Hair is often deemed the epitome of youth, vitality and beauty which makes the process of losing it being that much more devastating to some. Fear not though as there is an oil which could help with this. What is it?

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What is sandalwood oil?

In traditional medicine, sandalwood oil has been used as an antiseptic and astringent, and for the treatment of headaches, stomach aches and urinary and genital disorders.

In India, sandalwood essential oil is used in the treatment of inflammatory and eruptive skin diseases.

Dr Josh Axe said: “Sandalwood oil contains two primary active components, alpha and beta santalol.

“These molecules produce the strong fragrance associated with sandalwood.

“Alpha-santalol specifically has been evaluated for multiple health benefits.

“Some of these benefits include improving blood glucose control in animal subjects, decreasing inflammation and helping to reduce the proliferation of skin cancer.”

How sandalwood can help with hair loss?

Researchers from the University of Manchester found that applying sandalwood to the scalp helped prolong human hair growth.

The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Communications explaining how the experiment conducted with the synthetic material and human skin samples achieved startling results.

The team found that a receptor cell in the skin known as OR2AT4 was sensitive to chemicals in synthetic sandalwood and when applied to the skin a growth of keratinocytes was stimulated.

A skin healing and hair growth are closely related, the researchers hypothesised that if applying sandalwood would new hair be able to grow.

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The researchers reported that the treated hair follicles survived longer than those that went untreated and produced more growth factor.

It was verified that sandalwood interacted with the OR2AT4 receptor which increased hair growth.

The study concluded that sandalwood helps hair to grow due to stimulation of the root caused by the oil and that hair growth occurred due to a process in which the follicle cells were converted into hair.

There are a few ways one can use sandalwood for hair loss.

The oil can be added into a daily moisturiser and rubbed all over the skin.

It can also be heated in a kettle to help scent the home.

It can be added to a hot bath which will soak into the skin directly.

It’s important to speak with your GP before embarking on new hair loss treatments. 

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