Hair loss bears a similarity to being overweight – it is a conspicuous feature that can cause one’s self-esteem to plummet. A key difference is that there are readily actionable steps you can take to lose weight. Remedying hair loss, on the other hand, is less clear-cut.
Fortunately, research into natural solutions for hair loss can lend a helping hand.
Essential oils have captured the attention of hair loss researchers for their supposed hair-growing properties.
According to research published in the International Journal of Ethics in Engineering & Management Education, combining these natural products produces the most promising results.
Malaysian researchers have demonstrated that a mixture of coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) and Nigella sativa is very effective in promoting hair growth.
Nigella sativa is a small black seed that has been used for centuries in herbal medicine.
The seed comes from a flowering plant (part of the Ranunculacea family) native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean.
The researchers in the study concluded: “The mixture among coconut oil and Nigella sativa is the most effective to promote hair growth than others, thus it has potential as an alternative way to be used for hair treatment in the future.
“Further study is suggested to identify the effectiveness of coconut oil and olive oil with Nigella sativa extracts in promoting hair growth.”
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According to the scientists, coconut oil consists of lauric acid, which has high affinity and low molecular weight that are able to penetrate into the hair shaft and promote hair growth.
They continued: “In this project, the main objective is to study the potential of coconut oil towards hair growth.
“In addition, the coconut oil was mixed with two herbs, Nigella sativa and Aleurites moluccana (candlenut) to identify their potential in contributing hair growth.”
The researchers attribute the hair-growing effect in part to linoleic acid (a short chain fatty acid) found in Nigella sativa.
According to the researchers, linoleic acid is very important in blood circulation.
While Aleurites moluccana, an oil extracted from the nuts of the kukui nut tree, also called candlenut tree, is traditionally used to promote hair growth.
In this experiment, one litre of the fresh coconut milk was heated at 60ºC for 15 minutes and cooled at 4ºC for 24 hours.
The low molecular weight of the substance was separated and mixed with grinned herbs, Nigella sativa and Aleurites molucana.
The mixture was left for 72 hours to make a homogenous component and then, was filtered two times to get pure oil.
The coconut oil, coconut and Nigella sativa oil, coconut and Aleurites moluccana oil and coconut with mixed herbs were applied on shaven scalps three times per day.
The three-volunteered respondent was used and the effectiveness of these solutions was evaluated by measuring the length of hair.
“Hence, the most effective solution was coconut oil mixed with Nigella sativa,” the researchers concluded.
Alternative options
If you are looking for drug treatments for hair loss, finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments, according to the NHS.
“Minoxidil can also be used to treat female pattern baldness. Women shouldn’t use finasteride,” adds the health body.
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