If you suffer from insomnia, cedarwood oil is something you might want to consider. For me, a couple drops sprinkled on a cloth and placed by my pillow, has a calming effect.
I read somewhere that it’s believed the smell of cedar stimulates the production of serotonin, a mood-regulating neurotransmitter that helps promote sleep. I’m not sure if anyone has studied this. But this natural remedy seems to work for me.
Uses for Cedarwood Essential Oil
(This post contains affiliate links, and if you purchase anything I receive a commission, at no extra cost to you.)
The clean refreshing aroma of cedarwood essential oil can also be used a mental pick-me-up during the day. Some aromatherapists recommend this oil for a mild case of the blues.
Although it seems unlikely that a scent can influence our emotions, there is some research indicating this may be the case. The University of Maryland Medical Center website has a section on aromatherapy, and it notes that lavender, rose and lemon oils have been shown to lessen anxiety.
Cedarwood Oil for Health
Anyone battling an inflammatory condition may want to add cedarwood essential oil to their natural medicine cabinet. It’s considered good for arthritis, as it likely contains compounds with natural analgesic properties, which may also help control inflammation. Cedarwood is also a well-known herbal antispasmodic remedy.
I use cedarwood oil as a natural tranquilizer. Essential oils have pretty much solved my longstanding problem with insomnia. But there’s just one catch. I need to rotate the oils I use. That’s because if I use the same essential oil too many nights in a row it just stops working. So I own a fairly large collection of essential oils, so I can switch them around. Cedarwood essential oils is considered an excellent sleep remedy.
Cedarwood Oil for Skin
Cedarwood oil can be massaged directly into your skin, as long as it’s diluted with a bland carrier oil, such as jojoba (available here). The standard ratio is one drop of cedar to one teaspoon of carrier.
Although it seems as if you’re using very little of the active ingredient, the mixture will contain a lot of the active ingredients, because the oils are so strong. Also, the carrier oil helps the aromatic compounds reach your cells. Natural jojoba oil is especially good for this purpose, because it has a composition similar to human sebum.
Cedarwood Essential Oil Uses
If you suffer from chronic health problems, an aromatherapist may suggest cedarwood essential oil to support your body.
It’s believed cedarwood oil is good for the liver and kidneys. These two organs help remove toxins from your system. Cedarwood is also thought to support healthy digestion. Like other essential oils, it’s believed cedarwood is a good natural inflammation remedy.
However, I do need to stress that I’m not a doctor. I can’t give medical advice or imply that a certain remedy will help anyone else. Nor can I make any claims that an aromatic oil will solve a particular health problem. All I can do is talk about the historical use of essential oils. As someone who suffers from chronic nerve inflammation, I use essential oils every day for mood elevation, pain control and skincare.
Where to Buy Cedarwood Oil
With its wide-ranging potential uses, and intoxicating smell, cedarwood is one of the more popular aromatics. The brand of cedarwood essential oil shown below is sold by Plant Therapy.
I regularly purchase my oils from Plant Therapy, which makes excellent oils. I totally trust its products, because I know they’re tested twice for purity.
&
Cedarwood for Acne
Cedarwood essential oil is thought to be good for your skin. It’s sometimes recommended for certain skin conditions, including acne. One recommendation is to add a drop of this oil to your existing moisturizer or natural cleanser. It’s important never to apply an essential oil directly to your skin.
Essential oils can be helpful when dealing with acne. My daughter’s skin has improved by using a liquid Castile soap that contains just a small amount of essential oil.
Using Cedar Oil for Fleas
I’m not an animal healthcare expert. So please check with your own vet before using essential oils on your dog. (Don’t use them on your cat.)
Some people use cedarwood essentiial oil in place of chemical flea products. I haven’t used it myself. (Instead, last summer, I used a drop of two of pure geranium oil on my dog’s collar.) But you can ask your vet if cedarwood could be used instead. Insects hate the smell of essential oils, and cedarwood is one scent they particularly detest.
A number of all natural flea shampoos for dogs now include cedarwood oil as an active ingredient. A growing number of pet owners seem to be using these products instead of pesticides.
The Natural Resources Defense Council published findings that show flea collars carry health risks. It reported that these collars contain carcinogenic and neurotoxic chemicals that exceed EPA standards. These are dangerous for humans as well as pets, according to the NRDC.
Other Cedar Tree Oil Uses
Since cedar essential oil may contain infection-fighting compounds, one potential use is when you’re battling the cold or fighting the flu. You can put it in a diffuser or rub it diluted on your chest.
Cedar oil also appears to be good for your hair, and for potentially stimulating regrowth if balding is a problem. There’s even evidence that a certain all-natural aromatic recipe, which contains cedarwood oil, can even prevent thinning and spur regrowth of hair.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils, unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional. Cedarwood oil should never be taken internally.
I’m not a healthcare professional, so all of the above statements are my personal opinion, and are not intended as medical advice.
For Additional Reading
Plant Therapy Essential Oils Reviews
