Copaiba Oil Uses and Benefits for Pain Relief, Skin and More (Evidence Based)
Copaiba oil comes from the balsam or resin of trees in the Copaifera species. Copaiba oil is used for pain relief, reducing inflammation, killing off infections, and lowering blood pressure. The oil extracted from the copaiba tree is also good for your skin to treat acne, fungal infections, and to speed up healing.
Copaiba oil has a long history of use in traditional medicine in South America. However, recent research has shown that there is scientific basis for many of its traditional uses. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of copaiba balsam essential oil have many benefits to your health.
In this article, you will learn about the many therapeutic benefits of using copaiba oil. You will also find out how to use copaiba essential oil for treating a number of health conditions.
What is Copaiba Oil?
Copaiba essential oil is a pale-colored liquid that is distilled from the resin of Copaifera trees. Sometimes copaiba oil is referred to as copaiba balsam essential oil.
The journal Genetics and Molecular Biology reports that copaiba oil resin is traditionally used in folk medicine. Copaiba oil is used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antiseptic remedy. (1)
Copaiba essential oil contains a number of chemical compounds that enhance its anti-inflammatory activity. For example, the main copaiba compound is caryophyllene which is used in many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. (2)
Other copaiba compounds such as copaene, cadinene, and germacrene B have medicinal properties that accelerate wound healing and kill off various microbial infections. (3)
Copaiba Essential Oil Uses and Benefits
How can you use copaiba oil as a remedy for a number of health conditions? Let’s look in more detail at how to use copaiba oil to keep your skin healthy, alleviate pain, and boost your mood.
Copaiba Essential Oil is Anti-Inflammatory
One of the most well-researched uses of copaiba oil is as a natural remedy to reduce inflammation.
A 2018 study found that copaiba oil has anti-inflammatory properties that easily penetrates the skin. Adding copaiba oil to a carrier oil helped to reduce swelling when applied to damaged skin. (4)
There is also evidence that taking copaiba oil internally can have an anti-inflammatory effect. One study on rats found that copaiba oil can help to recover quicker after surgery by modulating the immune system’s response. (5)
How to use copaiba oil to reduce inflammation
As with most essential oils, you should always dilute copaiba essential oil with a carrier oil before using. You can use any carrier oil of your choice, such as coconut oil, olive oil, and sweet almond oil.
To help soothe inflamed skin, mix 3-4 drops of copaiba essential oil with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil or other carrier oil. Massage a small amount of the anti-inflammatory copaiba oil mixture into the affected area until it is absorbed.
To make an anti-inflammatory tea, put 1-2 drops of organic, food grade copaiba oil in a cup of warm chamomile tea. Chamomile is also well-known for its ability to reduce inflammation. (6)
Further reading: The Top 20 Essential Oils for Pain and Inflammation (Research Based).
Copaiba Oil Helps Relieve Pain
The anti-inflammatory benefits of copaiba essential oil mean that it also helps alleviate pain in joints.
Research has shown that copaiba oil has antinociceptive properties. This means that copaiba compounds affect sensory neurons to help block painful stimulus. Some studies have shown that taking copaiba oil can treat a number of chronic painful disorders. (7)
You can also use copaiba essential oil to help relieve arthritic joint pain. A study from 2017 found that copaiba may help soothe pain when applied topically. Many people with arthritis report good results from using copaiba oil for pain. However, more research needs to be done on the benefits of using copaiba oil for arthritis. (8)
How to use copaiba essential oil to treat pain
You can make your own home remedy using copaiba oil to relieve inflammation, stiffness, and pain from sore joints.
Combine 2 drops of copaiba oil and 2 drops of lavender essential oil with 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil or other carrier oil. Gently massage a few drops of the oil remedy to your painful joint. Repeat 2-3 times a day.
You can also massage a little of this pain-relieving copaiba oil into your temples to help get rid of a headache quicker.
If you suffer from joint pain, you can also try these proven joint supplements to reduce pain and for better health.
Copaiba Essential Oil Can Prevent Liver Damage
Taking copaiba balsam oil can also help prevent injury to the liver caused by the long-term use of painkillers.
Results from one study on rats showed that copaiba oil helps to avert liver tissue damage caused by toxins. One study found that taking copaiba oil before acetaminophen painkillers prevented liver damage. However, the liver-protective effect of copaiba oil was only seen when administered before the painkillers. (9)
How to use copaiba oil to protect your liver
To help prevent damage to your liver caused by using painkillers, it is important to take the oil beforehand.
Mix 1 drop of food grade copaiba essential oil with a tablespoon of coconut oil. Consume before you take your painkillers.
