Pine just smells so good. As soon as it wafts into your nose, you get the impression of “clean” and, well, the holidays. Your mood is instantly improved. It actually has many other excellent uses, too. It is anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, antiseptic, highly aromatic, diuretic and energizing. You will not believe all of the wonderful health benefits of this fantastic essential oil.
1. Relieve Inflammation
Mix 1 to 3 drops of pine essential oil into 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and massage it into swollen, painful joints and muscles. Pine EO is a very good anti-inflammatory. It will quickly ease pain and inflammation. Coconut oil is a great carrier oil, especially for this purpose. It has inti-inflammatory properties, too.
Personally, I prefer to blend 1 teaspoon of coconut oil with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of argan oil and use that as my carrier oil. The argan oil seems to increase the rate of absorption. You can use any carrier oil you like, though. Pine oil can be mixed with carrier oil up to 50% strength. However, take it slow. Don’t use more than you need in order to get relief. Build up gradually.
*Stronger dilution rates should only be used for 10 days to 2 weeks at a time. The 1% to 3% dilution rate (1 to 3 drops per teaspoon) is fine for everyday use.*
2. Clear Congestion
Put 2 to 3 drops of pine EO into a diffuser and run it for 30 to 60 minutes. It is a great decongestant. If you don’t have a diffuser, put a few drops in a steamy pan of water and inhale the vapors from that. Make sure you keep your eyes closed, though. You can also use the pine oil/carrier oil blend as a vapor rub. Massage it into your chest to relieve chest congestion. Dab it under your nose to relieve sinus congestion. If you prefer, just take 5 to 10 deep inhales directly from the pine essential oil bottle. The vapors will clear that congestion right out.
For an even better vapor rub, combine 1/2 cup coconut oil, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup grated beeswax, 10 drops each of pine and peppermint EO and 20 drops of eucalyptus EO. Heat up the olive oil, coconut oil and beeswax in a double-boiler. Don’t boil them. Just heat them up so they melt and combine completely. Let the mixture cool a bit before you add the essential oils.
*Do not get essential oil in your nose, where it will come in contact with sensitive mucous membranes, or in your eyes.*
3. Detoxify Your Liver
Use pine essential oil to detoxify your liver and reduce inflammation of the gall bladder. It can even reduce the likelihood of gallstones. You can take it orally for this purpose. Pine essential oil is sold in capsule form. It is also called pine nut oil. Drink some lemon water and take a teaspoon of raw honey in your coffee or tea for a more thorough system cleans.
You don’t have to take it orally, though. Massaging the pine oil/carrier oil blend into your liver/gallbladder area then over your abdomen is effective, too. The detoxifying properties are absorbed into your blood stream and organs through your skin.
4. Improve Digestive Health
Massage the pine oil/carrier oil blend into your abdominal area to improve digestive health. Begin just below your breast bone, cover the liver/gallbladder area then work the oil into your abdominal area. You can also take pine oil capsules for this. Pine nut oil can also reduce your appetite.
*Do not take pine oil orally if you have kidney problems as it can be hard on the kidneys. Don’t take too much for too long.*
5. Alleviate Headaches
Put a little pine oil/coconut oil blend on your fingertips then apply it to your temples and a little on your chest to alleviate headaches. Gently massage it into your temples. A 20-minute aromatherapy session with pine oil will also get rid of a headache or, for quick and dirty headache relief, just take 5 to 10 deep inhales from the bottle. Breathe the vapors slowly and deeply into your sinuses through your nose then exhale through your mouth.
6. Get Allergy Relief
Practice pine essential oil aromatherapy for 30 to 60 minutes for allergy relief. It will reduce the inflammation in your sinuses and calm your allergy symptoms. You can also just inhale it directly from the bottle. If you are suffering from severe allergies, mix 2 drops of pine oil, 2 drops of eucalyptus oil and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil together. Massage it into the back of your neck, shoulders, throat and chest. After applying it, go back to massaging it into your shoulders. Do a really deep massage. You will be surprised by how well that helps to relax you and open your airways.
