Apricot oil: useful properties and rules for use
Apricot oil is a product unique in its properties, which is used in medicine and cosmetology. Since it has a rich mineral and vitamin composition, its effect in the most favorable way affects the skin and hair. It is enough to know the intricacies of using this tool to significantly improve your appearance and improve your health.
Peculiarities
Apricot oil is an oily liquid that is extracted from the kernels of apricot kernels using cold-pressing technology. To squeeze this oil, you need to use a special press, so making such a product in an ordinary kitchen is extremely difficult. It's also unsafe. If you try to extract the oily substance from the bones in a household way, it will contain a component such as amygdoline. It is a poisonous substance that can paralyze the respiratory system. When the oil is made industrially, this component is removed from it, so it is better not to start experiments, but to go to the pharmacy for oil. It is relatively inexpensive.
At its core, this is the so-called base or fatty oil. It has a slight aroma, and the color is light yellow. It is used both independently and as part of any product, enhancing the beneficial properties of the oil mixture.
Useful qualities retain throughout the year. Keep it in a dark and cool place in a container with a tightly sealed lid.
Compound
In an oily liquid extracted from apricot kernels, There are many useful components, including:
- vitamins A, B, C, E, F;
- phytostyrenes;
- minerals;
- potassium and magnesium salts;
- fatty acid.
Benefit
Sayings about apricot oil date back to the third millennium BC, when it was already used by the Chinese. They healed with the help of a substance extracted from the "golden" fruit, various tumors and ulcers, healed the nose and ears. Later, this substance began to find use in Italy and Greece, and then throughout Europe. In the fourteenth century, it was added to the bath and used after water procedures. Various drugs were prepared on its basis. In ancient Arabia, it served as a base for the creation of spirits.
This oil is 100% natural product.
It is characterized by the following properties valuable for the human body:
- softens, moisturizes and nourishes the skin;
- tones it;
- pushes to regenerate in case of damage;
- has an antiseptic and antibacterial effect;
- prevents its peeling and dryness;
- activates the exfoliation of dead skin cells;
- rejuvenates the skin;
- eliminates inflammation on it;
- protects from sun exposure;
- evens out the color.
Thanks to the action of this oil, it is possible to stimulate the formation of elastin and collagen in the body, which contributes to the preservation of youthful skin. This product is convenient to use as a lotion to remove traces of makeup and just to cleanse the skin. The use of such a natural substance is especially important for people with hypersensitivity of the skin, which reacts painfully to the use of store-bought cosmetics. Apricot oil for certain skin types completely replaces the cream.
This remedy is also effective for newborns. They can treat the skin of the child in problem areas without fear of causing irritation. It spreads evenly and leaves no greasy spots. At the same time, it effectively eliminates dermatitis, relieves diaper rash and prickly heat.
For sluggish and aging skin, the use of apricot oil will also give a chance to restore its former beauty and healthy appearance.
Harm
For the vast majority of people, apricot kernel oil does nothing but benefit. But there are allergic reactions to it and intolerance to this product. In such cases, he himself and cosmetics based on it have to be excluded from use.
And certainly you should not get involved in the use of this substance inside. If you drink it in excessive amounts, you can get poisoned, since hydrocyanic acid is part of the oil. It can cause oxygen starvation in the body, the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous and cardiovascular systems will suffer from its effects. In this case, it will not be possible to do without the help of doctors. The use of such a product for medical purposes requires a clear understanding of what you are dealing with.
Application in medicine
With the help of this oil, they fight the consequences of burns, get rid of cracks and cuts, reduce abrasions and bruises. It is also used for more serious skin problems - eczema, psoriasis. It is used to ensure that the bedridden patient does not develop bedsores. For the purpose of treating the throat, it is taken orally. The oil is also used to treat diseases of the nose and ears.
Apricot oil is diluted with concentrated pharmacological agents. The result is therapeutic ointments, balms, substances for injection.
If you use apricot oil in the same "company" with sandalwood and lavender, you can successfully fight arthrosis, arthritis and rheumatism. For five parts of apricot oil, take one part of the other two and rub the resulting mixture into problem areas of the body for one to one and a half weeks.
If a person has an inflammation in the nose, rinsing the nasal passages with salt water or saline can be treated with oil. Such procedures can be very helpful, including when it comes to the health of young children.
