The essential oil of cypress is derived from steam distillation of the twigs, stems and needles of the needle-bearing Cupressus sempervirens. The cypress tree is a coniferous, deciduous and evergreen tree that has small and rounded cones. It is indigenous to Southern Europe and it has been cultivated in Spain, France and Morocco.

During ancient times, cypress has been widely used by the Greeks, the Egyptians and the Chinese. They used it for various reasons, from building houses and ships, to burying the dead and to carve statues of their gods. Cypress essential oil is slightly yellowish in colour and has a fresh, clean, slightly woody and herbaceous scent that evokes calmness and rejuvenation from within.

Indeed, cypress essential oil is able to provide much health benefits because of its ability to fight infections, provide respiratory relief and remove toxins from the body, in addition to evoking feelings of calm and rejuvenation. As such, it still has modern uses and it makes for a worthy investment to add to your essential oils collection! Read on to find out more about cypress oil’s benefits and uses!

Health Benefits of Cypress Essential Oil

1. Promotes Detoxification

Cypress essential oil is able to induce detoxification. Since it is a diuretic, it is able to stimulate more frequent urination and increase the quantity of the urine being discharged. While this may be uncomfortable, it is ultimately beneficial for your health because toxic substances such as fats, uric acid, urea, salts other harmful substances are effectively removed from your body.

Moreover, it can induce sweating which helps to remove toxins as well and cleans the skin pores. It makes you feel lighter and decreases blood pressure levels, as well as prevents skin conditions which are due to a toxic buildup.

Since it promotes detoxification, it can help to cleanse the liver, thus protecting it from harmful diseases due to an excessive buildup of toxins. It can also lower cholesterol levels naturally. A 2007 study carried out by researchers from Egypt found that cypress oil, with its isolated compounds, is able to decrease cholesterol levels, triglycerides and other harmful substances which can lead to adverse effects in the body and liver. Also, they caused a significant increase in total protein levels in the mice subjects.

As such, this concludes how cypress oil actually contains detoxifying and antioxidant constituents that helps to rid our body of excess toxins to cleanse our vital organs and to help battle free radical damage.

2. Promotes Blood Clotting

Cypress essential oil is also able to promote blood clotting and prevent the excessive flow of blood. This is because of its hemostatic nature and astringent nature of the oil. It induces a contraction and tightening of the blood vessels, which thus mitigates excessive blood loss.

Its astringent properties also induces a contraction of other parts of the body, such as the skin, muscles, hair follicles and gums. Therefore, it prevents loose teeth, sagging skin and hair loss as well!

As such, the hemostatic and astringent qualities work together to facilitate the speedy healing of wounds, cuts and open sores. Therefore, cypress oil is a useful agent to treat heavy menstrual flows as well because it is able to induce blood clotting. This is important as it can therefore help to prevent fatigue and anaemia due to an excessive blood loss.

3. Offers Pain Relief

Cypress oil, with its ability to promote blood circulation and reduce cramps, convulsions and contractions, helps to offer much pain relief arising from muscle cramps and pulls. It can help to alleviate problems such as restless leg syndrome and carpal tunnel.

Carpal tunnel is a painful condition characterized by an inflammation of the muscles around the wrist area. Additionally, the nerves area are affected and become increasingly prone to swelling and inflammation. Cypress oil, however, serves as an effective, all-natural remedy to conditions of carpal tunnel as it helps to decrease fluid retention, induce a proper blood circulation and reduce inflammation as well as swelling.

Moreover, it also helps to alleviate symptoms of restless leg syndrome, which is characterized by random, unpredictable and throbbing spasms in the leg. This, if left untreated, leads to much difficulties in sleeping which leads to decreased productivity and efficiency levels. As such, cypress oil helps to alleviate such annoying conditions.

Additionally, it can help to alleviate other ailments such as bursitis too, which is characterized by stiff joints and difficulty in moving as there is a sharp and intense pain if you attempt to move. Its ability to decrease fluid retention will help to alleviate this condition as well, since it is mainly caused by fluid filled sacs at the joints.

4. Offers Respiratory Relief

Cypress oil is also a respiratory tonic, whereby it serves as a decongestant and an expectorant to help eliminate an excess buildup of mucus and phlegm that is lodged in your respiratory and nasal passageways. Thus, cypress oil can help to facilitate a much easier and unobstructed breathing passage. Its anti-spasmodic qualities also provide much relief and comfort from painful coughing spells, thus helping to relax the respiratory system.