7. Improve Scalp and Hair Health
Add a few drops of pine essential oil to your shampoo and/or conditioner to improve scalp and hair health and get rid of dandruff. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties are great for this. I usually mix up about 1/4 cup at a time. Just add 5 to 6 drops per 1/4 cup. Use a mild shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t have a strong fragrance. You can also add a few drops of lavender, eucalyptus, bergamot or clary sage for a more effective and/or soothing mixture. Lavender and clary sage are especially soothing to irritated skin. Eucalyptus and bergamot are also good for the scalp and hair. They will give you a more refreshing, eye-opening shampooing experience.
8. Soothe Allergic Dermatitis
Apply a 1% to 3% pine EO/carrier oil blend to allergic dermatitis or itchy rashes. It will soothe the itch and reduce inflammation quickly. You can also add 5 to 10 drops of pine oil to your bath for all-over relief.
**Apply a small amount of a 3% pine oil/carrier oil blend to an inconspicuous area and wait for at least a few hours to see if you get a reaction before you begin using it all over. A very small percentage of people tend to have an allergic reaction to pine oil. **
9. Reduce Acne and Blemishes
Use the 3% pine oil/carrier oil blend to moisturize acne-prone skin. Its antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties are great for clearing up acne and other skin blemishes. Jojoba and almond oils are excellent carrier oils for acne-prone skin. Pine oil’s antioxidants will improve your overall skin health, too, clearing up the free radicals that can cause premature skin aging. Your sagging skin and wrinkles will disappear, leaving you with smooth, healthy, rejuvenated skin. You can also use it to help heal sores and wounds.
10. Treat Athlete’s Foot
Rub a pine oil/carrier oil blend into your feet, especially your toes, to get rid of athlete’s foot. You may want to use the stronger blend for this. Use it for up to 2 weeks at a time. Once the fungal infection is cleared, use the 1% to 3% blend to moisturize your feet after a shower and help prevent re-infection.
11. Get Relief from Eczema and Psoriasis
Apply the 1% to 3% pine oil blend to patches of eczema and psoriasis. It is very effective for this. You can use a stronger blend but increase the strength of the pine oil gradually.
*Do not use pine essential oil on young children or the elderly. I can cause hypertension.*
12. Relieve Stress
Practice pine essential oil aromatherapy to relieve stress. Your stress and anxiety will melt away, leaving you feeling positive. Pine oil also boosts your confidence and self-esteem. Just put 2 to 3 drops in your diffuser and run it for 30 to 60 minutes when you begin to feel stressed. You can also put 3 to 5 drops in your bath water for a stress-relieving, soothing soak. If you don’t have time for aromatherapy, take a few deep breaths from the bottle.https://www.youtube.com/embed/UEX1_cPXX6g?rel=1&modestbranding=0&controls=1&showinfo=1&fs=1&wmode=transparent
13. Boost Your Energy Level
Enhance your energy level, reduce adrenal fatigue and elevate your mood with pine essential oil aromatherapy. It really does put some pep back in your step when you are feeling low. Massage a 1% to 3% blend into your shoulders and the back of your neck, if you can. It will relax and rejuvenate you.
14. Clean Your Home
Use pine essential oil to clean your home from top to bottom. Diffuse it to rid the air in your home of fungal spores, bacteria and viruses. Add 3 to 5 drops of pine oil to a cup of warm water in a spray bottle and use it to clean hard surfaces and carpets. Mix 3 to 5 drops into 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda to make a paste. Use the paste to scrub grimy pots and pans and tough dirt on hard surfaces in your home. Combine 10 drops of pine oil with 1/2 cup of distilled vinegar in a bucket of warm water and use it to mop the floors.
15. Clean and Freshen Your Shoes
Freshen your smelly shoes while you kill bacteria and fungi. Just put 2 to 3 drops of pine oil on a paper towel or washcloth and wipe the insides of your shoes with it. You can also dilute it in a little water and lightly spray it in the shoes. For a little added anti-fungal/antibacterial boost, add a couple drops of tea tree oil.
Was this list helpful to you? I was surprised by all the excellent uses for pine essential oil. It has a long-standing reputation for being a good household cleaner, but I didn’t know it was good for our overall health. Of course, the fragrance of pine oil is absolutely wonderful and very distinctive. It just says “clean” as soon as you smell it. If you enjoy the smell of pine, I hope you will give this essential oil a try. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Please leave a comment to let me know if you found this list helpful and share your own personal experiences. We can all learn from each other and continue to add to the on-going list of pine essential oil’s incredible uses. Be sure to share, too, so that others can become aware of all the uses for this essential oil.