There are few oils quite as unique as peach kernel oil. Not because of its specific ability to heal some rare condition, but specifically because of how many diverse uses it actually has. A staple in Chinese culture, peach kernel oil has now made its way into everything from facial oils and lip balms to salad dressings and nutrition supplements. Extremely popular among everyone from commercial manufacturers to aromatherapists, peach kernel oil is a must have for any and every health enthusiast!

What Is Peach Kernel Essential Oil & Where Does It Come From?

Peach kernel essential oil is extracted from the kernel, or pit, of a peach.

Peach kernel essential oil is extracted from the kernel, or pit, of a peach. Peaches originated in China, where it was an important part of Chinese mythology, and thought of as the fruit of immortality, probably because of it’s abilities to reverse the signs of aging. It was later introduced to the New World by the Spanish in the 16th century and is now grown all over the world. The genus species is Prunus persica, and believe it or not it’s from the same plant family as roses, Rosaceae. Just like roses, everything about the peach tree proclaims elegance. From its beautiful pink-lavender blooms to its wide satiny green leaves.

Peach kernel oil is an incredibly light textured oil, with a clear to slightly orange tint, and a delicate aromatic smell. These are precisely what make it such wonderful oil. It’s lightness lets it absorb easily into skin without leaving a greasy feeling behind, and its delicate smell makes it an excellent base to combine with other ingredients to make essential oil serums, shampoos, moisturizers, and massage oils.

How Do You Make Peach Kernel Essential Oil?

Peach kernel oil is made through a process called cold pressing.

Peach kernel oil is made through a process called cold pressing. The pit is crushed in a hydraulic press under thousands of pounds of pressure, squeezing out the oil which is collected and filtered into a receptacle. Cold pressing is the best way to make peach kernel oil since it ensures the oil retains 100% of its nutritional properties.

Some manufacturers use heat extraction, also known as solvent extraction, which although it produces more oil, the oil is of a significantly lesser quality. The heat destroys many of the vitamins, reduces the aroma, and affects the taste as well. Furthermore, since the chemical solvents often leave traces and toxins in the final product, always make sure that your peach kernel oil says “cold pressed” on the label since the other forms are not as therapeutic and may even have negative effects.

If you want to make your own cold pressed peach kernel oil, you can buy a miniature electric cold press for your home, or even a hand oil press (also called a manual expeller), which grinds the pits through a simple screw cylinder while you twist a hand crank and collect the oil. It is important to mention that homemade peach kernel oil is generally not produced in a fully sterile environment, and therefore only high grade, commercially produced peach kernel oil is safe for ingestion. Homemade peach kernel oil is more susceptible to bacteria and other contaminants, which is fine for topical application but not for ingestion.

Uses Of Peach Kernel Essential Oil

You can find food grade peach oil in most health food stores.

Peach kernel oil’s main therapeutic components are the omega fatty acids oleic acid and linoleic acid. These healthy acids help the skin maintain its moisture balance, and also contributes to the toning and firming of the skin. The rich antioxidants vitamin C and E in the oil help neutralize free radicals and slow signs of aging.

Since peach kernel oil is such a light oil, it complements virtually all skin types. This makes it ideal to be used as a base to combine with essential oils, build a shampoo off of, or make balms and creams and is often found in many name brand beauty and skin care products.

In the eastern hemisphere, peach kernel oil is held in high regard for cooking, due to its light nature and its aromatic flavor. You can find food grade peach oil in most health food stores, and it should specify on the label that it is indeed safe for consumption. It tends to be a pricier oil, especially to use in cooking, but its high concentration of essential fatty acids is definitely a great healthy boost to add to your dish.

Peach kernel oil can also be harvested for its medicinal qualities. It is often found in vitamins and supplements and is said to promote healthy blood flow and help with occasional digestive issues. Women have also reported that it helps relieve feminine conditions such as uterine fibroids, irregular menstruation, heavy bleeding, bloating, and fatigue. Regular supplementation can sometimes help women avoid these symptoms completely. However, due to the mildly toxic levels of peach kernel oils, long-term regular use can also cause the buildup of dangerous toxicity levels and cause anything from severe headaches to life-threatening respiratory distress, so only buy the highest grade oil for ingestion, and consult a doctor before use.

I will write more about the side effects and cautions necessary towards the end of this article, so please stay healthy for us and read them thoroughly! Peach kernels also have similar qualities to nuts, so if you or anyone in your home has a nut allergy, don’t bring peach kernel oil into your home or use it around them.

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Benefits Of Peach Kernel Essential Oil For Hair

Essential Oils For Strong Hair.

It seems that more and more modern-day health care formulators are starting to lean less on laboratories and test tubes and more on plants and nature. In fact, you won’t have to go very far to find a peach kernel oil-infused hair product in any hair care aisle. However, if you are looking to go even more natural, you can simply apply peach kernel oil directly to your scalp and hair.

