Benefits of Coffee Essential Oil

Not Just a Popular Drink

Coffee is big business. It is one of the most popular drinks the world over with a market worth somewhere in the region of 100 billion dollars. It may be popular, but until recently, coffee mostly due to its caffeine content, has had a bit of a bad rap when it comes to its effects on health. However, recent research indicates that coffee may be more healthy than we had previously believed.

While coffee may be extremely popular, an essential oil derived from its beans is less so. However, recent research has revealed that coffee essential oil has powerful antioxidant effects and may be extremely good for the skin. Apart from its benefits on the skin, coffee essential oil can also be used to treat the hair and various other conditions including emotional well-being, congestion and inflammation.

Coffea Arabica

According to estimates, Americans drink around nearly 600 million cups of coffee every day. The vast majority of the coffee drunk comes from the most common coffee plant species – Coffea arabica. Coffee essential oil is extracted by a process of cold pressing the green beans.

The essential oil from Coffea arabica has a high concentration of plant sterols, certain essential fatty acid and vitamin E. These compounds give the essential oil powerful antioxidant properties with anti-aging effects and research has started to reveal that when applied topically, it can help the skin in various ways.

While coffee essential oil has been most extensively studied with regards to its skin benefits, it can also be used for several other health purposes.

Benefits of Coffee Essential Oil

1) Protection Against UV Rays

Various factors contribute to the deterioration of the skin including environmental pollutants, smoking and that small matter of aging. Exposure to direct sunlight however can accelerate the effects more than any other factor.

Ultraviolet light from exposure to the sun wreaks havoc on your skin because it generates the production of harmful free radicals. These free radicals damage the cells and over time you will begin to notice those tell tale signs of aging.

Your face is one of the most exposed areas of your body and is often the area that exhibits the greatest damage. It can be seen in lines, wrinkles, flaking skin and discoloration.

Several recent studies have discovered that when applied topically to the skin, coffee essential oil has ingredients that can protect against the damage caused by sun exposure. More on those studies in the next section.

2) Anti-Aging

As I have already mentioned, coffee essential oil when applied topically can help protect against free radical damage caused by UV rays. This action also applies to skin health in general and coffee essential oil can help protect against signs of early aging whatever the cause.

Studies have demonstrated that various ingredients extracted from coffee can not only protect the skin but rejuvenate it improving its health and your overall appearance. (1) (2)

One study published in 2010 demonstrated that coffee oil had numerous benefits on the skin’s health and appearance.

They found that participants who were treated with an antioxidant face wash containing coffea arabica oil for 12 weeks benefited a great deal. Those treated with the face wash experienced a significant improvement in skin firmness, facial skin texture and diminished appearance of wrinkles. (3)

According to the researchers, coffee essential oil benefits the skin for several different reasons. They found that it contributed towards a 2 fold increase in the production of collagen and a 1.5 fold elastin production increase. Collagen and elastin are essential proteins for the skin’s health. They help preserve the flexibility and firmness of the facial skin as well as smoothing age lines and wrinkles.

3) Respiratory Health

Inhaling the essential oil of coffee may also help ease inflammation in your respiratory tract which will allow you to breathe more comfortably. Unfortunately, there are no scientific studies that prove its efficacy for improving respiratory health but anecdotal evidence suggests that many people find it helpful.

There are however numerous other essential oils with a proven track record for clearing congestion and improving your breathing For a more detailed look at the best oils for congestion click on this link.

4) Emotional Well-Being

If you suffer from stress and anxiety, essential oils make a natural and safe alternative to the powerful selection of pharmaceutical drugs on the market. Unlike these chemically laden medications, essential oils have very few side effects and you do not run the risk of dependency. Coffee essential oil has an extremely pleasing aroma and many people find that inhaling its vapors from a diffuser around the home can induce a feeling of calm and well-being.

5) Muscle Pain

Like so many essential oils, you can use coffee oil to help treat your sore muscles or your aching joints. Whether your muscle pain is caused by exercise or a hard day on your feet, you can try massaging some coffee essential oil into the affected areas of your body.

This anti-inflammatory oil may also help soothe pains in your joints and is suitable for people suffering from arthritis and the painful symptoms of gout.

Before applying this essential oil to your skin, it is important that you dilute it well with a suitable carrier oil like coconut or jojoba.

6) Other Benefits of Coffee Essential Oil

According to proponents of coffee essential oil, it can also be used for various other reasons. These include moisturizing the hair and improving its appearance, digestive health, and boosting the appetite. Some people are happy to diffuse it around the home simply because it smells so good.

How to Use Coffee Essential Oil

Topical Application : You can apply coffee essential oil to your face to improve your skin’s health and appearance. Make sure that you dilute it first in a skin friendly oil or in water before you apply it.

Massage Oil : To help treat your sore muscles and painful joints, you should dilute your coffee essential oil with a skin friendly carrier oil. Apply the massage oil to the affected area of your body once or twice a day.

Inhalation : To help improve your mood, you can inhale the oil directly from the bottle or from a handkerchief. For congestion, it is better to add a few drops to a bowl of hot water and inhale its soothing vapors.

Diffuse : Diffusing coffee essential oil around the home can do wonders for your emotional well-being not to mention the house will smell great. Who does not love the smell of fresh coffee?

Precautions

Like any other essential oil, coffee oil is safe as long as you use it properly. There are certain precautions that you should be aware of.

• Do not take coffee essential oil internally. Using essential oils internally is risky, they are extremely potent and can cause a range of severe symptoms.
• Before applying it topically, you must dilute your oil with a suitable base or carrier oil. When using the oil for the first time, it is good practice to do a patch test on a discrete part of your body. If you do not suffer a reaction after a few hours, it is likely safe to continue with a larger application.
• There is no safety data regarding the use of coffee essential oil for pregnant women and nursing moms. For that reason, it is best avoided unless under the supervision of your doctor.
• Very young children should not use coffee essential oil.

 

(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19250168
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17388926
(3) https://replere.com/media/press-assets/print/04-journal-of-drugs-in-dermatology/journaldrugsderm.pdf