10 Ways to Use Copaiba Essential Oil

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Copaiba essential oil is steam distilled from the gum resin of the copaiba, or Copaifera reticulata, tree that grows in the rain forests of Brazil. The resulting essential oil has a mild, slightly woody aroma. As one of the most versatile essential oils available, copaiba has a variety of uses ranging from skincare to emotional health to reducing inflammation in the body. Check out these 10 ways to use copaiba essential oil.

Beauty & Hygiene

Use it on Your Face

Copaiba essential oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory. The primary active constituent, β-caryophyllene, lends this characteristic, as well as antioxidant actions, to the oil. Because it is also very mild, copaiba makes a great addition to your skincare routine. Try adding a few drops of copaiba essential oil to your facial toner to reduce redness and inflammation. You may also want to check out this Pumpkin Mask recipe for another skin-nourishing option.

Health

Soothe Teething Pain in Babies

Copaiba not only reduces inflammation; it may actually help relieve pain by interfering with nociceptors, which are sensory nerve cells. Applying a small amount to a baby’s jawline may help relieve some discomfort associated with teething.

Get Some Uninterrupted Sleep

Do you have trouble staying asleep through the night? Try adding copaiba essential oil to your bedtime routine. Studies show that copaiba affects the central nervous system to help relieve stress, which is the main culprit for sleep disturbances.

Amp Up Your Oral Hygiene

Copaiba essential oil can help promote healthy teeth and gums. When used daily, it may reduce the occurrence of mouth sores, swelling, infections, and cavities. Add a drop of copaiba to your toothpaste or mouth rinse before going to bed to reap the benefits of copaiba for your dental health.

Soothe a Spider Bite

For centuries, men have sought plant-based remedies for venomous insect and spider bites. This study points to copaiba essential oil to reduce the local effects of envenomation by spiders. You can apply copaiba directly to a itchy or painful bug bite to reduce pain and inflammation, or try this Boo Boo Balm recipe. Be sure to make up a batch before your next hiking or camping trip!

Make an After Workout Balm

I love the way copaiba essential oil soothes sore, fatigued muscles. After a hard workout or yoga session, try this After Workout Balm to prevent muscle soreness.

Emotions

Balance the Heart Chakra

When the heart chakra is blocked, you may experience difficulties in relationships, or you may feel self-critical and withdrawn. Copaiba essential oil can ease the chaos and stress of everyday life and stabilize your mood and emotions. When our emotions are balanced, we are less likely to criticize ourselves and others. This opens our heart chakra and helps us to feel connected to others and to better understand where they are coming from. 

Add it to Your Spiritual Practices

Copaiba is one of my favorite essential oils for meditation and yoga practices. It helps to calm erratic thoughts and encourages me to stay present in the moment. From energetic point of view, copaiba brings balance, grounding, and protection.

Pets

Calm Anxious Pets

Many animals do not like the strong aromas of essential oils. Copaiba is an excellent choice for pets because it is relatively mild. When animals are stressed and fearful, try using copaiba on their bedding, in the diffuser, or apply a small amount to your hands and stroke your pet to help calm their nerves.

In the Bedroom

Reduce Stress and Set the Mood

Nothing kills the mood more than stress and anxiety. Wind down before bedtime in a warm bath with some copaiba essential oil. Or you may want to make a linen spritzer to mist your bed. Try combining it with another essential oil that encourages intimacy, such as Idaho blue spruce or ylang ylang.

Want to learn even more about the science of Copaiba Essential Oil? Head to this video!

Love learning my favorite ways to use essential oils? Check out this post for links to lots of these lists.

If you want to dig deeper and learn the science behind essential oils and supplements, check out Essentials: 75 Answers to Common Questions About Essential Oils and Supplements.

Cajun Baked Tofu with Creamed Swiss Chard

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If you can’t take the heat, then don’t cook Cajun. The combination of cayenne and black pepper with garlic, herbs, and a touch of salt creates a full-bodied spice. Traditionally, Cajun food includes seafood, andouille sausage, chicken, and other meats, but it is versatile enough to season vegetables and other foods as well. This Cajun Baked Tofu employs traditional Cajun spice for a satisfying vegan dish.

