The benefits of fenugreek oil
What is it?
Fenugreek is a small, highly aromatic seed used since antiquity, notably in ancient Egypt, in cuisine and traditional medicine. It originates from 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 distinctive aroma. It can be used as is, though quite hard, ground into powder, or soaked in water. It is also available as a dietary supplement.
The fenugreek oil is made from the seeds that are pressed, ideally a first cold-pressed oil. An alternative to this pure oil is a fenugreek oil macerate. It is obtained by macerating fenugreek seeds in a vegetable oil.
The properties of fenugreek
The fenugreek seeds have a dual effect on appetite: they can both stimulate appetite, and their high fiber content gives them an appetite-suppressing effect. They are recommended both for gaining weight and for eating 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. It is traditionally consumed by women after childbirth to recover and to increase milk supply. It also helps regulate women’s hormones after menopause. Fenugreek is also said to be a good aphrodisiac for men by stimulating testosterone production and blood circulation.
Fenugreek oil, used topically, is known to strengthen hair: it helps prevent hair loss, makes hair less brittle and stimulates growth.
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In the Maghreb, women use it to increase breast volume, enhance the contour of the hips and the buttocks. But no scientific study has yet proven these claims! It also has an anti-aging and revitalizing effect on the skin.
Fenugreek oil, strengthening for hair and skin
This oil is rich in protein, 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 fenugreek oil for hair:
- 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 to slow skin aging, and in phytoestrogens, which stimulate hormone production by the sex glands. When applied to the breasts, it helps firm them and – it is said – increase breast size. It can also be used on the face or body to prevent skin laxity 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 fade minor blemishes or scars on the skin.
How to use fenugreek oil?
How to choose it
Preferably choose an organic fenugreek oil, which will concentrate more vitamins without pesticide residues. Also opt for a first cold-pressed oil to preserve all of its virtues.
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In stores (notably health-food stores) you can find 100% pure fenugreek oil or oils to which another organic vegetable oil has been added, such as sesame oil, which helps facilitate 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. Therefore it is reserved for an external use applied locally to the scalp, chest or body, or to 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 hair-strengthening oil.
To stimulate hair growth, a strengthening serum is made with mustard seed oil and nigella 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 pure 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, apply a cotton pad or cloth soaked in fenugreek oil for a natural anti-aging treatment, a procedure to repeat once or twice a week.
You can also incorporate it 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 skin or tired skin!
Make your own fenugreek-infused oil
If genuine fenugreek oil is bought commercially, you can make your own fenugreek-based vegetable oils for skin care. These will be more economical and will have essentially the same effects as a purchased oil.
It is possible to emulsify organic vegetable oil (sunflower oil, for example, 3 tbsp) 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 a neutral vegetable oil (olive or sunflower oil). Let it sit for a month in the dark, then strain before use.
Note that there are no side effects at normal doses. However, overly intensive use of fenugreek oil can potentially cause allergic reactions.
