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Living With Type 2

7 Essential Oils For Diabetes

Apr 26, 2017
7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

Today, the healing benefits of essential oils have become more than just the claims of traditional and alternative medicine. They are, increasingly, becoming the stuff of proven scientific theories. So, which essential oils are a must-add to your routine diabetes management repertoire? Saying essential oils will help in curing your diabetes alone is not right since they sure are a brilliant, not to mention – odiferous, way to boost your wellness!

7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

Essential Oils for Diabetes

Why Use Essential Oils For Diabetes Management?

Aromatherapy can be extremely beneficial for insulin sensitivity, with some oils improving insulin response, and others easing the discomforting symptoms that accompany diabetes. Some essential oils may help relieve the severity of diabetes, while others can assist in weight loss. This keeps blood sugar levels more stable. Essential oils can also be used to –

  • Help heal wounds
  • Keep stress at bay
  • Improve sleep pattern and quality
  • Reduce inflammation
7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

1.  Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

Cinnamon bark is one of the most antimicrobial essential oils that exist which are used to lower blood sugar. Steam distilled from cinnamon bark is reddish/ brown in color and contains mostly eugenol (69%-87%) and lesser quantity cinnamaldehyde (~ 1%). Research studies have demonstrated that it helps lower glucose levels, LDL and total cholesterol, triglycerides, and increases insulin sensitivity in people with T2D. Add 1 or 2 drops of cinnamon bark essential oil to all your recipes to gain its benefits.

7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

Coriander Essential Oil

2. Coriander Essential Oil

One of the best essential oils for high blood sugar, Coriander seed oil offers two-prong benefits for diabetics. Firstly, it demonstrates insulin-like activity at cellular level. Secondly, it facilitates insulin release from the pancreas. Studies reveal that coriander reduces triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol, and increases HDL cholesterol. In 2008, a  study conducted on rats found that Coriander seed oil improved lipid profile and suppressed hyperglycemia.

7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

Clove Essential Oil

3. Clove Essential Oil

Clove essential oil is a potent remedy for balancing insulin levels and for fighting the harmful effects of free radicals. It may help diabetics reduce, both, cholesterol and glucose levels. But, it also helps combat inflammation (an underlying cause of diabetes), cataract, ulcers and cardiovascular diseases. Dilute pure clove essential oil with carrier oil if you consume it orally as a supplement. You could also use it in a diffuser. Consuming 1-2 whole cloves per day will also give you the benefits of cloves.

7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

Davana Essential Oil

4. Davana Essential Oil

Davana Essential Oil is extracted from the Artemisia pallens plant and has been used in Indian traditional medicine for years in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Studies have observed that oral administration of this extract reduces blood glucose levels in glucose-fed hyperglycemic and alloxan rats. It also works wonders on joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, wounds and keeps stress at bay.

7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

Lemon Balm Essential Oil

5. Lemon Balm Essential Oil

Lemon balm is another great essential oil to lower blood sugar. Also known as Melissa essential oil, research has found that when administered at low concentrations, it’s an efficient hypoglycaemic agent. This is, probably, due to enhanced glucose uptake and metabolism. Use one drop a day, included in blends or diluted with carrier oil, for digestive assistance. It, also, helps in potential glucose regulation.

7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

Lavender Oil

6. Lavender Oil

It is one of the most common essential oils used across the world. Lavender oil has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties that provide relief from and prevention of diabetic ulcers. Also, research proves that this essential oil protects against diabetes and oxidative stress that is induced by alloxan treatment. It also keeps stress at bay and helps heal wounds, eczema and psoriasis, while improving sleep. Apply it topically or use as a supplement to receive its advantages.

7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

Nigella Seed Oil

7. Nigella Seed Oil

Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) oil has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for treating diabetes, MS, Alzheimer’s disease and even migraines. Studies have found that consuming just two grams of Nigella black seed, daily, could result in reduced fasting blood sugar levels. It also decreases insulin resistance and increases beta-cell function in the pancreas. The oil is two and a half times stronger than the seed, so use it minimally.

7 Essential Oils for Diabetics

How To Use Essential Oils

How To Use Essential Oils?

Essential oils can be potent. Most need to be diluted with carrier oil for safe consumption or application. So, always work with an expert practitioner to understand the usage of essential oils for peripheral neuropathy or to control blood sugar levels. It’s important to know how to use essential oils in conjunction with the prescribed diabetic medication and diabetic diet for a maximized positive effect.

Maneera Saxena Behl
Maneera is a health and fitness enthusiast who is also a firm believer in the power of dietary supplements. A health buff, she likes to help others improve their overall well-being by achieving the right balance between nutrition, exercise and mindfulness.

References:

Chemical Composition and Hypoglycemic and Pancreas-Protective Effect of Leaf Essential Oil from Indigenous Cinnamon (Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira) – http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf401039z

Insulin-releasing and insulin-like activity of the traditional anti-diabetic plant Coriandrum sativum (coriander) – https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0007114599000392

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) seed oil improves plasma lipid profile in rats fed a diet containing cholesterol – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00217-008-0833-y

Effects of a novel formulation of essential oils on glucose– insulin metabolism in diabetic and hypertensive rats: a pilot study – http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1463-1326.2004.00386.x/full

Chemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Syzigium aromaticum (clove) – http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/AJMR/article-abstract/65E9D0911274

Effects of Artemisia pallens Wall. on blood glucose levels in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats – http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0378874195013296?via%3Dihub

Anti-diabetic effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) essential oil on glucose- and lipid-regulating enzymes in type 2 diabetic mice – https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0007114510001765

Lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.) essential oils attenuate hyperglycemia and protect against oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic rats – https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-511X-12-189

Effect of Nigella sativa seeds on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21675032

Long-term effects of Nigella sativa L. oil on some physiological parameters in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats – http://file.scirp.org/Html/3-4300017_7092.htm