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Did you know that you can say goodbye to your hair problems by simply using fenugreek for hair care?
Fenugreek is an herb found in the Mediterranean, southern Europe, and western Asia. The unique, somewhat bitter, and nutty aroma and fenugreek seeds can be compared to maple syrup. Fenugreek seeds are utilized in cooking, food production, and medicine.
Commonly known as methi, fenugreek is widely used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines. Methi seeds have been used in Unani, Ayurvedic, and Arabic medicine for centuries.
Benefits of Fenugreek –
Fenugreek is used to treat various illnesses like cellulitis, boils, E.coli infection, and tuberculosis. It was also used to treat symptoms of dysmenorrhea1 and postmenopausal.2
Fenugreek was said to help in labour and delivery in ancient Rome. Women have also used fenugreek to increase breast milk production.3
Fenugreek has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels. Its seeds have been taken by mouth as an alternative to insulin. Fenugreek reportedly increases the amount of glucose that goes into muscles in a similar way to insulin.
It appears to affect the liver by lowering triglyceride levels and consequently lowering the chance of developing hepatic steatosis.
Fenugreek might also help to lower cholesterol and inflammation. Its high fibre content helps in getting rid of constipation. Research suggests that using fenugreek seed extract as a supplement has been shown to reduce body and adipose tissue weight.
Additionally, fenugreek aids in blood purification and can also be used to cleanse the lymphatic system. The removal of harmful wastes and dead cells from the body 4is one of the important nutraceutical properties of fenugreek. It can even prevent tumours from developing.
Fenugreek also helps relieve congestion and remove excess mucus from the body, which is important for maintaining the health of your lungs. The herb is capable of killing germs that cause colds and sore throats.
Planting Fenugreek crops is helpful as the plants have been shown to improve the soil’s nitrogen content.
The Benefits Of Fenugreek For Hair:
1. Reduces Hair Fall
Fenugreek can be used to treat hair loss and helps increase the volume of your hair. It is beneficial for boosting scalp health and strengthening hair follicles by improving blood circulation to the scalp.
Procedure To Prepare Hair Mask:
1. Let some fenugreek seeds soak in water overnight.
2. The next day, blend them up with a little of the same water.
3. Apply this hair mask to your scalp and leave it on for 10-20 minutes.
4. Before washing off with a light shampoo, massage the scalp.
Pro tip: You can add some yogurt to the paste to increase the thickness of your hair.
2. Boosts Hair Growth
Fenugreek contains a lot of protein and iron, which is good for hair growth. It also contains high amounts of vitamins A, K, C, and folic acid, all of which aid in treating hair problems.
Additionally, the lecithin found in fenugreek boosts the protein essential for hair growth and aids in hair regeneration.
How To Make Hair Oil Using Fenugreek:
1. Leave some fenugreek seeds to soak overnight.
2. The next day, crush them.
3. Pour some coconut oil into an iron pan and heat it on low flame. Don’t boil it.
4. Add the crushed seeds to the oil and heat the mixture for 10 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat. Let it cool down before closing it with a lid to prevent any vapour from falling into the mixture.
6. Set the mixture aside for about a day.
7. Strain the mixture. Store the acquired oil in an airtight container.
Pro tip: Before usage, warm the oil, DO NOT heat or boil.
3. Gets Rid Of Dandruff
Fenugreek is an effective home remedy to treat dandruff and scalp dryness, and irritation. Dandruff can lead to temporary loss of hair. Excess sebum production, fungal infection, irritation, and dry skin are all factors that contribute to dandruff.
Fenugreek seeds contain micro-nutrients like flavonoids and saponins, which give them antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help combat these issues, consequently improving the health of your scalp and protecting the skin cells from damage.
Procedure:
1. Soak some fenugreek seeds in water and leave them overnight.
2. The next day, blend them up with a little of the same water and some freshly squeezed lemon juice.
3. Apply this to your head and leave it on for about 20 minutes before washing it off.
4. Makes Hair Silky And Glossy
Another one of fenugreek’s numerous benefits is that it can also be used as a natural hair conditioner. It improves the texture and health of the hair and restores and boosts its natural shine! It replenishes the hair and promotes hair smoothening.
Procedure:
1. Soak some seeds of fenugreek overnight.
2. The next day, apply or spray the same water onto your head.
3. After about 10-20 minutes, wash it off.
5. Stops Premature Greying Of Hair
Fenugreek has high amounts of potassium, making it a good remedy for premature greying of hair, which has become a prevalent concern today.
