Hair loss, hair thinning, or baldness are a great concern for many people. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia and it can be either partial (alopecia areata) or total (alopecia totalis).
Hair loss can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and result in isolation from others. For cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment hair loss has been reported to forever change one’s self-image and sense of belonging in the world.
The condition of your hair is largely dependent upon a good supply of blood carrying adequate amounts of nutrition to your hair follicle. An aromatherapy scalp massage has been shown to effectively stimulate blood flow to the scalp and the underlying hair follicles to promote healthy hair growth.
Research conducted in Aberdeen, Scotland by the Department of Dermatology showed successful outcomes for the use of essential oils in the treatment of alopecia.
Causes Of Hair Loss
Men and women can suffer from age-related hair loss or thinning due to hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and menopause. Research has shown that essential oils like palmarosa and rose geranium help to balance hormonal fluctuations which can lead to hair thinning and loss of hair.
Extreme stress can also play a significant role in hair loss for which the healing power of emotionally calming pure essential oils like Clary Sage and Ylang Ylang can be useful.
Nervous system and stress are closely related (This is because most of the benefits focus on impacting nervous system positively).
Most hair loss problems, not directly caused by imbalances of health, can usually be traced to maltreatment of the hair with excessive heat or chemical treatments like coloring and perming or washing with strong detergent based shampoos.
9 Essential Oils For Hair Growth
1. Bergamot (Citrus Bergamia)
A fresh, lightly sweet and fruity citrus oil with spicy, floral overtones bergamot has a warm, friendly and inviting scent.
Caution: Though bergamot is helpful for treating a variety of skin conditions, care should be taken when using it in skin applications. As bergamot is phototoxic please avoid exposure to direct sunlight or sunlamps for a minimum of 3-12 hours after use.
2. Blue Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium L.)
Yarrow has a sweet, warm, earthy, herbal and camphoraceous aroma. A powerful restorative yarrow strengthens and uplifts all of your organs, nervous and endocrine systems which may be an underlying issue.
Caution: Avoid in pregnancy, children and babies can safely substitute German chamomile. High ketone (thujone) content can cause headaches, avoid prolonged use.
3. Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata)
Sweet, floral, balsamic, exotic and sensual; pronounced “eelang”. Ylang ylang in the Malayan language means “flower of flowers”.
A 2006 study performed in Thailand investigated the effects of ylang-ylang oil on human physiology. The report concluded that ylang-ylang oil can cause relief of depression and stress in humans.
4. Geranium (Pelargonium Roseum and Graveolens)
The heady and exotic aroma of geranium oil is delightfully fresh, sweet, floral and sensuous.
A research study reported that the alcohol geraniol had a balancing effect on the autonomic nervous system. Common symptoms of autonomic nervous system imbalance include a headache, hot flashes, irregular heartbeat, nervousness, depression, and anxiety.
Caution: Geranium oil can lower blood sugar and should be avoided in cases of hypoglycemia. Due to its hormonal effect avoid geranium during pregnancy.
5. Palmarosa (Cymbopogon Martinii)
High in alcohols specifically linalool and geraniol content (up to 95%). Research has also shown alcohol geraniol to be effective for treating autonomic nervous system imbalances.
Caution: None, though as a general rule avoid in pregnancy, with young children and babies.
6. Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea)
Sweet, warm, exotic and sensuous with a slight herbal note clary sage is an especially inviting aroma. Its intense floral scent has a deeply soothing effect on the deeply held nervous tension for both men and women.
Caution: As clary sage can stimulate a narcotic-like effect for some people causing them to feel dizzy or light headed please avoid using when driving or needing to focus. Avoid in pregnancy.
7. Atlas Cedarwood (Cedrus Atlantica)
A sweet, warm, rich, balsamic, woody aroma with fruity and honey undertones atlas cedarwood oil has a fortifying effect on the mind and emotions and bolsters one’s courage in times of great change and unsettled circumstances.
Cedar wood oil is often recommended for helping stop hair loss, especially related to stress and its antiseborrheic properties are excellent for balancing too oily skin, hair and scalp conditions.
Caution: Avoid in pregnancy as there is confusion among researchers about its abortive properties.
8. Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris L.)
Dynamic, fresh and radiant thyme oil’s intense spicy, pungent and herbaceous scent. Thyme aids oxygenation of cellular tissue for removal of toxic wastes and stimulating new hair growth.
Caution: A skin irritant, avoid during pregnancy, or in cases with a diagnosed seizure disorder, high blood pressure, or hyperthyroidism.
9. Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis ct. Verbenon and ct. Cineole)
An aromatic plant prized since ancient times the powerful and pungent scent of rosemary is fresh, camphoraceous, warm and radiant like the sun.
A male patterned baldness study compared Minoxidil (an over the counter stop hair loss product) to rosemary essential oil. Both were rubbed into the scalp daily. After six months both groups experienced a significant increase in hair growth with rosemary users having less itchy scalps.
