Sunflower Oil

Both are excellent carrier oils—the best choice depends on your preferences, the season, and your Ayurvedic constitution.

Sunflower Oil has a lighter feel and is a little more cooling. Considered tridoshic, or balancing for all three doshas, it can also be a particularly good choice for pitta and for use during the warmer months of the year. It's also a great choice for everyday use.

Sesame Oil is richer and is more warming and grounding, making it a classic choice for balancing vata and kapha, and during cooler weather.

Sunflower oil has a light texture that glides smoothly over the skin without feeling overly heavy. In Ayurveda, it is traditionally considered nourishing, subtly cooling, and balancing for all three doshas (tridoshic), making it an excellent choice for daily self-massage, especially during warmer weather or for those seeking a lighter massage oil.

Yes, Sunflower Oil can be an excellent choice for the face. Many people enjoy using Sunflower Oil as a lightweight facial oil, especially if they prefer a less rich alternative to heavier oils. Because everyone's skin is unique, and the skin on the face is more delicate, we recommend patch testing before applying it more broadly, particularly if you have sensitive skin. If irritation occurs, discontinue use.

Yes. While sesame or coconut oils are more commonly used for oil pulling, this Sunflower Oil makes a great option as well.

For some quick steps to oil pulling: after you have brushed, swish the oil vigorously around your mouth for several minutes before spitting it out into a lined trash can (do not swallow the oil, and do not spit it down the sink as the oil is hard on plumbing), and then rinse out your mouth with water. Oil pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic practice that complements your oral hygiene practices.

Quality begins with the source. Banyan's Organic Sunflower Oil is sustainably sourced and fairly traded. Made from certified organic sunflower seeds, it is expeller pressed and has been refined using a natural, chemical-free process, which gives it a lighter texture and scent.

It is also incredibly versatile and can be used for massage, body care, creating your own herbal oil infusions, and other traditional Ayurvedic wellness practices.

While there is confusion and controversy about using seed oils, scientific studies consistently show that quality seed oils are considered healthy choices. Furthermore, most discussions about seed oils focus on refined cooking oils used in processed foods. Banyan's Organic Sunflower Oil is intended for traditional Ayurvedic self-care practices such as abhyanga and oil pulling. It is organic, hexane-free, and expeller pressed for external wellness practices.

In addition to centuries of use in Ayurveda as a beneficial oil, research on topical sunflower oil supports its ability to help maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier, while studies on oil pulling suggest it may offer oral hygiene benefits when used alongside regular brushing and flossing.