Curry (murraya koenigii) leaves are well known in the Indian culinary scene. The leaves are commonly used as seasoning in dishes. On the other hand, as an essential oil, curry leaves have many health benefits, especially for the eyes, skin, and oral health, to name a few.
Curry Leaf Essential Oil, like its culinary counterpart, is widely used in Ayurveda, an alternative form of treatment that traces its roots to the Indian continent. The oil has proven to have good effects on the body with its analgesic and anti-diabetic properties.
Curry Leaf Essential Oil Benefits
The oil’s mild sweet and spicy odor is often utilized for aromatherapy. Curry Leaf Essential Oil also has properties that are suitable for cosmetic purposes, as it may help in maintaining hair and skincare. Some of its major health benefits include:
- Cleanses the body
- Serves as an alternative anti-diabetic medicine
- Aids in digestion
- Helps prevent constipation and cramps
- Improves eyesight
- Keeps eyes healthy
- Maintains ideal levels of cholesterol and glucose
- Keeps skin cells healthy
- Prevents hair loss
- Promotes hair growth
- Prevents hair greying
- Has natural antioxidant properties
Curry Leaf Essential Oil is most known for its ability to counter diabetes. The leaves have properties that can regulate the amount of glucose in blood. The oil also has antioxidant properties, which aid in regulating cholesterol, while at the same time keeping cells healthy.
The oil’s antioxidant properties also keep skin moisturized and replenished. Because the leaves are rich in minerals and vitamins, they prevent hair loss, and even maintain the pigmentation of the hair and skin.
Curry Leaf Essential Oil is also found to aid very well in digestion. It has carminative properties that treat and prevent constipation and indigestion.
Curry Leaf Essential Oil Uses
- Curry Leaf Essential Oil for Treating Indigestion. Since Curry Leaf Essential Oil’s carminative property stimulates the digestive system to work efficiently, it can cure indigestion, as well as other gastrointestinal problems, including loose bowel movement. The helps in passing gas out of the body.
- Curry Leaf Essential Oil as for Controlling Diabetes. Curry Leaf Essential Oil has anti-hyperglycemic properties that regulate blood glucose. Since the oil is rich in vitamins, it is also considered as an effective medicine against vitamin deficiencies like leukemia.
- Curry Leaf Essential Oil as a Beautifier. Because of its antioxidant properties, Curry Leaf Essential Oil can naturally keep cells healthy, especially skin cells. The oil also nourishes the hair follicles, thus preventing hair pigment change and early hair loss.
- Curry Leaf Essential Oil for Eyes and Eyesight. Curry Leaf Essential Oil is rich in Vitamin A that is good for the eyes. The oil prevents night blindness and poor eyesight, due in part to the carotenoids found in Vitamin A.
Curry Leaf Essential Oil Side Effects
Curry Leaf Essential Oil does not produce negative side effects on normal adults. It may, however, cause skin irritation for sensitive skin, so make sure to test it first on a small area before using it.
How to Use Curry Leaf Essential Oil
- For topical use. Apply a small amount of Curry Leaf Essential Oil in areas like stomach or back. The medicinal properties of the oil penetrate the skin.
- For mixtures and external use. A few drops of Curry Leaf Essential Oil may be mixed with products like lotion. It may also be used as a shampoo for hair care, a mixture that only requires five drops of oil and coconut oil. It may also be diluted in water for medicinal bathing.
How to Make Curry Leaf Oil
Curry Leaf Essential Oil is strictly made from the leaves of curry tree. While commercial manufacturers may add some natural preservatives to extend the shelf life of the oil, this may not be necessary for homemade Curry Leaf Essential Oils.
Curry Leaf Essential Oil Recipe
Like most processes of making essential oils, even hefty amounts of plant materials yield to only a small amount of oil. Unless you are planning to produce Curry Leaf Essential Oil in large volumes, there is no need to add preservative to the mixture.
For this, the ingredients needed are curry leaves and coconut oil. The materials required are: a pan, a stirrer, a filter, and a sterilized glass jar.
- Dry a good amount of curry leaves. These need to be thoroughly dried so spread them on one flat layer.
- After the leaves have completely dried, heat coconut oil in the pan. Once it boils, mix the curry leaves and lower the heat to medium. Stir occasionally.
- Remove from heat once the mixture changes color.
- Pour the mixture into the sterilized glass jar. ]
- Using the filter, sieve out leaf debris and other materials. Repeat this process until the oil is pure.
- Cover jar with a tight lid, unless you intend to use the oil immediately.
Where to Buy Curry Leaf Essential Oil
Most essential oils are sold online, as bottles of these are rarely sold in physical stores, except perhaps in specialty stores.
The Lala Essential Oils Group is an online shop that sells Curry Leaf Essential Oil for a reasonable price. Aramacs and Mystic Moments are examples of brands that may be bought from Amazon, but are pricier.
More Information on Curry Leaf Essential Oil
When applying undiluted on skin, make sure to use only very small amounts, even on adults. Pregnant women are also not advised to use Curry Leaf Essential Oil.
Additionally, although curry leaves are excellent spices, Curry Leaf Essential Oil is not edible and should not in any way be mixed with food or drinks. Its medicinal benefits are achieved through bathing or washing with water diluted with Curry Essential Oil, or undergoing Ayurveda therapies (i.e., massage).
Curry Leaf Essential Oil FAQs
Can Curry Leaf Essential Oil be used on children?
No. Curry leaves make the less mild essential oils, and therefore cannot be used on infants and small children. It is only when a doctor’s permission is received can the oil be used as an alternative medicine for the young age group. Otherwise, Curry Leaf Essential Oil must not be used on children.
Does Curry Leaf Essential Oil cause allergies?
Yes, but only on extremely sensitive skins. Test the product first or consult your doctor before using the oil.
