With a fresh, floral aroma that can make your senses rejoice, check out the several excellent benefits and uses of palmarosa essential oil!
Palmarosa essential oil is extracted from the long blades of grass-like leaves of the bushy plant, which is also called Ginger Grass, Indian Geranium, and Rosha Palmarosa. Besides its sweet, floral aroma, palmarosa oil offers a range of benefits that you can enjoy by using it in different ways. Unsurprisingly, throughout history, palmarosa essential oil has been used cosmetically and medicinally, especially in Ayurvedic medicine, to address skin concerns.
Benefits of Palmarosa Oil
1. Possess Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Antifungal Properties
A 2019 study revealed that this oil disrupts the membranes of fungal cells, causing them to break down and die. This makes palmarosa oil an excellent natural alternative to chemical antifungal treatments, perfect for tackling issues like athlete’s foot or nail fungus.
In 2020, researchers discovered that palmarosa oil’s antimicrobial and antioxidant effects are mainly due to its high concentration of geraniol. These properties help protect the skin from harmful bacteria and reduce oxidative stress, which is the culprit behind premature aging and various skin infections.
A 2021 study highlighted the wide range of bioactive molecules in palmarosa oil. These molecules are effective against insects, certain protozoan infections, and even cancer cells. The oil’s antioxidant properties help neutralize free radicals, reducing cellular damage and boosting the immune system.
This means regular use of palmarosa oil can contribute to overall health, not just through direct application to the skin, but also potentially by supporting internal health when used in aromatherapy.
2. Promotes Cognitive and Mental Health
Research from 2017 suggests that palmarosa oil might help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Its neuroprotective properties are key to safeguarding brain cells and enhancing cognitive functions, which is especially important for maintaining mental health as we age.
Also, it can help alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms that promote relaxation and emotional stability. Its soothing aroma is often used in aromatherapy to lift mood and reduce stress, making it a great natural remedy for mental health issues.
3. Supports Healthy Skin
Palmarosa essential oil can be a great addition to supporting your skincare routine. With its cleansing properties, palmarosa oil can offer a refreshing and rejuvenating experience every single time that you do your skincare routine, keeping it looking healthy and vibrant.
This essential oil contains specific molecules that research suggests can help your skin recover from break-outs and balance out your skin tone. This makes the palmarosa essential oil an excellent choice for easing away puffiness and leaving behind lovely, clean, and fresh skin.
4. Repels Insects
A 2020 research study suggested that palmarosa essential oil acted as a natural insect repellent, providing 100 percent protection against pesky mosquitoes for up to 12 hours!
Geraniol in palmarosa oil helps protect against bugs and against inflamed reactions if you get an insect bite. These same molecules also play a vital role in keeping us resilient and healthy.
5. Promotes Overall Wellbeing
Certified aromatherapists swear by palmarosa oil as an emotional mood booster. This oil relaxes muscles and also reduces overall fatigue. Palmarosa essential oil can be an excellent choice to support your mental health, alleviating symptoms of depression, stress, anxiety, nervousness, stress and grief.
It can also help calm your spirit and increase focus and concentration, thus helping you achieve a more positive outlook and mindset, thanks to its sweet rose-like aroma that mimics that of rose and geranium.
How to Use Palmarosa Oil?
1) Blend it with Beauty Products
If you are dealing with signs of premature aging or dull skin, it could be due to free radicals. These compounds attack the healthy skin cells and tissues, leading to the appearance of dull, aging skin. But you can combat this with palmarosa oil, which has antioxidant properties and eliminates these free radicals.
The first step to glowing, youthful skin is looking for products that contain palmarosa oil and are suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. If you are incorporating only palmarosa oil into your skincare routine, ensure that you also dilute it before using it topically.
To fight acne breakouts, add 2-3 drops of palmarosa oil to 1 tablespoon of any carrier oil for an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic facial cleanser. You could also try a blend of 2-3 drops of palmarosa oil with one tablespoon of aloe vera gel for spot-treating bug bites, blemishes, and even minor scrapes or cuts.
2) In aromatherapy
You can truly experience the therapeutic benefits of the palmarosa essential oil using a diffuser. The sweet, rosy aroma of palmarosa in your living room can fill your home with an air of rejuvenation, freshness, and relaxation.
Some studies have suggested that palmarosa can be a great essential oil that can help increase focus by having a significant effect on your nervous system, reducing feelings of grief, and increasing focus.
Add a few drops of Palmarosa essential oil to your electric diffuser for an evening of stress relief and as a remedy to calm your spirit and balance out negative energies. For your bedroom, you could put your oil in a bottle with reed diffuser sticks, letting the scent diffuse into the room.
Get a relaxed, good night’s sleep every night by spritzing some diluted palmarosa oil onto your pillow.
3) Make a Soothing Bath Oil Blend
After a long day of work, all you need is a relaxing bath to help you relax and unwind. So, you can try sprinkling a few drops of Palmarosa essential oil diluted with carrier oil into your bath water to really get the spa-like experience! The gentle floral notes of this oil will not only help reduce stress levels after a hard day at work but also help you get a good night’s sleep, which is necessary to help you take on the next day.
4) For Boosting Better Well-Being
Besides freshening up your space with the relaxing, rejuvenating scent of palmarosa essential oil, you can prepare a blend of 5 drops each of palmarosa, tea tree, and lemon essential oils to help cleanse and detoxify the air in your space. This blend ultimately encourages your body’s innate ability to maintain the optimal state of well-being.
You can also keep bugs away from your space by spraying this essential oil blend: 10 drops of palmarosa essential oil, one drop each of eucalyptus and peppermint oils, and two tablespoons of distilled water in a 2 oz spray bottle.
5) For a Relaxing Massage
Did you know a relaxing massage with pamarosa essential oil can have a positive effect on your digestion, too? A restorative massage with five drops of palmarosa essential oil diluted in a tablespoon of your favorite carrier oil onto your abdomen area can help stimulate better absorption of rich, stomach-balancing nutrients.
Massaging your body with this blend can also uplift your mood and invoke feelings of positivity and relaxation.
6) For Healthy Hair
If you feel like your hair has been feeling a little too dull and weak recently, here is a blend that can enhance scalp conditions and make it healthy. To every tablespoon of unscented shampoo, add five drops of palmarosa essential oil to help clean away moist conditions that have made your hair look dull.
Massage this blend onto your scalp gently to nourish and fortify it. This would be like a cleansing and re-balancing experience on your scalp, ultimately boosting the appearance of thicker and shinier-looking hair.
Safety and Side Effects of Palmarosa Essential Oil
Here are some of the safety concerns and side effects that you might face when using palmarosa essential oil:
- Though palmarosa oil has many benefits when used on the skin, helping eliminate blemishes and aging symptoms, it can sometimes cause congestion and blackheads for specific skin types. This is why you must always do a patch test before using a product containing palmrosa oil and never use it topically without dilution with carrier oil.
- It is of utmost importance to buy palmarosa oil from reputed companies after doing the proper research so you know you are not dealing with oil with harmful additives.
- When purchasing palmarosa essential oil, ensure it comes in dark-colored glass containers. This will preserve the oil’s integrity and therapeutic benefits and prevent spoilage.
- You must keep the oil away from pets and children, as it is toxic to them. Essential oils like palmarosa are not meant to be ingested. Always dilute the oil with a carrier oil during a massage or bath.
- Avoid palmarosa if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.