Mustard essential oil packs a crazy amount of useful properties, you know? It works as a stimulant, rubefacient, appetite stimulant, antibacterial, antifungal, insect repellent, hair growth booster, diaphoretic, anti-rheumatic, and general tonic. No wonder it’s been a staple in home remedies for ages!
Table of Contents
- What Is Mustard Essential Oil?
- Science-Backed Health Benefits of Mustard Essential Oil
- How to Use Mustard Essential Oil Safely
- Side Effects and Important Safety Precautions
What Is Mustard Essential Oil?
Let me start with the basics so we’re all on the same page. Mustard essential oil is a volatile, super pungent oil extracted from ground black mustard seeds. It’s got natural antifungal properties, and it’s even used as a flavoring agent in tons of food products we buy every single day—think condiments, sauces, processed meats, spice blends, dehydrated soups, and canned goods.
Wait, quick side note: you’ve probably heard the term “mustard oil” thrown around for two totally different products, right? There’s the pressed mustard oil that’s used for cooking in some cultures, and then there’s this spicy, volatile essential oil we’re talking about today. The essential oil version is made by grinding mustard seeds, mixing them with water, then distilling the resulting volatile oil. You can also make it via dry distillation of the seeds.
Just so you know, the pressed cooking mustard oil is restricted for sale in some countries because of its high erucic acid content, though there are low-erucic acid varieties of mustard seeds out there now too. The essential oil is a totally separate product, though, so don’t mix the two up! That’s a common mistake that can lead to some pretty unpleasant outcomes, seriously.
Science-Backed Health Benefits of Mustard Essential Oil
I’ve been experimenting with this oil for years, and let me tell you, the list of benefits is way longer than I thought when I first picked up a bottle. Let’s break them down one by one, no overhyped nonsense, just what actually works.
1. Aids Digestion and Supports Detox
If you’ve ever dealt with sluggish digestion after a heavy meal, you’ll love this benefit. Mustard essential oil stimulates the production of gastric juices and bile, which are basically your body’s digestive workhorses. It also boosts peristaltic movement in your intestines—you know, the little contractions that move food through your system. That means better digestion overall, and it even helps keep your excretory system running smoothly so waste doesn’t hang around longer than it needs to. It’s like a little nudge for your gut when it’s feeling lazy, no weird over-the-counter pills required.
2. Boosts Appetite
Okay, this one is a game-changer for anyone who’s struggled with poor appetite, whether it’s from illness, stress, or just being too busy to remember to eat. Mustard essential oil works as a natural appetite stimulant. That super distinct pungent, tingly property? It actually irritates the lining of your stomach and intestines just a tiny bit, which triggers the flow of digestive juices and makes you feel genuinely hungry. No weird appetite stimulants with sketchy ingredients, just a natural trick that’s been used forever.
3. Acts as a Gentle Stimulant
Wait, I know “stimulant” sounds like a bad thing most of the time, but hear me out. In small, controlled uses, that stimulating effect is actually really useful. Stimulation just means an organ is responding to an external trigger, right? That means it’s working properly! For people dealing with numbness or loss of sensation in certain areas, this property can help bring feeling back. It’s also used to stimulate muscles—some people use it in massage blends to wake up sore, sluggish muscles after a long workout or a day sitting at a desk. It’s like a little wake-up call for parts of your body that feel like they’re checked out.
4. Fights Bacterial Infections
Mustard essential oil has natural bactericidal properties, which is just a fancy way of saying it kills bacteria. When used internally (only under professional guidance, obviously), it can help fight bacterial infections in your colon, digestive system, excretory system, and urinary tract. When diluted properly and applied topically, it’s also great for treating bacterial infections on the skin. I’ve used a heavily diluted blend on small cuts and scrapes before to keep them from getting infected, and it works way better than some of the drugstore antiseptics that dry out your skin like crazy.
