Last Updated on August 6, 2018 by Marc Seward
Everything You Need to Know about the Secret Benefits of Camellia Oil
Natural health and wellness practices may be growing in popularity, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some natural ingredients we have yet to discover. There are many ingredients that we have been focusing on because they are so significantly beneficial that they’re hard to ignore.
With that said, many other substances could provide just as many, if not more, health benefits, and we’ve only just begun to uncover some of them. Because of this, there are likely many substances that you have never heard of which could be perfect for your health and beauty care routines.
What Is Camellia Oil?
Camellia oil, otherwise known as tea seed oil, is extracted from the seeds of Camellia oleifera, which is a plant that provides us with tea. Of course, tea can be made from many different things, but the tea plant provides what is considered to be “true” green tea.
There are other varieties of the tea plant within the Camellia genus, but camellia oil or tea seed oil is most commonly extracted from Camellia oleifera. Camellia sinensis is more often used to create teas, but tea seed oil can be extracted from this species, as well.
Tea seed oil may often be confused with tea tree oil, but the two are actually very different. Camellia oil, or tea seed oil, is derived from plants of the Camellia genus. On the other hand, tea tree oil is derived from Melaleuca alternifolia, which is an entirely different plant.
While tea tree oil should not be digested, camellia oil is completely safe to consume.
Camellia oil can be extracted using different methods such as solvent extraction or cold-pressing. The cold-press method typically results in the highest quality oil, as any process that uses heat could damage the nutritional and chemical composition of the oil. Because of this, you should always try to find oils that have been unrefined and extracted using a cold-press method, if possible.
The oil has a very high smoke point, which makes it useful for many different types of cooking. It is often used as a replacement for olive oil, as it is thinner in consistency and has a more mild flavor. Because of its high smoke point of 485 degrees, you don’t need to worry about it going bad while you cook with it.
Nutrient Composition of Camellia Oil
Camellia oil is rich in healthy nutrients that provide plenty of health benefits, regardless of how you choose to use it. It has a high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, including Omega 3 and Omega 6, and very little saturated fats.
Camellia oil also contains high amounts of Vitamin E, as well as polyphenols that help the body produce antioxidants. Other essential nutrients found in the oil include stearic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, vitamin E, triterpenes, saponins, squalene, calcium, and potassium.
Health Benefits of Using Camellia Oil
Generally speaking, camellia oil offers a wide variety of health benefits that make it worth considering as an addition to anyone’s health or skin care routines. Anyone struggling with health issues such as osteoporosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, inflammation, or even the risk of cancer can benefit from using this oil.
Camellia oil is often used for the skin but it also can also be used to help treat wounds, cold and flu symptoms, respiratory infections. For the skin, it treats skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, acne and can be used on the hair to treat damaged hair, and dandruff. These are some of the main benefits of camellia oil.
Skin Health
As with many other natural oils, camellia oil can be very beneficial when added to skin and hair care routines. The oil acts as a powerful moisturizer and can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles or fine lines. It can also offer protection against the sun and help moisturize and soften the skin. I
ts excellent anti-inflammatory properties also make camellia oil a a suitable treatment for a range of inflammatory skin conditions including common conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Moisturizer
Camellia oil has a delightful, light texture. It is light and smooth to the touch and when applied to your skin feel rather luxurious. Your skin absorbs camellia oil very readily leaving a lovely, smooth finish with no oily or greasy residue. Applying this oil to your skin helps moisturize and soften your skin making it feel and look beautiful.
To apply the oil as a moisturizer, simply take a little and apply it gently to your face and body right after showering or washing. You can either apply the oil on its own or add a few drops of a skin friendly essential oil like lavender or frankincense for even greater effect.
It also works great on rough patches of skin such as those on your knees, elbows and heels. Apply the oil daily to these rough patches and your skin will soon feel and look smoother and softer.
Acne
Camellia oil can be used as a natural treatment for acne. Its comodogenic rating is 1 meaning it will not cause the pores to become clogged and make the condition even worse. Its outstanding anti-inflammatory effects can help relieve inflammation of the skin caused by acne and also reduce the appearance of unsightly acne scars.
Inflammatory Skin conditions
As we have already mentioned, camellia oil has outstanding anti-inflammatory properties making it a suitable natural treatment for common inflammatory skin conditions. If you suffer from psoriasis, eczema or rosacea, try applying camellia oil to the affected areas of your skin and it should help soother irritation and reduce redness and swelling.
Again, you can use this oil on its own or combine with a suitable essential oil for even greater effect.
Anti-Aging
According to historians, the secret of the Japanese Geisha’s beautiful white skin was camellia oil. This wonderful oil is full of antioxidants as well as omega fatty acids which help nourish the skin from the inside out. Antioxidants like the ones found in camellia oil can protect the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals and can even reverse many of the signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines and other blemishes.
By applying camellia oil to your skin you can retain your youthful appearance for much longer so give it a try. Apply it daily either on its own or combined with your favorite skin-friendly essential oil.
Hair Health
Camellia oil can also help strengthen damaged hair and moisturize the scalp. This can help keep your hair from breaking or splitting, and it can also help reduce or eliminate dandruff completely.
