Almond oil can be used in a variety of ways, providing internal and external benefits alike. Although more research needs to be done in order to classify the nutty oil as a sure-fire medical product with guaranteed results, the future seems bright with almond oil at hand.
Here’s a look at some of the tried-and-true benefits of almond oil along with some other positive effects that have been seen in studies.
Almond Oil As A Skin Treatment
Exfoliating dead skin
Sweet almond oil is often found in organic beauty and skin care products because of the oil’s antioxidant and hydrating qualities, protecting against cellular damage and restoring needed moisture. You can apply almond oil to your skin and then wait fifteen minutes before rinsing off the liquid with water. You can alternatively use the oil as a liquid base for a homemade exfoliating treatment by combining between a fourth and a half of a cup of almond oil with a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar and a drop of essential lavender oil. This will form a nice body scrub that you can use in the shower to gently exfoliate your skin all over or to just target your trouble areas like the skin on your elbows and feet.
Softening chapped sections
Some people like to rub a small amount of almond oil on a patch of chapped skin and not rinse it off, letting the oil continue to soften and improve the skin over time. Although almond oil is a great product for hydrating skin, it’s still an oil so you may want to avoid using it on your face if you have oily skin.
Improving a body massage
Almond oil is a popular pick for massage therapists who find it more effective to work with a lubricated skin surface when targeting certain muscles and tissues. The aromatherapy-friendly oil can also help promote relaxation and enhance your overall experience.
Helping treat psoriasis and eczema
More research is needed to understand the true effects of almond oil, but the substance has historically been used to treat dry skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. If you deal with such a skin condition, you may want to talk with a medical professional about using almond oil before you straightaway integrate the substance as part of your ongoing treatment efforts.
Almond Oil As A Hair Treatment
Conditioning your strands
For soft, smooth hair, you can use almond oil as a deep conditioner. Warm up a few tablespoons of the oil in a microwave-safe jar for twenty seconds or so until the oil is heated but not hot. Use a brush to spread the oil throughout your hair, coating the strands from root to tip. Wrap your hair up in a towel or scarf and let the oil do its work for twenty to thirty minutes. After the time is up, go ahead and rinse out the almond oil before shampooing and conditioning like normal.
Enhancing circulation
You can also use a few tablespoons of warm almond oil to help massage your scalp, increasing circulation and promoting hair growth. Heat a small portion of almond oil in a dish and then dip your fingertips into the dish. Use your oil-coated fingertips to massage your scalp, being careful to not let your fingernails scratch the skin. Work through the entire scalp, continuing to dip your fingers back into the oil to add more liquid to the scalp. Rinse your hair with water after the scalp massage is over.
Treating dandruff
Although almond oil may not necessarily have antifungal properties itself, the oil makes a good base for a homemade dandruff treatment. By adding a few drops of tea tree oil to a few tablespoons of almond oil, you have a nice, spreadable base that you can coat your scalp with. Leave the oil blend on for twenty to thirty minutes before rinsing your scalp with water and then washing your hair. This kind of treatment can help remove excess oil, unwanted microorganisms and any additional irritants that may be contributing to a dandruff problem.
Almond Oil As An Internal Treatment
Providing nutrients and good fats
Almond oil has vitamin E and a little bit of vitamin K in addition to a high serving of good fats and a relatively low dose of the bad fats, helping increase high-density lipoproteins, commonly referred to as good cholesterol, and decreasing low-density lipoproteins, what we often call bad cholesterol. A healthy diet requires the moderate intake of fats overall, though, so I’m not suggesting you stock up on almond oil by any means. You need to keep your portions in check, but substituting butter and margarine out of your life and using a pick like almond oil instead may help you in improving your total cholesterol profile and reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease.
Relieving constipation
Almond oil can have a mild laxative effect, helping your body regulate bowel movements and find relief from constipation. The fatty acid composition is what helps keep things in your digestive tract moving, often helping relieve all sorts of irritable bowel symptoms. Almond oil has even been shown to reduce the occurrence of colonic cancer. However, too much almond oil, like too much of any laxative, can actually cause diarrhea so you have to be careful about what kind of dosage would be right for you.
Boosting your immune system
Almond oil actually has immunity-boosting qualities that help protect your body from various diseases. Although such effects have been witnessed in studies, the scientific data to explain exactly why almond oil can assist you in this regard is lacking.
Almond Oil As An Around-The-House Cleaning Aid
You can use almond oil to polish unvarnished wood furniture the natural way while avoiding the toxic chemicals that come in so many of the cleaning products on the market today. Apply a small portion of the oil to a soft rag and gently coat the wooden surface in its entirety. Afterwards, rub a soft dry cloth over the wood to finish the polishing job.
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