Western medicine, as it develops and matures, is beginning to take an active look at the wisdom of the East, clinically testing the potentials of the traditional practices of such places as India. India's Ayurvedic health and healing traditions date back centuries, noted in the earliest of Hindu religious texts. Amla, the Indian gooseberry, has received a lot of attention, both in the testing lab and outside of it. When considering what the benefits of Amla hair oils are, it is a good idea to review what some of the clinical studies have revealed about this nutrient-packed fruit of India.
Nourishes Hair
According to a National Institutes of Health U.S. National Library of Medicine article, prepared by researchers from the Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, in India, clinical testing has confirmed that the amla fruit does have powerful "antioxidant properties." Among these antioxidant nutrients that rigorously fight the free radicals that are so destructive to cells is Vitamin C, a nutrient directly related to hair health. Too little vitamin C, and hair becomes brittle and dry, as noted by the "Merck Manual of Medical Information." Ayurvedic-Medicines.com notes the high mineral content of the amla, including zinc, which is essential to healthy hair. In fact, as explained by the National Institutes of Health, a deficiency in zinc can cause hair loss. These hair health nutrients are an important benefit of amla hair oils.
Helps Maintain Hair Color
Another mineral that the amla is rich in, according to Ayurvedic-Medicines.com, is copper. This mineral relates directly to hair color because, as explained by Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute, it is essential to melanin production. Melanin is responsible for the color of hair, and a deficiency in copper can contribute to premature graying. Copper also has antioxidant properties, helping in the process of protecting the cells from the free radical damage that can hasten visible signs of aging.
Use to Stimulate and Protect Scalp
According to a Annamalai University, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, article available in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, in addition to its high antioxidant content, amla also acts as an antibacterial. Able to offer the scalp protection from inflammation and other disturbances of the skin, including those that are bacterial in nature, amla oil is a good choice for scalp massage. Massage can stimulate the scalp by increasing blood flow to this region of the body, which can have a positive impact on scalp health and hair growth.
References
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health: Cyto-protective and immunomodulating properties of Amla (Emblica officinalis) on lymphocytes: an in-vitro study
- Merck Manual of Medical Information: Vitamin C
- Ayurvedic-Medicines.com: Amla
- Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center: Copper
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health: Therapeutic potential of Phyllanthus emblica (amla): the ayurvedic wonder
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