While green tea is made from the dried leaves of the camellia oleifera, the cold-pressing extraction method used on the seeds of the plant produces camellia oil, which is also known as tea seed oil.
The oil itself is often compared to both grape seed oil and olive oil in terms of both its easy storage and numerous culinary applications.
Unlike the other oils, however, camellia oil is also used in a variety of beauty products and health treatments, some of which date back centuries.
While the first instance of the use of camellia oil has not been precisely dated, there are historical accounts that suggest tea cultivation has been an active and popular activity in Asia for nearly four thousand years.
Currently, green tea makes up only ten percent of the world’s total produced teas, although camellia oil is popular with chefs throughout China, and was used by Geishas in Japan to increase the shine of their hair.
My Top 5 Best Camellia Oil Brands In 2019
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*The companies chosen above are based upon my personal opinion based upon me giving them a try and testing their quality.
10 Most Popular Uses of Camellia Oil
If you are considering trying camellia oil for the first time, it is important to understand what it is good to use for. Below I cover some of the most popular uses of the oil and how you can incorporate it into your daily regime.
Beautiful Hair
Noted for the vibrant sheen and luster it imparts to hair, camellia oil has long been a secret weapon in the arsenal of the world’s most fashionable women.
In addition to moisturizing the ends of hair, the oil helps heal and restore the roots, especially if it used as a daily conditioner. Other techniques include a quick rinse with the oil before a customary application of shampoo and conditioner.
Beautiful Skin
Because of the oil’s high incidence of fatty omega acids, camellia is an exceptional aide when it comes to healing sunburns and easing inflammation. It can even be used as a balm for certain recurring skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema.
Because it is a naturally occurring product, the oil can generally be rubbed into the skin and then left to naturally dry, although each person should monitor their own reaction to the oil.
Softer Skin
For those looking to add some lushness back into their skins, rubbing a few drops of the oil can immediately transform dry or rough skin into a smooth, soft surface.
Despite being an oil, the substance does not leave behind a greasy residue, which makes it especially popular among those who prefer natural ointments to heavily formulated chemical compounds.
Stomach Aches
The soothing properties of the oil can often help those who are prone to nausea or stomach upset. This is most commonly garnered by using the oil to prepare food, and is especially recommended for those who are looking to switch to a much healthier diet.
However, adding a few drops of the oil to a drink can also help to ease minor stomach pains.
Ringworm, Dandruff, and Burns
Ancient Chinese medical texts reveal that camellia oil was frequently used as a treatment for each of the above conditions, which is not surprising considering that many contemporary applications are essentially variations of these methods.
Dandruff is eased by helping to moisturize the hair, while burns, especially from the sun, often are healed with an application of the oil.
A Way to Lower Blood Pressure
With its blend of monounsaturated fats and high levels of potassium, this oil greatly aids in a much healthier cardiovascular system in two major ways.
First, potassium frequently acts as a vasodilator, which helps open up the blood circulation pathways. Secondly, monounsaturated fats play a role in reducing hypertension, which correspondingly helps lower one’s overall blood pressure.
Helps With Osteoporosis
For women who are battling the bone disease, camellia oil is a healthy and natural way to add back in essential nutrients including phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.
While it does not cure osteoporosis, camellia oil does greatly mitigate the symptoms, and aids in increasing one’s overall range of motion.
Strengthens the Immune System
The healing properties of green tea are one of the reasons it is such a popular drink among so many different kinds of people.
The high number of triterpenes in the oil acts as a defensive barrier against common colds and other viral agents, helping to keep the immune system in overall excellent shape.
Aids in Cancer Prevention
Those looking to prevent breast, colon, and prostate cancer will do themselves an enormous favor by imbibing more camellia oil.
The substance is rich in squalane, which has been observed in certain animals and is believed to have cancer-inhibiting properties.
Helps Ease Inflamed Joints
After a certain age, inflamed joints can be a chronic and unpleasant part of daily life. Luckily, this oil helps to soothe and ease the pain associated with headaches, certain respiratory conditions, and arthritis.
When taken on a regular basis, the kaempferol, oleic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid work to reduce swelling and inflammation, leading to a healthier body.
The Story Behind the Benefits of Camellia Oil (And The Studies to Prove It)
According to a number of studies, including this one published in the Journal of Lipids and archived in the National Institutes of Health, camellia oil can help prevent cancer.
