Carrots have been around the Middle East and throughout Europe for centuries. The Greeks and the Romans were well aware of the medicinal properties of carrot seed essential oil. Vitamin A and carotene were identified by early alchemists who used a mixture of carrot seed oil, bergamot, and lemon oil to treat a variety of skin and stomach disorders. The oil is harvested from the seeds of the wild carrot, Daucus carota, using steam distillation. The plant is also the source for carrot oil.

Also known as Bishop’s Lace, Bird’s Nest, and Queen Anne’s Lace, the wild carrot is a flowering plant in the Apiaceae family. It is native to temperate Europe and West Asia, and has been naturalized in North America [1]. The familiar edible root, which is unmistakably orange, is actually a cultivar, Daucus carota var. sativus, developed by the Dutch during the 17th century [1]. The wild flower that Westerners call Queen Anne’s lace, which decorates bouquets and fills fields with specks of tiny white flowers, was brought to America by English settlers. The leaves are finely detailed and the flowers appear in tiny clusters with a purple floret in the center.

Although both carrot seed oil and carrot oil are available on the market, it is important not to confuse the two. Carrot oil is an infusion of carrot root material in a carrier oil, while carrot seed essential oil is extracted from wild carrot seeds by steam distillation [2]. While carrot oil also has benefits for skin care, in general aromatherapists prefer carrot seed oil because it contains a higher concentration of active compounds. Carrot seed oil contains a-pinene, b-pinene, gamma-terpene, limonene, camphene, sabinene, myrcene, beta bisabolene, carotol and geranyl acetate, and is also rich in carotene and vitamins A and E, antioxidants with benefits for the skin and eyes [3].

Carrot seed oil may be the most underrated essential oil in aromatherapy, but there’s nothing but wellness surrounding this powerful detoxifier and skin rejuvenator. Its soft earthy smell initiates the stress-relieving characteristics in the oil, and when the oil is applied to the skin, epidermal cells are stimulated, which keeps wrinkles in check. Carrot seed oil is known for its ability to alleviate skin problems like acne, eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, weeping sores, and boils. On top of that, the oil has a natural SPF of 38 to 40, so it can be used as a topical sunscreen [2]!

The therapeutic properties of this essential oil are antiseptic, diuretic, carminative, depurative, hepatic, stimulant, vermifuge, and tonic [3]. The oil has a detoxifying effect on the liver, so it fights jaundice while cleaning the digestive system as well as all other essential systems in the body [2].

Carrot seed oil strengthens the mucous membranes, and can help alleviate arthritis, gout, rheumatism, and edema symptoms [3]. This essential oil is well known for revitalizing the skin. Rashes, eczema, and dermatitis are treated with carrot seed oil and the results have been well documented [3].

The oil is an essential ingredient in vapor therapy, which boosts the respiratory system. When the oil is massaged into the skin or diluted in a bath it relieves muscle pain and increases the production of red blood cells [3]. When carrot seed oil is blended with bergamot, juniper, lavender, lemon, lime, cedarwood, geranium, and other citrus and spicy oils, the results range from complete body detoxification to relieving fluid retention, which helps anorexia sufferers.

Essential carrot seed oil is non-toxic, but should be avoided during pregnancy and by people with asthma or epilepsy, since it tends to be very stimulating [2]. It’s a natural skin toner and tanning agent, so it’s the perfect anti-aging oil as well as an anti-wrinkle agent. Even though it is not promoted as a “Fountain of Youth,” the Romans and Greeks thought it was, and that thought is still in the minds of people around the world.

REFERENCES

1.“Daucus carota”. Wikipedia. Last modified July 28th, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daucus_carota.

2. “Carrot Seed Oil”. Carrot Museum. Accessed July 31st, 2014. http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/carrotoil.html.

3. “Health Benefits of Carrot Seed Oil”. Organic Facts. Accessed July 31st, 2014. http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/carrot-seed-essential-oil.html.

Some experts say that the bergamot tree is native to Southeast Asia and it was introduced to Europe years later, but others say its ancestral home was Greece. Regardless of its origin, the strange cross between a lime and orange tree (although some say orange and grapefruit tree) has made the Calabria region of Italy famous.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is an evergreen tree believed to be a cross between the sweet orange and another type of citrus tree. It has small white flowers that blossom in winter, and yellow, slightly pear-shaped fruits that are harvested for use in cuisine and the perfume industry [1]. Calabria in Italy is currently the largest producer of bergamot, producing 80% of the world’s supply; other major bergamot-producing countries are France, Côte D’Ivoire, and southern Turkey (Anatolia) [1].

The Greeks say the name comes from a Turkish word that means “the lord’s pear,” but the Italians say the name comes from the town where the bergamot was first sold, which is Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy. Bergamot oil got its reputation from the perfume and toiletry industry, but the fruit has been used for years in Earl Gray Tea. Though the fruit pulp is not known to be edible, the juice and peel of bergamot are used in flavoring applications: bergamot adds flavor to Turkish delight, baked goods, marmalade and snus (a kind of smokeless tobacco popular in Norway and Sweden)[1].

