{"id":6381,"date":"2019-05-03T06:12:47","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T06:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=6381"},"modified":"2021-04-05T15:54:44","modified_gmt":"2021-04-05T15:54:44","slug":"20-ancient-uses-of-vetiver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/20-ancient-uses-of-vetiver\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Ancient Uses of Vetiver"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Vetiver, also known by its scientific name, \u201cchrysopogon zizanioides,\u201d is a type of perennial grass with deep roots. Vetiver oil is a lesser-known essential oil with a wide range of uses, including providing a calming sensation on the nervous system. Using vetiver oil helps to soothe feelings of anxiety and stress, and the earthy fragrance of the oil has a grounding effect for the mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also known as \u201ckhus,\u201d in India, vetiver is a plentiful crop in its native Western and Northern India. The grass has deep roots that extend downwards, instead of spreading out like a mat \u2013 as is the case with most other grass. Some vetiver clusters may have roots that extend as deep as 12-feet into the ground. The plant grows up to 6-feet tall, with tall stems that feature thin, rigid leaves, and purple-brown flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKhus oil,\u201d comes from a steam extraction of the natural oils found in the grass. Here are eight uses of vetiver oil, and how it can benefit your health.
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1. Heals the Skin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vetiver oil<\/a> promotes the regeneration of tissues and skin, making it one of the few \u201ccicatrizing\u201d oils available. The oil rejuvenates the epidermis, healing stretch marks, and cracks, as well as providing treatment for acne scars. Vetiver oil is also a fantastic natural burn relief treatment as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s critical that you don\u2019t add pure vetiver oil to your skin, as the raw oil may lead to irritation. Blend it into a carrier oil \u2013 such as coconut or olive oil. Add a few drops of vetiver oil to a teaspoon of carrier oil of your choice, then work it into the affected area using your fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also add a few drops of the oil to your shampoo or facewash to supercharge their cleansing properties. Regular use of the oil in this manner will strengthen your hair and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. Use vetiver oil after surgical procedures to help heal cuts and wounds faster.
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2. A Potent Antioxidant <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We live stressful lives. The pressure of meeting social and personal demands on our time means that we always have something going on in our lives. High levels of stress increase the presence of free radicals in the bloodstream<\/a>. These particles have destructive tendencies, causing oxidative damage in cells that lead to the signs of aging, and other adverse health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sunburn is an example of oxidative stress that creates free radicles. These particles oxidize skin cells, leading to signs of wrinkles associated with aging. Using vetiver oil in your skincare routine will help you deal with free radical damage by keeping your skin hydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies on vetiver oil show that it has superior free radical scavenging ability when compared to other antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene. Mix a few drops of the oil into a tablespoon of lotion, and rub it into your skin for relief from sunburn.
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3. Aphrodisiac Properties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stress also plays a role in our sex life as well. When we\u2019re stressed, the body elevates the production of cortisol. Should the stressors persist, the additional presence of cortisol <\/a>suppresses testosterone production, inducing the signs of erectile dysfunction and loss of sexual desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vetiver oil is well known for its calming properties that relieve stress. Add a few drops of vetiver oil to a diffuser and leave it to run in your bedroom overnight. Vetiver oil has relaxing properties that allow you to overcome insomnia created by excess cortisol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You breathe in the medicated steam while you sleep, allowing it to enter the bloodstream through the lungs. As concentrations of the antioxidant compounds build in your blood, they start to reduce cortisol production, returning your hormones to a balanced state of well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, you should notice your feelings of sexual desire return to normal \u2013 to your relief and that of your partner.