You can also buy copaiba oil softgels to help reduce inflammation and protect your body from the effects of oxidative stress.
It’s also important to avoid these 5 common habits that damage your liver.
Copaiba Oil Promotes Brain Health
One of the benefits of taking copaiba essential oil is that its anti-inflammatory effect is good for your cognitive health.
Some studies have shown that copaiba balsam essential oil has a neuroprotective effect on the central nervous system. Copaiba compounds help to reduce inflammation that can impact brain health. (5)
A 2017 study found that B-caryophyllene is a compound that has a positive neurological effect. This copaiba compound helps to reduce the negative impact of inflammation on cognitive function. (10)
How to use copaiba essential oil to promote good brain health
Adding a drop or 2 of food grade copaiba oil to your favorite healthy smoothie can help to protect your brain health.
You can also try these herbs and foods to improve brain function and memory.
Copaiba Balsam Essential Oil Helps Address Anxiety Issues
The positive effect of taking copaiba oil also helps to reduce anxiety and may lower your stress levels.
One study on the neuroprotective effects of copaiba oil on rats found that compounds in the oil reduce anxiety. Scientists noted that rats treated with copaifera tree extracts showed fewer signs of anxiety when under stress. (11)
How to use copaiba oil for anxiety
To help deal with the effects of anxiety and stress, you can try putting a few drops of copaiba oil in your diffuser. To enhance its benefits, you could also mix in a few drops of lavender oil to help ease your anxieties and lift your mood.
Find out about more essential oils you can use to help treat anxiety disorders.
Copaiba Essential Oil Lowers Blood Pressure
One of the many benefits of using copaiba oil is that it can help manage conditions associated with hypertension.
A 2017 study on the effects of copaiba oil on blood pressure found that it helped reduce tension in the arteries. Scientists noted that hypertensive rats who received copaiba oil showed a marked reduction in pulmonary arterial hypertension. The study concluded that copaiba compounds have the potential for treating certain high blood pressure conditions. (12)
How to use copaiba oil for high blood pressure
Because extra virgin olive oil is also good for reducing vascular tension, using it with copaiba essential oil may help treat hypertension.
Add 1-2 drops of organically-certified food grade copaiba essential oil to a tablespoon of olive oil. Consume at the start of every day to help keep your blood pressure under control.
You can learn about other natural remedies to help protect you from the effects of high blood pressure.
Copaiba Balsam Oil Is Good for Your Skin
The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of copaiba essential oil are good for keeping your skin healthy.
A 2018 review on the uses of copaiba oil found that it has astringent properties that are good for your skin. The healing power of copaiba balsam essential oil is also good for treating skin lesions. (13)
Some studies show that skin remedies containing copaiba oil can help to treat eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. (14)
Copaiba Balsam Essential Oil Kills Off Skin Infections and Helps Treat Acne
Remedies using copaiba essential oil are popular to help get rid of acne pimples and prevent breakouts.
One double-blind clinical trial found that copaiba essential oil has a healing and antiseptic effect on the skin. Applying copaiba oil remedies can help to treat skin pimples. Skin treated with copaiba oil showed a marked reduction in the number of swollen red spots. (15)
How to use copaiba oil on your skin to treat acne
You can make your own acne facial tonic at home by combining witch hazel and copaiba oil.
Add 5 drops of copaiba oil and 5 drops of tea tree oil to 1 fl. oz. (30 ml) of witch hazel. Apply to your acne-prone skin with a cotton ball to cleanse bacteria from your pores and help get rid of pimples.
This recipe uses tea tree oil because it is one of the best essential oils for treating acne.
Copaiba Oil May Help Get Rid of Scars
Applying copaiba balsam oil to your skin can help improve your skin’s elasticity and reduce the appearance of scarring.
Many studies have shown the beneficial effects of copaiba oil in reducing skin inflammation. (16)
One study from 2017 reported that the beneficial effect of copaiba on the skin may help reduce stretch marks and scars. In fact, many commercially available stretch mark creams include copaiba extracts. (17)
How to use copaiba oil to help get rid of scars
Getting rid of some types of scars naturally requires diligence and patience with daily treatment.
One way you could help reduce the appearance of scars is to combine copaiba oil and aloe vera. Some studies have shown the aloe vera has naturally-occurring scar healing properties because it stimulates collagen production.
Add 3-4 drops of copaiba oil to a tablespoon of aloe vera gel. Apply liberally to the scarred skin every day. Continue using the copaiba oil scar remedy until you notice that the scar begins to fade.
