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12 Incredible Uses For Patchouli Oil (#6 Is So Hippie Cool!)
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If you are looking for a great all-around essential oil that doesn’t smell so “girly,” then patchouli oil is for you. This oil comes from the hand-picked leaves of the perennial herb pogostemon cablin, which is native to Sumatra, Java, and Southeast Asia..
Patchouli is the same family as sage, mint, and lavender. After being harvested, the leaves of this plant are left to ferment for a while before being put through a steam distillation process. Unlike other essential oils, patchouli improves with age. Although it might change color from a light gold to darker amber, the scent and healing properties only get stronger.
The active ingredients in patchouli oil are a-guaiene, a-bulnesene, and patchoulol, which provide us with health benefits as well as that distinctive, incredible scent! Patchouli oil is also high in sesquiterpenes, which have the ability to pass the blood-brain barrier, making it ideal for allowing your body to heal itself.
“Modern Essentials” states that patchouli oil has the following properties:
- Tonic
- Insecticidal
- Deodorant
- Astringent
- Antiseptic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-infectious
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-toxic
- Decongestant
- Diuretic
- Digestive stimulant
Keep reading and find the top 12 ways you can use patchouli oil to improve your health and the health of your family.
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1. Headaches
The scent of patchouli is incredibly soothing and can ease tension headaches simply by placing one drop on each temple and massaging it into the skin for about a minute. You can also massage some on reflex points on the hands or feet, or simply rub a few drops between your palms and take some deep breaths. Sweet relief!
2. Insect Repellent/Insecticide
Although most ants are just a pain in the kitchen, some species bite and can leave terribly itchy, inflamed skin behind. Other ants, when they invade the house, are a huge bother. You don’t want to use chemical insecticides, however, especially inside! Using patchouli oil is a great way to keep ants at bay, and it is also terrific at killing dust mites. If you have allergies, this is the oil for you.
Mix eight ounces of water in a spray bottle with half a teaspoon of castile soap and 12 drops of patchouli oil. Shake well before each use and spray on ants, their trails, and on entryways into your home, such as under doors or around windowsills. To kill dust mites, add half dozen drops of patchouli oil to your final rinse in the washing machine to kill dust mites on sheets and other linens. You can also add a few drops to your vacuum cleaner bag to kill mites that end up in there as well.
3. Anti-Wrinkle
You can use patchouli oil to stop wrinkles by adding two drops to your regular face cream or by mixing two drops of patchouli oil into one tablespoon of coconut oil or jojoba oil. Apply each night before bed for some sweet-smelling, anti-wrinkle power.
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4. Antiseptic
This oil has been used for centuries for its super skin nourishing compounds. Patchouli oil has antiseptic compounds that help to fight infections in cuts and skin wounds. It also contains powerful antioxidants that fight the damage caused by free radicals to skin, making it look older than you really are. Mix a few drops of patchouli oil in a good quality carrier oil such as jojoba, coconut, or grape seed oil, and apply this mixture to the affected area.
5. Antidepressant
Depression seems to go hand-in-hand with stress, and those who go through long periods of stress or anxiety find that they can develop depression. Is there anything more relaxing after a stressful day than a hot bath? Add a few drops of patchouli oil to your bathwater to help relieve stress and ease depression. Improve your mood by adding a few drops into an aroma lamp or diffuser, and let the scent of patchouli oil fill the room!
6. Deodorant
It’s true! Hippies have used patchouli oil for decades as a natural means of controlling body odor by using it as a natural deodorant. Since it is antiseptic, patchouli oil will help kill the germs that cause body odor. After bathing, you can apply a few drops of patchouli essential oil directly to the armpits. If you feel the scent is a bit too strong, dilute it with some coconut oil or blend it with lightly scented oil such as lavender or orange. You can dab some between the toes to stop foot odor and apply some directly to the pulse points of the body for added scent. So go retro and use patchouli oil like the hippies!
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7. Anti-Viral
Patchouli oil contains compounds that are anti-viral, which makes it perfect for fighting against the flu virus and even the common cold. To stimulate the immune system and fight off those nasty viruses, add a few drops of patchouli oil to your bath or to your aromatherapy burner. You can also inhale some patchouli oil steam and kill a virus that you feel you might have picked up by putting a few drops in a small pot of steaming hot water and breathing in the steam. (Be careful not to burn your face.) Did fighting the flu ever smell so good?
8. Antibacterial
For killing certain strains of bacteria, including E. coli and staphylococcus aureus, as well as pseudomonas, you want to turn to patchouli oil. You can put this oil directly on the skin, or mix it with a good quality carrier oil such as grape seed oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil, and apply it wherever you need it.
9. Hair Health
International health and beauty industries have used patchouli oil for decades for its health benefits for the hair and scalp, as well as for the skin. Patchouli oil is often used to relive scalp problems such as dandruff or oily, itchy scalps. Using this oil in your daily beauty routine is easy as it can be. Add about six drops of patchouli essential oil to your unscented shampoo or conditioner (or both), and simply use them as you normally would. You can leave your shampoo on your head for a few minutes before rinsing to allow the patchouli oil to penetrate the skin, and continued use will lead to a healthy scalp and beautiful, luxurious locks in no time.
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10. Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic
Inflammation seems to go hand-in-hand with pain when it comes to cuts, wounds, or other injuries. Patchouli oil has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds, so you can stop both by using only one natural essential oil. This earthy-scented oil will soothe tired, aching muscles while leaving your skin feeling soft and refreshed. For relief from inflamed wounds or cuts, add a few drops of patchouli oil to good quality carrier oil, such as jojoba, grape seed oil, or coconut oil, and gently massage this mixture into the affected area. You can also add a dozen or so drops to a hot bath to relax aching muscles.
11. Anti-Fungal
Some of the most annoying health problems arise from fungus. Athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, and even fungus between your fingers can be really itchy, irritating, and downright disgusting. Patchouli oil is not only antiseptic and antibacterial, but it is anti-fungal as well. Mix six drops of patchouli oil with two tablespoons of coconut oil or another good quality carrier oil, and rub it on your feet after showering. You can do the same with your hands, and toenails — any place you have an overgrowth of fungus. You can also apply one drop of patchouli oil directly to the infected nail itself for faster results.
SEE ALSO: Colloidal Silver the Antibacterial Antifungal Antiviral Miracle
12. Anti-Cancer
Patchouli oil has a compound called patchouli alcohol or PA. This substance encourages the natural cycle of cell death in colorectal cancer cells in a process is called apoptosis. Cell death is a natural cycle but with cancer cells, we want those cells to die off sooner rather than later, before they have a chance to grow, spread, and duplicate. Invitro studies show that this oil might one day be beneficial when it comes to fighting certain types of cancer.
If you don’t happen to be a fan of patchouli oil, there are plenty of other essential oils that can offer health benefits. Check out our articles on cedarwood oil and lavender oil.
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