As such, it can be used to help treat a whole host of respiratory ailments, such as cough, flu, cold and the more serious conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Its antibacterial attributes also help to kill off any bacteria and infections, thus facilitating a much speedier recovery!

5. Able to Combat Infections

Cypress oil, with its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, makes for an effective antiseptic agent. It is able to help in the speedy recovery and healing of cuts and wounds due to the presence of the camphene constituent in the oil. It also cleans out the bacteria that may be lingering on such wounds, thus preventing the onset of infections and complications.

For example, a 2014 research study that was published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine illustrates how cypress oil possesses much antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties against numerous bacterial strains as they inhibited the growth and spread of such harmful bacteria. As such, it can also be used as an important ingredient in cosmetics such as soaps.

Another research study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2004 notes how cypress oil exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against the growth of 9 bacteria and 3 pathogenic strains due to the presence of bioactive compounds such as carvacrol, camphene and limonene.

6. Alleviates Stress and Tension

Like many other essential oils out there in the market, cypress oil is also an effective therapeutic agent to alleviate stress, tension, anxiety and feelings of nervousness. If you are in need of something to destress, then you can always turn to cypress oil to stimulate and energize your senses.

Not only that, it is a mild sedative, thus inducing feelings of peace and tranquility within you to help put your mind and heart at ease. It is able to emotionally uplift your spirits and thus, is great for those who are under a lot of mental and emotional stress, experiencing trauma or shock or even having trouble sleeping. As such, cypress oil is great for promoting mental and emotional stability.

7. Alleviates Varicose Veins and Cellulite

Cypress oil can also be a good all-natural home remedy to treat varicose veins. This is because its stimulating properties help to induce proper blood circulation and blood flow from the legs to the heart area. It is able to constrict the swollen veins and coupled with its anti-inflammatory properties, it can help to reduce the swelling and inflammation.

It can also help to reduce the appearance of cellulite which is often caused by fluid retention, lack of proper circulation, a weak collagen structure and increased levels of body fat. Cypress oil targets these causes directly, since it gets rid of excess fluids and fats, promotes blood flow and contains antioxidant potential. With such properties, cypress oil is also useful in treating hemorrhoids!

How to Use Cypress Essential Oil?

• Topically: Cypress oil is safe to be used topically. Simply apply a few drops of the oil and mix it with equal amounts of carrier oil (such as coconut or jojoba oil) before applying it onto the affected areas of your skin.

• Aromatically: Cypress oil can also be diffused in your homes or workplaces by using a diffuser, distiller or vaporizer to induce feelings of tranquility and to ensure that your surrounding environment smells nice and pleasant!

• In Warm, Bathing Water: Alternatively, you can add about 5 drops of the oil into a tub of warm, bathing water to soak inside so as to stimulate detoxification, to destress and to even help treat respiratory ailments.

• Steam Inhalation: This is especially useful for those who are looking to alleviate their respiratory ailments using cypress oil. Simply add about 3-5 drops of the oil into a bowl of boiling water and breathe in the vapors emanating out for about 5-10 minutes, while placing a towel over your head.

• In a Spritz Bottle: Cypress oil can also be used to deodorize the house, so you can add about 5-10 drops of the oil in a spritz bottle containing water and proceed to spray it all over your curtains, sheets, kitchen tops and surfaces to kill off bacteria and to prevent bad odour.

Safety Precautions:

• Cypress oil should never be ingested as it is not safe to be taken internally.

• Pregnant and nursing women should avoid using cypress essential oil.

• Be sure to dilute the oil with a carrier oil first in a 1:1 ratio before topical application onto affected parts of your skin.

• Perform a skin patch test first to ensure there are no sensitive or allergic reactions.

• Keep out of reach from children.

• If you have pre-existing medical conditions and are taking prescribed medication, do consult your doctor first before using cypress oil as it might interfere with your prescribed drugs.

References:

Ibrahim NA, El-Seedi HR, Mohammed MM, “Phytochemical investigation and hepatoprotective activity of Cupressus sempervirens L. leaves growing in Egypt”, Natural Product Research (2007); 21(10)

Samy A Selim, et al., “Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil and methanol extract of the Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine (2014)

Alma MH, et al., “Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from the gum of Turkish pistachio (Pistacia vera L.)” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2004); 52(12)