The bergamot’s peel also plays an important part in aromatherapy oil treatments. The essential oil is composed of several chemical constituents like limonene, linalool, a-bergaptene, myrcene, b-bisabolene, linalyl acetate, neryl acetate, nerol, geraniol, a-terpineol, and geraniol acetate [2]. These compounds give bergamot oil powerful analgesic as well as antibiotic and antiseptic qualities [3]. Bergamot oil can be a quick pick-me-up when minor depression, stress, and tension develop after a long day of tedious work, or when a major event spoils positive expectations.

When bergamot is used in burners it helps relieve respiratory issues, and when the oil is blended into a cream it’s used for cuts, acne, cold sores, psoriasis, and chicken pox [4]. Bergamot can cause photosensitivity, so when the essential oil is used in massage, the sun should be avoided for at least 24 hours after application [3]. Ingesting too much bergamot in tea can block potassium absorption, so caution and common sense rule when bergamot is present in a drink.

The therapeutic properties of the oil are antiseptic, antibiotic, analgesic, stomachic, calmative, antidepressant, digestive, anti-spasmodic, cicatrisant, deodorant, vermifuge, vulnerary and febrifuge [3]. Bergamot oil is used to treat fear, hysteria, tension, stress, depression and anorexia, plus hair loss and all types of skin infections [4].

Bergamot oil has a powerful effect on the stomach, spleen, and liver, and a positive effect on the urinary track, which helps control urinary infections and inflammation like cystitis. Bergamot blends well with other essential oils like geranium, clary sage, rosemary, cypress, frankincense, black pepper, mandarin, orange, jasmine, sandalwood, nutmeg, vetiver, and ylang-ylang.

Oily skin conditions as well as compulsive eating, postnatal depression, anxiety, SAD, PMS, and the general feeling of being fed-up with life can be treated with a bergamot massage or bath; besides depression and stress-related conditions, the bergamot oil vapor can also relieve respiratory issues [3].

Bergamot oil is still a faithful companion thanks to its sweet, fruity, and spicy floral quality. It’s the Lord’s Prayer for millions of depression and hair loss sufferers!

REFERENCES

1. “Bergamot Orange” Wikipedia. Last modified July 9th, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergamot_orange.

2. Bouzouita Nabiha, El Omri Abdelfatteh, Kachouri Faten, Casabianca Hervé, Chaabouni Mohamed Moncef. January 2010. “Chemical Composition of Bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso) Essential Oil Obtained by Hydrodistillation.” Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering 4: 60-62.

3. Keville, Kathy. “Aromatherapy: Bergamot” HowStuffWorks. Accessed August 1st, 2014. http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/aromatherapy/aromatherapy-bergamot.htm.

4. Gianni, Annamarie. “Ingredient Showcase: Bergamot Oil, the Problem-Solving Essential Oil”. Annamarie Gianni Skin Care. Last modified April 8th, 2013. http://www.annmariegianni.com/ingredient-showcase-bergamot-oil-the-problem-solving-essential-oil/.

The pursuit of our personal interests often propels us deeper into new territory… and sometimes overwhelming choices.

When you first discover Essential Oil Exchange, you might just be starting to learn about essential oils, aromatherapy, and natural crafting. Whether you have been around the diffuser for a long time or just getting started, great information will be posted here that may be of further assistance to you on your aromatic journey… whether you buy oils from the EOX or not.

If you do choose to purchase essential oils from us, check out any oil we have to offer, and you will find a Certificate of Authenticity on every single essential oil we offer.  As of this writing, we don’t know anyone else who does this.  Everything you ever wanted to know about your essential oil is included, from the method of extraction, to the active components, to the origin of the oil.

And, with such meticulous data at your fingertips, rest assured that I personally take the time to not just source every essential oil EOX has to offer; I visit every one of our suppliers to examine their extraction methods, sourcing, and quality assurance for each of their oils.

Our pure, therapeutic grade essential oils are manufactured under strict GMP conditions.  We’re proud of this fact, especially as just about anyone with a computer, a Square account, and a printer can sell essential oils online.  At EOX, you’re not just buying the best quality essential oils I can find, you’re purchasing two decades of knowledge and experience with essential oils (as of this writing).

I truly want to encourage you to continue learning about essential oils and all the cool things they can be used for… so I’ll post here as often as I can, especially since I started a new category called “The Science of Plants” as a way to expand your knowledge of the plants that go into making the essential oils you adore.  So come back to visit now and then and see what’s new and please share your thoughts, ideas for articles, or even your favorite blends.

Sincerely,
Keith Cleversley & the EOX Team

P.S. If you would like to post a “hello” back and leave a comment, then please do so below. It would be nice to hear from you!