Wheatgerm Carrier Oil (triticum vulgare)

Wheatgerm oil is rich in vitamin E and is useful for dry and mature skin. It is well known for its ability to heal scar tissue, smooth stretch marks, and sooth burns. As it is too sticky to use on its own as a massage oil, add small amounts of it to a lighter oil. This oil should not be used on people with a wheat intolerance. Add 10-20% of wheatgerm oil to other carrier oils to guard against rancidity and prolong the life of the oil.

Rich in vitamin E, wheatgerm oil is renowned for its ability to enrich, nourish and preserve the skin, helping to keep it supple and young-looking, and reducing the likelihood of stretch marks appearing.

How to use wth natural pregnancy: Dilute 2tsp wheatgerm oil in 4-5tsp of a lighter carrier oil such as sweet almond. Massage into the skin, preferably after a bath or shower, concentrating on the abdomen, thighs and breasts which are more prone to stretch marks. If you have an intolerance or allergy to wheat, substitute wheatgerm oil with pure vitamin E oil.

The plant: The wheatgerm is a cereal grass native to West Asia but is widely cultivated in subtropical and temperate regions. The stems grow up to 1 metre high, each have clusters of up to a hundred clusters.

Useful for: Prematurely aged skin, eczema and psoriasis. Not to be used on children.

Therapeutic properties: Rich in lipid soluble vitamins therefore good for revitalising dry skins. Good for after sports massage.

The oil: Yellow to orange in colour. A very heavy oil, always used as an addition to another carrier oil, never on its own.

Extraction method: The oil is extracted from the germ, after milling the grains of wheat for white flower, this separates out the wheat germ. The oil is cold pressed, extracted from the germ.

Latin name: Triticum vulgare.

Family: Graminae.

Contains vitamins: The oil contains high levels of vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, so the wheatgerm oil can be added to other carrier oils to act as a preservative. The oil also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, E.

Odour: Unrefined oil has a fairly strong odour and can adversely alter the smell of any recipe.