Preliminary studies have shown that Eclipta alba not only increases hair growth, which means it would work in conjunction with reducing hair loss but also has a direct effect on the color of the hair. These results are visual and are supportive of the findings of those who support the concept of its value for addressing hair problems.
It has to be realized that alopecia is considered to be in the dermatological field. It would make sense that positive results would be seen in hair growth with Eclipta alba as it is successfully used to treat many skin ailments such as athlete’s foot, eczema, and dermatitis.
In some applications, the Eclipta alba is mixed with mineral oil and applied to the hair to stimulate the growth and restore it to a healthy-looking condition. It has also been noted for its attributes in the prevention of graying. This would support its ability to retain the vibrancy of the color of any individual’s hair.
The extraction of the Eclipta is often used in black hair dye as well as a medium for tattoos.
Eclipta alba is not some new discovery. It has been used since ancient times for retaining the color and luster of the hair. It makes common sense that if the hair is healthy, it’s going to retain its luster. Therefore, it’s obvious that Eclipta alba has the ingredients to keep the hair healthy. Eclipta alba is now becoming a most popular ingredient in high-quality shampoos.
Scientific Research
As mentioned studies are ongoing with respect to the effects of Eclipta alba. In one study, utilizing albino rats the results were not only significant but also exciting. Half of the rats were topically treated with Eclipta alba and the control group with Minoxidil. In the early stages, the control group experienced significantly faster growth. However, once the hair reached the anagenic phase with the Eclipta group, there were a greater number of hair follicles compared to the Minoxidil group.
This supports the theory as well as past experience that although Minoxidil stimulates quick hair growth, natural products such as Eclipta produces more follicles which makes for better growth overall.
What is Eclipta Alba?
The leaves and roots of the Eclipta alba plant, also known as false daisy, are powerful natural remedies for a variety of ailments. Whether you are suffering from hair loss, greying hair or any of the other effects of increased age, there is a cure for your problems in Eclipta alba.
Studies conducted in the 1950s, the 1970s and as recently as 2009 have all shown that the roots, stem, and leaves of Eclipta alba, the “false daisy,” contain a multitude of potent chemicals that are antiherpatotoxins, anti-inflammatories, and antivirals. The plant is used in liver detoxification because of its ability to heal cirrhosis of the liver.
How Does Eclipta Alba Stimulate Hair Growth?
The Eclipta alba plant is able to perform liver detoxification and remedy hair loss because the chemicals it contains are known to perform vital functions in the body. The plant contains wedelolactone and demythlywedelolactone, both of which are antihepatotoxins. These chemicals detoxify the liver by reacting with toxins and allowing their safe secretion from the body. These chemicals are secreted from the body in several different ways.
1. Natural Hair Dye
One of the most common side effects of getting older is hair loss and going grey. Eclipta alba provides a remedy for both. The leaf extract of the false daisy is a strong natural black dye that is often used in tattooing because of its rich color. That color is due to chemicals that have the power to restore lost color to your hair.
2. Natural treatment to prevent hair loss
In addition, the leaf extract contains chemicals that speed up the healing process for damaged hair follicles. Hair follicle damage is the root cause of hair loss in women, and repairing the damage leads to hair growing back. What’s more, the Eclipta leaf extract will keep the hair follicles in the growing phase for longer, which means your hair grows back in much quicker.
Preparing Eclipta Alba Hair Oil or Bhringraj oil
Ingredients:
- Sesame seed oil
- coconut oil
- Eclipta alba extract
Many oil bases react with the active ingredients in Eclipta alba, so it is essential to use a base that will allow an even spread of the extract without preventing it from working. Sesame seed oil and coconut oil both serve this purpose, so which is used depends on your personal preference. Coconut oil gives a lovely coconut scent to the hair, for example.
To prepare the hair oil, boil the leaf extract and mix in the sesame seed or coconut oil. Mix the two liquids thoroughly, and then allow the oil to cool well before use. This is essential because hot oil will burn the scalp and cause further damage, possibly including more hair loss.
To begin the healing process and restore damaged hair to health, simply massage the hair oil into the damaged parts of the scalp. The massaging process encourages blood flow through the scalp, which brings much-needed proteins and nutrients to the damaged cells. The Eclipta alba oil is spread evenly across the scalp by the massage, which ensures absorption of the active ingredients.
