We looked at essential oils, their properties and benefits in a previous article, now let's move on to the "counterpart" of essential oils, vegetable oils !

Vegetable oils are extracted from the seeds and fruits of oil-bearing plants, and contain numerous vitamins and essential fatty acids for a rich and varied diet, as well as for dermatological, aromatherapy and cosmetic treatments.

With good reason, vegetable oils will be your daily ally in making you feel better, whether as a curative or preventive measure.

What is a vegetable oil ?

Vegetable oils are derived from certain parts of oleaginous plants, such as seeds, pips or kernels, which are rich in lipids. In the "same group", we find vegetable oils and oily macerates.

Oily macerates are obtained from non-oleaginous plants that have been macerated by immersing the part of the plant of interest in a neutral oil (neutral oils often include rapeseed oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, etc.).

Vegetable oils are often used to complement essential oils, as their high fatty acid content makes them excellent dilution aids.

We find them just about everywhere: in cosmetics (body, hair and face), in cooking, to enhance flavors, and in therapeutic treatments.

Vegetable oil and oily macerate: what's the difference ?

Contrary to popular belief, not all plants can be used as a source of vegetable oil, so to avoid going without their benefits, an alternative was found: maceration !

The part of the plant that is interesting from every point of view is bathed in a neutral oil, usually olive or sunflower oil, to help transfer the active ingredients to the oil.

Once maceration is complete, the oil is no longer neutral, but has become a beneficial oil, often organic and ready for use.

What vegetable oils are good for you ?

Whether you're a beginner in the use of plant oils, or you're fishing for information about aromatherapy, we're here to enlighten you about a few hand-picked oils, for their benefits and ease of use. Follow the guide !

For sensitive skin - Cosmetic argan oil

The argan tree can grow to a height of around ten meters, and is found in the Moroccan Atlas mountains. Its branches are bristling with thorns, and its fruits are berries the size of olives.

The vegetable oil we know is obtained by first cold pressing the kernels, corresponding to the seeds separated from the hard shell.

It has a light, fluid texture that rinses off very easily, unlike other oils which can be much thicker.

The benefits of cosmetic argan oil :

• Antioxidant,
• Nourishing,
• Firming,
• Softening.

It can be found in day creams, shampoos, hair masks, body milks, oil baths...

It makes hair soft, nourishes and moisturizes, strengthens brittle nails and nourishes dry skin. It's a concentrate of benefits, in its raw state !

To be enjoyed without moderation.

For all skin types (pregnant women, children and babies) - sweet almond oil

Sweet almond oil nourishes, seals in moisture and protects skin and hair, while restoring vigor and radiance.

Nourishing, it is perfect for chapped or dry skin, and for preventing stretch marks.

One of the main advantages of sweet almond oil is that it is suitable for all skin types, including infants. However, because perfection is not of this world, sweet almond oil suffers from poor penetration power.

The benefits of sweet almond oil

Thanks to its composition rich in oleic acid and softening active ingredients, sweet almond vegetable oil softens the skin and protects it from drying out.

Thanks to its emollient properties, it can be used as an ingredient in massage oils for delicate skin, or in stretch mark treatments.

It can be used for both hair and skin care, and excels in both, softening and strengthening your hair, and softening your skin, soothing itching and repairing it.

For natural, homemade cosmetics - coconut oil

The coconut palm is found in all humid tropical zones, and its fruits (coconuts) produce a pulp that is the source of vegetable coconut oil.

Like tea tree oil, it's the must-have vegetable oil. Coconut oil, for example, is useful in more than 50 different situations, so its value for money and use is unbeatable !

The benefits of coconut oil

It is a versatile oil that can be used both in cooking and in making natural homemade cosmetics:

• deodorants,
• toothpastes,
• hair mask.

As an infant care product:

• Diaper rash,
• Cradle cap.

As a treatment for adults:

• For fungal infections,
• As a natural solution against lice and ringworm,
• To relieve sunburn,
• For toothache.

And many more...

For every ailment - black cumin oil

Black cumin is a small plant that grows mainly in Western Asia, the Mediterranean region, Ethiopia and Arabia, usually flowering in summer.

Thanks to its innumerable virtues, black cumin oil is an indispensable dietary supplement, thanks to its vitamin content, contained in the seeds.

Black cumin oil supports the immune system, promotes digestive well-being and the nervous system, and is one of the most widely consumed oils in the world due to its rich composition. This is not surprising, since it was cited in religious texts and used in prophetic medicine.

The benefits of black cumin oil

Black cumin oil is very rich in essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, and linoleic acid.

