Garlic essential oil is extracted from the garlic plant (Allium Sativum) via steam distillation, producing a strong, yellow-coloured oil.
The garlic plant is part of the onion family and native to South Asia, Central Asia and northeastern Iran, and it has been used around the world as a key ingredient in alternative medicines for centuries.
Whilst garlic is perhaps more closely associated with the culinary industry and is often used as a base ingredient for countless dishes, it holds a special place in aromatherapy, with many using it to treat a wide variety of conditions.
How does garlic oil work?
Garlic oil is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Its most well-known component is allicin, although due to its unstable nature, it disappears after a garlic clove has been cut or crushed.
A major bioactive compound found in garlic is diallyl disulfide, which is believed to offer antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, neuroprotective, antioxidant and anticancer properties.
Once the digestive tract breaks down garlic it releases sulphur compounds that travel throughout the body, providing effective biological effects.
Benefits of garlic oil
The benefits of garlic essential oil give it the potential to:
1. Manage tooth pain
Garlic’s tooth-soothing abilities are well documented, with many dentists recommending it to patients as an alternative to painkillers.
This is due to the allicin compound’s antimicrobial properties that possess the ability to eliminate some of the bacteria responsible for causing tooth pain and decay.
The compound also plays a role in controlling inflammation that may be associated with tooth pain.
Applying a small amount of diluted garlic essential oil to a cotton ball and holding it against an affected can offer some pain relief.
However, it should be noted that using garlic oil and any other essential oil is not enough to cure serious oral health conditions.
If the issue does not improve, you should get in contact with a local dentist as soon as possible.
2. Promote hair health
It is also believed that garlic oil benefits hair, due to the presence of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E and sulphur.
These components may prove helpful in the prevention of scalp-related diseases and also help to keep hair healthy.
This may explain why garlic oil has long been used in traditional medicines, with many believing its antibacterial and antifungal properties offer the ability to treat dandruff and inhibit itching.
Applying garlic oil to the scalp can also help blood circulation, which supports the growth of hair follicles and hair growth overall.
3. Treat cold symptoms
One of the most common uses of garlic oil is in homemade cold remedies, which can boost the immune system thanks to the natural composition of the allicin compound.
Researchers believe that when cold and flu viruses are encountered in the body, the presence of allicin can have a positive effect on white blood cells.
Combined with the ajoene and allitridin compounds, allicin is able to eliminate infections, whilst helping to improve some symptoms.
Post time: Mar-23-2024