Costmary Essential Oil

Costmary (tanacetum balsamita) is an herb that goes by many names, such as alecost, bible leaf, and balsam herb. The leaves of the plant is used a spice and a flavoring. When its essential oil is extracted, the sweet and minty fragrance of the herb is intensified, making it suitable not just for aromatherapies, but also for soothing skin rashes, nerves, and muscle pain.

Costmary Essential Oil has been widely used for perfume production and aromatherapy. It is also used to enhance the odor of ointments and other topical medicine. Traditionally, the leaves of Costmary is mixed with drinks and food as a laxative and as a dietary supplement. Similarly, although the essential oil is inedible, it is used for its medicinal potential. Its mildness makes it usable even to children.

The pleasing scent of Costmary Essential Oil is oftentimes used for aromatherapy. It soothes the nerves, reduces stress, and therefore serves as an alternative anti-depressant. This natural sedative property of Costmary also allows the essential oil to be most useful for people who have trouble sleeping. Diffusing the oil or applying the oil on the body with other infused oils helps in improving blood circulation, therefore promoting a restful sleep.

The same chemical component aids in blood flow in the pelvic area, making it most useful for women suffering from irregular or painful periods. It can ease menstrual cramps and reduce the bloated feeling of menstruating women. One other benefit of Costmary Essential Oil is its ability to cleanse the digestive system. It is a natural carminative that helps eliminate gas, intestinal worms, and bacteria in the body.

Costmary Essential Oil Benefits

The Costmary herb possesses carvone, a naturally occurring chemical in plants that are often used for food and flavoring. Costmary Essential Oil owes its refreshing fragrance to this chemical found in its leaves. Additionally, Costmary Essential Oil has healing, soothing, and cleansing properties. Some of its benefits include:

  • Promotes blood flow
  • Keeps digestive system healthy
  • Helps eliminate gas from the digestive system
  • Treats intestinal worms and diarrhea
  • Contains antiseptic properties
  • Cures indigestion
  • Promotes a regular menstrual cycle
  • Eases menstrual discomfort like cramps
  • Can be used to treat colds
  • Fights depression and anxiety
  • Promotes a healthy sleep
  • Reduces feelings of fatigue
  • Eliminates pain in the joints
  • Keeps skin healthy

Costmary Essential Oil Uses

  1. Costmary Essential Oil as a Pain Reliever. Costmary Essential Oil has been traditionally used as an alternative medicine to joint and muscle pain. It is usually used after mixing the essential oil with other complementary base oils like jojoba oil. The mixture may be used directly as a painkiller, or as massage oil for therapies.
  2. Costmary Essential Oil as a Sedative. Using topically or diffusing it either purely or with other essential oils brings about the sedating properties of Costmary Essential Oil. The sweet and mint scent soothes tense nerves, reduces fatigue, and greatly improves sleep. The fragrance may also serve as an herbal euphoric drug.
  3. Costmary Essential Oil as a Detoxifier. Because it is a natural carminative, Costmary Essential Oil may be used to cleanse the body. When applied to the stomach area, it helps the body remove excessive gas. Additionally, it also helps kill bacteria and intestinal worms, which are expelled trough the excretory system. Note that Costmary Essential Oil is only for external use and should not be used as or taken in as a laxative.
  4. Costmary Essential Oil for Beautifying. When added to bath or tub water, Costmary Essential Oil can rejuvenate skin and give a refreshing scent for the body. Aside from its fragrance, the oil contains antioxidants that help keep skin cells healthy. 

Costmary Essential Oil Side Effects

Costmary Essential Oil has no adverse effects on healthy adults. It is advised to use the oil no more than four times a day.

Since it affects blood circulation in the uterus, pregnant women should not use Costmary Essential Oil. Cancer patients, people with kidney failure, and people with extremely sensitive skin should not use this as well, for risk of unpredictable side effects. Patients should only intake the medicine prescribed by their respective doctors.

How to Use Costmary Essential Oil

For topical use. Dilute in a base oil (coconut oil or olive oil are great examples) and apply a small amount in affected areas. Massage daily on joints to heal rheumatism. The oil may be placed in a cotton ball to cleanse wounds. When applying externally, make sure to keep it away from the eyes, as it may cause irritation.

For herbal baths. Add a few drops of Costmary Essential Oil to warm bathing water. Use for rinsing or for soaking.

For diffusion. Mix a small amount of Costmary Essential Oil with either lavender, grapefruit, or lemon essential oil. Leave in the room for meditation, aromatherapy, or for sleeping.

How to Make Costmary Oil

The oil of Costmary is extracted primarily from its leaves. A special machine is used to create this. Usually, the oil is taken by subjecting the herbs to heat and pressure. The steam is collected and separated from the herbs to produce pure oil. Commercial companies usually add preservatives and other chemicals to the extract, but this varies greatly per manufacturer.

Costmary Essential Oil Recipe

Producing Costmary Essential Oil is fairly easy. For this, you just need a significant amount of Costmary leaves, olive oil, and optionally, vitamin E oil, which may be purchased from cosmetic stores. For materials, prepare a cooking pan, sterilized glass jar/s, and a filter.

  1. Set Costmary leaves in a clean place and leave to dry (wilt). Consider using a large volume of these as extracting essential oils usually yields very small amounts.
  2. When leaves have completely dried, chop or pound them finely.
  3. Bring olive oil to a boil in the cooking pan and mix in the chopped herbs. The heat should be switched to low after mixing the herbs.
  4. Regularly check the lid of the cooking pan and wipe evaporation off if present.
  5. The cooking process takes about three to eight hours depending on the amount. You will know that the mixture is ready when the oil has changed color.
  6. Filter out plant remains in the mixture and store in sterilized glass jar/s. If you purchased vitamin E oil, add it to the essential oil before placing it in the jar.

Where to Buy Costmary Essential Oil

While there is a rarity of local alternative medicine or herbal drugstores, there is an abundance of online shops that directly sell them. There are independent stores outside Amazon that sell a wide range of essential oils.

Aromaaz International sells 50 mL to 5,000 mL bottles of pure Costmary Essential Oil. Blooming Oils sells smaller volumes of Costmary Essential Oil. Also sold by this company are lavender and lemon essential oils, which are two oils that go well with Costmary for aromatherapy.

More Information on Costmary Essential Oil

Despite its minty scent, the Costmary plant is not actually related to mint. However, Costmary Essential Oil does go well with ginger, bergamot, and various citrus essential oils. The refreshing aroma of Costmary complements the tang of the mentioned essential oils.

Costmary Essential Oil FAQs

Question: Can Costmary Essential Oil be used on children?

Answer: Yes. However, note that children may only receive a lower dosage compared to that of adults.

Question: Does Costmary Essential Oil cause skin allergies?

Answer: No. It is only for people with extra sensitive skin. It may cause allergies. As a precaution, make sure to check the ingredients in the label of your purchased bottle. Even adults with healthy skin can suffer from rashes when a poor quality of Costmary Essential Oil is used.

Question: Is Costmary Essential Oil edible?

Answer: No. Despite the fact that Costmary leaves are used in flavoring, the essential oil should not be consumed or ingested.