Awapuhi is another name for wild ginger. You'll frequently find this ingredient in shampoos, conditioners and cosmetic products. It's used to add a spicy, warming aroma to massage oils as well. Awapuhi, sometimes called Hawaiian ginger or pinecone ginger, may affect your skin in a variety of ways.
Skin Irritant
While ginger products such as awapuhi have anti-inflammatory activity when taken orally, putting them on your skin can irritate it, says Paula Begoun, author of "The Original Beauty Bible." Ginger used topically also is contradicted in a couple of cases. If you are pregnant or epileptic, avoid products with ginger oil in them, advises Stephanie Tourles, author of "Organic Body Care Recipes."
Ache Releif
Ginger products like awapuhi traditionally are applied to skin to alleviate achy joints and sprains, notes Ruth Winter, author of "A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients." While ginger is frequently used to treat joint and muscle pain, as well as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, studies to back such uses yield unclear evidence as to whether there is a true benefit, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Anticancer Activity
Awapuhi may prevent or inhibit tumors on the skin, says A. Murakami, lead author for a study published in the "International Journal of Cancer." The zerumbone, a component found in the subtropical ginger's essential oil, is responsible for this effect. Murakami's research was done on rats, however, so more research is needed to see if this potential benefit applies to humans, and to determine whether any side effects outweigh potential benefits.
References
- "International Journal of Cancer"; Zerumbone, a sesquiterpene in subtropical ginger, suppresses skin tumor initiation and promotion stages in ICR mice; A. Murakami, et al.; July 2004
- "A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients"; Ruth Winter; 2009
- "Ginger: A versatile Healing Herb"; Satyesh Chandra Pakrashi, Anita Pakrashi; 2003
- "Organic Body Care Recipes"; Stephanie Tourles; 2007
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Ginger
- Cosmetics Cop: Ginger Extract
