Amla oil
(Botanical name: Phyllanthus emblica)
Introduction
Amla fruit, also called the Indian gooseberry and emblic myrobalan, comes from the amalaki tree native to India. You can find amla in the form of an oil or as the main ingredient in hair products at health food and beauty stores. Those who follow ayurvedic medicine, or ayurveda, believe all parts of the tree have medicinal properties. Amla fruit contains a lot of vitamin C, minerals, and antioxidants.
Nutritional Content:
Amla oil is rich in:
- vitamin C
- vitamin A
- polyphenols
- amino acids (alanine, lysine, proline, aspartic acid, glutamic acid) proteins
- carbohydrates
- calcium
- potassium
- magnesium
- iron
- carotene
- alkaloids
- gallotannins
- pectin
Topical application delivers these nutrients directly to your hair. This potentially results in healthier locks.
Benefits:
Potential hair and scalp benefits of amla oil include:
- Strengthen the scalp and hair
- Reduce premature pigment loss from hair, or greying
- Stimulate hair growth
- Reduce hair loss
- Prevent or treat dandruff and dry scalp
- Prevent or treat parasitic hair and scalp infections, like lice infections
- Prevent or treat fungal and bacterial hair and scalp infections
- Improve overall appearance of hair
- Treat fungal or bacterial issues
- Slow or prevent grays
- Soothe an itchy scalp
- Slow hair loss
Amla oil is most commonly used to promote hair and scalp health, but amla oil has many other uses. Common uses of amla oil include:
- Improve immune function
- Lower or control cholesterol levels
- Lower or control blood sugar levels
- Improve brain health and function
- Reduce the effects of premature aging
- Improve vision
- Reduce dry skin
- Reduce dehydration
- Lighten or brighten the skin
- Improve respiratory function and coughs
- Reduce cold and flu recovery time
- Reduce the risk of cancer and chronic diseases
- Improve blood pressure
- Improve cardiovascular health
- Reduce the appearance of scars, blemishes, age spots, and wrinkles
- Improve vision and eye health
- Reduces inflammation
- Reduces sinus congestion
- Improve digestion and food absorption
- Enhances male fertility
- Improve urinary health
Risks:
- There have been cases of amla allergies, which can result in hives and irritation.
- Amla oil is not commonly associated with any side effects. But in some rare cases, amla oil use has been reported to trigger Lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP), especially with UV exposure and in naturally darker skinned individuals.
- Amla oil is also known to rarely cause inflammation and skin irritation in some people.
- Anyone experiencing problems breathing, dizziness, and changes in consciousness should seek emergency medical treatment.
- Amla is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Since Amalaki is rich in fiber, it may lead to gastrointestinal issues, including bloating, stomachache, and diarrhea.
How to Eat?
Always do a patch test before performing a full application. Application methods will vary according to how you’re using amla. Be careful to follow the label directions of any product that you use. You can apply an amla hair mask two or three times per week.
- Apply the oil to your entire head. Make sure you coat your scalp and the ends of your hair.
- Let the mixture sit for 45 minutes.
- Rinse your hair with lukewarm water. Make sure the oil is completely rinsed out.
- Simply mix 1 tablespoon of amla powder with 4 tablespoons of liquid and apply. You can adjust the ratio as needed to get a consistency you’re comfortable with.
- Some people beat eggs together with amla powder to make a hair mask that’s rich in proteins. To do this, mix 1/2 cup of amla powder with two eggs and apply.
- Many henna hair dyes already include amla. If your dye doesn’t include amla and you want to add it in, talk to an experienced colorist. There are many factors to consider, including your current hair color and texture, desired color, and chosen products.
Precautions:
- People who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children should not take amla oil in any form. Not enough research has been done on these populations. Always speak with your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.
- Do a simple and small patch test on the back side of the head. It will ensure that there is no issue of irritation on sensitive skin or a hypersensitive or allergic reaction.
- reaction to an essential oil, they should wash off the oil with soap and water as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions!
Q1. Can I use Amla oil when pregnant?
Ans: At this time, it is recommended that you do not use amla oil as there is not enough research on its safety during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about safe supplementation options for you.
Q2. What is the difference with amla powder? Is the effectiveness the same on the growth?
Ans: Powder does not nourish the hair. On the contrary, it dries them out and should only be used as a complement to hide white hair or to prolong your coloring.
Q3. I would like to use amla oil but how to recognize the real one?
Ans: You have to look at the composition. On the bottle, it should say “cold pressed oil” or “cold pressed”. And there should be no list of ingredients or just “amla”. It is also normally slightly golden, with a subtle plant smell. It is liquid and not greasy.
Q4. How much amla to apply?
Ans: It all depends on your hair. If hair are very long and thick, focus on the ends and roots.
Q5. Does amla help fight cancer?
Ans: According to scientific studies, amla has many medical properties. In particular, it has anticancer properties (2011 and 2017 studies) and anti-diabetic properties (numerous studies). Caution: follow your doctor’s instructions and in particular the official treatment prescribed to you. Under no circumstances should you abandon your treatment and replace it with amla. Even if the studies are promising, no one has ever told me about a patient cured of cancer only thanks to amla.
Q6. How Long Should You Keep Amla Oil in Your Hair?
Ans: Apply Amla oil before washing the hair and keep it for as long as overnight or a few hours, depending on your next hair wash schedule. It helps condition and nourishes the scalp.
Q7. Can I Put Amla Oil on My Face?
Ans. Yes, Amla oil applied on the face helps to soak away any excess oil on the skin. After applying, allow it to stay for 5 to 10 minutes for visible effect.
Q8: How to Store Amla Oil?
Ans. Store amla oil according to manufacturer’s directions on the package. Keep this and all supplements and medications away from children and pets. Discard as indicated on the packaging.
Q8: Can we mix castor oil and amla oil for hair?
Ans. Yes, you can mix castor oil or any other oil and use it as a base with amla oil
References
- Choudhary M, Grover K. Amla (Emblica officinalis L.) oil. In: Ramadan, M. (eds) Fruit Oils: Chemistry and Functionality. Springer, Cham. 2019. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-124731_48
- Kumar N, Rungseevijitprapa W, Narkkhong NA, Suttajit M, Chaiyasut C. 5α–reductase inhibition and hair growth promotion of some Thai plants traditionally used for hair treatment. J of Ethnopharmacology. 2012;139(3):765-771. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.010
- Akhtar MS, Ramzan A, Ali A, Ahmad M. Effect of Amla fruit (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) on blood glucose and lipid profile of normal subjects and type 2 diabetic patients. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2011;62(6):609-616. doi: 10.3109/09637486.2011.560565.
- Mysore V, Arghya A. Hair oils: indigenous knowledge revisited. Int J Trichology. 2022;14(3):84-90. doi: 10.4103/ijt.ijt_189_20
- G Daniels, Can plant-derived phytochemicals provide symptom relief for hair loss? A critical review – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31240739/
- Jae Young Yu, April 2017; Preclinical and Clinical Studies Demonstrate That the Proprietary Herbal Extract DA-5512 Effectively Stimulates Hair Growth and Promotes
- Hair Health – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5429933/
- https://stylesatlife.com/articles/how–to–make–amla–powder/
- https://amlagreen.com/blogs/news/how–much–amla–powder–per–day https://www.1mg.com/ayurveda/amla–19
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