The benefits of fenugreek oil
What is it?
Fenugreek is a small, highly fragrant seed used since Antiquity, notably in ancient Egypt, in cuisine and traditional medicine. It is native to North Africa and is widely used from the Maghreb to India.
This seed is used in the preparation of many spice blends, such as curry or ras el hanout. It has a very strong and characteristic odor. It can be used as is, although quite hard, ground into powder, or soaked in water to swell. It is also available as a dietary supplement.
Fenugreek oil comes from seeds that are pressed, ideally as a first cold-pressed oil. A variant of this pure oil is fenugreek oil macerate. It is obtained by macerating fenugreek seeds in a vegetable oil.
The virtues of fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds have a dual effect on appetite: they both stimulate appetite, and their high fiber content gives them an appetite-suppressing effect. They are recommended both to gain weight and to eat less fatty foods: in short, they regulate appetite. By extension, they have an anti-diabetic effect and help fight hypercholesterolemia.
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The fenugreek is a fortifying seed and a hormonal stimulant. In fact, it is traditionally consumed by women after childbirth to recover and increase milk production. It also helps regulate women’s hormones after menopause. Fenugreek is also believed to be a good aphrodisiac for men, stimulating testosterone production and blood circulation.
The fenugreek oil, used externally, is known to strengthen hair: it helps prevent hair loss, makes hair less brittle and stimulates its growth.
Also read: The best natural dietary supplements for hair health
In the Maghreb, it is used by women to increase breast volume, enhance the shape of the hips and the buttocks. But no scientific study has yet proven these benefits! Finally, it has an anti-aging and revitalizing effect on the skin.
Fenugreek oil, strengthening for hair and skin
This oil is rich in proteins, iron, vitamins A, B1, B3 and vitamin C. It is also rich in essential fatty acids, notably lecithin, a lipid beneficial for hair.
Here are the many uses for which fenugreek oil for hair can be used:
- Ralentir la chute des cheveux
- Avoir une chevelure plus longue
- Avoir les cheveux moins cassants et abîmés
- Donner du volume et de la brillance aux cheveux fins et ternes
Fenugreek oil is rich in antioxidants, which helps slow skin aging, and in phytoestrogens, which stimulate hormone production by the sex glands. When applied to the breasts, it helps to firm them and — it is said — increase breast volume. It can also be used on the face or body to prevent skin sagging and signs of aging.
In Morocco, fenugreek oil is used to fight acne and blackheads. It can therefore be used for this purpose or to help remove minor blemishes or scars on the skin.
How to use fenugreek oil?
How to choose it
Preferably choose an organic fenugreek oil, which will contain more vitamins without pesticide residues. Also opt for a first cold-pressed oil, which helps preserve all its benefits.
Read also | Everything you need to know before buying fenugreek
You can find in stores (especially organic stores) 100% pure fenugreek oil or oils to which another organic vegetable oil has been added, such as sesame oil, which facilitates its extraction.
Fenugreek oil for external use
Although fenugreek seeds are perfectly edible, and even recommended for health, it is preferable not to ingest fenugreek oil. It should therefore be reserved for an external use localized on the scalp, chest or body, or on the face.
For hair that is falling out, make a mask or an oil bath once a week: mix one tablespoon of fenugreek oil with two tablespoons of castor oil, another fortifying oil for the hair.
To stimulate hair growth, a strengthening serum is made with mustard seed oil and nigella (black seed) oil. To nourish the hair, fenugreek oil is mixed into a mask with coconut oil.
In this respect, fenugreek oil has benefits similar to spirulina on the scalp when it comes to strengthening hair and preventing hair loss.
It is used undiluted on the chest, at a rate of one teaspoon every day. It can also be used mixed with jojoba or sweet almond oil. For the face, use a cotton pad or cloth soaked in fenugreek oil for a natural anti-aging treatment, to be repeated once or twice a week.
It can also be incorporated into a makeup-removing treatment with a neutral vegetable oil (sesame or castor oil, for example). Fenugreek oil also pairs very well with argan oil for mature or tired skin!
Make your own fenugreek oil macerate
Although genuine fenugreek oil can be bought commercially, you can make your own fenugreek-based vegetable oils for skin care. These will be more economical and will have roughly the same effects as a store-bought oil.
It is possible to emulsify organic vegetable oil (sunflower oil for example, 3 tablespoons) with water (100 ml) and organic fenugreek seeds (1 tablespoon) to make a face and body lotion.
You can also make a fenugreek oil macerate by macerating organic fenugreek seeds (two tablespoons) in 50 ml of neutral vegetable oil (olive or sunflower oil). Let it rest for one month in the dark, then strain after use.
Note that there are no side effects at normal doses. However, excessive use of fenugreek oil may cause allergic reactions.
