Fenugreek seeds (methi dana) for Hair

 Fenugreek seed/ methi dana is a green herb grown in Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean region. It is used as Spices in Indian dishes. Green Leaves are used as vegetables.

 Fenugreek is rich in iron, protein, soluble fiber, saponins, flavonoids, magnesium, and manganese.

Fenugreek seeds as ayurvedic medicine

Fenugreek is used in ayurvedic medicine to

 Induces labor

 Increase breast milk

 Increase level of testosterone

Anti-inflammatory, and

Antifungal activities

Soothing the skin and reducing inflammation

 It has antifungal activity

 Fenugreek increase appetite

 It increases good gut bacteria so, it keeps your gut healthy

 Fenugreek is also used for the reduction of sugar in the blood

 It is also used for weight loss therapies.

Benefits of fenugreek seeds

Fenugreek has flavanoids and saponins so, it is widely used in soaps and shampoo. This property of fenugreek makes it useful for hair fenugreek as it cleans naturally. It is used for thin hair. It is a treatment for itchy and dry scalp.

 It soothes the irritated scalp. The bacterial infection to the scalp temporarily causes hair loss. Fenugreek seeds have antibacterial and antifungal activity and thus treat the infection on the scalp and reduce hair loss.

 The anti-inflammatory property of fenugreek also prevents aging of hair and stress damage to the hair.

 Pollution and the environment damage hair and cause the breaking down of hair strands. Fenugreek seeds have antioxidants that reduce stress.

 Saponins clean the hair without damaging them. Antifungal activity of fenugreek reduces damage due to dandruff and itchy scalp.

 How do we use fenugreek seeds?

It is widely used as tea. Where spoonfuls of Fenugreek seeds are boiled in water. This tea is taken to boost the health of a person.

Powder of fenugreek seed is eaten. Fenugreek seeds have iron, magnesium, and flavonoids that increase hemoglobin production in the body. As hemoglobin increases oxygen supply to the hair and promotes hair growth.

 Fenugreek seeds have soluble fiber that is glucomannan which increases appetite and slows down the sugar absorption of the food. It also promotes good bacterial growth in the gut.

 Hair mask based on fenugreek seeds

 A number of hair masks are prepared using Fenugreek seed. You can categorize the hair masks into two categories based on hair types. Hair mask for dry hair and hair mask for oily hair.

 Mask for dry hair including Fenugreek seeds and coconut oil, yogurt, honey, or milk. Fenugreek seeds and honey hair mask.

 Soak two spoonfuls of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. It activates the component present in fenugreek. Make a paste of it. Add a spoonful of Honey into it apply to the hair. Keep it for 10 minutes and wash with a mild shampoo.

 Mask milk and Fenugreek seed can also be prepared for this soak Fenugreek seed in milk for overnight. Make a paste in the morning. Apply it on hair. Keep it for 20 minutes. Wash with a mild shampoo. This hair mask can be used for all types of hair.

 Fenugreek and Heena hair mask

Soak Fenugreek seeds in water overnight.

 Make a paste of it.

 Mix this paste in Heena.

 Apply on hair, and keep it for an hour or two.

 Wash with water.

 This will condition your hair.

 Reduce the itchiness of hair and dandruff.

 This will also give a good color to hair.  This mixture is a good Natural dye.

 This mask can be used once a week for good and shiny hair.

Homemade fenugreek seed oil

Anti-inflammatory and anti-infection oil can be prepared using fenugreek seeds.

Soak a cup of fenugreek seeds in the oil of your choice, coconut oil, castor oil, almond oil, or sesame oil. Keep in a dark bottle under the sun for 15 days.

Oils of fenugreek will be diffuse in the oil.

Store this oil for future use.

Massage this oil gently on the scalp before washing hair.

This is a treatment against dandruff.

It treats an itchy scalp.

It soothes the scalp.

Helps in hair growth.

 

Everyday Uses of Aloe vera Gel for Skin

Aloe vera has water, minerals, mucopolysaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, and enzymes. These components are very useful for skin. Aloe vera hydrates the skin. It tightens, brightens, and heals the skin. We can use aloe vera in face washes, night creams, day creams, moisturizers, or face packs. These can be prepared at home using simple components. Over-the-counter variants of these products are also available. 