The liquid should be dripped into the nose in a slightly warmed form. The effect of instillation will be higher if a couple of drops of pine or peach oil are mixed with apricot kernel liquid.
For children, it is enough to drip one drop of liquid into each nostril. For an adult, the dose may be three drops at a time. The procedure should be repeated twice a day. In this way, a runny nose and even sinusitis are treated.
You can wash your nose four times a day. To do this, take ½ liter of water for two tablespoons of oil. Warm up, add four drops of eucalyptus oil or eight rosemary. Thanks to these procedures, you can get rid of irritation on the mucous membrane, relieve inflammation and normalize breathing.
The instruction for inhalation with a difficult cough, nasal congestion and a cold is as follows: a couple of drops of fir or four drops of eucalyptus oil are taken on a spoonful of apricot. All this is mixed with water. The mixture is heated and the steam is breathed for ten minutes. As a result, sputum is better separated, tissues receive “antiseptic treatment”, blood vessels expand, and overall well-being is normalized.
Also, this tool helps to get rid of ear pain.By placing drops of an oily liquid in the ear canal, this problem can be eliminated.
Use in cosmetology
Apricot oil in cosmetology, including home, is widely used. It improves the appearance of the face, neck, skin in the décolleté area. Based on this tool, a variety of homemade body care products are made.
The most elementary thing is to pour a little oil on a cotton pad and wipe your face. This will help moisturize the skin and make it more beautiful.
Sometimes the face and skin in the décolleté area needs an increased supply of useful substances. The oil is heated to a temperature of 37 degrees, impregnated with a thin fabric and applied to the skin. Next, a layer of polyethylene film is applied. For fidelity, you can cover your face, neck and chest with a towel. (In a simpler version, heated oil can also be applied to a paper napkin by applying it in certain places). After twenty minutes, it remains to rinse all these areas with warm water.
For skin over 30, a mask is suitable that improves its structure, increases blood circulation and has a tightening effect.
To make it, you need to take a ceramic bowl, crush half a banana and two peeled apricots in it to a state of puree. A small spoonful of apricot kernel oil and 11 grams of clay (blue) are poured into this pulp. With a special brush, the mask is applied to pre-steamed skin, kept for fifteen minutes, after which it is removed with an infusion of hibiscus tea with a few drops of lemon juice added to it. Also, yarrow infusion is suitable for washing off.
For skin that is prone to oiliness and the formation of acne and pimples on it, a mask based on apricot oil will be effective.To make it, you need to add two drops of tea tree oil, lemon and lavender to it (a tablespoon). All this should be mixed, and then applied to the face. (It will be convenient to use a cotton pad). Wait until the agent is absorbed. Remove excess oil mixture with warm water.
For the area around the eyes, a mask of apricot and peach oil, combined in equal amounts, is suitable. Add a few drops of lemon oil to this composition. Such a simple combination is quite capable of getting rid of fine wrinkles, making the face younger and adding radiance to the skin.
Also, hands, nails and even hair should not be left without exposure to apricot kernel oil.
With this tool, you need to treat the cuticle after a manicure or hand baths. With this oil, you can massage the skin on your hands, rubbing it into your hands and fingers. Thanks to the use of this tool, the hands will become more well-groomed, and the nails will become stronger. To make the effect of such procedures higher, it is recommended to heat the oil to 37 degrees.
If the nails are too brittle, and the skin on the hands is peeling, you can make wraps from a mixture of apricot and pine oils. Hands and nails are lubricated with this oil composition, wrap the palms with a film so that the skin warms up. With brushes wrapped in cellophane, you will have to walk for an hour. If during this time not all the oil has been absorbed, you just need to wash your palms with warm water.
When it comes to the beauty of hair, it should be borne in mind that apricot seed oil has the following properties:
- has a restorative effect on damaged hair;
- moisturizes them without weighting;
- improves the condition of the scalp, eliminating inflammation;
- relieves overdrying under the sun.
In the case of dry and brittle hair, apricot oil is used as part of a shampoo. One hundred milliliters of shampoo should have fifteen drops of oil. You can use this advanced hair wash often. You should not worry about the fact that the hairstyle will become oily. The curls will become softer and will shimmer like silk. In cases where the condition of the hair after washing with shampoo is not satisfactory, it is better to leave the oil for the mask. It's better to do it once a week.
