Health benefits of Mustard oil

Health benefits of Mustard oil

As the name suggests, mustard oil is a fatty vegetable oil extracted from the mustard seeds. It is dark yellow in color and slightly pungent. There are generally three types of mustard oils depending upon the manner of extraction. The first is a fatty vegetable oil obtained by pressing the mustard seeds. The second one is a essential oil that is made by grinding the seeds, mixing them with water and extracting the oil through distillation. The third process involves infusing mustard seed extract with other vegetable oils such as soy bean oil. All three categories of oil have a pungent nutty taste and a strong aroma.

1.Stimulant
 Mustard essential oil is a very strong stimulant, just like mustard oil. It is particularly effective in stimulating circulation, digestion and excretion. This oil, if used externally for the purpose of massage, stimulates circulation very well. The effects are very obvious by the red color of the skin. It also stimulates digestion by stimulating the secretion of gastric juices and bile from the spleen and liver. The excretory system is also stimulated by this oil since the peristaltic motion of the intestines is activated, benefiting digestion

2.Removes Tan and Dark Spots
Mustard oil is effective in removing tan and dark spots to give you a naturally glowing skin. For this purpose, prepare a face mask by mixing mustard oil, besan (Bengal gram flour), curd and a few drops of lemon juice and apply it on your face. Rinse with cold water after 10 to 15 minutes. This should be done thrice a week for best results.

3.Cordial
 The feeling of warmth that this oil provides makes it a cordial. It warms up the internal system like the respiratory system and protects it from the formation and accumulation of phlegm. It also warms up the body in winter to some extent. This also may be partially due to its stimulating and mildly irritating effects.

4.Natural Sunscreen
Due to its thick consistency and high levels of vitamin E, topical application of this oil protects your skin against the harsh ultraviolet rays and other pollutants, thus preventing skin cancer. Vitamin E prevents ageing and wrinkles besides acting as a sunshield.

5. Acts as a natural cleanser
Topical application of mustard oil stimulates sweat glands and opens the pores of the skin. This helps in reducing body temperature and removes toxins, unwanted salts and water from the body. Mustard oil disperses into the skin swiftly. When the oil is massaged on the face enzymes activated by body heat transports the oil to the areas that needs attention effectively. This helps the skin to get cleansed naturally within minutes.

6. It improves scalp health
Mustard oil also have a variety of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It helps to combat fungal infections in the scalp when massaged regularly. It keeps the scalp clean and wards of dandruff, the most common of all hair problems. It improves scalp heath which leads to strong and lustrous hair. You can mix equal quantities of mustard oil with olive and coconut oil and massage your hair from root to tip. Cover your hair with a warm towel for 10 minutes after the massage. Wash off your hair with water and a mild shampoo after two hours. 

7.Relieves Cold and Cough
Also mustard oil has proved useful in relieving cold and cough, when applied onto chest or inhaled for its strong aroma, it helps in removing phlegm from the respiratory tract.