 Three types of damage of the skin

Skin is the sensitive part of the body. The face, neck, and arms are exposed to the environment. So, it is prone to three types of damage.

 Environmental damage

 Infection and

 Damage due to aging

 

 Environmental damage

The environmental damage causes hyperpigmentation. It is caused by UV light.

The environment also results in the production of oxidative stress in skin cells.

 Both of these environmental damages are managed by vitamin E present in aloe vera gel.

 Chemical damages

The use of soap and soap-based face wash increases dryness in the skin and the sulfur component of soap damage the skin.

Infection

 The skin exposed to the environment is prone to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. The antiseptics present in aloe vera reduce the possibility of infection. Fatty acids present in aloe vera protect the skin from infection.

 Damage due to injury or bruise can be cured with the help of aloe vera gel. 

Different strategies of using aloe vera gel

 Aloe vera is used as a face wash. Soapy components present in aloe vera help in cleaning the skin without damaging it.

 Aloe vera can also be used as a moisturizer as it has 90% water, minerals, and vitamins. It has monosaccharides and mucopolysaccharides that bind water with the skin.

With some modification, it can be used in creams, face packs, and other cosmetics.

Using Aloe Vera Gel in face wash. 

Fresh aloe vera gel can be used as a face wash. Apply pure aloe vera gel on the skin.

 Leave it for 10 to 20 minutes.

 Wash with lukewarm water.

 An over-the-counter face wash that has aloe vera gel is also available on the market.

It cleans the skin naturally.

 Increase water content without making it too dry.

 

 Night cream

 A nourishing night cream can be prepared using aloe vera gel.

 Add 2-3 capsules of Vitamin E into aloe vera gel.

 Whisk the mixture.

 Apply it after washing the face. 

Keep it overnight.

 Wash with water in the morning.

This cream will rejuvenate the skin overnight. The skin will be tightened, brighten, and nourished by this cream.

 

Face packs of aloe vera

Face packs are used for hydration, nourishment, and rejuvenation of the skin.  Aloe vera face packs have a host of natural components and can be used for all types of skin. These can be modified for dry and oily skin. These face packs can be used daily.

Aloe vera and honey face packs: Dry skin face pack

This pack is prepared for dry skin.

 Add a spoonful of honey to aloe vera gel. 

Whisk the mixture.

 Apply the mask on the face and neck.

 Keep it for 20 minutes.

 Wash with lukewarm water.

Aloe vera and vitamin E face pack: Face pack for hyperpigmented skin

Aloe vera and vitamin E face packs are used as an antiaging treatment.

This helps in regenerating the collagen and reducing the oxidative stress of the skin. 

 Aloe vera and Tea-tree oil face packs 

A number of companies offer this face pack/ face creams.

These improve pigmentation and nourish the skin.

Aloe vera and cucumber face pack: Face pack For Oily skin

This pack is rich in water, minerals, enzymes, vitamins, and mucopolysaccharides. These hydrate the skin. Minerals (zinc) tighten the skin.  It removes excess oil from the skin.

Benefits of Aloe vera

Aloe vera has vitamins, fatty acids, minerals, and water. All these components are required for healthy skin.

 So, you can get healthy skin by only topical application of aloe vera.

It can be used as an antiseptic to reduce bacterial, fungal, or even viral infection of the skin

The enzymes present in aloe vera reduce hyperpigmentation, increase the elasticity of the skin and reduce aging of the skin.

 Aloe vera also reduces the oxidative stress of the skin.

 Vitamins nourish the skin and improve its pigmentation

 Help in the synthesis of new collagen and the repair of skin.

 Antiseptics specially anthraquinone and lupeol acid help in keeping the skin infection-free.

 Aloe vera is used as a face wash. Soapy components present in aloe vera help in cleaning the skin without damaging it.

 Aloe vera can also be used as a moisturizer as it has 90% water, minerals, and vitamins. It has monosaccharides and mucopolysaccharides that bind water with the skin.

