The health benefits of fir needle essential oil include its ability to reduce pain, prevent infections, improve respiratory function, increase the metabolism, detoxify the body, and reduce body odor.
Fir Needle Essential Oil
Like so many popular essential oils, fir needle essential is extracted through a process of steam distillation from fir needles, primarily from the species Abies balsamea. The needles are the most important part of this plant, as that is where the active ingredients and powerful chemical compounds are located. Once the essential oil is extracted, it can be used for a wide variety of applications, notably in the form of topical ointments or additives to other carrier oils that have other health properties. The combination of tricyclene, a-pinene, borneol, limonene, acetate, and myrcene all combine for these impressive health effects. [1]
The largest producing companies of fir needle essential oil are France, Germany, and Bulgaria, perhaps due to their large forested areas and an accessible market for health-conscious Europeans who use essential oils regularly. The scent of fir needle essential oil is not overpowering and is considered more of a middle note essential oil. In terms of aromatherapy or topical application, fir needle essential oil blends well with lemon, pine, orange, and rosemary. If you feel like benefitting from the positive effects of this essential oil and enjoying the smell of fresh fir trees, then you should definitely keep reading!
Fir needle essential oil Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Health Benefits of Fir Needle Essential Oil
The health benefits of fir needle essential oil are mentioned in detail below.
Prevents Infections
When it comes to preventing infection, essential oils have been turned to for thousands of years, and fir needle essential oil is no exception. Thanks to its high concentration of antiseptic organic compounds that stimulate the immune system and prevent dangerous infections, fir needle essential oil can be a powerful tool that keeps your body healthy inside and out. [2]
Relieves Pain
The soothing nature of fir needle essential oil makes it ideal for soothing pain and relaxing aching muscles. The stimulating nature of the oil can bring blood to the surface of the skin, flushing out toxins and increasing the rate of healing and recovery so your pain fades away and your body gets even stronger in the process. [3]
Detoxifies the Body
Some of the organic compounds and active oils within fir needle essential oil actually stimulate the body to flush itself clean. This tonic quality of this popular oil makes it great for people on health cleanses or who are simply looking to eliminate a few extra toxins from their system. It can induce sweating, which can push additional toxins from the body, but it also kicks the liver into a higher gear, cleansing numerous systems of the body. [4]
Improves Respiratory Function
Although some essential oils can be dangerous when inhaled, the aromatherapeutic qualities of fir needle essential oil are well known. This powerful essential oil is used in aromatherapy for the improvement of respiratory conditions. It can induce coughing to loosen and release mucous from your membranes, and can also act as an anti-inflammatory agent in the throat and bronchial tubes. Do not ingest the oil. [5]
Increases Metabolism
Fir needle oil is a good cosmetic. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
There are many factors that affect our metabolism, but fir needle essential oil can act as a general body stimulant, kicking our body into overdrive and increasing everything from our digestive rate to our heart rate. It gives us a boost of energy when we need it and can carry us into a more active lifestyle simply by cranking our internal engine up a few notches. [6]
Eliminates Body Odor
The naturally pleasant smell of fir needle essential oil makes it a wonderful candidate for people suffering from body odor. You know what the fresh smell of a beautiful pine forest smells like; isn’t that better than suffering from offensive body odor? Fir needle essential oil can actually decrease the amount of bacteria in your body that creates that foul odor and leave you smelling fresh as the forest! [7]
Word of Caution: Despite the versatility of this particular essential oil, it is important to never consume essential oils internally. Inhalation in the form of aromatherapy is safe in certain situations, but it is always better to speak with an herbalist or an aromatherapist before embarking on this sort of alternative treatment. Also, due to the high concentration of chemicals in these oils, undiluted oils can be very powerful and dangerous when your skin is directly exposed to it.
