Hair loss is a very common problem. Nature can become a precious ally in stimulating hair growth. From today we know that vitamin E and menthol are able to act in synergy to stimulate hair growth and also improve hair health, strength and flexibility. This emerges from a recent scientific research published in the journal Pharmaceutics by a Korean team (Ahn et al, Pharmaceutics, 2020).
Natural remedies for hair loss
Nature offers various remedies capable of making our hair thicker, shinier and healthier. An example is given by coconut oil, capable of repairing damaged hair, preventing the loss of proteins in the hair shaft and reducing dandruff and itching. But essential oils of lavender and cedar wood are also important for the health of the hair, being useful to counteract hair loss. Previous studies had already shown, in the laboratory, the ability of menthol, the active ingredient of peppermint essential oil, and of tocopherol acetate, a form of vitamin E, to promote hair growth. Vitamin E can be found in various vegetable oils that can be used for hair care, such as wheat germ, pomegranate and raspberry seed oil. However, no studies on the synergistic action of these substances had ever been carried out until now.
Vitamin E and menthol, two powerful allies for hair health
In order to understand the action of a combination of menthol and vitamin E, researchers tested this mixture in vivo on a population of animals. What emerged was that menthol and tocopherol together proved to be able to stimulate hair growth with a significantly greater action than that of the two substances used separately. The synergy is given by the antioxidant action of vitamin E, in fact it is believed that alopecia is associated with oxidative stress, and by the ability of menthol to increase the number of hair follicles and to stimulate the proliferation of dermal papilla cells, which regulate hair development and growth. Not only that, this combination has been able to stimulate the production of keratin, a fundamental protein in the hair structure, essential to guarantee flexibility and at the same time robustness. The action of menthol and tocopherol together is similar to that of minoxidil, a drug used for the treatment of alopecia.
And in practice, how to exploit the properties of vitamin E and menthol?
Here's how to take advantage of the synergy given by vitamin E and menthol with a do-it-yourself hair mask. In a small bowl pour a tablespoon of jojoba oil and a teaspoon of wheat germ oil, mix. Add 2 drops of peppermint essential oil and apply to the scalp, leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse with shampoo.
