It’s time to use Pine Needle Oil for Winter. Here are the benefits it offers, how to use it, and recipes you can try!
You need this oil for the holidays because of its lovely scent, reminiscent of a Christmas tree, and also because it is packed full of fantastic benefits! Keep reading to learn more about pine needle oil for winter use.
Benefits of Using Pine Needle Oil
1. It Has a Cleansing Fragrance
Pine essential oil cleanses the air and uplifts the ambiance of your home when used in a diffuser. But that’s not the only way you can use it!
Thanks to its ability to remove airborne toxins, this oil could also be added to cleaning solutions and DIY air fresheners for your home, office, and vehicles. If you are prone to illnesses like cough and cold that cause congestion, diffusing and inhaling the fresh scent of pine essential oil can be quite beneficial.
2. Amazing Antimicrobial Properties
Though research is needed, many people have experienced positive results using pine essential oil topically as an antimicrobial in winter.
The oil can be used for minor burns or skin infections. Inhaling it can also relieve flu symptoms like nasal congestion.
3. It Provides Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Free radicals in our tissues often cause chronic inflammatory responses. But pine essential oil can fight free radical damage. With regular aromatherapy massages, you can even get relief from chronic inflammatory problems like arthritis.
These properties can also help inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and acne.
4. Great For Mental Health
Besides the obvious physical benefits, diffusing pine needle oil can also be therapeutic for your mental health. During moments of stress and anxiety, inhale diffused pine needle oil. It will rejuvenate you and help you calmly deal with difficult emotions.
One study suggested how the refreshing scent of pine needle oil could relieve anxiety symptoms and uplift your mood. It also showed that some participants benefited from improved concentration and cognitive function.
5. Relieves and Reduces Headache Symptoms
Pine oil clears indoor air of toxins and relieves headaches, which environmental pollutants can often cause.
In a placebo-controlled study in 2008, it was found that pine needed oil was great at regulating the mood of women with dysmenorrhea. It also showed how the oil can help alleviate pain from migraines and PMS-related headaches.
One way to use the oil is to mix a couple of drops in a teaspoon of any carrier oil of your choice. Then, rub this mixture on your chest and temples so you can naturally breathe in the oil.
6. Provides Antioxidant Protection
We have already established a while back that pine needle oil has antioxidant properties.
To elaborate more, pine oil’s properties are due to the OPCs in pine trees. OPCs are Oligomeric Proanthocyanidin Compounds that protect tissues and organs against free radical damage and oxidative stress.
Plus, compounds like linalool, limonene, and α-terpineol in pine needle oil also play a big role in protecting against oxidative stress in our bodies.
How To Use Pine Needle Oil
A diffuser is the quickest and safest way to use pine essential oil. All you need to do is add a couple of drops of the oil to a diffuser filled with water. If you do not have a diffuser on hand, you could add a couple of drops to a tissue and inhale deeply while you are on the run.
You can also massage it on your skin. Before any direct application or massage, patch-test diluted pine needle oil for at least 24 hours to check for an adverse reaction. To dilute, mix a few drops of pine essential oil with a tablespoon of carrier oils such as almond, jojoba, or coconut oil.
If all you want is to leap into bed at the end of a tiring day without a massage, we’ve got you! Add a few drops of pine essential oil to your warm bath water and relax. Watch out for slippery surfaces after you are done with your essential oil-infused bath!
Oils that Blend Well with Pine Needle Oil
Just because pine needle oil in a bath or aromatherapy message feels so cozy does not mean you cannot explore more oils! There are a lot of combinations that you can try with this oil.
Grapefruit, rosemary, cedarwood, sandalwood, lavender, and cypress oils blend well with pine needle oil and offer medicinal benefits and aromatic potency.