Copaiba - A healing powerhouse
Copaiba Essential Oil
Copaiba Essential Oil is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients on the planet. Copaiba oil’s most prominent application is in reducing pain and inflammation anywhere on the body, and even inside it. Although it is very strongly anti inflammatory,doTerra's version of this is safe to be taken internally.
Properties
Copaiba oil comes from trees in the genus Copaifera, which are leguminous trees, commonly found in Amazon rainforest (South America).
These are the effects which it produces upon consumption, or application.
Anti – Inflammatory – It is widely touted as the best anti-inflammatory substance.
Cicatrizant – promotes healing of injuries by faster formation of scar or scab
Disinfectant – assists in cleaning out wounds, scrapes etc to prevent any infection by pathogens.
Emollient – fancy word for moisturizers
Astringent – shrinks skin tissue ( this has several cosmetic applications, as we shall see below )
Expectorant – aids in expelling phlegm
Anti Cancer to certain cancers, like skin cancer and stomach cancer
Diuretic
Hypotensive – aids in lowering blood pressure
Anti-Irritant
Uses and health benefits I've experienced
Copaiba essential oil has a plethora of uses, but so far I'll share what I've experimented with and that has mostly been it's topical applications and internal uses as I use it to fight pain associated with a tumor in my chest. I take it internally 8-10 drops, 2-3 times a day and I rub it over the place on my lower chest that hurts. It takes the burning feeling away particularly when I am laying down. It also helps ease the anxiety associated with pain.
Acne and Skin Issues that are hormone related:
I've been using it on my combination skin and it helps with excess oil and it doesn't aggravate my skin, which is on the sensitive side.
Put 2 drops on a cotton ball and apply it directly (without diluting) on active acne. It shouldn’t sting. Wait for 2 – 3 hours. Due to its super anti-inflammatory power, it reduces redness around the acne, making it much less noticeable. Use this trick daily and acne should be much less inflamed.
Pain Relief
Copaiba really stands out as a natural pain reliever. In fact, its pain relieving effects can be even stronger than Wintergreen/Birch essential oil, both are well renowned for pain relief.
Arthritis and gout
Headaches
Pain due to an injury. If there is a cut or wound, apply it on outer edges of wound to lower inflammation and pain caused by stretching of skin during scab formation.
Muscular cramp pain
Fibromyalgia
Back joint pain and sciatica – Use deep massage to relieve sciatica using this oil.
Stretch Marks
Can be applied directly on stretch marks to fade them. If you feel stretch marks, you will notice that these are depressions in skin. Apply copaiba oil as a massage oil on these scars. The depression starts to fill up in a few weeks. Use this in conjugation with Immortelle to fade away the stretch marks.
Sagging Skin
Apply it direct on skin areas which are sagging. Copaiba oil boosts secretion of collagen and elastin to make skin firm and taut.
Varicose Veins
It improves blood circulation of veins close to the skin, allowing them to drain back and reduce pooled blood.
Miscellaneous uses found on-line
Using this oil before a chiropractic session helps to achieve much better results, as noted by many chiropractors.
Urinary Incontinence - Children who have the issue of bedwetting, or even adults who have difficulty in controlling the flow of urine can make use of this oil. Apply this oil in generous amount on lower abdomen and massage. It helps to tone muscles of the bladder and urinary tract, thus reducing the incidences of incontinence.
Sitz Bath - If you never heard of it, sitz bath is a bath taken for the lower part of body only. It is used to relieve hemorrhoids and problems of genital region, like bacterial or fungal infections. Add 8 – 10 drops of copaiba oil in sitz bath. Its mild antimicorbial properties help in getting rid of infections. It improves blood circulation and aids with hemorrhoids pain too.
Insect Bites - Use copaiba oil on the bite to quickly reduce swelling and get relief.
Lighten up your spirits - Smelling copaiba oil helps to lighten up tense mood as it has nice and sweet honey like aroma.
Internal Use
References
1. Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of Copaiba Oils from Copaifera cearensis Huber ex Ducke, Copaifera reticulata Ducke and Copaifera multijuga Hayne – a comparative study . – Junior et al 2. Study of high dilutions of Copaiba oil on inflammatory process – Viriato et al.
