Have you ever thought about how some plant essential oils can be used for more than aromatherapy purposes? If you have not, it is time you try Tagetes essential oil. While this may not be as popular or widely used as lavender or tea tree essential oil, this plant extract does offer numerous benefits for humans. It is a herb that grows 2 feet in height and grows much like a bush. The herb has bright yellow flowers. It is also known as Mexican Marigold and sometimes wrongly described as Calendula. Thought to be native to the African nations, it is now grown in places like Australia, Europe and the USA.

Nuances Of Tagetes Essential Oil:

Tagetes essential oil is made by steam distillation of the flowers and leaves of the plant. It has proven and powerful antimicrobial, disinfectant and antiseptic properties. The key ingredients found in this oil are ocimene, valeric acid and tagetone. It is not much fragrant like the other aromatic essential oils.
Tagetes essential oil can be used in conjunction with other popular essential oils. You may blend it with ylang-ylang oil, sandalwood oil, lavender oil and geranium oil.

Benefits Of Using Tagetes Essential Oil:

The key benefits of Tagetes essential oil are:

1. Helps In Staving Off Insects:

Tagetes essential oil has powerful anti-parasitic properties. So, you may use it to keep various bugs and insects like lice, mosquitoes and bed bugs at bay. It also helps in reducing the pain and swelling caused by insect bites. Its use can also help keep away common household pests like ants & termites.

2. Helps Fight Bacterial Infections:

It is a powerful and natural antibacterial agent that helps fight a plethora of infections caused by germs and bacteria. The oil also has antiseptic properties. This oil is also effective in healing skin infections caused by bacteria.

3. Helps Heal Wounds:

To heal cuts and wounds of various types, it is not necessary to buy over-the-counter ointments and creams. Use Tagetes essential oil to expedite healing of such wounds. It can inhibit the biotic growth in wounds.

4. Helps Stop Airborne Infections:

Tagetes essential oil can be used to disinfect not only parts of the body but also the rooms of your house. Mix some drops of this oil in warm water and spray it in a room. This is helpful when someone in the home is suffering from a bacterial infection. The oil, when sprayed in the indoor air, can eliminate the germs thriving in the air.

5. As A Relaxant And Sedative:

This essential oil can be used to soothe the tensed nerves and muscles in the body. You can use it for massaging to get relief from muscle cramps and pains as well. It also helps in getting relief from anger and anxiety. Taking a bath in water mixed with the oil can also work.

Cautions To Keep In Mind:

While the use of Tagetes essential oil does not lead to the development of any adverse effect in men and women, some cautions need to be practiced. For example, those women who are lactating or pregnant should use it after talking with a doctor. As is the case with any other essential oil, this oil should not be used in the raw form. Doing so can lead to skin burning and itching. It is not meant for internal use as well. Even before topical application, after mixing with a carrier oil, apply on a small part of the skin for testing for sensitivity.
Tribes in Africa have used the flowers of this plant for getting relief from whooping cough, mumps and similar ailments. Other uses include as tobacco flavouring and chicken feed.