My first encounter with moringa was when I was a little girl. My grandfather had a moringa tree; he and my aunt used to eat its leaves regularly, on the basis that it reduces blood sugar levels and blood pressure. I forgot all about that until recently, when I was looking for natural homemade remedies for my hair, I came across moringa again, but this time it's moringa oil.
Because I'm interested in how moringa oil will benefit my skin and my hair specifically, I decided to look it up and see what science has to say about it. So, here is what I found.
Moringa Tree
Before we start talking about moringa oil, let me tell you a little about moringa as a whole. There is no part of a moringa tree that is not useful and edible; you just name it—the leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds.
The benefits that you will get depend to a large extent on the part that you eat. Effects such as lowering blood sugar levels are obtained by ingesting the leaves ¹ (though, we still need a lot of studies in this area).
Moringa Oil
Moringa oil comes from moringa seeds; and because it has a high yield value, it's used as a cooking oil in many places around the world. It is available in two forms: as a carrier oil and as an essential oil. How you use moringa oil depends on which form you get.
Benefits of Moringa Oil for Skin
Moringa seeds, from which the oil is extracted, have a respectful amount of phenolic and flavonoids compounds². Those compounds are known for their beneficial effects on the skin.
Our skin has a natural defense mechanism against reactive oxidative species, which are harmful to the skin. But sometimes this mechanism is not enough to compact the harm; that is why adding antioxidants, whether from diet or topical, is recommended for better skin health. And that is what phenolic compounds offer.
Phenolic compounds are also a great asset for inflammatory skin conditions, such as damage, irritation, redness, and swelling.
Anti-Aging Properties of Phenolic Compounds In Moringa Oil
Phenolic compounds have been studied for their antiaging properties. Applying natural products and remedies that have phenolic compounds in them, like moringa oil, might promote:
Skin renewal.
Production of collagen and elastin.
Reduce hyperpigmentation that results from aging.
Protect against UV damage.
All of this makes moringa oil a good natural alternative for slowing down skin aging and protecting it from damage³.
Moringa Oil for Skin Diseases
Skin conditions such as psoriasis and other conditions characterized by inflammation can be controlled and reduced by the application of moringa oil to the skin ⁴ ⁵.
You can also use moringa oil to reduce the inflammatory symptoms related to acne vulgaris.
Moringa Oil Accelerates Wound Healing
Another study looked into the effects of moringa oil on wound healing, and what they came to is that moringa oil accelerated wound healing by acting on collagen and fibroblasts ⁶.
Moringa Oil for Hair
Moringa oil can promote hair growth; its anti alopecia effect makes it a good choice for men who are struggling with alopecia.
Of course, that's not all. The high content of antioxidants that you can find in moringa oil might benefit the hair and the scalp in multiple ways, such as:
Increase hair thickness⁷.
It might delay or reduce hair graying⁸.
Boosting blood supply to the scalp, which increases the amount of nutrition your scalp receives.
How to Use Moringa Oil for Skin and Hair
As I mentioned, moringa oil comes as a carrier oil, and this one is mostly used for cooking. It also comes as an essential oil that you can use for skin and hair. Here is how:
In a bowl, add 2 cups of the carrier oil you prefer; that could be coconut oil, almond oil, etc.
Add 5 drops of moringa essential oil and mix.
Store it in a glass bottle and keep it away from light.
You can use this mixture for skincare and haircare.
If you want to use it on your hair, apply it to your scalp, then massage for a few minutes. Cover your hair and leave it overnight, then wash it in the morning.
You can also heat the moringa oil mixture for a few seconds before using it. This will highlight the nice fragrance of the oil.
The Bottom Line
Moringa oil, which is extracted from the seeds of moringa, has a lot of benefits for your hair and skin. It's rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Moringa oil can relieve inflammation and help with skin diseases, reduce hair loss and alopecia, and reduce hair graying. It might also promote skin renewal and collagen production, in addition to offering protection against UV rays.
FAQ: Moringa Oil: Benefits for Skin and Hair
Q: What is moringa oil?
A: Moringa oil is extracted from the seeds of the moringa tree. It's available in two forms: as a carrier oil and as an essential oil. It’s used for both cooking and as a natural remedy for skin and hair care.
Q: What are the benefits of moringa oil for the skin?
