Camelia Oil – Good for Celebrities, Good for You!

Camellia oil is also known as tea seed oil or tea oil. It is extracted from the seeds of Camellia oleifera, Camellia sinensis or Camellia japonica. Georg Joseph Kamel is a Bohemian and a missionary responsible for introducing many Eastern Asian plants into Philippines. The name “Camellia” is given to honor him by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish Botanist. Camellia oil should not be confused with tea tree oil, which is native to Australia.
Camellia oleifera is present extensively throughout China and is widely cultivated there at altitudes of between 500 and 1300 meters above sea level.  Camellia oil is used as cooking oil in the southern provinces of China.
It has a very high smoking point and is suitable for frying and stir frying. It is also used for salad dressing, marinating, dipping and deep frying.
The composition of Camellia oil closely resembles that of olive oil. It has about 85% or mono unsaturated oleic acid.
It also contains omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, polyphenols and vitamin E. Although Camellia species contain caffeine, since it is a water soluble component, it is not found in Camellia oil.

Camellia oil’s components closely resemble that of sebum, the natural oil produced from our sebaceous glands present in the skin. Sebum serves as a natural skin moisturizer and use of Camellia oil serves the same purpose. In fact, Camellia oil is very useful for dry, scaly, itchy, icthyotic skin. It is also useful for reducing the wrinkles related to ageing. Since it has rich anti oxidants’ content, it can be applied as an after shave to reduce skin inflammation, soothing agent and as an antiseptic. The lion’s share of oleic acid present in Camilla oil is well known to penetrate the skin layers, boosting the action of collagen and elastin which are the basic and most abundant supporting framework of our body. Camellia oil application makes the skin smooth, shiny, radiant and helps to protect it from the elements of nature. It helps wound healing and minimizes scar tissue formation. It also acts against eczema and psoriasis.

Not even celebrities are able to resist the temptation of using Camellia oil on their skin, knowing its potential benefits. One significant use is prevention or reduction of pregnancy stretch marks when applied over their abdomen throughout their pregnancy. In her program, Kate Winslett told CBS that she had used camellia oil during her pregnancy to escape, with success, from ugly stretch marks. Similarly, in her book “That Extra Half Inch”, Victoria Beckham has revealed her trust in Camellia oil.

Camelia Oil - Your Beauty Ally!

Camellia oil is an excellent scalp rejuvenator. It nourishes, moisturizes and tones the scalp skin. It also strengthens the hair roots, making the hair smooth, shiny, unbreakable and long. As it is an excellent moisturizer capable of fighting and reversing scalp dryness, regular application can get rid of dandruff, which mainly thrives on scalp dryness. In fact, these properties of camellia oil are well recognized in Japan, where women use it on their scalp and hair on a day to day basis. It is also used to set the hair of Sumo wrestlers prior to a bout.

Camellia oil is also very apt for protecting the skin from harmful UV rays. There are two types of UV rays, named UV-A and UV-B. Among these, UV-B is the one responsible for sun burns. Camellia oil is a very useful natural sunscreen and is extensively used by the Japanese during bathing in the sea. For people who develop allergy to synthetic sunscreens, Camellia oil can be a useful alternative. But Camellia oil is not useful against UV-A.

Camellia oil is conclusively proven to reduce and prevent the spread of Melanoma in to the lungs. Incidentally, melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with high mortality and morbidity. The beneficial effect observed with Camellia oil is attributed to its high oleic acid content. Using Camellia oil as cooking oil for melanoma patients is suggested to escape from the disease spreading to the lungs.
Experiment with green tea seed oil, a specific type of Camellia oil, is proven to prevent weight gain and obesity in mice by acting on the fat cells favorably. Such a beneficial effect is predicted for humans also.

Finally, camellia oil is used as a lubricant for hand tools and is also regularly applied on them to prevent corrosion. Even in ancient times, Samurai warriors used to apply this oil on their swords and other weapons to protect them from rusting and to keep them shiny and new.
Surely, you’ll have no problems to find a use of this gift of nature for your body’s benefit!