Holistic Health Aromatherapy & Essential Oils The Benefits of Patchouli Essential Oil By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Meredith Bull, ND on April 20, 2020 facebook linkedin Meredith Bull, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a private practice in Los Angeles, California. Learn about our Medical Review Board Meredith Bull, ND on April 20, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents How Does It Work? Uses Benefits How to Use It Caveats Alternatives Where to Find It Using It for Health Patchouli essential oil is a type of essential oil commonly used in aromatherapy. Sourced from the leaves of the Pogostemon cablin plant (a perennial herb native to tropical regions of Asia), patchouli essential oil is said to offer a variety of health benefits. Patchouli essential oil is also sometimes used as an ingredient in incense and perfume, as well as in skin-care products. sorsillo / Getty Images How Does It Work? In aromatherapy, inhaling the aroma of patchouli essential oil (or absorbing patchouli essential oil through the skin) is thought to transmit messages to a brain region involved in controlling emotions. Known as the limbic system, this brain region also influences the nervous system. Aromatherapy proponents suggest that essential oils may affect a number of biological factors, including heart rate, stress levels, blood pressure, breathing, and immune function. How to Use Essential Oils for Aromatherapy Uses In aromatherapy, patchouli essential oil is typically used to treat the following problems: Acne Anxiety Athlete's foot Constipation Dandruff Eczema Fatigue Indigestion Insomnia In addition, patchouli essential oil is said to act as an insect repellent, promote healing from burns and wounds, and reduce inflammation. When used in skin-care products, patchouli essential oil is thought to treat oily skin and reverse signs of aging. Benefits Although research on the aromatherapeutic use of patchouli essential oil is very limited, there's some evidence that it may offer certain health benefits. For example, a preliminary study published in the Journal of Natural Medicines in 2011 found that patchouli essential oil may help promote sleep. In tests on mice, the study's authors determined that inhaling the aroma of patchouli essential oil may have sedative effects that could be useful in the treatment of sleep problems. Additionally, a report published in Phytotherapy Research in 2005 found that patchouli essential oil may help protect against mosquito bites by acting as an insect repellent. How to Use It When combined with a carrier oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, or avocado), patchouli essential oil can be applied directly to the skin or added to baths. Patchouli essential oil also can be inhaled after sprinkling a few drops of the oil onto a cloth or tissue, or by using an aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer. Caveats Patchouli essential oil should not be taken internally without the supervision of a health professional. Internal use of patchouli essential oil may have toxic effects. Additionally, some individuals may experience irritation when applying patchouli essential oil to the skin. It should never be applied full strength to the skin. Pregnant women and children should consult their primary healthcare providers prior to using essential oils. Alternatives A number of essential oils may possess stress-reducing effects similar to the purported benefits of patchouli essential oil. For example, lavender essential oil, bergamot essential oil, and rose essential oil have all been found to promote relaxation in scientific studies. If you're seeking an aromatherapy remedy for sleep problems, lavender essential oil, ylang ylang essential oil, and chamomile essential oil may be of some benefit. Where to Find It Widely available for purchase online, patchouli essential oil is sold in many natural-foods stores and in stores specializing in self-care products. Using It for Health Due to the limited research, it's too soon to recommend patchouli essential oil as a treatment for any condition. If you're considering using it, talk to your doctor first. Keep in mind that alternative medicine should not be used as a substitute for standard care. Self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Orchard A, van Vuuren S. Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4517971. doi:10.1155/2017/4517971 Albuquerque ELD, Lima JKA, Souza FHO, et al. Insecticidal and repellence activity of the essential oil of Pogostemon cablin against urban ants species. Acta Trop. 2013;127(3):181-186. doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.04.011 Silva-Filho SE, Wiirzler LAM, Cavalcante HAO, et al. Effect of patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) essential oil on in vitro and in vivo leukocytes behavior in acute inflammatory response. Biomed Pharmacother. 2016;84:1697-1704. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2016.10.084 Chamine I, Oken BS. Expectancy of stress-reducing aromatherapy effect and performance on a stress-sensitive cognitive task. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:419812. doi:10.1155/2015/419812 Additional Reading Ito K, Ito M. Sedative effects of vapor inhalation of the essential oil of Microtoena patchoulii and its related compounds. J Nat Med. 2011;65(2):336-343. doi:10.1007/s11418-010-0502-x Trongtokit Y, Rongsriyam Y, Komalamisra N, Apiwathnasorn C. Comparative repellency of 38 essential oils against mosquito bites. Phytother Res. 2005;19(4):303-309. doi:10.1002/ptr.1637