Login

Can the glorified bhringraj oil really press pause on hair loss? Let’s hear what science has to say

Ayurveda glorifies it and so do many people, who claim to have been reaping the benefits of the bhringraj oil. So let’s weigh in the pros and cons of this widely-loved oil.
Yes, the road to envious hair does include regular massages with bhringraj oil. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Sonakshi Kohli Updated: 26 Jun 2020, 11:29 am IST
OPEN APP

We live in a world where people are so obsessed with the way they look that they don’t refrain from trying anything and everything that comes their way with a promise of enhancing their beauty.

This is particularly true when it comes to hair care. Thanks to a poor lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, and most importantly—stress—so many women out there are either losing their hair or watching them become thinner and limper by the day. 

Now, leaving aside the bold souls, who don’t refrain from professional chemical treatments and products promising to fix this problem “quickly”—some of us just like to take the natural route and thus fall back on the ancient science of Ayurveda for a cure. 

Enter: Bhringraj oil, Ayurveda’s cure-all solution for hair problems
Widely used in the ancient Ayurvedic practice of balancing out the pitta dosha (characterized by heat), bhringraj oil contains false daisy (Eclipta alba) along with an inactive carrier oil (such as sesame or coconut oil). Depending on the brand of bhringraj oil you’re using, it might contain other ingredients such as amla oil, brahmi oil, gotu kola, licorice root, and costus root as well. 

Bye-bye hair problems with bringraj oil. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

This oil can be consumed orally for treating conditions such as fatty liver, urinary tract infection, Alzheimer’s, hypertension, diabetes, and constipation. However, it’s USP seems to lie in the benefits that it provides to your hair and scalp.

1. It can boost hair growth
A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that the topical use of an Eclipta alba extract present in the bringraj oil stimulates the growth of hair follicles. This, in turn, boosts hair growth. In fact, another study published in the Archives of Dermatological Research seconded these findings.

So, massaging your scalp with the bhringraj oil regularly can boost your hair growth and treat problems such as alopecia.

2. It can fix scalp infections
From dandruff to fungal infections on the scalp, bhringraj oil can fix it all. This is because as per a study published in the Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, this oil possesses antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

3. It can keep greying at bay
Whether it’s stress, your genes, or simply ageing which is turning your hair grey, you can surely count on bhringraj oil for delaying the salt-and-pepper look. According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, the hair darkening properties of the bhringraj oil can compensate for the loss of melanin (dark pigment) from your hair with time. What more do you want from life?

Thanks to bhringraj oil for stopping the greying of your hair. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

But, does it live up to all these promises?
Well, if scientific researches quoted above are anything to go by, the bhringraj oil defo lives up to its promise of boosting your hair growth. However, if you think it isn’t up to it, chances are that you’re using an adulterated version of it.

Select Topics of your interest and let us customize your feed.

PERSONALISE NOW

So, it is best to check product info and buy one approved by the authorities. Also, it isn’t recommended to leave the oil overnight as it can lead to clogging of your scalp pores and give you a cold as well. Not to mention, if your pitta dosha isn’t the aspect that needs balancing the bringaraj oil might not work for you. 

Sonakshi Kohli

Twenty kilos down and struggling to maintain the weight loss by preaching healthy eating, while eating unhealthy every now and then. ...Read More

Next Story