Body odour is simply an unpleasant smell from your body, caused by sweating. Sweating, also known as perspiration, is a natural process that helps your body regulate its temperature.
While sweat is odourless, bacteria living on your skin can use it as a breeding ground and multiply rapidly. This bacterial growth can result in body odour. However, it can easily be managed by following a few natural remedies.
Here are 10 effective and natural home remedies to get rid of your body odour:
1. Wash Your Body Regularly
Take a bath regularly. Unpleasant body odour is a very sensitive issue and can lead to problems in your social, cultural and work life.
Try to shower at least once a day. Also, do not forget to take a shower after exercising/working out and after a long day at work. This will help keep your body clean and prevent any bacterial growth that can result in body odour.
2. Apply Coconut Oil on Your Skin
Coconut oil is one of the best and most effective remedies that can help the body have a pleasant odour. The antimicrobial (an agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth) properties in the coconut oil help to limit the growth of bacteria causing odour.
Coconut oil also supports digestive health, an important factor in fighting both body odour and bad breath (halitosis).
Applying coconut oil on the skin and consuming it in your food will help arrest the growth of bacteria in your body, thus, preventing body odour.
3. Rub Lemon on Your Armpits
The natural, antiseptic (agents that slow or stop the growth of microorganisms) and antimicrobial properties of lemon help eliminate unpleasant odours of the body and control bad breath caused by bacteria.
The acidic properties of lemon juice help to reduce the growth of harmful bacteria on the skin. Also, as an immune booster, lemon removes harmful toxins, including bacteria in the body.
You could rub one half of a lemon over your armpits to prevent perspiration (sweating) and avoid body odour.
4. Eat Fenugreek (Methi) Seeds Regularly
The antioxidant properties in fenugreek seeds can help flush out toxins from your body and the antibacterial properties in it can control bacterial infections from spreading.
Consuming fenugreek seeds is believed to combat body odour naturally from its root cause.
You can choose to drink fenugreek tea as well. Boil a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in about 250 ml of water. Drink this tea regularly on an empty stomach to eliminate toxins and hence, fight body odour naturally.
5. Use Neem Leaves Paste
Neem is an effective herb in ayurveda with numerous medicinal values. The antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiseptic properties in neem leaves help in eliminating harmful odour-causing bacteria and toxins from your body.
You can apply neem leaves paste (add water to neem leaves powder) on your underarms, leave it on for 15 minutes and wash it off.
Simply adding a few twigs of neem leaves to warm water and taking a bath can also be beneficial.
6. Try Tomato Juice For Body Odour
Tomato juice is an effective remedy to fight body odour. The antibacterial and antiseptic properties in tomatoes can help limit the number of bacteria that cause bad odour in the body. It also helps in controlling excessive sweating.
Immerse a cloth in tomato juice and smear it on your armpits. Drinking tomato juice can lower body temperature, thus reducing sweating.
7. Drink Adequate Water
Another effective home remedy for body odour is drinking a lot of water. Being a great solvent, water removes toxins from your body and helps flush out bacteria and pathogens that can result in body odour.
In addition, water is also the best neutralizer which prevents bacteria from forming in your intestines.
8. Wash Your Underarms With Baking Soda
Baking soda helps absorb moisture from the skin, thus, reducing odour. Apply baking soda to your underarms and wash it off after a few minutes.
Baking soda mixed with equal parts of cornstarch can act as a natural deodorant. If you have any burning sensation on applying baking soda, do not continue further and wash off immediately.
9. Use Witch Hazel as an Antiperspirant
Witch hazel (a natural remedy made from the bark and leaves of a plant called Hamamelis virginiana) acts as an astringent, an agent that contracts skin pores reducing sweat production.
Witch hazel, when applied to your underarms works as an antiperspirant (a substance that reduces or prevents perspiration or sweating) and thus, helps reduce body odour.
10. Dab Apple Cider Vinegar on Your Armpits
Apple cider vinegar or ACV (fermented juice made from crushed apples) has acidic properties that help in removing toxic microbes from the body.
Immerse a few cotton balls into apple cider vinegar and dab on the armpits, feet and other parts of the body to eradicate bacteria and reduce body odour.
Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.