Benefits of mustard oil, from relieving pain to protecting the heart

Explore the benefits of mustard oil

There are two types of mustard oil that are sold in the market. Oil made directly from the seeds of the mustard plant is pure mustard oil. This oil should not be used for cooking because it contains erucic acid which is harmful to the heart.

The second type of oil is mustard essential oil. The essential oil is made by steam distilling the mustard seeds so that the final product no longer contains erucic acid. This product is safe for consumption so it can be an alternative oil for cooking.

Although different, pure oil and essential oil from mustard can both be used as oil for massage. Both as a cooking ingredient and massage oil, here are a list of the benefits you can get from mustard oil.

1. Relieves inflammation

Since ancient times, mustard oil has been a natural remedy for arthritis and inflammation due to pneumonia or bronchitis. This oil is also believed to relieve inflammation and symptoms of psoriasis.

This benefit may come from the active compound allyl isothiocyanate. According to a study in Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine , allyl isothiocyanate has been shown to have the potential to reduce inflammation in laboratory-grown cells.

Additionally, mustard oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids and alpha linoleic acid. Both help reduce inflammation by reducing oxidative stress (free radicals) that attack body cells.

2. Relieves cold and flu symptoms

Mustard oil also has benefits in dealing with respiratory symptoms. This product is often used as a natural ingredient for coughs, congestion, and various other flu symptoms.

You can mix pure mustard oil with a respiration product in the form of an ointment or cream that is applied to the chest. Alternatively, you can add mustard oil to a diffuser and inhale the vapors.

3. Maintain heart health

Other substances that are mostly contained in mustard oil are unsaturated fatty acids. These healthy fats can lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar which have a direct effect on heart and blood vessel health.

According to other studies, reducing the intake of trans fats and replacing them with unsaturated fatty acids also helps reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL is bad cholesterol that triggers plaque formation in blood vessels.

Even so, excessive consumption of mustard oil is also not recommended. You can use mustard oil as an alternative for cooking, but it's best to stick with other types of oil.

4. Relieves pain

Apart from relieving inflammation, allyl isothiocyanate and alpha linoleic acid in mustard oil also have benefits for reducing pain. The findings are reported in an animal study in the journal Scientific Reports .

In the study, giving mustard oil to drinking water decreased the sensitivity of the nerves that carry pain signals in the animal's body. In other words, giving mustard oil can help reduce pain.

The use of mustard oil on human skin can possibly relieve pain due to arthritis and similar ailments. However, this product should not be used in the long term because it can trigger a burning sensation on the skin.

5. Slows down the growth of cancer

Like other essential oil benefits, mustard oil also has the potential to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells. In previous studies, giving pure mustard oil could inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the colon of mice.

According to other animal studies, the active compounds in this oil can inhibit the growth of bladder cancer cells by as much as 35 percent. Cancer cells also cannot spread beyond the muscular wall of the bladder.

Mustard oil is a product that is rich in unsaturated fatty acids as well as a variety of active compounds. This content makes it provide many health benefits, both as an ingredient in cooking or massage oil.

Although it has many benefits, mustard oil as an aromatherapy essential oil can also cause side effects. So, this oil should not be consumed or overused. Just use mustard oil as an alternative to other similar products.