Christmas is warmth, sweet sensations but also balsamic aromas that envelop us, giving calm, freeing the mind and opening the breath. Today we see the properties of a very particular essential oil, in fact we are talking about the essence obtained from the branches and needles of the black spruce, scientific name Picea mariana. This essential oil, with its warm forest aroma, immediately brings to mind the holidays, the family gathered around the tree, laughter, but it also has another characteristic. In fact, the essential oil of picea mariana is appreciated for its many uses that make it a powerful ally for the health of the brain, lungs, skin and hair! But let's understand better.
Black spruce essential oil for skin and hair
Black spruce essential oil contains, as main compounds, alpha and beta pinene that give it antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (Poaty et al, World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2015). This essential oil is therefore useful in case of irritated skin, eczema, itching and dandruff. The hair treatment is excellent by mixing 3 tablespoons of jojoba oil and 5 drops of black spruce essential oil. Apply this lotion to a damp scalp, massage and then go on until the ends of the hair. Leave on for fifteen minutes, then rinse. This hair mask helps fight dandruff, dry, damaged, brittle hair that tend to fall out. If you add a drop of black spruce essential oil to the face mask prepared with 2 tablespoons of ventilated green clay and a little water as needed to obtain a cream, you can obtain a useful remedy to soothe irritated skin by atmospheric agents but also in case of dermatitis and acne.
Black spruce essential oil for mood
One of the main constituents of black spruce essential oil is, as mentioned, a substance called alpha pinene that has shown an anxiolytic and neuroprotective action (Salehi et al, Biomolecules, 2019). Not only that, as well as other essential oils of conifers, that of picea mariana contains bornyl acetate that acts on the autonomic nervous system, bringing calm and relaxation (Matsubara et al, Biomed Res, 2011). In fact, a massage performed with jojoba oil, to which a blend of the essential oils of black spruce, grapefruit, bitter orange and lavender was added, helped improve mood, sleep but also brain work (Anderson et al. , Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am, 2018).
Picea mariana essential oil for respiratory health
Picea mariana essential oil is balsamic, purifies the air and helps you breathe better thanks to the action of its main compounds such as alpha and beta pinene, 3 carene and limonene. These substances, in fact, act as bronchodilators, thus proving useful in case of asthma, they counteract allergic rhinitis, which in this winter period can be caused by dust or pollution, and strengthen the immune system by fighting inflammation in the respiratory tract. (Kim et al, Int J Mol Sci, 2020).
