st.john

Some of nature’s goodness does not always sound so appealing. Some ingredients sound like symptoms you want to steer clear of and St. John’s Wort is certainly on that list. The name may be off-putting but oh, how magical it truly is. St. John’s Wort is a shrubby plant with clusters of yellow flowers and elongated petals. Most scientists believe it to be native to Europe and parts of Africa, Asia, and the western United States. Both the flowers and the leaves are used for medical purposes. 

University of Maryland Medical Center says it has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties so this is great for an irritated scalp. There seems to be some promising news for men and women suffering from thinning hair or hair loss. Some groups who follow natural healing feel St. John’s Wort has healing powers. With its regenerative properties it is believed to stimulate hair growth for people whose hair has been affected by radiation treatments, pulling, or other damage to the scalp. The Cancer and Natural Therapy Foundation of Australia has a scalp oil recipe that is great for encouraging a healthy scalp that is noted below.

NYU Langone Medical Center notes that in a study with patients taking antidepressants, hair loss was associated with St. John’s Wort, but the study also mentions that standard antidepressants may also cause hair loss at times as well, so it is inconclusive if the plant created the hair loss. The bottom line is that the full benefits of this plant are still being explored despite its usage to treat depression and for hair loss remedies for some. If you are on the fence about taking it as a supplement there are hair products to try that may be to your liking.

Phyto Phytonectar Ultra-Nourishing Brilliance Shampoo

St. John’s Wort extract, water, PEG-4 Rapeseedamide (fatty acid”>, PEG-7 glyceryl cocate (fatty acid derived from coconut”>, and disodium cocoamphodiacetate (synthetic surfactant”> make up this highly concentrated botanical shampoo. Watch it restore much needed moisture to your tresses and gain back strength, softness, and shine.

ECO-lina Fito Beauty Natural Shampoo

Water, sodium chloride (salt to thicken”>, cocamide DEA (chemically modified form of coconut oil”>, tea tree oil, and St. John’s Wort come together to strengthen the hair shaft. Your hair’s surface layer cells will be restored and hair growth is stimulated with the elaborate combination of herbs. Gently cleanse your hair and scalp and improve micro-circulation of blood to the scalp.

ECO-lina Fito Beauty Natural Conditioner

Water, fatty acids, cetrimonium chloride (emulsifying or conditioning agents”>, sunflower oil, aloe extract, and sweet flag extract create a powerful leave-in conditioner. Strengthen your strands, stimulate hair growth, and improve microcirculation of blood in the scalp to strengthen your hair’s overall structure.

St John’s Wort & Basil Oil Scalp Massage

For the DIYers in the group we have a scalp massage that claims to help with hair loss as well as being quite relaxing. It is a powerhouse massage oil with fresh St. John’s Wort, fresh basil, olive, basil, and vitamin E oils.

The verdict is not in yet on whether St. John’s Wort can definitely fight against hair loss but with all its amazing antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties it is worth trying.

Have you tried St. John’s Wort and if so, what was your take away? 

Sabrina Perkins

Sabrina, founder of seriouslynatural.org and contributor to several online publications, is a freelance writer who engages her audiences on the relevance of natural hair, beauty, and style.

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