Copaiba Essential Oil or Copaiba Balsam Essential Oil is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients globally. Copaiba oil is unique in its composition, micro-nutrients and properties. Copaiba oil’s most prominent application is reducing pain and inflammation anywhere on the body and even inside it. Although it is a powerful anti-inflammatory, it is still safe to be taken internally. This is surprising, as most essential oils are very harmful if ingested.
Source
Copaiba oil comes from trees in the genus Copaifera. These are leguminous trees commonly found in the Amazon rainforest (South America ). Amazon rainforest still doesn’t stop amazing us with its unique flora and fauna. It is immensely diverse and is the source of many medicines. Copaiba may be relatively new to the entire world, but traditionally, it has been used by the native people for at least four centuries.
These trees have tall trunks and branch out only at the top. They secrete a sticky, viscous liquid ( called oleoresin ). This transparent resin is then used to extract Copaiba essential oil using a steam distillation process.
The resin is yellowish to brown, but Copaiba oil is clear white.
Properties
Here we dive into the established properties of Copaiba oil. 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 the faster formation of scar or scab.
- Disinfectant – assists in cleaning out wounds, scrapes etc., to prevent any infection by pathogens.
- An 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 down blood pressure
- Anti-Irritant
Many more effects may be present in this miraculous oil which should come up with more research work.
Uses And Health Benefits
Because of its properties, Copaiba essential oil has a plethora of uses. Most of the benefits are in the form of a topical application agent, and it works fantastic for many conditions.
Let’s look into the applications of Copaiba oil.
Copaiba Essential Oil for Skin
It is impressive for getting healthier skin. Copaiba oil is also generally safe to be applied in sensitive skin, where most other essential oils may not be applicable.
- Acne
- Take two drops of this oil on a cotton ball and apply it directly ( without diluting ) to active acne. It shouldn’t sting. Wait for 2 – 3 hours. The area affected by acne reduces considerably.
- Because its super anti-inflammatory power reduces redness around the acne, making it much less noticeable. Use this trick daily, and acne should be much less inflamed.
- Stretch Marks
- Copaiba oil can be applied directly on stretch marks to fade them. If you feel stretch marks with adequate attention, it is easily noticed that these are depressions in the skin. Apply copaiba oil as massage oil on these scars. The depression starts to fill up in a few weeks. Use this in conjugation with olive oil to fade away the stretch marks.
- Sagging Skin
- Apply it direct on skin areas that are sagging. Copaiba oil boosts the secretion of collagen and elastin to make skin firm and taut.
- Varicose Veins
- Copaiba oil is excellent for treating varicose veins. It improves blood circulation of veins close to the skin, allowing them to drain back and reduce pooled blood. This gets rid of varicose veins. No more compression garments to trouble your legs!
Copaiba Oil For Pain Relief
This oil stands out as natural pain relief. This property is used in many products as well. Its pain-relieving effects can be even stronger than Wintergreen essential oil, which is well renowned for pain relief. Whatever be the cause of pain, this oil helps in lowering down the sensation of pain.
- Arthritis and gout
- Headaches
- Pain due to an injury. If there is a cut or wound, apply it on the outer edges of the wound to lower inflammation and pain caused by stretching of the skin during scab formation.
- Muscular cramp pain
- Fibromyalgia – This is very helpful for people with fibromyalgia symptoms.
- Back joint pain and sciatica – Use deep massage to relieve sciatica using this oil. Using this oil before a chiropractic session helps achieve much better results, as noted by many chiropractors.
Against 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 a generous amount on the lower abdomen and massage. It helps to tone muscles of the bladder and urinary tract, thus reducing the incidences of incontinence.
Copaiba Oil in Sitz Bath
If you never heard of it, a sitz bath is a bath taken for the lower part of the body only. It is used to relieve haemorrhoids and problems of the genital region, like bacterial or fungal infections.
Add 8 – 10 drops of copaiba oil in a sitz bath. Its mild antimicrobial properties help in getting rid of infections. It improves blood circulation and helps in haemorrhoids pain too.
Insect Bites
Hate it when wasps bite me. It swells up and causes throbbing pain. There are myriad insects in our world, and many of them bite. Use copaiba oil on the bite to quickly reduce swelling and get relief.
Soap Perfume
Many DIY enthusiasts make their soap at home. It is pretty easy. In that process, adding copaiba oil imparts mild fragrance to soap, which is excellent.
Lighten up your spirits
Smelling copaiba oil helps lighten up the tense mood as it has a nice and sweet honey-like aroma.
Internal Use
Copaiba oil can be used internally as a natural health supplement to boost health, lower systemic inflammation, and preventive measure against cancer. It provides a wide range of health benefits. One can add it to foods, drinks, juices etc. if the taste seems acceptable and palatable.
How to take it internally?
You cannot just swallow the oil directly, which may be somewhat harmful. Instead, add only two drops to a capsule. Then gulp the capsule down. Take no more than three such capsules in a day.
This works similar to fish oil in lowering inflammation all over the body. The effects may take time to be evident, but when they do, they are striking.
Side Effects and Toxicity Issues
Copaiba essential oil is safe to consume internally in the dosage mentioned above. However, in large doses, it can cause stomach pain and signs similar to food poisoning. Allergy to this oil is rare, but if there is, then one should discontinue its use at once.
History
The traditional uses of Copaiba oil and the Copaiba balsam ( that resin ) far exceed the uses mentioned today. It has been used by the native people of the Amazon and surrounding places like Peru for almost everything under the sun. It is used to treat tumours, heal bladder cystitis, relieve asthma, cure tonsillitis and many other skin conditions. Now, that’s more than an impressive list of uses.
Even the resin obtained from these trees is used as a medicinal agent, in many cases mixing it with honey.
Medical and Nutritional Information
Copaiba oil is exceptionally rich in a special nutrient called beta-caryophyllene. This substance is the chief anti-inflammatory nutrient in this oil. Copaiba oil is 50 % beta-caryophyllene which is 6 – 8 times the amount found in clove essential oil. Clove oil is the best antioxidant in the world. Copaiba oil, however, surpasses its anti-inflammatory capabilities.
This oil has many other anti-inflammatory nutrients in the form of sesquiterpenes. Beta-caryophyllene is one of them. This oil also contains anti-irritant substances like alpha humulene.
This amazing essential oil from Amazon is rare, but it is undoubtedly very powerful.
What’s new about Copaiba Essential Oil?
This oil is the subject of a few studies. It has been found to have anti-oedema effects. It also helps to reduce the excess build-up of fluid in the body and useful in alleviating dermatitis induced by harmful chemicals.
Nutrient Composition of Copaiba Essential Oil
| Nutrient | Percentage | Property |
| Beta-caryophyllene | 50 % | Anti-inflammatory |
| Alpha humulene | – | Anti irritant |
| Alpha copaene | – | Fragrance |
| Alpha bergamotene | – | Fragrance |
| Delta cadinene | – | Antiseptic |
References
1. Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of Copaiba Oils from Copaifera clearness Huber ex Ducke, Copaifera reticulata Ducke and Copaifera multijugate Hayne – a comparative study. – Junior et al
2. Study of high dilutions of Copaiba oil on the inflammatory process – Viriato et al.
3. Anti-inflammatory activity of oleoresin from Brazilian Copaifera.
4. Topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Copaifera duckie Dwyer.
5. Phytochemical and antioedematogenic studies of commercial copaiba oils available in Brazil.
6. Effect of Brazilian copaiba oils on Leishmania amazonensis.