Copaiba Essential Oil Benefits - Copaiba Oil for Pain

Copaiba Essential Oil Benefits

Copaiba Oil for Pain

Beta-caryophyllene (BCP) is the primary ingredient in copaiba oil and the one that provides pain relief. Copaiba essential oil has the highest known content of BCP botanically, although CBD oil contains some of this terpene as well. Copaiba oil contains 55 percent beta-caryophyllene, compared to 35 percent in cannabidiol oil, making it a better choice for pain relief. However, combining both of the oils provides overlapping health benefits.

Respiratory Infections

The balsam has been used to treat bronchitis, and both copaiba oil and copaiba balsam are used in holistic cough medicines. Copaiba has the reputation of being able to thin secretions and loosen congestion in the chest. Also, because copaiba oil has anti-inflammatory properties, it may soothe the inflamed linings of bronchial tubes. This treatment of the symptoms is valuable since respiratory infections are usually caused by viruses, which don't respond to antibiotic treatment.

Wound Healing

Copaiba essential oil benefits are effective at healing wounds without damaging the surrounding tissues. First, the anti-inflammatory properties of the oil prepare the wound for healing. Then, the copaiba oil encourages tissues to contract and speeds the formation of new skin. In Brazil, it's been used for healing wounds and repelling insects, among other uses, since at least the 1600s. However, undiluted copaiba oil can be irritating to the skin, and it is best used as an ingredient in a skin cream or carrier oil.

Insect Bite Treatment

Insect stings cause swelling, and an insect bite can become infected if not cared for properly. The pain-relief properties of copaiba oil may alleviate the itching and burning of an insect bite, while the anti-inflammatory properties relieve the swelling. Because it's also an anti-bacterial substance, the oil may keep the bite from becoming infected.

Autoimmune Diseases

A preliminary study on mice called copaiba oil "a promising natural product for the treatment of inflammatory and demyelinating diseases." The mice were induced to have autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a condition used to study the disease multiple sclerosis. The results suggest that copaiba oil may protect nerves by having an inhibiting effect on the inflammatory response. This is a promising area of study that should be further investigated.

Psoriasis

Copaiba oil has been used effectively to treat psoriasis in mice, reducing both the spread and the severity. Psoriasis is a build-up of skin cells that causes red, scaly patches on the skin. It's believed to be an auto-immune disease, and it's possible that the oil inhibits the overactive immune response. Copaiba oil has also been successful in reducing redness and inflammation in some people who have psoriasis.

Eczema and Dermatitis

The oil is an ingredient in some creams and lotions for treating eczema and dermatitis. Eczema is rough and inflamed, sometimes itchy skin with no obvious cause. Dermatitis is usually an allergic reaction to a particular substance, and it causes red, swollen skin. In either case, the anti-inflammatory effects of copaiba oil lessen the symptoms.

Arthritis Relief

The usual treatment for inflammatory arthritis relies heavily on NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Unfortunately, they can cause side effects like gastrointestinal discomfort and even intestinal bleeding. Doctors are looking for alternative treatments to reduce inflammation without causing these problems.

Randomized trials involving large numbers of participants will need to be performed before there's evidence of the effectiveness of alternative treatments like copaiba oil. In the meantime, there's a growing number of testimonials about the effectiveness of the oil in relieving inflammatory arthritis symptoms.

Aromatherapy and Mood Enhancement

Used to cure headaches, alleviate depression, boost energy and more, in most cases, aromatherapy depends on essential oils to do its job. Inhaling the healing properties of essential oils brings them rapidly into the bloodstream through the countless alveoli present in the lungs. Copaiba oil has a pleasant smell, and inhaling it sends its beneficial properties directly to your sinuses and lungs.

What is Copaiba Essential Oil Used For?

Skin Lotion

It's not completely understood how copaiba oil accelerates wound healing, but part of the reason may be an increase in collagen production. If so, that's another positive effect to add to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits of using copaiba oil in skin care lotion. Copaiba oil does have astringent properties, so it can tighten and firm skin as well. And it's an emollient that contains essential fatty acids, so it locks in moisture and protects your skin from the elements.