It should be pointed out that essential fatty acids are excellent, and indispensable, for our health, as they play a part in various bodily functions, and are the allies of good health.

Cold extraction of black cumin oil preserves all of the seed's vitamins. Black cumin seeds contain a number of essential vitamins, such as B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9, as well as vitamins E and C, making them excellent antioxidants, and provitamin A.

Black cumin oil promotes digestive comfort, strengthens the immune system, is a "detox cure", an anti-inflammatory, has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and contributes to the proper functioning of the nervous system...

Used since ancient times, and recommended in prophetic medicine, don't hesitate to consume it - your body will thank you.

For eyelash, nail and hair growth - castor oil

Castor oil comes from a plant often used as an ornamental. Its characteristic fruit is covered with green or red prickles, depending on maturity.

Cold-pressed castor oil has a very high viscosity (the densest vegetable oil).

Its specific fatty acid, ricinoleic acid, has astonishing virtues that were already known in Antiquity, when castor oil was used as a make-up remover, but also as fuel for oil lamps.

The benefits of castor oil

Castor oil is known for strengthening nails, hair and eyelashes, and is perfect for repairing and nourishing dry, devitalized, split, brittle or frizzy hair.

However, unlike eyelashes, where it can be applied pure, its viscosity means that it should be applied to hair in a mixture with mustard oil, for example.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties, so for people suffering from joint pain, use it externally by gently massaging the painful areas - guaranteed effect !

For migraine sufferers, as with peppermint essential oil, a few drops on the temples and the pain will quickly dissipate.

Finally, if you suffer from insomnia and don't have orange honey nearby, a few drops of castor oil in your ears before bedtime will be beneficial. However, in the case of chronic insomnia, medical advice is essential.

For gourmets - edible argan oil

Used extensively by Moroccan women, edible argan oil is extracted from the fruit of the argan tree, found only in south-western Morocco.

It produces small fruits containing a very hard nut with two to three kernels.

Once roasted and pressed, they give argan oil a slightly toasted aroma, reminiscent of hazelnut oil.

Unlike cosmetic argan oil, its odor is more pronounced and its color darker, due to the roasting process.

The benefits of edible argan oil

There's little health information or research on dietary argan oil, but we do know that it contains a good dose of antioxidant vitamin E, is high in omega 9, which protects the cardiovascular system, and omega 6, essential fatty acids.

Argan oil contains too little omega 3 and too much omega 6, so we recommend mixing it with another oil rich in omega 3. This will not only add a delicious flavour to your dishes, but will also give you a good balance of fatty acids !

For dry, damaged skin - organic aloe vera oil

Known for at least 5,000 years, at different times and in different parts of the world, aloe vera is a plant appreciated, known and used by our ancestors.

These include, in no particular order, the Egyptians, Romans, Italians, Algerians, Tunisians, Moroccans, Greeks, Arabs, Indians, Chinese...

All these peoples, who were sometimes far apart, knew of the fabulous powers of this plant.

As far back as the 13th century, aloe was used to treat stomach upsets, hives and other skin ailments.

In ancient writings, Christopher Columbus is said to have asserted that four plants are indispensable to man's well-being: wheat, grapes, olives and aloe vera, and he was called a "doctor in a jar" !

The benefits of aloe vera oil

• Do you need to relieve pain and inflammation ?
• Want to nourish your dry hair ?
• Want to get rid of dandruff ?
• Want to effectively treat insect bites, swelling or inflammation ?
• Do you want to prevent cavities and plaque, and avoid gingivitis ?
• Want to accelerate hair growth ?
• Do you want to fight fungal infections ?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, aloe vera oil is for you. It can also be used to erase stretch marks, acne, psoriasis, herpes, shingles...

Finally, aloe vera oil contains numerous vitamins, including vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, vitamin A beta-carotene and vitamin E alpha-tocopherol.

It also contains many minerals, including copper, iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, manganese and potassium.

Conclusion

The aim of this modest article is to introduce you to vegetable oils, first and foremost for therapeutic purposes, but also for cosmetic purposes.

We do our utmost to provide you with clear, precise, well-documented information, to democratize access to healthy products, often organic, that enable you to live in good health.

It's important to realize that it took thousands of years before we had concrete, reliable information on the "power" of these oils, and that they have immense potential, and their capacities have nothing to envy with the most expensive and powerful drugs.

Vegetable oils and essential oils will be a great help, if you know how to use them, respect the conditions of use and storage, a healthy mind in a healthy body, what more could you ask for !