This remedy is also good to treat acne scars on your face.
Copaiba Oil Help Fight Fungal Infections
The antimicrobial properties of copaiba oil can help to treat skin and nail fungal infections.
The journal Molecules reported that extracts from Copaifera trees have fungicidal activity and can treat skin infections. Copaiba resin oil showed a moderate effect on treating some strains of fungi. (18) Other studies have also shown that copaiba oil has a moderate antifungal effect on treating fungal infections. (19)
Some studies have shown the potential for using copaiba essential oil for fungal infections because of its unique compounds. B-caryophyllene has antifungal activity against various Candida strains. (20)
How to use copaiba essential oil to treat fungal infections
Mix 2 drops of copaiba oil, and 2 drops of tea tree oil with a tablespoon of coconut oil or other carrier oil. Apply a small amount of the copaiba fungicide cream to ringworm infections, jock itch, or red itchy patches on your scalp. Use 2-3 times a day until your fungal skin infection has cleared up for good.
Although the antifungal properties of copaiba essential oil could help get rid of nail fungus, there are no studies showing it to be effective. You can try using tea tree oil to cure toenail fungus.
Find out some other natural remedies to quickly get rid of a fungal infection on your skin.
Copaiba Essential Oil May Improve Dental Health
Copaiba oil is also a helpful home remedy to keep your teeth free from tooth decay and plaque.
A study from Brazil found that copaiba oil has antibacterial properties against Streptococcus mutans. This is a type of bacteria responsible for the formation of dental cavities. Mouth rinsing with a copaiba solution helped to kill off plaque-causing oral bacteria. (21)
Other studies have found that the wound-healing properties in copaiba oil help gums to heal after tooth extraction. (22)
How to use copaiba oil to boost oral health
Thoroughly mix a few drops of copaiba oil in a cup of water. Swish the mixture around your mouth for 1-2 minutes to kill off bacteria and reduce gum inflammation. Spit out without swallowing any of the homemade mouthwash.
Learn how you can also promote good dental health by oil pulling. You can add a drop or two of copaiba oil to your oil pulling remedy.
Further reading: The best natural ingredients to prevent and cure gum infections.
Copaiba Oil and Other Essential Oils Help with Congestion
Putting some drops of copaiba oil in a diffuser can help to clear congestion associated with upper respiratory infections.
The International Journal of Molecular Sciences reported in 2018 that the anti-inflammatory effect of copaiba oil helps treat bronchitis, strep throat, and other respiratory ailments. (14)
How to use copaiba essential oil for cold and flu symptoms
There are a number of ways copaiba essential oil can benefit you if you have a cold, the flu, or bronchitis.
Put a few drops of copaiba oil with a few drops of eucalyptus oil in a diffuser to clear sinuses quickly.
To help remedy a cough and bronchial infection, mix 1-2 drops of food grade copaiba oil with a tablespoon of honey. Consume every day until symptoms of your chest infection have gone for good.
You can also inhale copaiba oil to unblock sinuses and relieve stuffy airways. To use steam inhalation for sinus relief and get rid of congestion, fill a bowl with hot water and add 5 drops each of copaiba oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil. Put your head over the bowl, cover it with a towel and breathe deeply for 10-15 minutes to help relieve sinus congestion.
Another way of using copaiba oil for easing sinus pain and congestion is to add some drops to your bath. All you have to do is to mix 10-12 drops of copaiba oil per 1 oz. (30 ml) of carrier oil and add into your bathwater. Sit in the bath for 20-30 minutes while inhaling the steam constantly. You can also add 1 cup of Epsom salt to enhance the effect of relieving body aches and sore muscles.
You can find out about some of the other essential oils that help you recover from a cold or flu infection faster.
Precautions Using Copaiba Oil
As with most essential oils, there are a number of things to remember when using copaiba balsam essential oil for its health effects.
When applying topically, you should always dilute copaiba essential oil in a carrier oil. Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and sweet almond oil are good oils for diluting and they also have great benefits for your skin.
It is always a wise idea to do a small test patch of copaiba oil to check for skin sensitivity.
Doctors from WebMD advise that, when taken internally, copaiba oil can cause a number of digestive complaints. These include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should discontinue using copaiba oil. (15)
Where to Buy Copaiba Oil?
Copaiba oil can be found in health stores or online in Amazon here. To get the best results, you should always buy high-quality copaiba essential oil from a trusted source.
To ensure the best quality, look for essential oil from copaiba oleoresin that is certified as coming from an organic source. For internal use always make sure you buy food grade copaiba oil such as this one.
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