8 ways that you can use mānuka oil for healthy skin & hair

1. Dandruff and dry, flaky skin

Just add a few drops of pure East Cape mānuka oil to your favourite shampoo or conditioner to help get rid of dandruff, nourish the skin and protect your hair. For men, our Fresh & Fruity Aromatic Beard Oil can be used after showering - it smells great, and is infused with East Cape mānuka oil to really get the skin and hair feeling healthy.

2. Healing wounds

East Cape mānuka oil is known to be a cicatrisant with vulnerary properties. This means that it helps to promote the growth of scar tissue and encourages wounds to heal faster. Simply add a few drops of pure mānuka oil to your standard skin cream, or apply the 25% East Cape mānuka oil blend for fast results.

3. Bacterial infections

Mānuka oil from the East Cape is said to be 20-30x more effective than Australian Tea Tree Oil at killing gram positive bacteria thanks to a group of compounds found in the oil called Triketones. It promotes relaxation and reduces inflammation & swelling, making it the perfect ingredient to use on bacterial infections. Mānuka oil is also remarkably effective at combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA.

4. Athlete’s foot and fungal infections

Mānuka oil has powerful antifungal properties, and is great for killing skin-based fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, cold sores and jock itch.

5. Acne and oily skin

Acne is predominantly caused by the Acne Vulgaris bacteria, which feeds on natural oils in the skin and can lead to scarring later in life. Mānuka oil is a gentle, yet powerful natural alternative to many of the commercial acne treatments that are available today. It is also great for encouraging acne scars to heal quickly and reducing the swelling and redness caused by severe acne.

6. Body and foot odour

People often confuse sweat with body odour. Sweat doesn’t smell. It’s actually the microorganisms that feed on sweat which stink. The most common bacteria that cause people to smell are: Corynebacterium, Micrococcus Luteus, Staphylococcus Epidermidis and Staphyloccus Hominis. Most commercial deodorants contain a range of harsh chemicals that are often intended to block the pores. Mānuka oil kills body odour at the source, making it a great addition to natural deodorants.

7. Chafing, itches and rashes

When applied correctly, mānuka oil can be great for soothing rashes, chafing, itchy skin and minor irritations. People have also found mānuka oil to be great for treating some types of psoriasis, nappy rash, eczema and dermatitis. To help with chafing and rashes, try washing daily with mānuka oil soap and applying mānuka cream as required.

8. Insects be gone

If you’re living in an area that is home to lots of mosquitoes, sandflies and creepy crawlies, try using mānuka oil as an insect repellent. A bottle of 25% mānuka oil, mossy mist or mossy rub is easy to carry around in the handbag or backpack - especially during summer!

Alternatively, you could try making your own DIY insect repellent blend - simply fill a 10ml bottle with your favourite carrier oil (such as Sweet Almond Oil, Argan Oil or Olive Oil) and add 10-20 drops of 100% pure East Cape mānuka oil. You can also add other essential oils such as citronella for even more protection against insect bites and stings, or fragrant ingredients like peppermint oil for a fresh aroma.

If you do get bitten, you can then use mānuka oil to help soothe any itchiness and swelling (mānuka oil is also an antihistamine).

Manuka oil - proudly New Zealand made and great for your body

With such a wide range of health benefits and uses, it’s no wonder that people are finally discovering the amazing healing abilities that mānuka oil provides. If you would like to learn more about mānuka and the amazing products that come from this plant, take a look at our knowledge base.

Manuka Essentials is the home of top quality mānuka and kānuka products - we stock natural teas, honeys, essential oils, soaps, beard oil and more from a collection of local New Zealand producers and make a range of natural products ourselves.

Visit www.manukaessentials.com to find out more.

Disclaimer: this information is provided for educational purposes only, and should not be taken as medical or professional advice in any way whatsoever.