This is not to say that it can be used a cure for cancer, although many of its effects are soothing and add comfort into a patient’s life. However, when used as part of a healthy diet, it can greatly reduce a person’s chances of having a life-threatening cancer.
It also has exceptional would healing properties, as discussed in this Chinese study. From abrasions on the skin to minor burns to dryness or roughness, the oil helps moisturize and nurture the skin, restoring it to full health.
Luckily, many of camellia’s benefits are obvious and can be witnessed with the naked eye. This not only includes the numerous health benefits already mentioned in this article, but also its amazing benefits as a culinary tool.
The smoke point of camellia oil is relatively high, which makes it ideal for chefs who enjoy preparing a variety of different foods but do not wish to add an oily flavor to their dishes.
As a result, it can be used as a base food preparation oil for almost any diet, from those who relish a meat-heavy menu to vegans.
In general, camellia oil can be substituted for any cooking oil in the exact same amount as the original oil. For use as a butter substitute, however, about four-fifths of the amount of oil is recommended.
What is Camellia Oil Made of, Anyway?
Why is camellia oil so healing? Although the combination of elements interacts within each person’s body in its own custom way, the make-up of camellia oil is fundamentally a healthy one.
Consider this list of vitamins, acids, and other nutrients that forms the primary list of the oil’s ingredients:
- Omega 6 fatty acids
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Omega 9 fatty acids
- Oleic Acid
- Palmitic Acid
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin A
- Linoleic Acid
Each of these vitamins and nutrients contains its own healing properties. In combination, they form an oil that is velvety to the touch without being particularly greasy.
This has made the oil exceedingly popular among chefs and beauty practitioners, who value it both for its texture and its relative lack of odor.
The Proof is in the Patent: A Brief History of How the Benefits of Camellia Oil Came to Be
Starting in the late 1980s, extensive study of tea seed oil was undertaken by a variety of scientists in Asia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
These studies focused on everything from the oil’s ability to heal wounds to its beauty enhancement properties to its use as a cooking agent. The studies were initiated in part to verify historical accounts of the use of the oil, which had been written about for hundreds of years.
Several facts were discerned and verified, including:
Polyphenols in the oil help prevent scar formation and apoptosis (known as sudden cell death)(source)
Two-stage carcinogenesis within the skin of mice was found to be prevented with camellia oil. (source)
The antioxidants within the oil make it particularly effective for use as an anti-aging skin beauty treatment. (source)
The presence and concentration of oleic acid within the oil actively prevents cardiovascular diseases while also helping to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. (source)
Numerous minerals with a high nutritional value, including magnesium, selenium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, and calcium, are present within the oil. (source)
In an addition to a detailed nutritional breakdown of the oil, studies on the potential uses of the oil as a cancer prevention substance are currently being undertaken by a variety of universities and institutions around the world.
More information on the specific ways that camellia oil prevents cancer in humans is expected soon.
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Final Thoughts About Camellia Oil
Why should a woman use camellia oil?
Simply put, the sheer variety of uses of the substance, in combination with its outstanding nutritional contents and its many health benefits, makes it an essential part of any personal improvement regimen.
With it's monounsaturated fats and essentially odorless taste, it is perfect for use as a cooking oil for those who do not want to add an unnecessarily oily or greasy flavor to their food.
Unlike other cooking oils, it will also retain its consistency for a much longer time at higher temperatures, which makes it ideal for preparing certain cuisines that require a very high preparation temperature.
In terms of its uses as a beauty product, it is virtually limitless. Women who are seeking a skin-care aide that is neither too greasy nor loaded with artificial chemicals will relish camellia oil for its smooth texture and easy application.
Those who wish to heal their sunburns or minor cuts with a substance that will help them heal quickly and flawlessly will also appreciate how effective this oil is.
In terms of cosmetic applications, camellia oil not only enriches the appearance of one’s hair, but helps to maintain the fundamental health of the scalp by nourishing the hair at the root.
Unlike other shampoos and conditioners, it does not leave behind a greasy residue or add unwanted artificial chemicals into the body. It is perhaps one of the healthiest formations for skin and hair care available on the market.
Because several major diseases including cardiovascular problems and osteoporosis can either be prevented or managed effectively with camellia oil, any woman who wants to retain her health should consider adding this substance into their diet and beauty regimen.
This substance works to help anyone combat both the appearance and effects of aging.
A woman who desires fresh, young-looking skin as well as stronger bones and organs will benefit from the use of camellia oil.