Carrot Seed Oil Benefits and Uses

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Carrot seed oil is a type of essential oil. It's extracted via steam distillation from the seeds of the Daucus carota plant.

This flowering plant, known for its white blossoms and carrot-scented roots, is also called wild carrot and Queen Anne's lace.

Carrot seed oil is sometimes confused with carrot oil, which is made from a mixture of crushed carrot roots immersed in a carrier oil, such as olive or coconut oil. Carrot oil isn't an essential oil, however.

Carrot seed essential oil has shown antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. What it doesn't have are the vitamins and nutrients provided by carrots.

Like other essential oils, carrot seed oil isn't meant to be ingested. In this way it differs from carrot oil, which is often used for cooking.

Benefits and uses

When you mix carrot seed oil with a carrier oil, you can apply it to your skin. Several laboratory studies and anecdotal evidence indicate that carrot seed oil has a number of properties that may be beneficial when used this way.

Antibacterial

A recent study found that carrot seed oil is effective at combating several strains of bacteria.

These include Listeria monocytogenes, which causes listeriosis infections, and Staphylococcus aureus, responsible for staph infections. It had a smaller degree of effectiveness against E-coli and Salmonella.

Researchers attribute the effectiveness to the levels of a chemical compound called alpha-pinene in the carrot seed oil. They also acknowledged that differences in concentrations of the chemical compounds in carrot seed oil can change the oil's antibacterial properties.

Antifungal

Research suggests that Carotol, another chemical compound in carrot seed oil, reduces the activity of fungi that affect plant growth.

Another study indicates carrot seed oil has some degree of effectiveness against yeasts such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus.

Antioxidant

An animal study performed on rats suggests that carrot seed oil may be an effective antioxidant. This same study found that carrot seed oil might also have benefits against liver damage.

Anti-aging

A study that analyzed carrot seed oil's antioxidant properties suggests that it might be beneficial in cosmetics as a rejuvenator for aging skin.

Gastroprotective

Alpha-pinene was found to reduce the incidence of gastric ulcers in an animal study performed on mice.

Anti-inflammatory

Anecdotal reports indicate that carrot seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties and is soothing to the skin and scalp.

Risks

Since essential oils aren't meant for ingestion, and many carrot seed oil studies were done in vitro or on animals, it's important to consult a doctor before you use it to treat an infection or illness.

It's also advisable to dilute carrot seed oil with a carrier oil before applying to your skin or scalp.

Other treatments

There are other at-home treatments that might be as effective or better at replenishing and soothing skin as carrot seed essential oil. They include:

Lavender essential oil can be used topically as an anti-inflammatory and for wound healing.
Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory properties. You can also use it for different skin irritations.

The takeaway

Carrot seed oil has promising potential as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It may be beneficial for hard-to-treat infections and for wound care.

Carrot seed essential oil is often confused with carrot oil, but the two have completely different properties.

Carrot seed oil, like all essential oils, should always be diluted with a carrier oil prior to using it on your skin. You also shouldn't ingest it.

Shop for carrot seed oil and carrier oils online.

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