 So, it hydrates the skin

WHY DO WE USE ALOE VERA FOR SKIN?

Aloe vera is a succulent, xerophytic perennial plant known to greeks as a panacea of health for 2000 years.

 Aloe vera is found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. In India, it is found in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamilnadu.

 Aloe vera has succulent leaves. The leaves when cut show three different layers- the inner layer of clear gel, the middle thick layer that has latex and yellow sap, and the Outer layer.

The outer layer is protective and synthetic in function.

 The different components aloe vera

  The succulent leaf of aloe vera has 90% water and other components that have topical skin application, and oral application.

 The components include Vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugar, amino acids, fatty acids,  hormones, and gluco-protein.

 The function of different components of aloe vera

 Vitamins

  Many vitamins are found in aloe vera, for example, vitamin A Vitamin C and Vitamin E.These three vitamins have antioxidant properties.

 Vitamin B12 and Folic acid are also found in aloe vera, these help in the synthesis of hemoglobin that increases oxygen supply in the blood.

 Enzymes

 Eight known enzymes are found in aloe vera and they are known for anti-inflammatory action. 

Minerals

Many minerals are found in aloe vera that including calcium, chromium, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, and zinc. These minerals have antioxidant properties, and they regulate enzyme activity

 Sugars

 The monosaccharides (glucose and fructose), and polysaccharides are found in aloe vera, mainly polymannose, which helps in the hydration of the skin.

 Amino acid

 Overall 20 types of amino acids are found in aloe vera, of these eight are essential amino acids.

 Fatty acids

 Cholesterol, plant sterols, lupeol are found in aloe vera gel. These fatty acids especially lupeol has antiseptic activity.

 Hormone

 Gibberellic acid and auxin, these have healing properties.

Gluco protein

Glycoproteins are found in aloe vera. These have anti-allergic activity.

Uses of aloe vera

 Aloe Vera Gel is used as a topical skin application or as an oral supplement application

 TOPICAL APPLICATION OF ALOE VERA

 The topical application of aloe vera has different uses.

 It increases collagen synthesis increases the elasticity of the skin

It has anti-aging properties as Zn act as a tightening agent for skin

 Aloe vera is known to reduce UV hypersensitivity by suppressing keratinocyte-induced interleukin 10 syntheses.

 Anti-inflammatory activity

Aloe vera is anti-inflammatory. It reduces inflammation in the skin.

 It has healing properties as it increases the production of collagen fibers and increases their binding this will heal wound very fast.

Anti-septic activity

Antiseptic lupeol has antiseptic activity. Aloe vera has along with lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid,  phenol, and sulfur. These components have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. they reduce pimples and topical skin infections.

 Hydration

 Mucopolysaccharides help in binding water with the skin. This increases the hydration of the skin. It increases elasticity and softens the skin.

 Anti-aging activity

 Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, as well as some minerals such as zinc have anti-aging properties. They increase the activity of anti-aging enzymes, as well as reduce free radicals and remove hydroxyl species present in cells thus reducing oxidative stress of the cell, and slowing their aging.

 Oral application of aloe vera

 Aloe Vera Gel or juice provides antioxidants it has laxative properties that help in clearing the alimentary canal.

 It has analgesic properties.

 It acts as an immunosuppressant for keratinocytes-based interleukin 10 syntheses, which increase allergic activity on the skin.

 Drawbacks

 Aloe vera, in some people, may show skin sensitivity, which may happen due to the presence of anthraquinone in aloe vera juice.

 Some people may show cramps in the stomach due to the oral intake of aloe vera.

WHY DO WE USE ALOE VERA FOR SKIN?

We should use aloe vera because;

It heals the skin.

It reduces inflammation.

It reduces hypersensitivity.

It slows down aging.

It hydrated the skin. 

It tightens the skin.

It removes oxidative stress from the skin.

It protects the skin from infection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

It increases the elasticity of the skin and thus the skin appears young.

It cleanses the skin.

So, use aloe vera for young, clean, healed, radiant and healthy skin.