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4. ADHD Treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ADHD <\/a>is becoming more prevalent in school children, with the American Psychiatric Association stating that 5-percent of all American children suffer from the disorder. The CDC thinks that the problem is more widespread, with their official estimates showing 11-percent of American children under the age of 18 who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A child with ADHD is too excited to pay attention in class. As a result of their disorder, these kids become disruptive, affecting the rest of the student\u2019s ability to learn while the teacher deals with the disorderly student. Vetiver oil has calming properties that slow brainwaves, allowing children with ADHD to remain calm during classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pour some boiling water into a Pyrex bowl and add a few drops of vetiver oil. Cover your child\u2019s head with a towel and make them breathe in the medicated steam for a few minutes before they leave for school. The sedative effect of vetiver oil will keep them calm for the majority of the school day.
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5. Soothe Anxiety <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People often confuse the symptoms of stress and anxiety<\/a>. Stress is a natural biological response to an external stimulus. For instance, your boss tells you they need you for a meeting tomorrow, and you have to present it to clients. The stress from the request makes you feel uncertain and a bit on-the-edge, but it\u2019s there for a purpose \u2013 to help improve your performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, stress fades away after the stressor subsides \u2013 the meeting goes well, and your boss tells you that you did a great job. However, anxiety is a very different animal – It’s a mental health disorder, not a stress response. This dysfunction occurs when the affected person starts to experience feelings of dread or malaise, with no apparent cause for the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left untreated, anxiety can create a host of adverse health complications, such as insomnia and panic attacks. Using vetiver oil can help soothe the symptoms of high-anxiety and calm the person down so that they don\u2019t experience a full-blown panic attack.
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6. Enhances Immune Response and Nervous System Efficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The relaxing and sedative properties of vetiver oil make it an excellent tonic for promoting the health of the immune and nervous system. Studies show that people using chemotherapy <\/a>drugs, such as cisplatin, can benefit from using the oil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemotherapy medication is notoriously harsh on the digestive system \u2013 and using vetiver oil can help inhibit DNA damage and reduce this oxidative stress, enhancing the health of the immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the therapeutic effects of the oil also work in relieving stress on the nervous system., When the body experiences a stressor, it elevates blood pressure, and increases heart rate and respiration activity in preparation for \u201cfight-or-flight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this response, the immune system and digestive system take a backseat until the stress response declines. Using vetiver oil induces a calm state where stress levels drop off and the immune, and cardiovascular response returns to normal. We recommend adding a few drops of vetiver oil to a tablespoon of lotion and rub it into your temples for the best results.
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7. Insect Repellant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before the era of pesticides, vetiver oil had value as a natural insect repellant<\/a>. The Indian people mix a robust solution of vetiver oil with distilled water and spray it around their homes to kill off termites and reduce their tunneling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding vetiver oil to candlewax is an age-old remedy for producing a candle that drives off mosquitoes in the evening and early morning, which makes it especially useful in areas that are high-risk for contracting malaria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diluting vetiver oil in your skin lotion also makes an effective insect repellent that keeps flies and mosquitoes at bay, preventing them from, lighting on your skin. The long-lasting oil provides hours of protection from biting and stinging insects, and it has none of the toxicity associated with commercial insect repellants that cost far more money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vetiver oil is also an effective means of killing off lice infestations in your hair. Add the oil to your shampoo and wash the bugs out of your scalp. The oil also kills off the louse eggs in your hair follicles as well.
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8. Ancient Uses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vetiver grass is a part of Indian culture, with lifestyle <\/a>uses in medicine and a variety of other industries. For centuries, the Indian people constructed their homes out of the grass, using it for roof thatching and windows on their homes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the invention of evaporative coolers, Indians were using vetiver grass to cool their homes. Dousing the thatch windows with water, providing a cooling effect as the warm air passes through the damp grass, cooling the air down before it disperses in the room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Indian people still rely on vetiver grass to this day to provide materials for weaving baskets, rugs and curtains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, vetiver grass is a popular method of reducing evaporation and pest control in crop management. Harvested grass provides mulch to protect topsoil, allowing the soil to retain more water on hot days. The mulch also prevents insect larvae from hatching, as the larvae find themselves stuck to the hairy grass stems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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