garlic Essential Oil
Garlic essential oil can come to your help in many ways. Check out the following list of benefits and uses of garlic essential oil.
1. Garlic Essential Oil for Respiratory Infections
Garlic essential oil can ensure good health to your respiratory system. Common respiratory problems like common colds, flu, congestion due to the buildup of mucus and bronchitis can significantly hamper the respiratory health. [2]
An essential oil blend including the garlic essential oil can lower the chances of getting these problems. The antiviral properties of the oil fight the symptoms of viral infections while its anti-inflammatory properties deal with the inflammatory conditions.
Consult with an expert before using garlic essential oil to treat respiratory infections.
2. Garlic Essential Oil for the Heart’s Health
Your heart always needs extra attention. Garlic essential oil can come to your help in this regard.
By curbing bad cholesterol from your body, garlic essential oil can help lower the overall cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels. All these curbings ensure good health to your heart. [3]
Garlic essential oil can help with blood pressure controlling too. It tends to make your blood thinner leading to less risk of having heart attacks and strokes. It can also help with unclogging blood vessels and preventing atherosclerosis. [4]
It is better to consult with your physician before using garlic essential oil for the heart’s health.
3. Garlic Essential Oil for the Skin
The antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of garlic essential oil make it a good option for your skin. [5]
The oil can help treat skin conditions like corns, warts, athlete’s foot, and yeast infections. The anti-inflammatory properties of the oil can help to get relief from psoriasis. The oil is good for acne of blemishes as well.
Mildly heat a few drops of garlic essential oil and rub it on your affected skin with the help of a cotton pad. Repeat this 2-3 times a day.
5. Garlic Essential Oil for the Scalp
This potent oil can offer your scalp some benefits as well. You can use garlic essential oil to get rid of dandruff from the scalp. [5]
It can also soothe an itchy scalp by checking the symptoms of inflammatory scalp problems. Thus it helps to ensure a healthy scalp that promotes healthy hair growth.
Mildly heat a few drops of garlic oil and apply onto the scalp mixed with other oils of your choice. You can leave it on overnight and wash the next day.
6. The Anticancer Properties of Garlic Essential Oil
Garlic Essential Oil contains anticancer properties that can help fight some forms of cancers. The forms involve esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
A chemical present in garlic essential oil, known as allyl sulfur is the crucial element here. You need to consult with an expert before using garlic oil in the treatment of cancers. [6]
Side effects and Precautions
- Some medications don’t support the use of garlic essential oil. Therefore, if you are under remedies suggested by a doctor, consult with him first before using the oil.
- If you recently had a surgery, it is suggested not to use the oil.
- Don’t use the oil if you have problems with sensitivity.
- Always run a patch test beforehand to be on the safer side.
- Do not use the oil on children below the age of six. Keep the bottle in a safe place away from them.
- Avoid using if you are pregnant or a breastfeeding mother.
- Consumption of garlic essential oil is not suggested without an expert’s supervision.
The Endnote
Essential oils in one word are nature’s wonders. Not the one used in cooking to bring out the flavor of dishes, we are talking about the essential oil coming from the bulb through the process of steam distillation. [7]
Garlic essential oil is potent; therefore, a small bottle of garlic essential oil can go a long way. Due to its strong aroma, it is not an ideal option for diffusing. But it can work well if applied topically following proper steps and ensuring safety. [8]
Don’t forget that essential oils are never a replacement of doctor’s advice or treatment. So whenever you suffer from a severe health issue, seek a specialist’s advice without delay.
Read Next: Coconut Oil for Mono: Benefits, Uses, Precautions and More
