If you have read very many of my posts, you will know I like natural things. (for the most part) I love essential oils and have used many for different things such as sleep issues, making my own bath salts, room fresheners, etc. Essential oils/aromatherapy is amazing and there are so many applications. Oils are as old as time itself and are mentioned numerous times in the bible (frankincense and myrrh come to mind).

Today aromatherapy is once again popular because of the proliferation of spas, salons and organic products. More known for its relaxing and skin improvement benefits but; according to medical researchers and some recent discoveries, oils can be used as a natural way of reducing hair loss. Some essential oils have been proven to stimulate hair growth. Others help stimulate the cells of your scalp and increase the flow of blood to your hair follicles. Then there are others which detoxify your scalp. Here are some examples of essential oils which may help alleviate your hair loss problems.

• Lavender and bay: Combine six drops of these two essential oils with four ounces or either soybean, almond, or sesame oil. Massage this into your scalp. Let it sit for 20 minutes before washing off with water. Not only does this help you relax, these essential oils will stimulate your hair follicles. You can also add three drops of bay oil to a palmful of shampoo and you can use this daily to wash your hair.
• Almond and castor: Combine equal parts of almond oil and castor oil and massage into your scalp once or twice weekly.
• Olive: Apply olive oil onto hair and scalp. Cover your head with a shower cap and let it sit overnight. Wash off the following day. The moisturizing properties of olive oil will help keep your hair and scalp healthy.
• Henna and mustard: Boil four tablespoons of henna leaves in 1 cup of mustard oil. Strain the mixture using a sieve and store it in a glass bottle. Massage the oil into your hair and scalp and leave it on for at least 30 minutes. If you can, it’s better left overnight and washing off the following day.
• Cedarwood, thyme, lavender, rosemary, jojoba, and grapeseed: Mix two drops of cedarwood and thyme oil, three drops of lavender and rosemary oil, half a teaspoon of jojoba oil, and four teaspoons of grapeseed oil. Apply the mixture to your scalp and massage well for two minutes nightly. Using a warm towel, wrap your head and leave overnight. Dermatologists at the Royal Infirmary in Scotland did a study of 43 people suffering from hair loss. Using this mixture daily, 19 grew half of their hair back . A small fraction of the group, regrew almost all of their hair. (If you have high blood pressure, you should avoid the rosemary oil; grapeseed oil can cause minor irritations for those with sensitive skin.)

Essential oils are easy to buy and to apply. As with anything natural, be patient. It could take 3-6 months or longer for hair to grow back and for scalp health to return.