Procedure:
1. Prepare a paste of (overnight) soaked fenugreek seeds.
2. Add some amla juice.
3. Now, apply this hair mask gently to your scalp.
4. Leave it on for about an hour and then rinse it off using a gentle shampoo.
Consuming Fenugreek
The beneficial nutrients from fenugreek seeds can also be obtained by consuming them raw, brewing them into tea, or making fenugreek flour and baking bread. The major treatment elements can reach more body parts through the bloodstream when consumed orally.
Refined flour can be fortified (intentionally improving the nutritional value of food by adding essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, and vitamins A, and D) with a mix of soluble and insoluble fibre, using fenugreek fibre.
In preparing bakery items like pizza, bread, muffins, and cakes, flour enriched with 8-10% fenugreek dietary fibre has been utilized. The husk of fenugreek seeds is high in fibre and contains numerous key minerals.
1. Drinking Fenugreek Water
Apart from all of the methods listed above, which suggest using fenugreek as a hair mask or oil for hair care, drinking fenugreek water also helps combat hair loss, hair thinning, dandruff, and frizziness and promotes hair growth.
Additional benefits of methi water include losing some weight and aiding the removal of harmful toxins from the body, and improving bowel movements.
Fenugreek water can be prepared by either leaving some methi seeds to soak in water overnight or adding the seeds to boiling water and then straining it after around 10 minutes. You can also add some lemon and honey to the water.
2. Fenugreek Leaves
Fresh leaves of fenugreek are utilized as vegetables in many diets. They should be kept refrigerated, dried in the oven, or blanched for about 5 minutes before being cooked.
They can also be added to smoothies, especially green smoothies and other greens like spinach, kale, mint leaves, and fruits.
Dried fenugreek leaves are called Kasuri Methi, and it is used as a spice in soups, curries, and vegetable side dishes.
Fenugreek leaves, due to their multiple benefits, also make a great essential for your beauty regime!
Fenugreek leaves are beneficial to your scalp and hair. They promote the growth of long, thick, and healthy hair and might reduce hair loss if used regularly.
How To Use Fenugreek Leaves To Make A Hair Mask:
1. Prepare a thick paste using fresh fenugreek leaves.
2. Apply it to your hair and scalp and leave it on for half an hour.
3. Wash it off with cold water.
Repeat this process 2 times a week for faster results.
3. Ground Fenugreek
To make fenugreek powder, grind some fenugreek seeds. You can use it to flavour teas and yogurt or combine it with other spices while cooking and add it to pickles, chutneys, soups, etc.
Çemen (fenugreek paste) is a popular Turkish local delicacy made from ground fenugreek seeds.
Fenugreek powder for hair loss is most commonly available as gel capsules. However, the production process to acquire the powdered form might result in some of the fenugreek’s original properties being altered.
Side Effects Of Fenugreek
Despite being a natural herb, like any medicine or plant extract used for medical purposes, excessively using fenugreek can cause negative side effects.
Allergies (for example, among people who are allergic to soybeans, chickpeas, and peanuts), low blood sugar, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, gassiness, bloating, and headaches are all possibilities.
A Word Of Caution
- Intake of fenugreek should be avoided when on medication for diabetes or high cholesterol.
- Pregnant women should restrict consumption of fenugreek to moderate amounts (in proportions equal to those present in food) while pregnant, as it might cause early or irregular contractions and has also been related to an increased risk of birth abnormalities in both animals and humans.
- Children should not take fenugreek as a supplement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I mix fenugreek with coconut oil?
2. How long to apply fenugreek water to hair?
You can apply fenugreek water to hair for 20 minutes.
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- Wolf, Linda L., and Lorna Schumann. “Dysmenorrhea.” Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners 11.3 (1999): 125-130. ↩︎
- Black, Dennis M., and Clifford J. Rosen. “Postmenopausal osteoporosis.” New England journal of medicine 374.3 (2016): 254-262. ↩︎
- Kent, Jacqueline C., Danielle K. Prime, and Catherine P. Garbin. “Principles for maintaining or increasing breast milk production.” Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing 41.1 (2012): 114-121. ↩︎
- Gadd, Geoffrey M. “Heavy metal accumulation by bacteria and other microorganisms.” Experientia 46.8 (1990): 834-840. ↩︎
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