Blueberry Seed Oil

Cold pressed from Vaccinium corymbosum most commonly

 Therapeutics

antiantherosclerotic (prevent buildup in arteries when ingested), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, emollient

Plant Anatomy & Growth

The blueberry plant is a woody perennial bush with stems shooting out of the base of the plant also known as the crown. Here they all join into a fairly shallow root system. They take up to 8 years to fully mature and produce fruit, but once they do their flower buds develop into the fruit we all know well!  

Native to North America these bushes thrive in the Pacific Northwest and other similar climates. Within the last 100,000 years the blueberry has been bred to produce the fruit known today and only popularized in the last 100 years.

Color

the oil is green with a bluish tint, this color will change depending on when the seeds were harvested

Scent

fruity, nutty, fragrant 

Taste

nutty, fruity

Qualities

medium to fast absorbing leaving a mild scent that dissipates after a while

Constituents

The seeds contain roughly 10-15% oil after extraction. The oil contains fatty acids (35-38%) such as oleic (~18%), linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Some main sterols are campesterol and sitosterol and it also contains a small amount of tocopherols.

Uses

Apply the oil directly to the skin for immediate absorption. Additionally the oil may be consumed.

No known adverse effects. 

References

  1. Strik, B. (2015) How blueberry plants develop and grow. Oregon State University Extension Service.

    https://extension.oregonstate.edu/crop-production/berries/how-blueberry-plants-develop-grow 

  2. J.C. Bada, M. León-Camacho, P. Copovi & L. Alonso (2014) Characterization of Berry and Currant Seed Oils from Asturias, Spain, International Journal of Food Properties, 17:1, 77-85, DOI: 10.1080/10942912.2011.614369

  3. Bederska-Łojewska D, Pieszka M, Marzec A, Rudzińska M, Grygier A, Siger A, Cieślik-Boczula K, Orczewska-Dudek S, Migdał W. Physicochemical Properties, Fatty Acid Composition, Volatile Compounds of Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, and Cuckooflower Seeds Obtained Using Sonication Method. Molecules. 2021 Dec 8;26(24):7446. doi: 10.3390/molecules26247446. PMID: 34946523; PMCID: PMC8704999.

  4. Pankau, R. (2019) The history of blueberries: From Native American staple to domesticated superfood. University of Illinois Extension. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2019-01-19-history-blueberries-native-american-staple-domesticated-superfood#:~:text=Blueberries%20are%20native%20to%20our,human%20inhabitants%20on%20our%20continent.