8 Benefits of Mustard Oil, Plus How to Use It
Mustard oil
, Benefits of mustard oil
, Mustard essential oil ,
Antimicrobial properties
Skin and hair health ,
Pain relief , Controle
Cancer cell growth
Heart health
Mustard oil, which is produced from the seeds of the mustard plant, is a common ingredient in Indian cuisine.
Known for its strong flavor, pungent aroma, and high smoke point, it’s often used for sautéing and stir-frying vegetables in many parts of the world, including India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Although pure mustard oil is banned for use as a vegetable oil in the United States, Canada, and Europe, it’s often applied topically and used as a massage oil, skin serum, and hair treatment (1).
Mustard essential oil, a type of essential oil produced from mustard seeds using a steam distillation process, is also available and approved for use as a flavoring agent (1).
Here are 8 benefits of mustard oil and mustard essential oil, along with some simple ways to use them.
1. May block microbial growth
Some studies have found that mustard essential oil possesses powerful antimicrobial properties and may help block the growth of certain types of harmful bacteria.
According to one test-tube study, white mustard essential oil decreased the growth of several strains of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus (2Trusted Source).
Another test-tube study compared the antibacterial effects of essential oils like mustard, thyme, and Mexican oregano with pathogenic bacteria. It found that mustard essential oil was the most effective (3Trusted Source).
What’s more, several test-tube studies have discovered that mustard essential oil may inhibit the growth of certain types of fungi and mold (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
However, because most evidence is limited to test-tube studies, more research is needed to determine how mustard essential oil may affect human health.
2. May promote skin and hair health
Pure mustard oil is often applied topically to help optimize hair and skin health.
As well as adding it to homemade face masks and hair treatments, it’s sometimes mixed with wax and applied to the feet to help heal cracked heels.
In areas like Bangladesh, it’s also commonly used to perform oil massages on newborns, which is thought to enhance the strength of the skin barrier (6Trusted Source).
However, although many report improvements in fine lines, wrinkles, and hair growth, most available evidence on the topical benefits of pure mustard oil is purely anecdotal.
If you decide to use mustard oil on your skin or scalp, be sure to perform a patch test first and use only a small amount to prevent irritation.
3. May alleviate pain
Mustard oil contains allyl isothiocyanate, a chemical compound that has been well studied for its effect on pain receptors in the body (7).
Although research in humans is lacking, one animal study found that administering mustard oil to the drinking water of mice desensitized certain pain receptors and helped treat widespread pain (8Trusted Source).
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Mustard oil is also rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid that may help decrease inflammation and relieve pain caused by conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).
However, keep in mind that prolonged topical exposure to pure mustard oil has been shown to cause serious skin burns (11Trusted Source).
More research in humans is needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using mustard oil for pain relief.
4. May slow cancer cell growth
Promising research suggests that mustard oil may help slow the growth and spread of certain types of cancer cells.
In one older study, feeding pure mustard oil to rats blocked the growth of colon cancer cells more effectively than feeding them corn oil or fish oil (12Trusted Source).
Another animal study showed that mustard seed powder rich in allyl isothiocyanate inhibited bladder cancer growth by nearly 35%, as well as helped prevent it from spreading into the muscle wall of the bladder (13Trusted Source).
A test-tube study observed similar findings, reporting that administering allyl isothiocyanate extracted from mustard essential oil decreased the spread of bladder cancer cells (14Trusted Source).
Further studies need to be conducted to evaluate how mustard oil and its components may affect cancer development in humans.
5. May support heart health
Mustard oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, a type of unsaturated fat found in foods like nuts, seeds, and plant-based oils (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source).
Monounsaturated fatty acids have been linked to a variety of benefits, especially when it comes to heart health.
However, although the beneficial effects of monounsaturated fats have been well established, some studies have reported mixed results on the effects of mustard oil itself on heart health.