Giving Indian cuisine its peppery flavor and bright yellow color, Turmeric populates Indian cuisine as a savory spice. It has been also been prized for centuries in Ayurvedic practices.
Now, research and experience indicate that Turmeric affects nearly every biological system in the human body. From the digestive, circulatory, nervous, and immune systems to skin health and hormone balance, it contains properties that can assist the body in restoring its natural functions. Turmeric essential oil is highly concentrated and offers many benefits that go beyond what the spice or plant contributes to your health.
Background of Turmeric Oil
A potent spice derived from the ginger family, Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, is sourced from India and Nepal by doTERRA. Then it is steam-distilled from the plant’s root.
Turmeric essential oil has many internal and aromatic benefits due to its main constituent turmerone. In addition, Curcumin, a compound found in the turmeric plant, has become the topic of research that shows it to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and cancer-suppressing properties. Whether Turmeric essential oil is used topically, internally, aromatically, or in savory dishes to add a special flavor profile to your favorite dishes, its benefits to your overall health and wellness are myriad.
Turmeric for Digestion, Metabolism, and Circulation
Turmeric essential oil has been found to increase circulation throughout the body. Because of this, it can aid your body’s digestion and muscle recovery. Taking 1-2 drops in 4 ounces of water is known to help in supporting glucose and lipid metabolism.3 This is especially helpful if you feel like your body could use a boost to get yourself back on track with your diet.
Turmeric also makes a great post-workout massage to increase circulation in the sore areas to help speed up muscle recovery. Simply dilute it with a carrier oil or blend with other favorite massage oils to enhance their benefits.
Turmeric for MOOD BALANCE AND NERVOUS SYSTEM SUPPORT
Turmeric essential oil’s constituents turmerone and ar-turmerone are known to positively impact the nervous system. These compounds are able to support nervous and cellular function and communication. Diffusing Turmeric also promotes feelings of positivity and can be uplifting to your mood. Some other great oils to blend Turmeric with for emotional support would be Wild Orange, Ylang Ylang, or Grapefruit.
Another great way to reap the benefits of Turmeric essential oil for your nervous system and emotions is to drink it in a tea, often referred to as Golden Tea. There is something so soothing about sitting down with a hot drink, and using the oil makes its primary constituents more bioavailable than the ground spice. This one offers a delicious taste as well as benefits to your body all the way down to the cellular level:
Turmeric (Golden) Tea
1 cup organic coconut milk
1 cup filtered water
1 tablespoon organic honey
1 Tablespoon grass-fed butter (or ghee for dairy-free version)
1-2 drops Turmeric essential oil
Optional: 1 drop Ginger essential oil (for heartier flavor and increased health benefits)
Directions:
Heat coconut milk and water in a saucepan for 3-4 minutes, or until warm – do not boil! Add butter, honey, and Turmeric essential oil, and gently swirl with a spoon until combined. Pour into mugs and enjoy immediately!
IMMUNE SUPPORT with Turmeric
Turmeric essential oil provides soothing benefits to promote a positive immune system response in your body, while simultaneously offering strong antioxidant properties. The turmerones assist the body in breaking down and absorbing curcumin, a powerful antioxidant in the turmeric plant. While Curcumin does not stay in the oil through the distillation process, combining Turmeric essential oil with herbal turmeric or a supplement that contains curcumin will ensure optimum absorption of both the curcumin and turmerones.
DoTERRA offers two great products that contain bioavailable forms of curcumin: Deep Blue Polyphenol Complex and Alpha CRS+ Cellular Vitality Complex. Using Turmeric essential oil with one of these would give you the maximum benefits of each when it comes to immune health.
Turmeric for a GLOWING COMPLEXION
Since your skin health and appearance is often linked to your overall health and immunity, Turmeric essential oil has also been found to enhance your complexion. It promotes clear, smooth skin and reduces the appearance of blemishes. Simply add a drop to your daily moisturizer or dilute it with fractionated coconut oil and apply as a spot treatment.
HORMONE BALANCE with Turmeric
As hormone imbalance and related disorders become more prevalent in our world, research on Turmeric has skyrocketed. The bioavailability of the essential oil makes it a perfect addition to your self-care regimen. A study published in 2011 found that Turmeric and its constituents could reduce high levels of some hormones, while also inhibiting the enzymes that spread inflammation and other diseases at the cellular level.
With the wide range of hormonal imbalances that exacerbate inflammation in the body, try using Turmeric as a massage oil on your pesky aches and pains, as well as incorporating it into your daily routine especially with Golden Tea!
ENDOMETRIOSIS AND TURMERIC
Curcumin has been found to slow the spread of endometrial cells in women suffering from endometriosis. This is due to its interactions with the hormone estradiol, which could offer relief from symptoms. Similarly to its effects on breast cancer cells, studies have shown positive outcomes on curcumin’s interaction with uterine fibroids. It can slow the growth of the cells that form the fibroids as well as preventing their spreading and developing additional growths. Incorporating Turmeric essential oil into an abdominal massage can help to get its powerful benefits directly to your areas of need!
PROMISING RESEARCH FOR CANCER
Turmeric essential oil has been promising in offering some relief of symptoms and slowing the progression of some diseases like breast cancer and cervical cancer. Its constituents have been shown to affect estrogen receptors and tumor suppressors in breast tissue, indicating a potential to slow down the reproduction of breast cancer cells. Additionally, studies have shown the ability of the compounds to prevent the reattachment of cancer cells to other tissues. This would halt the spread of cancer to the bones or other organs.
In addition, Curcumin, a compound found in the turmeric plant and available in some supplements, has been found effective in counteracting estradiol, leading to the death of cervical cancer cells. Estradiol is a form of estrogen in the human body which, under certain conditions, can aid the growth and spread of cervical cancer. Turmeric essential oil greatly increases your body’s ability to absorb curcumin and reap its benefits. Adding it to your self-care routine if you are at risk can be a great preventative option!
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