Dandruff Shampoo

This works similarly to using copaiba oil for skin rashes and the excess cell proliferation of psoriasis. It soothes the irritation and itchiness of dandruff while moisturizing your scalp. Try adding one or two drops of copaiba essential oil to an ounce of your favorite shampoo.

Body Cleanser

The astringent and disinfectant properties of copaiba oil make it a welcome ingredient in soaps and body scrubs. It's a good acne soap for these reasons as well, and it doesn't dry out skin because of the moisturizing properties of the oil. Some copaiba oil soaps also contain natural exfoliating substances, enhancing the benefits of bathing with them.

Massage Oil

Copaiba oil penetrates the skin well, making it a good companion for other beneficial oils. Adding it to a carrier oil along with other massage oils not only gives you the benefits that each one provides but helps them sink into your skin and do the most good. Copaiba oil is especially beneficial for pain relief when paired with CBD oil.

Bath Soak

Taking a soak in a warm bath with copaiba oil is a good way to alleviate muscle tension and pain. A companion essential oil to use is lavender because it lowers stress and promotes relaxation. Both of these essential oils can be added to Epsom salts, which gives your body needed magnesium. Breathing the steam from a hot bath will allow you to experience the healing benefits of copaiba oil internally as well as externally.

Copaiba and Lavender Epsom Salts Soak

• 2 cups Epsom salts
• 15 drops copaiba essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

Acne Treatment

A gel with one percent pure copaiba oil was shown to significantly reduce the appearance of acne in one 2012 study. A previous study in 2007 used a five percent concentration of tea tree oil in a gel. Similar results were obtained in each study, and they were both carried out in a stringent double-blind format. In these nearly identical experiments, the strength of the copaiba oil was only 20 percent that of the tea tree oil. This highlights the potency of copaiba oil and copaiba balsam, along with the caution that should be exercised in their use.

Copaiba Essential Oil Side Effects

There's a lack of established scientific evidence on the effectiveness of copaiba oil and copaiba balsam. This doesn't mean they're not helpful in treating various conditions, given the long history of anecdotal reports of healing properties. The most important thing to keep in mind when using the oil or balsam is to start with minimal amounts. Since large doses can be toxic, a doctor's supervision is necessary for taking copaiba oil internally, and pregnant or nursing women should not use products with copaiba balsam or oil.

Ingesting too much copaiba extract can lead to insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and pain. Using skin products that are too strong can cause a red, itchy rash that leaves marks on the skin. Be sure to test products containing the oil or balsam on a small, inconspicuous part of your body before using it on larger areas. Copaiba products also interact with the drug lithium, so check with your doctor before using copaiba topically if you take this drug.

HOW TO ENSURE A QUALITY PRODUCT

The first step in finding authentic, properly extracted copaiba oil is to purchase it from a reputable seller. A company that values sustainability and sources the oil directly from the Amazon region is more likely to offer genuine copaiba oil. If an essential oil provider claims that copaiba oil can be safely taken internally without medical supervision or used directly on the skin, that's a red flag. You want to buy your essential oils from a company that has done the research on the products it sells.

Here are some things to check for when purchasing copaiba essential oil:

• Oil derived from the resin of the copaiba tree.
• Pure copaiba oil that doesn't have additives.
• Terms like undiluted, therapeutic grade and 100% pure.
• Botanical name Copaifera officinalis or Copaifera langsdorffi.

COPAIBA ESSENTIAL OIL FOR HEALING

It may seem odd that a resin that has so many health and beauty applications can also be converted to a biofuel or used as a paint varnish. This is the way of nature though, just as petroleum jelly is derived from the same hydrocarbons that create gasoline. It's the essential fatty acids and beta-caryophyllene in copaiba oil that give it the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and healing properties that we value.

Often, claims about native treatments and cures for disease, although not supported by scientific literature, have a basis in fact. For example, copaiba oil has been burned in religious ceremonies for purification of the air for at least 200 years, and only in the past decade have studies found that it has antibacterial properties. Copaiba oil has been relied upon for wellness and skin healing for centuries in Brazil, and its benefits are gradually coming to light for the rest of the world.