On the scalp, it will penetrate easily to really moisturize your skin, without clogging your pores or leaving a greasy residue. For a great dandruff remedy, mix 10-12 drops of tea tree oil or peppermint oil into 6-7 teaspoons of peach kernel oil, and massage into your scalp. Let it sit for at least an hour, even overnight if possible, and rinse it out with a natural shampoo.

For hair, you really can’t find a better oil. Apply neat (undiluted) directly to the shafts of your hair and work it through all the strands. Cover your hair with a shower cap and let it sit for at least an hour, or overnight if possible. After you wash it out, you’ll feel like you just used the best conditioner ever. Since it’s such a light oil, it washes out thoroughly and easily and doesn’t weigh your hair down, leaving it feeling light and luscious.

The way that peach kernel oil coats your hair helps you retain your natural hair color, and also helps dyed color last longer. The coating gives your hair a beautiful shine, protects it from UV and sun damage, combats dryness and breakage, and helps control the frizz while defining your curls.

To really give your hair a well-deserved treat, mix in some lavender and rosemary essential oil with your peach kernel oil and watch how they complement each other exponentially; the peach kernel oil helping the essential oils really sink in deep, and the essential oils giving the peach oil a massive boost. Oh, and you’ll also smell beyond amazing!

Applying peach kernel oil undiluted to your hair is perfectly safe, but since it can get expensive, you can always dilute it with something like jojoba, grapeseed, or even olive oil. Just make sure those oils are also cold-pressed and high grade, and dilute them with a 50% peach kernel and 50% substitute oil ratio. You can even use as little as 10% peach kernel oil if you’re really on a budget and still get its effects.

Benefits Of Peach Kernel Essential Oil For Skin

Make sure to do a patch test before applying it to your face or anywhere else.

Peach kernel oil is a very popular choice for people with greasy skin. Since it’s so light, it’s able to easily penetrate the skin without leaving grease behind, adding to the oil problem. This makes it an excellent choice for carrying essential oils that fight acne, since it will go straight through the skin and sink in deep, without further clogging the pores, which is one of the main causes of acne. To make your own acne treatment, mix 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil or lavender essential oil with 3-3.5 oz of peach kernel oil and apply it to the affected area. If you want to make your peach oil bottle stretch longer, use 50% peach kernel oil and 50% argan oil or rosehip oil. Make sure to do a patch test on the inside of your wrist and wait 24 hours to see how your skin reacts before applying it to your face or anywhere else.

Peach kernel oil is an excellent all-around moisturizer, for anything from the face to the legs, and once again, because of its light texture, it’s suitable for all skin types from greasy to dry. Furthermore, its content of vitamin C, and especially its high content of vitamin E, helps it slow and reverse the signs of aging. These antioxidants fight the free radical damage that causes wrinkles and unhealthy looking skin. Additionally, the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the peach kernel oil are associated with skin growth and health and can help old and papery skin regain some of its elasticity and youth.

Lastly, peach kernel oil can help soothe skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, although this should be done only after consulting with your doctor or dermatologist.

Side Effects Of Using Peach Kernel Essential Oil

Pregnant and nursing women should not use herbal remedies.

While peach kernel oil is a wonderful oil, there are several side effects that you should be aware of. First of all, when mixing it with essential oils, always test a small amount of your mixture on a small patch of skin, like the inside of the wrist or elbow, and wait 24 hours to see if any irritation occurs.

Because of the mildly toxic nature of peach kernel oil, ingesting peach kernel oil can have side effects such as severe headaches and heart palpitations in some people, although usually only after prolonged use. If you experience any of these side effects, stop using this oil immediately and contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Prolonged exposure and usage of peach kernel oil can build up life-threatening toxicity levels in the body and cause respiratory distress and coronary insufficiency (not enough blood flow through the arteries to the heart), so always take regular breaks from using it and don’t ignore any unusual feelings you have.

Peach kernel oil has many similar properties to nuts, and can trigger an allergic reaction in persons with nut allergies. Be careful of who you use it around! Always use herbal remedies such as peach kernel oil only after extensive research and consulting with a professional who is aware of your health history. Don’t use herbal remedies unsupervised if you are taking any medication, to prevent dangerous interactions.

Pregnant and nursing women should not use herbal remedies, do to the lack of scientific research and potentially toxic effects. Always insist on high-grade organic oils, since pesticides end up in the final concentrated product, and you don’t want to be ingesting concentrated pesticides or applying them to your skin. Treat herbal remedies with the medical respect that they deserve!

Conclusion

By now you probably realize that peach kernel oil is one of those things that you just gotta have around, especially if you like playing chemist and making your own elixirs and serums. From its diverse uses on all skin types to the way it gets along with other oils, peach kernel oil is one of the best base oils you can get. It smells wonderful, looks inviting, feels amazing, and may just be exactly what your body is looking for. So get out your mixing bowl and your measuring cup, and start crafting your perfect potion!