The Origin of Cajun Food

Cajun food, noted for its rich heartiness and spiciness, originated in the 18th century. At that time, many French Acadians were exiled and landed in Louisiana. Once there, they created a distinctive cuisine with roots in the cooking of southern France using the natural resources available. This meant their cuisine featured oysters, crab, alligator, shrimp, crawfish, catfish, and redfish from Gulf of Mexico and the the local bayou.

They traded their usual Atlantic lobster, cod, and salmon for crawfish and shrimp. They swapped their staple vegetable, the potato, for rice, which grew well in Louisiana’s warm, humid environment. Thus, Cajun food was born of necessity by the merging of cultural influences. With little income, the Acadians created lots of peasant style one-pot meals bursting with flavor, such as jambalaya, gumbo and étouffée.

Cajun Baked Tofu with Creamed Swiss Chard

In this dish, we bring in Cajun spice to season perfectly roasted, crispy tofu. The Swiss chard and coconut cream balance the dish with a cooling creaminess and add heartiness for a complete meal.

Want to learn more ways to incorporate tofu in your repertoire? Check out Crispy Tofu, Broccoli, and Green Beans Over Midnight Grains with Sesame-Miso Dressing.

Turmeric Eye Brightening Cream

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Some days are better than others when it comes to your skin. There are a variety of reasons you may wake up with under eye inflammation or dark circles. Lack of sleep, dehydration, sun exposure, poor diet, allergies, hormones, fatigue, and the aging process can take its toll on the delicate skin around the eyes. Check out this recipe for Turmeric Eye Brightening Cream that can help soothe and rejuvenate your eyes to give you a younger, energetic look.

Benefits of Turmeric Eye Brightening Cream

The active ingredient in turmeric is a compound called curcumin, which is an effective antioxidant that can treat a number of skin disorders, ranging from discoloration and inflammation to skin cancer. Turmeric also helps protect against free radical damage to slow the process of aging. This helps preserve the elasticity of the thin skin around the eyes to prevent fine lines.

Shea butter deeply nourishes and moisturizes the delicate under eye area. This helps prevent fine lines and improves the appearance of the eye area.

Almond oil adds a brightening effect to this cream. It helps gradually improve darkened areas while moisturizing the skin.

The essential oils in this blend also help improve the appearance of the under-eye area. Lemon essential oil contains limonene, a compound that helps lighten and brighten skin. Frankincense is one of my go-to essential oils for skin because it is so nourishing and protecting. Finally, lavender essential oil calms inflammation and can help improve the appearance of skin.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon (about 0.4 oz.) shea butter

1/4 teaspoon beeswax

1/2 teaspoon almond oil

1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

2 drops lemon essential oil

2 drops lavender essential oil

4 drops frankincense essential oil

Instructions

  1. Combine shea butter and beeswax in a small glass jar.
  2. Create a double boiler by pouring a few inches of water in a small saucepan, and carefully set the jar of ingredients in the water.
  3. Next, gently heat the pan over medium-low heat.
  4. Once the mixture is completely melted, remove from heat.
  5. Add almond oil and turmeric.
  6. Finally, add essential oils and gently swirl to incorporate.
  7. Pour mixture into a small jar with lid and allow to cool completely and solidify before using.

For another anti-aging recipe for your skin, check out my Blue Tansy Cleansing Cream.

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There Discussion Questions

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Read What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith, and think through each of these discussion questions. Better yet, write out your answers. Be ready to discuss with others with an open mind.

1. Read through Goldsmith’s list of 20 Annoying Habits that Hold Us Back. Write down any of these habits you recognize in yourself, either in the past or present.

  • Winning too much
  • Adding too much value
  • Passing judgment
  • Making destructive comments
  • Telling the world how smart you are
  • Speaking when angry
  • Withholding information
  • Negativity
  • Failing to give proper recognition
  • Claiming credit that we don’t deserve
  • Making excuses
  • Playing favorites
  • Clinging to the past
  • Refusing to express regret
  • Not listening
  • Failing to express gratitude
  • Punishing the messenger
  • Passing the buck
  • An excessive need to be “me”

2. Review your list from question 1. Think about where that annoying habit originates from. Is it a fear of success or fear of failure? Is it seeking to gain approval? Is it feeling like you’re not good enough?

3. Now pick two behaviors that you want to focus on. Spend some time thinking about these behaviors and the roots of their origin. Simply jot down some notes about the way you feel when you reflect on the behaviors.

Bring your notes to the book club discussion for this book.