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Got ten minutes to talk turmeric? Well, we say ten minutes, but there’s actually so much good stuff to know about turmeric oil that we could easily fill ten hours.
This article’s designed to provide you with a whistle-stop tour around the world of turmeric essential oil, starting with a bit about where it comes from…
Turmeric powder is made from the root of the Curcuma Zedoaria ginger plant, which is native to Southeast Asia. The rhizomes (roots) are dried to create the bright orange-yellow turmeric powder.1 It’s actually the active ingredient, curcumin, which gives turmeric its vivid colour and soothing properties.2
As with most essential oils, turmeric oil is extracted from the roots of the ginger tree, using steam distillation.3
Turmeric has a long old history. It’s believed that turmeric plants have been used for around 4,000 years ago, as a medicinal substance and spiritual and ceremonial object.4 It’s also been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb.5 In fact, it’s often used in curries and is responsible for giving curry dishes their bright yellow colour.6 Meanwhile, the use of turmeric in Ayurvedic medicine dates back to 500 BC.7
There’s so much you can do with turmeric oil. You can:
Dilute 5 drops of turmeric oil with 10ml of Miaroma base oil and gently massage into the skin.8 When massaged, it’s believed to support the body’s natural recovery process and help with skin elasticity and firmness.9
Run a warm bath and add 4 to 6 drops of turmeric oil. Then relax in the bath for at least 10 minutes to allow the aroma to work.10
Breathe it in directly from the bottle or sprinkle a couple of drops of it on to a cloth or tissue and gently sniff it. The warm, earthy scent is said to help uplift, energise, comfort and strengthen the body and mind.11
As a face mask and then wash it off (as it can stain your skin). Combine mix 2 to 3 drops of turmeric oil with a carrier oil, such as tamanu oil.12 You can also apply it to cracked heels to help soften the skin. Soak your feet in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes and dry them off. Then rub a mixture of 2 to 3 drops of turmeric oil and a carrier oil, such as castor oil, to your heels, ideally once a week.13
Turmeric oil has antibacterial and antifungal qualities.14 As a result, there are lots of benefits to using it, including these five:
Always do a patch test to it make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin and always dilute it first with a carrier oil before putting it on your skin. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to use it.