9 Surprising Benefits of Tagetes Essential Oil

by Meenakshi Nagdeve last updated -

The health benefits of tagetes essential oil can be attributed to its properties as an antibiotic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, disinfectant, insecticide, and sedative substance.

Tagetes is also known by a few other names, including Khaki Bush and Mexican Marie Gold. This herb is believed to be native to Africa. From there, it spread to America, Europe, and Australia. Its scientific name is Tagetes Minuta and it is highly valued as an insect repellant, anti-parasitic, and antiseptic in the locations listed above. [1]

The essential oil of tagetes is extracted from its leaves, stem, stalk, and flowers by the process of steam distillation. The main components of this oil are limonene, ocimene, tagetone, and valeric acid.

Despite having a nice fragrance, it is neither popular in aromatherapy nor as a deodorant. However, that does not affect its reputation as an anti-parasitic and antiseptic. In addition to these properties, it has other medicinal properties, which are explained below.

Two small bottles of essential oil placed in front of a few tagetes flowers and peach roses

Essential oils are often used for their potent aroma. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Health Benefits of Tagetes Essential Oil

Prevents Parasites

This oil can help you get rid of the most annoying and harmful parasites on the human body such as mosquitoes, fleas, lice, bed bugs, and others. It keeps them away and neutralizes the effects of bites and stings.

Prevents Microbial Infections

The essential oil of tagetes is useful in stopping the growth of microbes in the body and thereby protecting it from infections. In cases of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, or protozoa, such as food poisoning, athlete’s foot, cholera, septic, tetanus, typhus, malaria, skin diseases, and dermatitis. This oil can be employed in wiping out these infections and giving relief from the diseases listed above.

Prevents Sepsis

Septic is another name for an infection caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus Aureus. It is very dangerous and can even be fatal. It may start from a simple-looking wound and engulf the whole body within a few hours. It readily affects newborn babies. Its symptoms include convulsions, extreme spasms, and muscular contractions, swelling with redness, immobility of the limbs, and even insanity. Tagetes essential oil is lethal to these bacteria and helps to get rid of septic.

Inhibits Biotic Growth

Biotic means anything that concerns life. Biotic growth means the growth of living cells or higher forms of life. In the context of the human body and pathology, biotic growth means growth of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or any other form of parasites in the human body. So, obviously, an antibiotic means an agent that counters or inhibits biotic growth in the body. Tagetes essential oil is such an antibiotic. It does not allow any biotic growth (growth of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or other parasites, such as worms) in the body. It has been found to be very beneficial on open sores, ulcers, rotten wounds, and even gangrene. In some places, it is used to clean wounds and eliminate the growth of maggots in them.

Relieves Spasms

Being relaxant in nature, this oil relaxes any type of spasm in the body and gives relief from spasmodic coughs, diarrhea, cramps, and convulsions.

Acts as a Disinfectant

The antimicrobial, anti-parasitic, and antibiotic properties of the essential oil of tagetes prove very effective in disinfecting the body or an area. When ingested or applied externally, it cures infections in the body and when used in fumigants, vaporizers, and sprays, it disinfects the whole space within its reach. This also protects from airborne diseases like the common cold, mumps, measles, pox, and others.

Eliminates Insects

The Tagetes essential oil is lethal to insects and kills them. Therefore, it keeps away parasitic insects such as mosquitoes, fleas, bedbugs, and lice. Common household insects such as cockroaches, ants, white ants, or termites are also kept away.

Sedates Inflammation

The sedative property of this oil is well known and has been in use for a long time. It sedates inflammation and irritation in the digestive, nervous, excretory, and neurotic systems, as well as convulsions, afflictions, anxiety, stress, depression, anger, panic, and other emotional and psychological hyper reactions.

Other Benefits

Apart from the uses discussed above, it is further used to ease phlegm and catarrh deposition, as well as congestion and also to treat wounds, burns, Athlete’s foot, skin diseases, dermatitis, and colitis.

Word of Caution: It may cause sensitization and irritation. Heavier doses or doses of higher concentration may be hard to withstand. It should, therefore, be avoided during pregnancy.

Blending: The essential oil of tagetes blends well with the essential oils of clary sage, jasmine, lavender, lemon, myrrh, and tangerine.

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About the Author

Meenakshi Nagdeve, Co-Founder, Organic Facts is a health and wellness enthusiast and is responsible for managing it. She has completed the Nutrition And Healthy Living Cornell Certificate Program, Cornell University, US. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM Bangalore and B. Tech in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science from IIT Bombay. Prior to this, she worked for a few years in IT and Financial services. An ardent follower of naturopathy, she believes in healing with foods. In her free time, she loves to travel and taste different types of teas.

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