Gingergrass is native to India and it is commonly called as Sofiya in Sanskrit. Gingergrass essential oil has been steam distilled from its plant and been in use since the 18th century! It has a very herbaceous and woody aroma, just like the plant it is derived from, known as Cymbopogon martini var. Sofia. It actually has many similarities to lemongrass essential oil!

Gingergrass essential oil has amazing skin benefits and as such, it has been incorporated into the making of Indian soaps for centuries. Not only that, it is mainly used in many Ayurvedic preparations and rituals as a massage blend, due to its sensual and aromatic fragrance. Read on to find out more about the uses and benefits of gingergrass essential oil!

Benefits of Gingergrass Essential Oil:

1. Able to Promote Emotional Health

Gingergrass essential oil, with its calming, sensual and citrusy fragrance, is able to uplift your spirits and soothes your tense nerves after a long, tired and stressful day. It can instil feelings of tranquility and relaxation, as it wards away anxiety and depression. This will put you in a better mood as it promotes revitalization and rejuvenation of the mind and soul.

How to Use it: Simply mix 5 drops of gingergrass essential oil with 2.5ml of almond oil and massage onto your temples and wrists to fight off fatigue, anxiety, stress and depression. Also, if you are looking for something to freshen up your dull, dreary room, you can always add 2 drops of the oil to your room freshener and spray it around your room.

2. Relieves Respiratory Congestion

Gingergrass oil also contains expectorant and decongestant constituents. This means that it is an excellent medicinal agent to clear your respiratory passageways from any phlegm and prevent mucus buildup that can possibly obstruct airflow. The oil can help to expel out any excess phlegm and mucus, thus preventing infection and complications.

This helps to provide relief from any difficulty breathing and allows for a faster recovery time. Coupled with its anti-inflammatory nature, this oil helps to combat bacteria which prevents a deterioration of the ailment.

How to Use it: You can add 2 drops of the oil in steam inhalation to clear blocked nasal passages, sinus congestion and coughs. Alternatively, you can add 1 drop of gingergrass essential oil into your vapor rub and gently rub it over your chest, throat and back to get rid of such respiratory ailments.

3. Acts as an Insect Repellent

Gingergrass essential oil is also an effective natural insect repellent, and has been in use for this function since ancient times. A 1994 study conducted by the Malaria Research Center in India found that gingergrass oil is a potent tool that provides absolute protection for 12 hours against a bacteria called Anopheles culicifacies, which is the main agent in causing malaria.

Furthermore, the oil is also able to provide 96.3% protection against a pest mosquito called Culex quinquefasciatus for 12 hours, as the study found.

As such, you no longer need to spend a lot of money on buying chemical and synthetic insect repellents when you can use gingergrass essential oil instead! Furthermore, because it is all-natural, you do not need to worry about any side-effects from harmful chemical compounds! As such, this oil is a worthy investment.

How to Use it: Simply add 2 drops of the oil into your diffuser or burner.

4. Promotes Skin Health

Gingergrass essential oil is a bactericide. This means that it contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which are all beneficial in treating pimples, blackheads and boils. It soothes the inflamed skin and kills off bacteria on your skin, thus preventing these skin conditions from worsening.

Furthermore, it also contains anti-fungal constituents which means that it can treat ringworms, athlete’s foot and other fungal skin infections.

With its antiseptic attributes, it is also a perfect agent to treat wounds and cuts by cleaning them and making sure they are free from infection-causing bacteria. Gingergrass essential oil is also helpful in reducing the appearance of subsequent marks, scars, spots and wrinkles caused by these various skin conditions. It greatly helps in the circulation and regeneration of new tissue and skin cells underneath your skin.

How to Use it: Simply add 2 drops of gingergrass essential oil into your daily skincare cream or lotion and apply onto the affected parts. Alternatively, you can also add 2 drops of the oil, combined with 1ml of olive oil and massage gently onto the skin, leaving it for about 30 mins before washing it off. This helps to clear bacteria and improve the complexion of your skin greatly!

5. Provides Pain Relief to Muscles and Joints

Sore, stiff muscles are almost commonplace to everybody as we are bound to experience them at one point in our lives. Everyone is no stranger to sore and inflamed muscles and they can give us much pain and discomfort. Luckily, gingergrass essential oil is able to provide us with a natural pain relief remedy to help soothe our aching muscles and joints!

With its anti-inflammatory properties, this oil is especially useful as a natural relaxant to your aching muscles and joints. It helps to stimulate blood circulation to these affected places and reduces pain and inflammation. As such, this oil is able to provide much pain relief and promotes relaxation after a long, tiring and exhausting day.

Also, it helps to remove any toxic substances from your muscles and joints, hence eliminating the causes for such pain in the first place.

How to Use it: You can mix 5 drops of gingergrass essential oil with 2.5ml of olive oil and create a massage blend to gently massage on your body. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and have a soaking, nice and warm bath (which has 2 drops of gingergrass essential oil as well) and let it soothe your tense and aching joints.

Safety Precautions:

• Ensure that you dilute gingergrass essential oil with a carrier oil first before topical application onto the skin.

• Do perform a skin patch test prior to the application onto the affected parts of your skin to ensure there are no sensitive or allergic reactions.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is always wise to consult your doctor first before using gingergrass essential oil as a form of treatment.

• Do not ingest the oil.

• Gingergrass essential oil is also slightly phototoxic so ensure that you are not out in the sun after applying it topically so as to avoid any negative ultraviolet damage.

References:

Ansari MA, Razdan RK, “Repellent action of Cymbopogan martinii martinii Stapf var. Sofia oil against mosquitoes”, Indian Journal of Malariology (1994); 31(3)