If your hair is brittle, weak or damaged, it can help restore its strength and appearance. It is absorbed very well by the hair and the follicles and can be used as a natural conditioner. You may also apply it to your dry hair and simply let it work for an hour or so before washing your hair as normal.
Heart Health
The high concentration of potassium found in camellia oil can help balance your blood pressure levels when used internally. It can also help treat hypertension and lower your risk of cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks or strokes. Similarly, it can also help significantly lower your cholesterol levels, thanks to its high concentration of unsaturated fats. This can lower your risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis.
Arthritis
Camellia oil is rich in many types of minerals that promote and encourage better bone health, which can help prevent and treat osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Inflamed joints can also benefit from the use of camellia oil due to the high amounts of anti-inflammatory nutrients like gamma-linolenic acid, oleic acid, and kaempferol.
If you suffer from painful arthritis try massaging camellia oil into your painful joints and bones. you can either use it on its own or add a good anti-inflammatory oil like frankincense or lavender oil for even greater benefits.
Immune System Health
Triterpenes are very powerful in their ability to boost the immune system. A healthy immune system means that your body can better protect you from different bacterial or viral infections.
Wound Healing
Similarly, the oil can also assist in the healing of wounds, bruises, and scrapes through topical application. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, promoting healthier cells to rebuild the skin affected by wounds.
Other Benefits
These nutrients found in camellia oil can help treat and alleviate the symptoms involved in gastrointestinal issues, arthritis, and respiratory conditions. The amounts of squalene found in camellia oil can also help fight different types of cancer, including those that affect the colon, prostate, and breasts.
Comedogenic Rating
A comedogenic rating is a score that is given to natural substances with the purpose of helping consumers find products that are suitable for their skin. The score is given on a scale ranging from zero to five, and the lowest ratings represent substances that are the least likely to irritate your skin, clog your pores, or worsen acne or breakouts.
Of course, everybody’s skin is different, and some people may still experience reactions that are contrary to what these ratings may suggest.
Camellia oil has been given a comedogenic rating between one and three, depending on the type of oil you use. Generally speaking, the oil has been rated a one, but there are some versions of tea seed oil that are higher in oleic acid, which increases the rating to a two or three.
To be safe, you should do a small patch test of the oil to see how your skin will react to it. If you don’t see any redness or irritations within 48 hours, you should be safe to begin using the oil in your daily skincare routine.
Camellia Oil for Cooking
As mentioned previously, camellia oil is commonly used as a replacement for olive oil in cooking methods. Its flavor is very light, so it should not conflict with the other flavors of the dish being cooked. Camellia oil can be used in many ways, as it often enhances other flavors and allows fresh ingredients to shine with bolder flavors.
You might brush the oil onto meats before cooking to help lock in the moisture while it bakes. You could also use it in place of olive oil or butter to help keep food from sticking to pans or baking sheets. While camellia oil can certainly be used as a substitute for butter or other types of solid fats for recipes, it could affect the texture of the end result. Experimenting with the ratio of liquids to dry ingredients in such recipes should help you achieve a texture similar to one that could be achieved using the original recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Camellia oil used for?
Camellia oil is especially well-known for its skin benefits. It is a great source of antioxidants as well as omega fatty acids that help nourish and moisturize the skin. The antioxidants can contribute to anti-aging while its anti-inflammatory properties make it a useful weapon against inflammatory skin issues like eczema or psoriasis. Camellia oil is also excellent for your hair and may help protect against disease by strengthening the immune system.
What does camellia oil do for hair?
Camellia oil is a rich source of vitamins and omega-9 fatty acid and is notable for its ability to moisturize the hair and return damaged hair to its previous condition. It is also easily absorbed by the scalp and can help treat dandruff and inflammation of the scalp.
Can you cook with camellia oil?
Yes you can. It can be used in the same way as you would use olive oil so try drizzling it over salads or as an ingredient in a dip. It can also be used for cooking because of its high smoke point. Camellia oil has a very pleasant and light flavor that will not overpower your other ingredients.
Advice for Using Camellia Oil
Generally speaking, camellia oil is not known for having many negative side effects, although it could potentially cause inflammation of the skin and hypotension. Oils that have been poorly processed or are of lesser quality are more likely to result in these types of negative reactions. The best way to know if you may be at risk for these negative side effects is to speak with your doctor before using camellia oil to treat any health conditions.
Some people may experience irritated skin after using camellia oil due to its high amounts of fatty acids and other chemical compounds. Doing a small patch test before adding the oil to your daily skincare routine is the best way to see if your skin will react poorly to its use. People who are currently taking medication to lower their blood pressure may also experience negative side effects due to the high potassium levels that can, when combined, lower their blood pressure to dangerous levels.
If you are considering adding camellia oil to your daily skin or health care routine but are unsure if it is suitable for you and your health conditions, the best thing to do is speak with a doctor before you start using the oil in any way.
You may also want to consider consulting with a holistic health practitioner if you wish to use the oil in any cooking methods, to ensure that you use the correct amounts and experience the best benefits. If you are pregnant or are may become pregnant, you should speak with your doctor before adding camellia oil, or any other natural oil, to you daily health or beauty routines, as some of the oil’s properties could affect the health of your pregnancy.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.