5. Prevents Fungal Infections
This benefit is all thanks to allyl isothiocyanate, the compound that gives mustard its signature kick. That stuff is a total powerhouse when it comes to fighting fungus. It doesn’t just stop fungal growth in its tracks—it also keeps existing fungal infections from spreading to other areas. I’ve used it in foot soaks (diluted, of course) to fight off stubborn athlete’s foot that wouldn’t go away with over-the-counter creams, and it cleared up in a week. No weird side effects, no weird chemical smells, just that familiar mustard tang.
6. Works as a Natural Insect Repellent
If you hate the smell of chemical bug sprays as much as I do, you’re gonna love this. Mustard essential oil is a super effective insect repellent. You can add a few drops to a diffuser or vaporizer to keep bugs out of your room, or mix it with a carrier oil and spray it around doorways and windows to keep flies and mosquitoes from coming inside. I even add a drop to my outdoor candle wax when I’m sitting on the patio in the summer, and it keeps the mosquitoes away way better than those citronella candles that never seem to work. Just don’t put it directly on your skin without diluting it first, okay? That would not be a fun time.
7. Supports Healthy Hair and Reduces Shedding
Okay, this is the benefit that got me into mustard essential oil in the first place. It’s packed with fatty acids like oleic acid and linoleic acid that are amazing for nourishing your hair follicles. Plus, that stimulating property we talked about earlier boosts blood flow to your scalp when you massage it in. More blood flow means more nutrients getting to your roots, which equals stronger, healthier hair that doesn’t fall out as much. I’ve been using a blend of mustard essential oil and jojoba oil as a scalp mask once a week for a year now, and my hair is so much thicker and sheds way less than it used to. Seriously, my hairstylist even asked what I was using! Just make sure you dilute it properly, and don’t leave it on for more than 30 minutes the first few times, because the tingly sensation can be a lot if you’re not used to it.
8. Relieves Congestion and Breaks Up Mucus
When you’re stuck with a cold or chest congestion, mustard essential oil is a total lifesaver. It creates a gentle warming sensation when you apply it (diluted!) to your chest, which helps warm up your respiratory system and break up mucus that’s stuck in your lungs and sinuses. A lot of that effect comes from its mild rubefacient properties—meaning it increases blood flow to the area you apply it to, which helps your body fight off the congestion faster. I rub a diluted blend on my chest and the bottoms of my feet when I have a cough, and I sleep so much better than when I use those sticky Vicks rubs that smell like chemicals.
9. Boosts Sweating to Support Detox and Lower Fever
Mustard essential oil promotes sweating, whether you ingest it (again, only with a pro’s okay!) or apply it topically. It stimulates your sweat glands to produce more sweat and opens up your pores, which helps your body get rid of toxins, excess salt, and extra water. That’s also super useful if you have a fever—sweating is your body’s natural way of cooling down, so this oil can help bring a fever down faster without over-the-counter medication. I’ve used it in a warm compress on my chest when I had a mild fever, and I started sweating within 10 minutes and felt so much better after an hour.
10. Acts as a General Tonic for Overall Health
This oil isn’t just for specific issues—it’s a great general tonic for your whole body. It supports all of your body’s systems, boosts your overall strength, and even gives your immune system a little lift. It’s packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin E, all of which are great for your long-term health. I add a drop (mixed with a carrier oil, obviously) to my daily body lotion sometimes just to get those little extra benefits throughout the day.
11. Reduces Arthritis and Rheumatism Symptoms
People have been using mustard oil for arthritis pain for literally thousands of years, and for good reason. Its anti-inflammatory and warming properties make it perfect for soothing achy joints. When you massage a diluted blend into sore, swollen joints, it increases blood flow to the area and reduces inflammation, which cuts down on pain and stiffness. My grandma has had rheumatoid arthritis for decades, and she swears by her mustard oil massage blend to get through cold, damp days when her joints act up. It’s way cheaper than prescription pain creams, and it doesn’t have any of the weird side effects that some of those meds have.
