Safflower Oil in Reversing Hair Loss

Safflower oil is produced from seeds of safflower plant. Safflower plant has a long history, with studies indicating that it was grown in ancient Egypt 4000 years ago (Zahran et al., 2007). Today, the crop is grown in more than 60 countries across the world. The leading producers of safflower plant and its oil include Mexico, India, US, China, Australia, Argentina, Kazakhstan and various Arab countries (Ramsden et al., 2013). There are two types of safflower oil. One of the types is rich in oleic acid, while the other is rich in linoleic acid. The oil is made simply through pressing safflower seeds (Zahran et al., 2007).

There are numerous common uses of safflower oil. To start with, it is used as cooking oil. Secondly, the oil is used for the purpose of salad dressing during the production of margarine (Ramsden et al., 2013). It is also added in food as a nutritional supplement. In Japan, the oil is also used as a gift. In addition, the oil is used as an ingredient in making cosmetics (Ramsden et al., 2013). Studies have shown that the oil prevents stroke and heart disease. As well, it is used in treating traumatic injuries, chest pain, clotting conditions, breathing problems, coughs, tumors and fever (Ramsden et al., 2013).

Studies have shown that safflower enhances growth of hair and thus, it can be used for the purpose of reversing hair loss. Kumar et al. (2012) conducted a study to determine the extent to which Seventeen Thai traditional plants facilitates growth of hair. Out of the seventeen plants, the researchers found safflower seed oil to be the most effective in promoting hair growth. Junlatat and Sripanidkulchai (2014) carried out a study to determine the extent to which the products of safflower plant enhance growth of hair. The researchers carried the study on mice. The study results indicated that safflower oil significantly enhances growth of hair. The two studies indicated that the oil enhances hair growth due to its content. The oleic acid in the oil dilates blood vessels, leading to an increase in the supply of nutrients to hair follicles. Further, linoleic acid supplies hair follicles with polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are essential for the growth of hair. Also, the acids inhibit the supply of 5?-reductase enzyme that limits hair growth (Kumar et al., 2012).

Application of safflower oil on hair involves a few simple steps. The first step is to put a few drops of the oil on palms and rub the palms together. The next step is to rub the palms with oil against skin on the scalp. After applying it, one should leave it for one hour. After one hour, the scalp or hair with safflower oil should be rinsed thoroughly. The process should be repeated one a week (Kumar et al., 2012).

References

Junlatat, J. & Sripanidkulchai B. (2014). Hair Growth-Promoting Effect of Carthamus

tinctorius Floret Extract. Phytotherapy Research, 28(7), 1030–1036

Kumar, N., Rungseevijitprapa, W.,  Narkkhong, N., Suttajit, M. & t Chaiyasut, C. (2012).

5?-reductase inhibition and hair growth promotion of some Thai plants traditionally used for hair treatment. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 139(3) 765–771

Ramsden, C. E., Zamora, D., Leelarthaepin, B., Majchrzak-Hong, S. F., Faurot, K. R.,

Suchindran, C. M., Ringel, A., Davis, J. M. & Hibbeln, J. R. (2013). Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: Evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis. BMJ 346, e870

Zahran, A. M., Omran, M. F., Mansour, S. Z. & Ibrahim, N. K. (2007). Effectiveness

of Carthamus tinctorius L. in the Restitution of Lipid Composition in Irradiated Rats. Egypt. J. Rad. Sci. Applic., 20(1), 75-94