The Argan Tree native to Morocco is known by the country’s indigenous Berber people as the Tree of Life, and for good reason.
For centuries, Argan oil has helped to support the people of Morocco in very dry and barren desert land.
The fruit and the leaves from the Argan tree give life to commonly seen animals in the region including goats, sheep, and camels, while the cake that is left behind after pressing Argan oil is fed to the people’s cattle.
The people also eat the culinary version of the Argan oil and the shells that house the nuts are used as a form of fuel.
Argan oil is the product that is made from the tree’s kernels, and because of the amount of time and effort it takes to produce by the Berber people, it is one of the most expensive types of oil globally.
Argan oil has been used by Berber women for thousands of years to keep them looking beautiful by nourishing hair and skin and keeping themselves hydrated in an otherwise arid region of the world. Argan oil is now becoming more and more popular and is now added as a dream ingredient in many beauty products, but it doesn’t just have beauty properties, it is also good for your health.
Argan tree groves tend to last anything up to 450 years, and so quite often families who own them pass them onto younger generations as a form of inheritance, as the products made from the trees are like gold. Here are why the oil is so popular…
Argan Oil Health Benefits
Argan oil contains active chemicals known as triterpenoids, which are extremely effective in protecting and nourishing the skin.
This makes it a great natural remedy for skin ailments as well as reducing the appearance of blemishes and scars and for protecting the skin against sun damage.
Its disinfectant properties also mean that it can be used to keep wounds and cuts clean and uninfected. Its content of sterolins also help to reduce inflammation of the skin and are great for moisture retention, so as you can imagine it is an idea for anti-ageing.
The anti-ageing properties of Argan oil are becoming increasingly well-known and this is also down to the high vitamin E content which works as antioxidant deactivating free radicals in the skin.
Another very interesting fact about Argan oil in terms of its protective properties is that it contains 80% unsaturated fatty acids, and it is even more oxidation-resistant than olive oil making it a great cancer fighter.
Medicinal Benefits of Argan Oil
The plant sterols found in Argan oil are extremely rare and are not found in most other natural oils, and these sterols work as natural anti-inflammatories and help to reduce cholesterol absorption in the digestive system. Sterols are also linked to reducing cancer risk. The flavonoids in Argan oil also acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, and for this reason, it is recommended by many alternative medicine specialists to help relieve pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
Another great medicinal benefits of Argan oil is its ability to stimulate circulation and to support the body’s immune system. This can help to ward off illnesses and reduce the risk of diseases.
Argan oil is also a very soothing product and is often used to reduce soreness and itchiness from acne, psoriasis and even chickenpox. It is applied by pregnant women to reduce the chance of stretch marks as its ability to moisturise the skin so deeply helps to keep the skin supple.
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