Treatment Time
Oil should be massaged into the hair twice a day for the duration of the treatment. When hair begins to grow back, keep using the Eclipta treatment because this will ensure the process works to its full potential. Bhringraj oil increases the length of time the hair follicles can remain in the growing phase, so continued use of the hair oil means hair will grow back to the desired length quicker than it could without treatment.
The length of time you will need to continue applying the treatment varies from person to person.
Research from 2009 demonstrated that up to 160 percent more hair follicles are repaired in a given period when Eclipta alba is used compared to natural healing. It takes a couple of months, on average, for small patches of hair loss in women to be healed with Eclipta; while more extensive cases will, of course, take longer.
How Long Does it Take?
You can expect Bhringraj hair oil to begin working immediately but visible results will take a little longer. This is not a miracle cure, natural remedies do not work that way. The length of time before your hair is fully restored will depend on the extent of the hair loss. Repairing the diseases of aging is not an overnight process, after all.
While the hair oil will provide visible results for restoring color to grey hair within one or two uses, regrowing lost hair can take a couple of months. This is because the hair follicles must be repaired before the hair will begin to grow again. Eclipta alba encourages the body to repair the damage but does not directly repair hair follicles itself (nothing can). If you naturally heal quickly, the process will take less time than with people who heal slowly; although in either case, the hair oil will speed up the process.
For extensive damage to the scalp, healing will take longer than where hair loss has been minimal. Either way, the hair oil treatment should be continued daily until the hair is fully restored. This ensures that the Eclipta has the time to work properly.
Eclipta Alba’s Multiple Benefits
Memory Aid
Eclipta alba is useful as a memory aid. It helps to improve memory and thus combats one of the major diseases of aging – memory problems. The leaf extract is incredibly bitter-tasting however, so it is important to mix the extract with honey in order to make it palatable.
Combat Inflammation
Anti-inflammatory properties of Eclipta will aid in dealing with a host of complaints.
1. Chronic Asthma, Mucous, Persistent Cough
Eclipta juice relieves these conditions. Mixed with honey, it also helps against upper respiratory tract infections in children.
2. Headache, Migraine
Massaging the temples with fresh Eclipta juice gives instant relief from headaches. Need something stronger to combat recurring migraines? Mix a few drops of fresh Eclipta juice with milk, and use the mixture as nasal drops!
3. Acne, Athlete’s Foot, Dermatitis, Eczema
These conditions will also respond well to a topical application of Eclipta juice.
4. Glandular Swelling and Filariasis
Filariasis is a tropical disease caused by a parasite. A paste of Eclipta leaves, applied to glandular swelling and filariasis, can help alleviate the pain and eliminate inflammation.
5. Wounds, Cuts, Bruises, Insect Bites
A thick paste of Eclipta leaves is also used to deal with cuts, bruises and insect bites, including scorpions bites. Ancient Chinese and Brazilians have also used this paste as an antidote to snakebites.
6. Leucoderma, Vitiligo, Urticaria Hives
White patches on the skin, also known as leukoderma or vitiligo, respond well to Eclipta leaf paste to combat loss of pigmentation.
Urticaria is an allergic or non-allergic skin reaction and is an immunological disease marked by intense itching. Again, Eclipta leaf paste comes to the rescue.
Detoxification
We live in a world where toxins from many sources make it hard for our liver to deal with. Eclipta alba assists the liver-gallbladder system in ridding itself of toxins in various ways:
1. Liver and Gallbladder Diseases
The leaves and roots of Eclipta are used as cholagogues, which stimulate the contraction of the gallbladder and support the discharge of bile to flush out the system.
Eclipta alba leaf juice is a powerful liver tonic with the ability to remove obstructions from the ducts of the body and to promote their natural secretions. Other diseases of the liver-gallbladder system, such as cirrhosis of the liver, jaundice, and hepatitis also appear to respond to Eclipta alba leaf juice.
2. Upset Stomach, Food Poisoning
Eclipta alba root tonic has been found to be an emetic and a purgative. Emetics stimulate vomiting, and purgatives stimulate colon cleansing.
3. Anemia
Anemia can be treated with Eclipta leaf juice. It is a powerful blood purifier that has been shown to raise hemoglobin.
4. Worm Infestation
Pinworms and tapeworms in humans are not just unpleasant, they are dangerous. Taking 3 to 6 teaspoons of fresh Eclipta juice, mixed with castor oil, helps in getting rid of worm infestations.