Herbal hair care

In this Chapter I'll give you short description, interesting facts of the medical hebs and instructions how to use them for hair restorating, curering and growing. You can try some receipts and choose one that the most suit your hair and your scalp.

Aloe arborescen
Man has used aloe for over 5000 years. Egyptians first wrote of the healing powers of the plant on their ancient papyrus texts calling it the plant of immortality. Cleopatra and Nefertiti bathed in aloe juice to retain their youth and beautiful looks. Aloe is mentioned several times in the Bible. It was used in the burial of Jesus. History and legend tells that Aristotle convinced Alexander the Great to conquer the island of Socotra in order to collect aloe plants to use as medicine for his soldiers. Greek writer Dioscorides made detailed accounts of aloe’s uses. Aloe’s influence spread far and wide.

Research studies highlight the tremendous healing powers of aloe when used both internally and externally. Some of the benefits include: as a pain and allergy inhibitor, for inflammation, fluid retention, perspiration odours, itching, to close cuts for cell regeneration and healing, to destroy parasites, harmful bacteria and fungi in the intestinal tract, to relieve bowel tension and help produce bowel movements, moisturise skin, increase blood flow, remove toxins and dead tissue, penetrate skin to reach tendons, muscles, joints and the lymph system, and promote the growth of new tissue. It also has a normalising action on fluid levels and the acid/ alkaline balance in the body. Research has shown that aloe vera can increase the proliferation of lymphocytes and stimulate natural immunity through killer cell activity. Aloe has a strong effect on the immune system, by activating and stimulating macrophages, monocytes, antibodies and T-cells, as well as increasing the number of anti-body forming Bcells in the spleen. Researchers have found that aloe vera applied externally has the ability to reach the deepest body tissues, penetrating some seven layers. Research at the University of Texas showed that aloe penetrates human skin almost four times faster than water.

HOW TO USE:
For haircare usealoe ONLY for external use. Cut fresh undamaged leaves, put them to refrigarator for 12 days (researches have found that putting aloe leaves into unfavorable conditions(for example, cold and dark place like refrigerator) causes biochemical modifications in the tissue cells and as a result some new biologically active substances are produced. This biologically active substances were called biogenic stimulators, which have an ability to activate vital function of body), then cut leaves into
small (1cm) pieces, wrap up into bandage and press it with fingers to extract aloe sap. Rub this sap into your scalp for 10-20 minutes, and then wash your hair as usual.

CAUTION:

As taking aloe may stimulate uterine contractions, it should be avoided during pregnancy. And taken by breastfeeding mothers, aloe can have a laxative effect on the baby. It also is forbiden when you have liver, kidney or bladder inflamion!


Silver Birch (Betula pendula)

The graceful birch, lady of the woods, is one of the most sacred trees of northern European traditions. Especially in Scandinavian countries it is deemed as a tree of life.In Britain it is considered sacred to the Maiden Goddess Bridha /Bridget, the shining one who guards over the waters of life. Birch indeed has an affinity with water. Despite its fragile appearance it is a tough and resilient tree, a pioneer tree that fearlessly populates even quite inhospitable places, bogs and swamps where few other trees would set root. Of the bark are made baskets, boxes, and that of the Paper Birch is extensively used for canoes; a dye is also made of it, and an oil which is used in the preparation of Russia leather.

Birch flushes out toxins from the body and can also be used as a spring cleansing herb to rid the body of accumulated metabolic wastes, especially uric acid crystals. Leaves of a birch are a source of essential oils, flavonoids, tannins, saponin, having the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect, promoting normalization of a functional condition of bile -and urinogenital systems.

HOW TO USE:

To prepare a decoction - take 10g dry birch buds or 15 g dry young leaves put them into enamelled pot and pour with a glass of boiling water. Then boil them for 15 minutes, infuse for 30 minutes, filter it. After washing , rinse your hair with this decoction, rubbing it into the scalp. Or you can rub it into the dry scalp between hairwashing.

Greater burdock

Greater burdock was used during the Middle Ages as a vegetable, but now it is rarely used, with the exception of Japan where is called gobō, Italy, and Portugal, where it is known as bardana. Plants are cultivated for their slender roots, which can grow about 1 meter long and 2 cm across.
The stalks, before flowering can be chopped and added to salads or cooked as a celery-like vegetable.

In the second half of the 20th century, burdock achieved international recognition for its culinary use due to the increasing popularity of the macrobiotic diet, which advocates its consumption. The root contains a fair amount of gobō dietary fiber (GDF, 6g per 100g), calcium, potassium, amino acids, and is low calorie. It contains polyphenols that causes darkened surface and muddy harshness by formation of tannin-iron complexes.

The medicinal use of the Greater Burdock root goes back to antiquity. It was already recommended as a herbal remedy by the Greek physician Dioscorides. Folk herbalists consider dried burdock to be a diuretic,diaphoretic, and a blood purifying agent. In medieval times it was used for removal of old eruptions & scorbutic spots from the skins.The leaves and roots were used for eczema and skin complaints, while a poultice of the leaves reduces tumours, bruises and swellings.

The seeds of greater burdock are used in traditional Chinese medicine, under the name niupangzi, which are used to dispel 'wind and heat evils', and to treat the eruptions of measles, sore throats, unproductive coughs, tonsillitis, colds and influenza. Research has shown that the seeds can lower blood sugar in rats. In France, the fresh root is used for lowering blood sugar, its inulin content making it particularly suitable for diabetics. In Asia, the root fibre has been shown to protect rats from the toxicity of various food colours.

The burdock root oil obtained by extraction is used chiefly for the treatment of the dandruffed scalp. It has always been regarded as a traditional stimulant of hair growth.

Incidentally, you can have fun with children making little dolls out of the flowerheads.

HOW TO USE:

INFUSION. 40 g of chopped raw burdock root infuse for 10 days in 100 g of sunflower or olive oil. Then boil it 15 minutes (use only enamelled pot!), press and filter. This oil infusion you can hold in the frige. Before hairwashing rub it into your scalp, then cower the head with plastic basket and wrap into the towel. This help to warm up your scalp and increase blood flow to the hair follicles. Hold it for 30 minutes, then wash your hair. To see the effect you have to use it for a month (repeating this procedure each week, or even twice a week). It's really helps, especially when you loose your hair (at the autumn or in the spring), reduces dandruff for some amount and help your hair to grow. But you have to wash your hair properly after such cosmetic mask, because This oil is rather sticky.

DECOCTION. For this this decoction you have to prepare chopped dried (or raw)burdock root, flowers of calendula officinalis and humulus lupus hops in proportion 2:5:5. Then take 45 gramms of this mixture, pour it with 1 litre of boiled water and boil for 15 minutes in enamelled pot.

Then infuse it for an hour some where in warm place or cover the pot with a towel.

When infused, filter it and use. You can use it in different ways. I tried to put this decoction into spraybottle and sprayed it into the scalp in the evening and in the morning. But this way is rather bothersome - you can hold this decoction in frige at least for 2 days, because of too much spraying your hair became sticky. So I tried to use this decoction like rinser after hair washing, rubbing it into the scalp.

Another advice from my own experience is the next - don't try to put too much humulus lupus hops in the mixture!!!Yes. it has pleasant smell, but it also make your hair sticky! (This herb is also used to curl your hair. It works like natural gel!)

Using this decoction you'll not only cure your hair and scalp but also you'll have natural parfumes!