When you think about your ultimate hair and skincare products, you're probably picturing a shelf full of various glass bottles and other containers of expensive products. Each bottle had its own benefits, such as moisturizing, reducing dark spots, and clarifying. Some even have anti-aging properties.
Now, imagine getting all those benefits from just one source—no more overflowing bathroom cabinets and clinking bottles. It sounds crazy, but it could actually be true with Moringa oil, the newest trend in the beauty industry. Experts are praising it as an all-in-one wonder oil. The funny thing about this is it isn't even new on the scene. It has been used for centuries for its health and beauty benefits.
Let's take a deeper look into this oil and its uses.
What is Moringa Oil?
Moringa oil is obtained from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree, which grows natively in tropical regions in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Most parts of the Moringa tree can be used for industrial, medicinal, and nutritional purposes. This includes its bark, roots, seeds, leaves, and flowers. For this reason, it's often called the miracle tree.
Aside from its medicinal properties, it also has antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressant properties. This makes it a great ingredient in skin and hair products. It's also available as a cooking oil and essential oil.
In olden times, the oil is extracted through hand pressing. But, today, it's produced through different industrial processes, including cold pressing and solvent extraction.
Moringa Oil Uses
Moringa oil has been used for thousands of years as a folk cure for many ailments, as well as a cosmetic ingredient. Today, it's being manufactured for an even wider range of industrial and personal uses. Here are some more uses for moringa oil.
- Topical moisturizer and cleanser. Moringa oil's oleic acid, a monosaturated, healthy fat, makes it a great cleansing agent, as well as a moisturizer for the hair and skin.
- Cooking oil. Aside from its oleic acid, moringa oil is also rich in protein, making it a nutritious and economical cooking oil alternative. In fact, it has become a staple in many areas where Moringa trees are grown widespread.
- Cholesterol management. Moringa oil, when ingested, can also help lower LDL (bad cholesterol) when ingested because it contains sterols.
- Anti-inflammatory. Moringa oil has bioactive compounds that contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help manage acne breakouts when used topically or ingested. These include catechins, tocopherols, ferulic acid, quercetin, and zeatin.
- Antioxidant. The phytosterol, beta-sitosterol, found in moringa oil may have antidiabetic and antioxidant benefits. However, we need more research to confirm this claim.
Moringa Oil Skin Benefits
Moringa oil is popular for its many skin benefits. Here are just some of the most notable ones.
- Has anti-aging effects. Moringa oil is well-known for its anti-aging properties. It helps prevent facial skin sagging and removes wrinkles. Its rich source of antioxidants helps slow down the aging process while curbing the activity of free radicals.
- Gives you a natural glow. Moringa oil is a great skin purifier. It can be used to counteract fatigue, oil secretion, and other negative effects of pollution on your skin, making your skin glow naturally.
- Cures burns, cuts, and rashes. Moringa oil can also be used for treating minor rashes, cuts, or even burns because of its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It can also help heal insect bites.
- Fights blackheads, acne, and dark spots. Did you know that moringa oil also has properties for treating acne and removing spots and blackheads from your skin? Sounds crazy, but it's true. If you want flawless skin, this nutrient-dense oil is a must-try.
- Helps prevent edema. Edema causes painful fluid build-ups in your body's tissues, usually in your arms, hands, legs, and ankles. Moringa oil's anti-inflammatory properties may be effective in preventing the development of edema.
Moringa Oil Hair Benefits
Technically speaking, hair is also skin. It's a modified type of skin, to be exact. So, you can also use moringa oil on your hair. Here are a few benefits of moringa oil for hair.
- Moisturizes the scalp. If you have a dry scalp, you can use moringa oil as a massage oil. Just apply a bit of oil on your wet hair and gently massage it on your scalp. This will help it reach your roots to moisturize your scalp better.
- Makes hair grow stronger. Moringa oil can help rejuvenate and strengthen your hair. It's jampacked with minerals and vitamins that can help make your hair grow healthier and stronger.
- Fights split ends and dandruff. The same minerals that make your hair grow stronger can also help prevent split ends and fight dandruff because of their great healing properties.
Moringa Oil Health Benefits
Aside from its skin and hair benefits, moringa oil can also help improve your overall health. Let's take a look at the top health benefits of moringa oil.
- Supplies energy. Do you need energy to feel refreshed all day long? Moringa oil is rich in antioxidants that can help keep you going.
- Rich source of vitamin C. Aside from its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, moringa oil is also a rich source of vitamin C. When used in cooking, it can help you build stronger immunity. Unfortunately, it's a little bit on the pricey side, which is why only a few people use it for regular cooking.
- Fights Insomnia. If you have trouble sleeping, give moringa oil a try since it has properties that help induce a good night's sleep. It also controls and lowers blood pressure.
- May help prevent cancer. Moringa oil contains niazimicin, a compound known for suppressing the development of cancer cells.
- Protects the liver. According to some studies, moringa appears to have properties that help protect the liver against damage caused by anti-tubercular drugs. It can also help quicken the repair process.
- Makes bones healthier. Moringa contains phosphorous and calcium, which are known for helping keep the bones strong and healthy. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help treat conditions like arthritis. It may also potentially heal damaged bones.
- Fights bacterial diseases. With its antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties, Moringa oil can help fight bacterial infections caused by E. coli, Salmonella, and Rhizopus.
- Helps wounds heal faster. Moringa extract is known to help wounds heal faster while reducing the appearance of scars.
- Protects the cardiovascular system. Moringa oil's powerful antioxidants might help protect you against cardiac damage. Plus, it helps maintain a healthy heart.
- Treats diabetes. Moringa helps manage sugar levels by reducing sugar and protein in the urine and glucose in the blood. This helped improve the overall protein and hemoglobin levels in those tested.
- Treats asthma. Moringa can't cure asthmas, but it can help reduce its severity. It can also help protect you against bronchial constrictions. It has been shown to improve breathing and overall lung function.
- Protects against kidney disorders. Moringa extract's high levels of antioxidants help lower the toxicity levels in the kidneys. This prevents people who ingest it from developing stones in their bladder, kidney, or uterus.
- Improves eye health. Thanks to its high antioxidant levels, moringa oil can also help improve eye health. It may prevent the thickening of capillary membranes and dilation of retinal vessels. It may also inhibit retinal dysfunction.
- Treats anemia and sickle cell disease. Moringa may also help treat or even prevent anemia and sickle cell disease as it encourages the body to absorb iron. This helps increase red blood cell count in the body.
- Better gum health. You can also use moringa oil as your daily mouthwash for healthy teeth and gums. Add a few drops into a glass of water and swish it in your mouth. Gently massage your gums after to relieve any inflammation.
Possible Side Effects
Moringa oil doesn't have many side effects, but it does have anti-fertility qualities. That's why it's not recommended for pregnant women.
It may also be contraindicated for use in people using certain medications, such as those that might be broken down by the liver. Likewise, moringa is already effective at lowering blood sugar and blood pressure levels. If you use it together with your other medications, you risk getting extremely low blood sugar or blood pressure levels, which is a bad thing.
The levothyroxine compound found in moringa leaf is used to combat thyroid problems, but it can cause more problems if you use it in combination with other thyroid medications. To be on the safe side, anyone considering using this oil should consult with a doctor first.
Lastly
There are plenty of researches to back the above-stated benefits. However, many are still in the preliminary stages and need further studies and tests. Moreover, moringa, like all supplements, is regulated as food and not as drugs by the FDA. So, there might be concerns about quality and purity. You need to understand that the validity of the claims is made by the manufacturers themselves, including the potential side effects. So, buy and use it at your own risk.
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