Benefits of Cedarwood

Cedarwood is an earthy smelling oil that sometimes goes overlooked but definitely shouldn’t! Let’s start with what cedarwood is. Cedarwood comes from trees known as cedars that grow in many parts of the world. It was once a very important building material in the Mediterranean area but has since been severely over-exploited.Cedarwood oil is extracted from these cedar trees through a process of steam distillation. In it’s oil form it has many health benefits. Cedarwood essential oil is an antiseborrhoeic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, tonic, astringent, diuretic, emenagogue, expectorant, insecticidal, sedative and fungicidal. For the purpose of this post I’ll discuss  just a few of the benefits of cedarwood essential oil.Antiseborrhoeic:Cedarwood oil can be beneficial in curing the inflammation of sebaceous glands and can reduce the skin peeling due to the sebum production. Cedarwood oil regularizes the sebum production and treats the infection.Antiseptic:Cedarwood oil is known to prevent wounds from becoming septic. The oil can be safely applied externally on wounds.Anti-inflammatory:With the topical application of cedarwood oil, or products containing cedarwood essential oil like lotions and salts, the pain or discomfort of the joints and tissues can be somewhat lessened.Expectorant:Cedarwood oil alleviates irritations such as cough, colds, and congestion. It also gives relief from headaches and helps with a good night’s sleep. You can easily spray on your linens before bedtime and enjoy a more peaceful sleep when suffering from cough and cold.Insecticide:You can also use the linen spray as a topical bug spray. Cedarwood oil has been in use a as a mosquito and insect repellant for a long time.Sedative:Another great use for the cedarwood essential oil and the linen spray is to use as a sedative. Cedarwood oil has a soothing and calming effect on the mind and relieves tension and anxiety. It also helps to promote healthy, restorative, and uninterrupted sleep. The scent releases serotonin which is converted to melatonin in the brain resulting a fatigue and calm sleep.Cedarwood essential oil blends well with Bergamot essential oil which is why I chose to pair them together in my line of cedarwood & bergamot products. For a topical treatment, pain reliever, bug repellent, or overall calming experience I highly suggest you pick up some cedarwood essential oil like this one from Young Living and enjoy the many benefits.