The health benefits of Cypress Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties as an astringent, antiseptic, antispasmodic, deodorant, diuretic, hemostatic, hepatic, styptic, sudorific, vasoconstricting, respiratory tonic and sedative substance.
The Essential Oil of Cypress is obtained through steam distillation of young twigs, stems and needles. Cypress, a needle bearing tree of Coniferous and Deciduous regions, bears the scientific name of Cupressus Sempervirens.
The essential oils extracted from Cypress contain components like Alpha Pinene, Beta Pinene, Alpha Terpinene, Bornyl Acetate, Carene, Camphene, Cedrol, Cadinene, Sabinene, Myrcene, Terpinolene and Linalool, which contribute to its medicinal properties. Although the Cypress tree is often linked with death and is commonly found in and around cemeteries, the essential oil obtained from this tree can save you from some truly devastating conditions and illnesses.
Let’s explore the various health benefits of cypress essential oil, and find out what components are responsible.
Health Benefits of Cypress Essential Oil
Astringent: Cypress essential oil can help to strengthen your gums and tighten your muscles throughout the body. The main function associated with astringency is contraction, so Cypress Oil makes your gums, skin, muscles and hair follicles contract and prevents teeth and hair from falling out, while tightening up loose skin and muscles.
Antiseptic: The antiseptic properties of Cypress Oil make it a good choice for treating both external and internal wounds. it is also a common ingredient in antiseptic lotions and creams. This quality is specifically due to the presence of Camphene in the essential oil.
Antispasmodic: Cypress Oil is helpful in curing nearly all types of spasms and the associated problems. It efficiently relieves spasms in the respiratory system and intestines as well as muscular spasms in the limbs. It also helps to cure convulsions, muscle pulls, cramps and spasmodic cholera which can be irritating or dangerous.
Diuretic: Cypress Oil increases urination, both in frequency and in quantity. This is very important and can be very beneficial for health. When you urinate, up to 4% of the volume is actually fats being eliminated by the body. Therefore, the more you urinate, the more you lose fat and subsequently lose weight. Furthermore, urination promotes digestion and stops gas from forming in the intestines, as well as removes excess water from the body and reduces swelling.
The most important role played by urine is that it removes toxins from the body. Added to that, it also reduces blood pressure and cleans out the kidneys. Many of the mainstream medicines for lowering blood pressure are based on this benefit of urination.
Hemostatic & Styptic: Although these two properties are very similar in meaning, they do differ slightly. While hemostatic means an agent that can stop the flow of blood or promote the clotting of blood, styptic primarily means astringent, which includes the other properties of an astringent, while also helping to stop excessive blood flow through contraction of the blood vessels. Both of these properties are very important in their own areas of application.
If someone is bleeding profusely, you need a hemostatic agent to speed up the clotting of blood and stop the flow to save his or her life. Similarly, being an astringent/styptic helps in a different way. It promotes the contraction of gums, hair follicles, muscles, skin and blood vessels, thereby stimulating the flow of blood through the body’s blood vessels. Both of these properties can be life-saving.
Respiratory Tonic: Cypress Oil tones up the respiratory system and increases the efficiency of the lungs. It also helps to eliminate coughs and the phlegm accumulated in the respiratory tracts and lungs. Furthermore, it clears up congestion, thereby making breathing easier when you are suffering from cough and cold.
Sudorific: A sudorific substance is something which can cause sweating or perspiration. This is nothing to be concerned about. Periodic sweating makes you feel lighter, fitter and helps quickly remove toxins, excess salt, and water. This cleans the skin pores and openings of the sweat and sebum glands while keeping away acne and other skin diseases. Cypress Oil is considered a very powerful sudorific substance.
Deodorant: Cypress Oil has a spicy and masculine fragrance that can easily replace the synthetic deodorants which boast a similar natural, manly, distinct aroma.
Hepatic: Cypress Oil is good for the liver and it ensures optimal health of the liver by regulating the proper discharge of bile from that organ. It also protects the liver from contracting various infections.
Sedative: It induces a calming, relaxing and sedative effect on both the mind and body by relieving nervous stress and anxiety. It also stimulates a happy feeling in case of anger or sadness. This property can be helpful to pacify people who have suffered a serious shock, trauma, or major setback in life.
Vasoconstrictor: Cypress Oil causes blood vessels to contract. This can be beneficial in cases of excess bleeding.
As much as it stimulates perspiration, it also curbs excessive sweating, and reduces heavy menstruation and heavy bleeding. It is anti-rheumatic and anti-arthritic, so it can also be used in the treatment of varicose veins, cellulite, asthma, bronchitis, and diarrhea.
A Few Words of Caution
There is no active warning for using cypress essential oil, except that it should be avoided during pregnancy.
Cypress Oil forms great blends with essential oils of all citrus fruits such as Lime, Lemon and Orange as well as with Bergamot, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Juniper, Lavender, Marjoram, Pine and Rosemary and Sandalwood essential oils.