The relevance of such procedures increases during the hot period of time, when the hair is most susceptible to the influence of aggressive sunlight.
The mechanism of action of the oil in this case is that under the influence of shampoo, the scales from which the surface of the hair is formed open up a little, and the beneficial substances from the oil component penetrate deep and saturate the hair with strength already inside.
For colored hair, it is useful to make masks from time to time. A noticeable effect is given by a mixture of apricot oil and jasmine (or sandalwood).
When hair grows too slowly, two peeled bulbs, freshly removed from the refrigerator, are crushed with a blender. 15 milliliters of cognac and a tablespoon of apricot oil are poured into this gruel. The mixture is applied to the head and covered with a cap for ten minutes. To achieve the desired effect, you should apply this recipe two to four times a week.
To prevent hair loss allows a mask that includes 20 milliliters of garlic decoction (in which the vegetable was cooked for 7-8 minutes), 10 grams of rye bran and 2 teaspoons of apricot kernel oil. The mixture is rubbed into the scalp, covered with a film and wait 15 minutes. The effectiveness will be higher if washed off with a burdock-based shampoo.
Another way: mix aloe juice and honey in equal proportions. You can focus, for example, on a tablespoon. Include apricot oil in this composition (1/2 of the given volume). Right before application, it remains to add the yolk of a chicken egg to the product.
After applying the mask, cover the head with polyethylene, wrap with a towel and hold for an hour. Then, in the shower, wash off the mask without shampoo and take an egg instead. It will allow you to give the curls the substances necessary to strengthen them.
For such a case, a mask made from a mixture of apricot and castor oils (take a tablespoon of each), to which lemon juice (20 drops) is added, is also suitable.
To get rid of dandruff, another essential oil is added to apricot (a tablespoon) - tea tree or rosemary (5 drops). The mixture is rubbed into the skin.
Masks with golden fruit oil are also effective for the beauty of eyelashes and eyebrows. The oily liquid is heated to a temperature of 35 degrees in a water bath. Then applied to the eyebrows or eyelashes. Withstand half an hour. When applied to the eyelashes, two millimeters should be retreated from the skin, otherwise the oil will get into the eyes.
For eyelashes, this oil can be used daily. Due to this, the hairs will become noticeably thicker, their length will increase.
This oil will also be an excellent tool for sunbathing. If you apply it to the skin immediately after bathing, the tan will lie more evenly. But we must not forget that the time spent in the sun, even with such protective measures, should be limited. If, nevertheless, the skin turns red, the oil will be a salvation from sunburn.
It is useful to use apricot oil during massage. It relaxes the skin, relieving it from damage.Thanks to him, the body quickly warms up, and after the procedures, the skin acquires a beautiful color. Massage with apricot kernel oil is useful after a bath, shower or pool. Such procedures will not allow the body to capture a cold and extinguish inflammatory processes.
Based on this product, an anti-cellulite massage lotion is made. Seven drops of grapefruit oil and four drops of ginger are added to a bottle with such oil (30 milliliters). The bottle must be shaken properly so that all the components turn into a homogeneous oil mixture. Apply during massage to problem areas of the body, previously cleaned with a hard washcloth.
You should also be aware of the benefits of this oil for preventing stretch marks during pregnancy. While the fetus is rapidly increasing in size, it is necessary to systematically treat the stomach and thighs with an oily liquid - it is in these places that stretch marks are found after childbirth.
Tips
A huge number of people, especially women of different ages, have experienced the effects of apricot kernel oil on their bodies. Most often, they note the rejuvenating effect of this remedy for the face. According to their reviews, the increased supply of the skin with useful substances contained in it, gives it elasticity and color evenness.
At the same time, those who have oily skin are advised not to use this oil too often. Despite the fact that it has excellent antibacterial properties and it effectively fights acne, the oily sheen on such skin can increase after using this remedy.
As for the allergy to such a product, this phenomenon is very rare. But if a person is prone to such reactions to a wide variety of substances, then in order not to get a rash on the skin, it is better to test the effect of this oily liquid. To check, it is better to choose the bend of the elbow or wrist. If the skin does not turn red, then you can use it without a doubt.
See the video below for the properties and uses of apricot oil.