Burdock Root For Flawless Hair: Oh Yes!

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Burdock root is not very impressive to look at – a simple brown, straight root that grows in parts of Asia and Europe, it has now been brought to the United States as the latest “super root” to help promote all kinds of healing in the body. The burdock root is part of a plant with large leaves and purple flowers that look like thistle flowers. The root has been used for many centuries in Europe and Asia where herbalists recommended it for the cleansing of the blood.

Today, the root has gained a reputation for helping to create flawless, beautiful hair and improve growth – even though that wasn’t its main purpose. Burdock root is available for purchase at many online retailers and herbal stores as well as many Asian and specialty stores. But before you go to buy some, take a look at what it can help you with below and see if burdock root is the right herb for you to take! (Though we are sure that it is!)

How Burdock Helps Hair Growth & Health

Burdock root is packed full of many nutrients and vitamins that are useful for the body and many of these are what help to boost the hair system when applied topically and also used internally as a tea. Burdock root has mucilage, tannins, inulin, Vitamin A and fatty acids. Mucilage is basically a viscous solution in the plant root that can be used in medicines and adhesives. This substance can benefit the hair follicles by improving and restoring moisture to the hair and it can also be used to detangle your hair as it the compound helps to create ‘slip’ in the hair.

Tannins are still slightly misunderstood but they are basically antioxidants. Antioxidants are beneficial for the entire body, but for your hair it serves the specific purpose of preventing further cell damage. Antioxidants work against free radical damage in the body, and while your whole body benefits from this, your hair will grow better and receive less breakage throughout its lifetime if your body is protecting it against free radicals.

Inulin works to improve the absorption of certain electrolytes and calcium and magnesium – these are the nutrients that are essential to the growth of all parts of the body and poor nourishment or absorption of these can lead to loss of hair. Having a proper amount of inulin that can aid with the absorption of these nutrients will also help to keep your hair growing at a normal rate and staying healthy.

The Vitamin A and fatty acids help to nourish the scalp and keep it healthy. This is beneficial to your hair because it promotes healthy hair growth and keeps your hair free from dandruff, redness of the scalp, and scalp infections. Fatty acids such as omega-3s are essential to the hair follicle growth – when old hairs are pushed out from the follicle, new ones are supposed to take their place. If the body lacks in nutrition, and particularly fatty acids, the hair follicle fails to produce new hairs and thus hair loss occurs.

Different Ways To Use Burdock Root

You can find burdock root in different forms and at many different retailers both online and in store. You can find burdock root most commonly in powder form since it is the easiest to transport and keeps fresh the longest. Burdock root powder is created by drying the root and then grinding it into a fine powder. It can be used to make teas, added as a supplement to smoothies or food, or added to different remedies for your hair including lotions or conditioners.

Fresh burdock root is harder to find because it grows mostly in Asia and Europe, although it has started to be grown natively in the United States. Fresh burdock root is not necessarily better to use than powdered forms and is mostly just a preference. Fresh burdock roots can most easily be found in Asian supermarkets or specialty markets that carry exotic foods.

Burdock tea, in already packaged pieces, can be a more convenient way to take in burdock root. Burdock root tea is generally a bit more expensive than other similar teas, such as dandelion root tea, but it is usually an organic tea and high quality. The burdock root tea is usually ingested for its antioxidant properties.

Burdock oil is the least used of the different ways that burdock is processed. Although it is the most effective of the ways for burdock to be used as a scalp treatment and to promote hair growth, burdock oil can be expensive and hard to find. The oil is created from the roots and leaves of the plant.

Make Your Own Burdock Root Oil For Flawless Hair

Since burdock root oil can be hard to find, here is a quick recipe for creating your own. Also, this recipe will ensure that you know exactly what goes into your oil and there are no other chemicals or unknown ingredients. Use fresh burdock root for this recipe as it works better than dried root.

Good quality carrier oil such as coconut, apricot, or almond oil
Burdock root
Mortar and pestle
Airtight jar

Chop up the burdock root into small pieces. Smash the pieces to expose the flesh of the root. Leave the pieces out for a day or two to dry them out and concentrate the nutrients. Add them to the airtight jar and pour the carrier oil over until they are completely covered. Seal the jar and leave it in a dark place for six weeks to infuse the oil with the burdock root. Open the jar once a week to release gas build-up. Once the infusion is done, the oil can be used once or twice a week as a hair mask to nourish your hair.

Burdock root can give you flawless, beautiful and healthy hair that will be the envy of everyone that sees you. Not only is it good for your hair, but it also has many benefits that carry on to the rest of your body. Finding some burdock root in your local supermarket or Asian market can be a challenge, but it is quite easy to find online. Get some today and start the journey to a healthier hair.

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