12. Other Little-Known Benefits
On top of all those big benefits, there are a ton of smaller, random uses for this oil that most people don’t know about. It’s great for relieving headaches caused by sinus congestion, easing general body aches from colds or flu, and even supporting muscle growth when used in post-workout massage blends. You can also rub a super diluted blend on your gums to strengthen them and protect your teeth from bacteria (just make sure you don’t swallow any, obviously!). It’s honestly one of the most versatile essential oils I have in my collection.
How to Use Mustard Essential Oil Safely
Let’s get one thing straight first: pure mustard essential oil is never safe to ingest or use as a cooking oil. Don’t even try it. It’s way too concentrated, and drinking it can cause serious irritation to your digestive system and even toxicity. Stick to external use only, unless you’re working with a certified aromatherapist or medical professional who tells you otherwise.
The safest way to use it topically is to dilute it in a carrier oil first—think jojoba, sweet almond, coconut, or olive oil. A good rule of thumb is 1-2 drops of mustard essential oil per tablespoon of carrier oil, especially if you’re using it for the first time. Do a patch test on the inside of your elbow first, wait 24 hours, and make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction before you slather it all over yourself. Trust me, you don’t want to find out you’re sensitive to it the hard way.
You should also be careful about diffusing it around people who might be allergic to mustard, or around kids and pets—its strong scent can be irritating to sensitive respiratory systems. And again, never take it orally. That’s non-negotiable, seriously.
If you want a stronger, more intense aroma (like for congestion relief), you can heat the diluted oil slightly before using it. Heating it makes the volatile aroma molecules evaporate faster, so more of that signature mustard scent gets into the air and into your nasal passages. I do this sometimes when I have a bad sinus headache— I warm up a small bowl of carrier oil, add a drop of mustard essential oil, and hold my face over it with a towel over my head for a few minutes. It clears up my sinuses faster than any nasal spray.
Wait, fun cooking tip for the pressed culinary mustard oil (not the essential oil, important distinction)! If I’m making raita or a salad dressing and I want that classic mustard kick, I’ll fry whole spices in hot culinary mustard oil first, then drizzle it over the top. Just know that heating the oil makes the flavor less spicy on your tongue, because you’re evaporating some of those pungent molecules into the air. It’s a trade-off: more aroma, less heat. I love using culinary mustard oil as a finishing oil, just like you’d use olive oil, sesame oil, or walnut oil. I drizzle it over salads, roasted veggies, fish, chicken, even steak—anywhere that that bright, wasabi-like kick will make the dish pop. It’s become a staple in my kitchen, honestly.
Side Effects and Important Safety Precautions
Now, let’s talk about the not-so-fun stuff, because no natural remedy is perfect for everyone. You’ve probably heard scary stories about mustard oil being toxic, or warnings that pregnant people shouldn’t use it. But here’s the thing: in countries like India and Bangladesh, mustard and its oil have been used for cooking and medicinal purposes for centuries, and there’s no widespread evidence of those toxic effects there. That said, the essential oil version is way more concentrated than the culinary pressed oil, so you do have to be careful with it.
The most common side effect is irritation to mucous membranes. If you get it too close to your eyes, nose, or mouth, it will burn and sting, a lot. It can also irritate sensitive skin if you don’t dilute it properly, or if you use it too often. If you’re not used to it, the tingly, warming sensation can feel really intense the first few times you use it. Start with a super low concentration, and only leave it on your skin for 10-15 minutes the first time to see how you react. You’ll get used to the feeling after a few uses, I promise.
There’s not a lot of research out there about blending mustard essential oil with other oils, but because it’s so irritating, it’s not a super common choice for general aromatherapy blends. Stick to simple blends with gentle carrier oils when you’re first starting out, and avoid mixing it with other strong, irritating oils like cinnamon or clove unless you know exactly what you’re doing.
And of course, if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, have a pre-existing medical condition, or are taking any medications, talk to your doctor before using mustard essential oil, just to be safe. It’s always better to be overcautious than to end up with a bad reaction.
Last updated: November 17, 2022
