9 Uses for Manuka Essential Oil and How to DIY at Home

Native to Australia and New Zealand, manuka essential oil is a natural wonder — fantastic for skin care, body odor, insect bites, and more! The uses for manuka essential oil stretch wide and far.

So, how can you reap manuka essential oil uses
and benefits on your own? Well, we have some great DIY uses for manuka
essential oil that will help you use this oil to its full potential. Check them
out and get blending!

Benefits of Manuka Essential Oil

• Anti-inflammatory^[1]
• Anti-fungal^[2]
• Antibacterial^[3]
• Antioxidant^[4]
• Antimicrobial^[5]
• Skin Cooling^[6]
• Deodorizing^[7]

Treat Insect Bites

Many uses for
manuka essential oil are made possible by its anti-inflammatory and
antibacterial benefits. In the case of insect bites, these two benefits plus
the skin-cooling effect of the oil come together to reduce the size and
irritation of bites, whether they are itchy or painful.

How to DIY at home:

Insect Bite Oil Spot Treatment

Ingredients

• 7 drops of manuka essential oil
• 2 drop peppermint essential oil
• 30ml drops of carrier oil (ex:
  coconut oil or hemp oil)

Instructions

1. Simply combine the ingredients in a glass bottle and mix together by shaking.
2. To use, dab onto your bite and let dry.

Reduce Fungal Infections

The antifungal aspect of manuka kills bacteria
and helps stop it from spreading further. So, you can quickly fix that
frustrating Athlete’s foot fungus or Candida fungal infection.

How to DIY at home:

Anti-fungal cream

Ingredients

• 30ml of unscented body cream (shea
  butter or unscented store-bought lotion)
• 5 drops of manuka essential oil
• 3 drops of lemon essential oil

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix together the ingredients well.
2. To use, rub a thin layer onto the affected area and let dry.
3. Store in a glass jar with an airtight top.

Treat Face and Body Acne

Manuka essential oil benefits acne-prone skin by killing the harmful microbes and bacteria that may
infect your pores, and by helping to reduce any current acne blemishes you may
already have. Manuka essential oil acne wash is a great way to gently
refresh and clean your skin all over as you bathe.

How to DIY at home:

Anti-Acne Body Wash

Ingredients

• 40ml of castile soap
• 20 ml of green tea water
• 10 drops of manuka essential oil
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 3 drops of orange essential oil

Instructions

1. To start, add all the ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Next, mix together well with a spoon.
3. Then, pour into a bottle for easy use in the shower.
4. To use, squirt a dime-sized amount onto a washcloth or loofah, then massage until soapy. Gently rub onto your body to clean and cleanse.

Soothe Irritated Skin

Skin suffering from an allergic reaction can
be very sensitive. Luckily, most manuka oil uses are safe for sensitive skin.
In fact, some of the uses for manuka essential oil involve easing allergic
reactions and calming inflamed skin. This is because of the potential
antihistamine properties of the oil that may reduce your body’s production of
histamine. Although, more research and scientific-based evidence is needed to
support the antihistamine abilities of the oil. However, the anti-inflammatory
agents also help reduce your skin’s reaction.^[8]

How to DIY at home:

Allergy
Skin Lotion

Ingredients

• 30ml of natural lotion or cocoa
  butter
• 6 drops of manuka essential oil
• 2 drops of lavender essential oil

Instructions

1. Add the ingredients into a bottle and shake well to combine.
2. To use, apply a small amount to the palms of your hands and rub together. Then, gently rub (or touch and hold) onto the reactionary area

Reduce Signs of Aging

So, what is manuka essential oil good for other than easing reactions and treating infections? This oil is also known for its antioxidant qualities^[9]
which can help your skin regenerate healthy cells and reduce the signs of aging, like wrinkles and dark spots.

How to DIY at home:

Overnight
Anti-Aging Face Serum

Ingredients

• 10ml of snail slime
• 20 ml of carrier oil, like coconut
  or rosehip oil
• 6 drops of manuka essential oil
• 2 drops of lemon essential oil

Instructions

1. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Add into a glass jar for storage.
3. To use, dab your finger into the jar and then dot around your face and neck for even distribution.
4. Then, gently rub the serum into your skin until combined. Leave on overnight.

Kill Bacteria in Your Home

Because of the strong antibacterial components
of manuka oil, it’s a beneficial ingredient in all-natural home cleaning
supplies. Also, the antimicrobial and deodorizing uses for manuka essential oil
make it a great oil to use around your kitchen or bathroom.

How to DIY at home:

All-Natural
Counter Spray

Ingredients

• 30ml of white vinegar
• 30ml of water
• 10 drops of manuka essential oil
• 5 drops of lemon essential oil
• 5 drops of orange essential oil

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well. Shake again before each use.
2. For cleaning, spray directly onto dry surfaces and wipe clean with a towel.

Deodorize Smelly Areas

The powerful antibacterial properties of
manuka oil help make it deodorizing. Basically, this oil can eliminate odors at
the source by eliminating bacteria, ultimately creating a cleaner and
better-smelling area. Try this oil around your home as a room spray you can use
on old sofa pillows, musty shoe racks, and more!

How to DIY at home:

Deodorizing
room spray

Ingredients

• 40ml of water
• 6 drops of manuka essential oil
• 4 drops of cedarwood essential oil

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well.
2. When needed, spray the mixture into the air on and around the smelly object or area. Then, enjoy the cleaner-feeling energy and breathe deeply.

After Sun Lotion

Another one of the great potential uses for
manuka essential oil is its ability to reduce sun damage. Using this oil on
your skin after a long day outside may help repair the harmful UV ray damage
done, as demonstrated in one trial using mice.^[10]
Plus, it can help reduce inflammation from any mild sunburns.

How to DIY at home:

After
Sun Lotion

Ingredients

• 10ml of aloe vera
• 20ml of shea butter
• 6 drops of manuka essential oil
• 2 drops of lavender essential oil
• 2 drops of frankincense essential
  oil

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients into a bowl and mix together with a spoon.
2. Store in a glass jar with a lid.
3. Apply by rubbing a thin layer onto your skin most hit by the sun — typically your face, neck, hands, and shoulders.

Meditation Oil

The uses for manuka essential oil go deeper
than just its physical applications. You can use manuka oil during meditation
or for aromatherapy as it’s known to have a mild grounding effect. It’s light
in aroma so combining it with other wood-based oils, like cedarwood or
frankincense, is a great way to feel closer to the Earth.

How to DIY at home:

Meditation
Oil

Ingredients

• 2 drops of manuka essential oil
• 2 drops of frankincense essential
  oil
• 2 drops of orange blossom
  essential oil
• 30 ml of carrier oil

Instructions

1. Create this uplifting blend by combining the ingredients in a glass bottle and shaking well. Your carrier oil can be an unscented oil like hemp or jojoba.
2. Use by adding a few drops of the blend onto your hands and rubbing together. Then, cup around your nose and inhale deeply as you meditate.

References

Annette is a travelling journalist and humanitarian who is obsessed with green smoothies.
Since leaving California for a new adventure overseas, Annette has worked with various non-profits and focuses on communication as a tool for advocacy.
Her love of nutrition and fitness really took off six years ago when she decided to eat plant-based and ran her first half-marathon. Since then, a healthy lifestyle has been something she works hard to maintain even with a busy schedule. She believes that a healthy mind starts with what we put in our bodies. But, one thing she’ll never give up is Margarita pizza.