Why Mustard Oil Is Good For Young Children: Know The Facts

Giving oil massage to new born babies and infants has been a traditional affair in Indian households. The most preferred oil was mustard though nowadays the practice is declining and other commercial oils are gaining prominence. However, with winter on in full swing, here are a few reasons why babies should be given a mustard oil massage.

Mustard Oil Massage Strengthens Bones

First and foremost, mustard oil massage is extremely important for infants because of some basic reasons. It strengthens their bones and stimulates blood circulation in the blood thus keeping the baby healthy.

Mustard oil has a pungent smell and when infants are massaged with it, insects stay away, especially mosquitoes. The best thing is that mustard oil is a natural ingredient and therefore good for the sensitive skin of infants.

Mustard oil is very good for the hair because of the presence of linoleic acid and oleic acid. Blood circulation is stimulated and leads to hair growth.

Other Health Benefits of Mustard Oil

Mustard oil is anti bacterial in nature and is effective in killing S typhi and E coli bacteria. Babies are vulnerable to these bacteria and mustard oil protects them.

Anti fungal properties are present in mustard oil and application of mustard oil keeps the babies free from any fungal infection.

When infants are massaged with mustard oil, the sweat pores open up and this is very necessary in summer so that the sweat can come out of the body and toxins and waste are not accumulated in the body.

Mustard Oil is good for Cold

Mustard oil is very effective in cough and cold. Just put garlic clove in the oil, heat it and massage your baby with it. It is very effective against nasal congestion.

 Mustard is warm oil and is widely used in colder climes for massaging babies so that their bodies keep warm. It is an insulator and can stick to the skin while soaking it up slowly.

Winter is a time when the moisture content of skin decreases and therefore, mustard oil can effectively restore that lost moisture to prevent chapping of the infant’s skin.

Other than just plain mustard oil, one can add basil leaves to warm mustard oil in winter. You can also spurt garlic pods in mustard oil and then use it. Warm or cold, mustard oil was and is the best oil to massage your baby with. The natural pungency and warmth works wonders for the child and make them strong and keeps them free from many common illness and diseases.

So now that you know mustard oil is good for children make sure you use the pure variety to derive the maximum benefits.