Tamanu oil has been used across Polynesian communities for skin healing and infections for hundreds of years. Once considered sacred for its incredible benefits, Tamanu oil has a rather exotic and terrifying past.
Tamanu Oil For Skin
Much of the ethnobotanical data for Tamanu is skin-related, eczema, psoriasis, scars, and skin allergies It has cicatrisant and anticoagulant properties, make it valuable for wound healing, although tamanu oil's benefits as an immunostimulant probably rate highest in an aromatherapist's eyes. This unusual action makes it extremely useful for adding to blends to boost healing generally.
Both Daniel Penoel and Kurt Scnaubelt have published successful histories of combining tamanu oil benefits for shingles with Essential Oils. Penoel cites Ravensara and Schnaubelt, Ravintsara. (Not to be confused.)
Tamanu Oil For Face
While Tamanu oil is a lovely light oil, with good absorbency, it’s not really a beauty product. If nothing else, its golden color is not an orthodox look for face creams, rosehip or jojoba oil are probably better alternatives. That said, if the are facial skin diseases, then this would be an excellent addition to moisturizers, etc, tamanu for eczema, psoriasis or even scarring from chickenpox or acne can all be most successful.
Rich in antioxidants, it could theoretically be used for anti-aging, but again rosehip, jojoba, or almond oils might be more luxurious alternatives.
Tamanu Oil For Eczema
Clearly, chronic wounds and skin diseases provide difficulties to the sufferer but to the community at large, placing a huge burden on welfare spending through extended hospital stays and sickness. A 2015 French study tested the efficacy of five different types of Calophyllum inophyllum oil to test support for tamanu oil uses in traditional medicines but also to test safety.
Interestingly, they discovered that the amounts needed to create a therapeutic effect on the skin were even lower than they had needed to use in vitro. Tamanu has an antibiotic effect, especially against gram-positive bacteria, and was proven to significantly improve wound healing in skin sores and wounds.
Tamanu Oil For Scars
This is one of the most important of Tamanu oil's benefits. Carrier oils are safer and more adaptable for use during pregnancy than essential oils. Tamanu oil is great as a scar treatment but also for adding to rich lustrous stretch mark creams.
Tamanu Oil For Hair
Used in hair products, Tamanu Oil encourages longer, stronger, healthier hair. Used as a hair masque, it seals split ends, hydrates the strands, encourages the hair's natural sheen, and generally makes it easier to manage.
