Wild Carrot Seed Essential Oil (Steam Distilled) Daucus carota steam distilled from the seeds, social enterprise, Hungary

Description: Wild carrot is an annual herbaceous plant with branched stems, hairy leaves and umbels of tiny white flowers. Its root is also white but inedible. The plant is native to Europe, Asia and North Africa but has been naturalized in North America.

Aroma: This oil has a warm, dry, woody-earthy odour and a light fruity-floral note, slightly spicy, strong herbaceous musky scent.

Colour: Pale yellow to amber liquid.

Consistency: Thin

Note: Middle

Strength of Aroma: Medium

History: The name is derived from the Greek Carotos and had great medicinal value to the Greeks and Romans in ancient times, especially for its carminative properties. The herb was transported to the Americas where it became known as Queen Anne's Lace, and the edible orange root as we know it was developed by the Dutch in the 1700s.

Properties: Antiseptic, carminative, diuretic,hypo-renal depurative, hepatic, stimulant, tonic, vasodilator and smooth muscle relaxant.

Constituents:
Pinene, carotol (+-72%), daucol, limonene, bisabolene, elemene, geraniol, geranyl acetate, caryphyllene.

Uses: Carrot oil is used to treat and regenerate the liver and thyroid. The herb is a popular addition to food seasonings and is an ingredient in many soaps, detergents, perfumes and massage oils.

Common Uses: Carrot Seed Essential Oil, high in carotenes, is considered one of the best oils to enhance the appearance of mature skin. Its chemical constituents may stimulate cell growth while removing toxins, which would give the skin a more toned, youthful appearance. It has been reputed to be useful in treating scars, wounds and burns. Carrot seed oil may also be helpful in the aromatherapeutic treatment of arthritis, gout, edema, rheumatism and the accumulation of toxins in muscles and joints. It is thought to strengthen the mucus membranes in the nose, throat and lungs, thus having a beneficial effect on conditions such as bronchitis and influenza.

Other Uses:

The root of Daucus carota is used for treating liver and gall bladder ailments while the seeds promote menstruation and are used to cure digestive disorders. Wild carrot oil is thought to cure a broken heart by acting on the throat and crown chakras. One drop of oil in warm water per week is enough for this purpose. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, carrot oil is used to dislodge worms and treat dysentery.

Cautions: Non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing. Avoid use during pregnancy.

Photo thanks to David McCorquodale, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons