[1]Olive oil is well known among chefs, but it has a number of other fantastic off-the grid uses.
Homer the Greek poet coined olive oil “liquid gold [2],” and that label is just as apt today as it was centuries ago. Now, though, modern science has “discovered” that olive oil can enhance the health and appearance of your skin, improve your long-term memory, lower your blood sugar and blood pressure, and cut your risk for just about every chronic disease under the sun. And that is just the tip of the olive branch!
Toss A Toothache Away. Mix 3 drops of olive oil with 1 drop of clove oil, and use a cotton swab to dab the mixture onto your aching tooth. Leave it in place until the pain is gone, and then rinse your mouth with clear water.
Lubricate Your Plumbing. Just take 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil first thing in the morning and a second tablespoon an hour after eating dinner. Within a day or so, things will be moving right along.
Soothe Sunburned Skin. Olive oil can save the day by reducing sunburn pain, keeping your skin hydrated, and helping prevent peeling. For best results, apply the oil immediately after you’ve been exposed to the sun. Make sure you wait at least a few hours before you wash, so the lubricant has plenty of time to penetrate your skin.
Ease Eczema Flare-Ups. Olive oil is packed with important antioxidants that reduce inflammation. It’s a key ingredient in many commercial products that are designed to relieve eczema and other skin irritations. Gently rub on about 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil per square inch of affected skin, and let the oil penetrate before putting on any clothing. For an extra-intensive treatment, cover your oiled skin with plastic wrap, and leave it on overnight. Wear old pajamas and be sure to cover your bed with a large towel to protect your bedding.
Rub Away Aches and Pains. No matter what’s causing the discomfort in your muscles, joints, and tendons – a sports injury, arthritis, or simply a long day of working in the yard – extra virgin olive oil can help ease the pain. Just heat 1 cup of it in the microwave, or in a pan over very low heat, until the oil is comfortably warm to touch. If you like, add 3 or 4 drops of appropriate essential oil. Then massage the healer into your ailing body parts.
Strike Oil for Sinus Relief. Is sinus congestion driving you up a wall? Pour 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil into a bowl, and mix in 3 or 4 drops of peppermint oil. Massage the mixture onto your nose, cheekbones, temples, and forehead. Almost immediately, you should feel your sinuses beginning to clear up. Repeat 2 or 3 times a day as needed, until you are breathing freely again. Note: You can substitute eucalyptus, lavender, or rosemary oil. If you have not used it before, test a drop or two on your wrist to make sure you aren’t allergic or hypersensitive to it.
Fade Scars. A small amount of oil can be placed onto the marks every day. You won’t see results overnight, but with time they should vanish, or at least greatly diminish in appearance.
Minimize Wrinkles. Each night at bedtime, massage oil into the lined areas of your face and neck. Then, in the morning, just wash the oil off with lukewarm water, then splash your skin with cold water and gently pat dry.
Olive oil has many more uses [3] and no known side effects or drug interactions. But oil is also very slippery, so use caution when getting into and out of tub or shower if you are using an oil treatment.