A: Moringa oil is rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which offer several skin benefits:
- Antioxidant Properties: Helps protect the skin from reactive oxidative species.
- Anti-inflammatory: Reduces skin irritation, redness, and swelling.
- Anti-Aging: promotes skin renewal, collagen, and elastin production, reduces hyperpigmentation, and protects against UV damage.
- Skin Conditions: Can help manage psoriasis and acne vulgaris.
Q: How does moringa oil benefit the hair?
A: Moringa oil is beneficial for hair in various ways:
- Promotes Hair Growth: Helps combat alopecia and increases hair thickness.
- Reduces Hair Graying: High antioxidant content may delay or reduce hair graying.
- Improves Scalp Health: Boosts blood supply to the scalp, enhancing nutrition delivery.
Q: How can I use moringa oil for skin and hair care?
A: Here’s a simple method to use moringa oil:
In a bowl, mix 2 cups of your preferred carrier oil (such as coconut or almond oil) with 5 drops of moringa essential oil.
Store the mixture in a glass bottle, away from light.
For skincare, apply the mixture to your skin as needed.
For haircare, apply to your scalp, massage for a few minutes, cover your hair, and leave it overnight before washing in the morning. You can also slightly heat the oil mixture to enhance its fragrance before application.
Q: Are there any other benefits of using moringa oil?
A: Yes, moringa oil can accelerate wound healing by promoting collagen and fibroblast activity, making it useful for treating minor cuts and abrasions.
Sources and Citations
Sissoko, Lassana & Diarra, Nouhoum & Nientao, Ibrahim & Stuart, Beth & Togola, Adiaratou & Diallo, Drissa & Willcox, Merlin. (2020). Moringa oleifera leaf powder for type 2 diabetes: a pilot clinical trial. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. 17. 10.21010/ajtcam.v17i2.3.
Leone, A., Spada, A., Battezzati, A., Schiraldi, A., Aristil, J., & Bertoli, S. (2016). Moringa oleifera Seeds and Oil: Characteristics and Uses for Human Health. International journal of molecular sciences, 17(12), 2141. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17122141
Działo, M., Mierziak, J., Korzun, U., Preisner, M., Szopa, J., & Kulma, A. (2016). The Potential of Plant Phenolics in Prevention and Therapy of Skin Disorders. International journal of molecular sciences, 17(2), 160. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17020160
Ma, N., Tang, Q., Wu, W. T., Huang, X. A., Xu, Q., Rong, G. L., Chen, S., & Song, J. P. (2018). Three Constituents of Moringa oleifera Seeds Regulate Expression of Th17-Relevant Cytokines and Ameliorate TPA-Induced Psoriasis-Like Skin Lesions in Mice. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 23(12), 3256. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23123256
Ananda Beatriz Munhoz Cretella, Bruna da Silva Soley, Priscila Lúcia Pawloski, Rebecca Marquini Ruziska, Dilamara Riva Scharf, Jociani Ascari, Daniela Almeida Cabrini, Michel Fleith Otuki, Expanding the anti-inflammatory potential of Moringa oleifera: topical effect of seed oil on skin inflammation and hyperproliferation, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 254, 2020, 112708,ISSN 0378-8741,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112708.
Ana Clara Sans Salomão Brunow Ventura, Thalita de Paula, Jenifer Pendiuk Gonçalves, Bruna da Silva Soley, Ananda Beatriz Munhoz Cretella, Michel Fleith Otuki, Daniela Almeida Cabrini, The oil from Moringa oleifera seeds accelerates chronic skin wound healing, Phytomedicine Plus, Volume 1, Issue 3, 2021, 100099, ISSN 2667-0313, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phyplu.2021.100099. Da
vis, M. G., Piliang, M. P., Bergfeld, W. F., Caterino, T. L., Fisher, B. K., Sacha, J. P., Carr, G. J., Moulton, L. T., Whittenbarger, D. J., & Schwartz, J. R. (2021). Scalp application of antioxidants improves scalp condition and reduces hair shedding in a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. International journal of cosmetic science, 43 Suppl 1, S14–S25. https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12734
Trüeb R. M. (2009). Oxidative stress in ageing of hair. International journal of trichology, 1(1), 6–14. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-7753 .51923
Comments