Is Amla Oil The Secret To Healthier Hair?
One of the best things about cultural exchange is the introduction of Ayurvedic practices when it comes to beauty maintenance. So many of us have benefitted from its ancient rituals like hot oil treatments and deep scalp massages for our hair health. Ayurveda enlists many useful traditional herbal remedies and oils that are known to provide nourishment and restoration to the hair follicles and shaft. Amla oil is one you likely haven't heard of before but should get acquainted with.
Amla is essentially the Hindu name of the Indian gooseberry from which the oil is made. Unlike most other oil-making processes, amla oil is made by steeping the fruit in a carrier oil until all the phytonutrients have been extracted. The oil is then purified. There are many proposed benefits of using amla oil on the hair and many believe it might just be a well-kept secret to healthy locks. You'll want to know how true that is before placing your order.
Amla oil is antiparasitic and could reduce baldness in men
Amla oil joins the likes of jojoba, coconut, and almond oil in famed potency when it comes to keeping your hair healthy and vibrant. We all want gorgeous, radiant locks that don't break at the slightest tension, which means we have to be willing to explore alternative options. Is Amla oil really all that it's cracked up to be?
According to Healthline, amla oil has been tested by Indian scientists and found to be incredibly toxic to parasites. This is beneficial if you suffer from hair parasites like lice. The oil is also connected to hair growth. In another study, it is said to have encouraged rapid hair growth and improved overall hair health. This experiment was carried out on animals, but that doesn't mean it can't be advantageous to us, too.
If you suffer from a dry scalp or dandruff, then there's good news in store for you. Amla's antibacterial properties are believed to take a strong effect against dandruff, and its moisturizing qualities aid dryness. One study shows that the oil inhibits 5-alpha reductase which is an enzyme linked to hair loss in men. Inhibiting this enzyme's action means that amla oil can potentially reduce male pattern hair loss.
Amla oil has a lot of potential as a hair treatment
Amla oil contains a host of nutrients such as hefty amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, amino acids, iron, and proteins. It is also a strong antioxidant which means it can protect your hair from damage from free radicals. In addition to this, amla oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
You can receive the benefits of amla oil by ingesting it or applying it topically. Although amla oil is not known to be reactive to skin, it could potentially cause inflammation in some rare cases and irritation. If you want to test out this oil on your hair, then that means conducting a patch test to be on the safe side. Amla oil is generally safe to use but keep its application to twice a week.
You can typically find amla oil in Indian shops or stores that sell Ayurvedic medicine. You can also purchase it online via Essential Natural Oils. However, proper research will be needed to make sure you're getting the real stuff. While amla does seem like a miracle oil, a lot of the studies associated with it were conducted using animals as test subjects instead of humans. However, the results are promising which means adding amla oil to your haircare regimen wouldn't hurt.