Coconut Carrier Oil
Coconut Oil can be very efficient as Carrier Oil. Coconut Oil is very easily absorbed through the skin pores and thus used as carrier oil, called Coconut Carrier Oil.
Carrier Oils hold a place of very much importance in Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicines and all other systems of medicine which involves massaging. The Carrier Oils are those oils which are easily penetrated or absorbed into the skin and thus facilitate seepage or absorption of other oils (such as essential oils) and herbal extracts through skin, when mixed into it, since all oils are not easily absorbed and many are volatile.
Let us know what makes it such a success as carrier oil.
- Penetration: As said earlier, Coconut Carrier Oil derives its penetrability from coconut oil, which is amazingly good at absorption through the skin.
- Stability: Being one of the most stable oils, it does neither go rancid itself nor does it let the other oils or herbal extracts or medicines spoil in it for a long time. Thus, you can mix your desired thing it and keep it for future for a long-long time.
- Anti Fungal & Anti Microbial Properties: This property makes Coconut Carrier Oil an ideal protector of other oils & herbal extracts from microbial or fungal actions. This is primarily due to presence of medium chain fatty acids like Capric Acid, Caprylic Acid, Caproic Acid, Lauric Acid and Myristic Acid.
- Non Irritability: Ideal carrier oils should not cause irritations to skin. In this regard, Coconut Oil is one of the best because it is very soothing for the skin and helps reduce inflammations too, if caused by anything mixed in it.
- Non Reactivity: Coconut Oil does not react with or alter chemical or medicinal properties of other oils, herbal extracts or medicines mixed into it. This is a very useful property of Coconut Carrier Oil.
- Low Cost: Coconut Oil is not very costly and you do not need to spend a fortune to buy a special blend of carrier oils from your chemist.
- Availability: This oil is more easily available as compared to other carrier oils used in Aromatherapy.
- Which oils to use? Preferably, the Virgin Coconut Oil and the Fractionated Coconut Oil are used as Coconut Carrier Oil. The reasons being; while the virgin coconut oil has the best nutrient values, best anti oxidants and best anti microbial properties among all types of coconut oil and it is light and thin, the fractionated coconut oil is much thinner than the pure coconut oil and generally do not condense in winters.
Finally, it is to be remembered that only refined oil should be used in Coconut Carrier Oil, since unrefined one may have dust and other unwanted substances in it. But one thing is for sure, Coconut Carrier Oil is one of the best carrier oils.
This article is contributed by Aparup Mukherjee.
Sources of Information:
- Reports of Coconut Development Board of India,
- Reports of KERAFED.
- Text books of various courses of agriculture.
- Various other reports on internet.
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