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Carrot Seed Oil
Carrot seed oil may be found in many formulas dealing with skin conditions ranging from revitalising and toning to eczema and ageing. The plant itself contains the following chemical properties:
13 chemicals - analgesic properties
2 chemicals - androgenic properties
4 chemicals - anti-alzheimeran activity
7 chemicals - anti-aggregant activity
3 chemicals - anorexic activity
7 chemicals - anti-acne
1 chemical - anti-aging
4 chemicals - anti-alzheimeran activity
7 chemicals - anti-asthmatic activity
To see the complete list visit
The
Chemical Activity of Plants by Gary Null.
Carrot seed oil also assists in removing toxin and water build up in the
skin giving it a fresher more firmer appearance. The aroma is earthy with
a medium perfumary note. It does not have a particularly pleasing aroma on
its own, but blends well with others like orris, violet and mimosa.
Note: Not to be confused with the base carrot oil which should be blended
with other base oils at 10%. The base oil contains many of the same properties.
Base carrot oil is orange and processed from the root, carrot seed essential
oil is yellow.
This article is courtesy of Kelly Campolo,President
of South Beach Sun Co. The Company who specialise in a full line of carrot
oil skin care products that they have innovated and researched the extraordinary
benefits of. Click on the logo to see more detail.
A. Health Properties
Carrot seed oil is steam distilled from the dried fruit (seeds). Carrot root oil is obtained by solvent extraction of the red carrot (root) and contains high levels of carotenes.
Carrot seed oil is a yellow or amber-coloured
to pale orange-brown liquid of peculiar dry-woody, somewhat root-like, earthy
odour. The initial notes are sweet and fresh,
but
the
tenacious undertone and dry out is very heavy, earthy, fatty-oily, slightly
spicy. Normally the seed is first crushed, and then distilled with direct
steam, care being taken that the steam does not form channels through the
seed material in the still, which would result in a subnormal yield of
oil.
Oil content can be very variable, 0.05 however, like celery seed, carrot seed can be distilled without crushing, and this will minimize the carry-over of odourless fixed oil in the distillate. Although there are no accurate medicinal data on this oil, many of the following actions are attributed to infusions or alcoholic solutions of the whole seed: anthelmintic, antiseptic, carminative, depurative, diuretic, hepatic, cytophylactic and stimulant. There are even suggestions that it might be anti-diabetic, anti-hypercholesterol and a liver regenerator.
Respected
aromatherapy references suggest that it is useful for the treatment of
dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles, and that it aids dry skin and
revitalises the basal layer. There is also evidence that it assists circulation
and aids muscular tension. It has been suggested that it might be useful
for the treatment of hypertension and neurasthenia.
It is hormonal in action and helps the pituitary gland to regulate the production of thyroxine and the release of ova. It is also said to ease PMT. Carrot seed oil is said to have a powerful tonic action on the liver and gall-bladder, and is used in the treatment of jaundice and other liver disorders.
B. Skin Protection
How can the brazen quest for a beautiful tan and the need for protection from UVR be reconciled? You won't find the answer in any newly engineered chemicals. Nature holds the solution in Carrot Oil. Suncare products containing naturally extracted Carrot Oil quickly produce a beautiful golden tan and better protect the skin against the damaging effects of UVR than chemical sunscreens alone.
Carrot Oil is a golden coloured extract from carrots with extraordinary skin protection and conditioning benefits derived from the high quantities of oil soluble carotenoids that it contains. Carotenoids are a class of easily assimilated antioxidants, which are present in a wide range of fruits and vegetables but most abundant in carrots. Antioxidants protect human cells from harmful free-radical attack. Free-radicals are stray oxygen molecules that attack healthy cell walls and react with polyunsaturated fats to create a chain reaction of unlimited free-radical regeneration. Free-radicals are produced by a wide range of environmental pollutants, including UVR. If left unchecked by antioxidants, free-radicals damage both the structure and function of cell membranes, resulting in premature aging, cancer and an array of degenerative diseases.
Read more about antioxidants here.
Carotenoids, when either topically applied or ingested, directly reduce the damaging effects of UVR. Specifically, carotenoids have been found to enhance the body's immune response to UVR, decreasing skin damage from ultraviolet exposure. Carotenoids have even been proven to inhibit the proliferation of various types of cancer cells. Carrots contain over 600 identified carotenoids, making them an unparalleled source of antioxidants. Carrot Oil, derived from pure carrot extract, is the most potent source of the highest concentration of carotenoids available. Suncare products with only Beta-carotene (a single carotenoid), although possibly beneficial, do not contain the wide range of antioxidants contained in Carrot Oil.
In addition to carotenoids, Carrot Oil contains other powerful antioxidants such as tocopheryl, or vitamin E. Studies have shown that topical application of vitamin E may directly reduce many harmful effects of UVR, enhance skin immunity and help heal a sunburn.
Carrot Oil also acts as a natural tanning
enhancer, producing a visibly golden tan in a short amount of time. The natural
color of Carrot Oil is deep gold and will appear so in solutions containing
effective concentrations (between 2% to 10%). Either alone or when combined
with other tanning enhancers, such as tyrosine or riboflavin, suncare products
containing effective concentrations of Carrot Oil provide a noticeably golden,
even tan without any unwanted orange coloration.
It must be noted that the beneficial effects of Carrot Oil may be diminished
if placed in a mineral oil base. Mineral oil, commonly known as baby oil,
is a petroleum derivative that decreases the absorption of and depletes the
body's reserves of vitamins, especially vitamin E.8 During exposure to UVR,
this is of special concern. Of even greater concern, the World Health
Organization and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have published
findings that mineral oil has been determined to cause cancer in humans.
Unfortunately for the consumer, most suncare products are almost wholly comprised
of mineral oil because it serves as an inexpensive base. However, there are
Carrot Oil suncare products available that do not contain mineral
oil.
In summary, Carrot Oil used in combination with topical sunscreens provides more optimal protection against skin cancer and photo aging than chemical sunscreens alone. In order to maximize the positive effects, look for Carrot Oil products that expressly do not contain mineral oil and that have a deep golden colour upon application to the skin.
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