In this guide, you are going to learn the uses of guava leaves for hair growth.
Short answer: Analysis of guava leaves revealed that guava leaves contain high amount of vitamin C, vitamin Bs, and lycone. The vitamin C in guava leaves aids improve collagen formation and hair growth; Vitamin B complexes help build hair strands and also strengthen hair scalp; and both of these are required for healthy hair growth. While the lycopene in guava leaves is important for preventing cancers and solar radiation.
Read on for a detailed step by step guide.
Health Benefits of Guava Leaves for Hair Growth
Here are 9 proven health benefits of guava leaves for hair growth:
Manage Scalp Inflammation
One of the most common conditions associated with hair scalp is inflammation. Inflammation of hair scalp causes low blood flow to the hair follicles. This low blood supply to the hair follicles leads to low nutrients supply to the hair follicles, which in turn prevents proper hair growth.
One study have shown that the leaf extract of guava reduced the expressions of inflammatory cytokines in diabetic rats.
Another study while accessing the anti-inflammatory effect of guava leaf extract on male white rats of Sprague-Dawley strain showed that 125, 250, and 500mg/kg BW of guava leaf extract decreased significantly the inflammation by 40.81%, 55.45%, and 45.61% respectively.
In a separate study, it was shown that guava leaf extract reduced inflammation, which was fund using response surface methodology.
Additionally, another study has also shown that ethanolic leaf extract of guava significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide and prostaglandins E2.
Main points: guava leaves improve Inflammation, and therefore can also reduce scalp inflammation. This in turn increases blood flow and nutrients to the hair follicles, which increases hair growth.
Read also: How To Make Guava Leaf Oil For Hair Growth
Prevent Hair Discoloration
Human hair may be discolored because of genetics, oxidative stress, lack of vitamins, and underlying medical conditions.
Oxidative stress on the other hand occurs due to an imbalance between free radicals and reactive oxygen species. This imbalance causes hair to be more sensitive to light, and this leads to hair bleaching and fading.
Drinking or massaging guava leaves was found to supplement hair with antioxidants that prevent the effect of oxidative stress and direct sunlight.
The lycopene present in guava leaves and fruits also helps prevent hair from ultraviolet and infrared rays, which also causes hair pigmentation.
Main pints: guava leaves provide enough antioxidants, which inhibit oxidative stress and hair pigmentation.
Learn how to prepare and use guava leaves for hair growth.
Prevent Hair Loss
This is a condition where hair degenerates uncontrollably due to hormonal imbalances such as thyroids disorders, anemia, and pregnancy.
Some of the causes of thyroid disorders are iron and copper deficiency.
Analysis of 100g serving size of raw common guava showed that guava contains 0.23mg f copper and 0.26mg of iron respectively.
Therefore, adding guava fruits to your snacks and massaging guava leaves tea on your hair will greatly help you prevent hair loss.
Moreover, guava leaves are also packed with magnesium, which also prevents stress and autoimmune diseases.
Main points: guava leaves contain copper, iron, and magnesium, which prevent hair loss through managing thyroid and autoimmune diseases.
Read also: Guava Leaves For Grey Hair: Benefits And How To Use
Increase Blood Flow to Hair Scalp
Lack of sufficient oxygen supply and blood flow to hair scalp are among the main causes of poor hair growth due to the lack of nutrients that boost hair follicles regeneration.
Lack of blood flow is caused by inflammation of blood vessels and oxygen tension in the blood vessels. This leads to a high-pressure build-up in blood vessels and poor blood supply to the living tissues.
As earlier discussed, guava leaves are an amazing supplement with strong anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive benefits.
So, massaging and drinking guava leaves tea is a great way to reduce scalp inflammation and increase blood flow to the hair scalp.
Main points: guava leaves can help increase blood flow to hair scalp through anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive effects.
Read also: Aloe Vera And Guava Leaves For Hair: Benefits + How-To Use
Manage and Prevent Hair Infection
Guava leaves were also shown to treat and prevent infectious diseases caused by bacteria and fungi.
Guava leaves have strong antimicrobial effects, which when massaged on the hair root and tip will prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.
One study while finding the antimicrobial effects of guava leaves extracted using hexane, methanol, ethanol, and water showed that guava leaves extract suppressed the activity of gram-positive bacteria.
Another study also showed that the methanolic extract of guava leaves significantly reduced the activity of fungi and bacteria.
Moreover, another study showed similar antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus.
Main points: guava leaves are important in preventing and treating infectious diseases through inhibiting the activities of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes.
Read also: How To Make Guava Leaves Paste For Face And Hair
Manage Hair Parasitic Insects
Guava leaves were also shown to deter parasitic insects that are disturbing the hair,
This article from News tract live explained how combining guava leaves with turmeric can help you fight hair lice.
Moreover, one study reviewed the studies that showed how plants are used to control diseases and headlice.
To use guava leaves for headlice, boil one liter of clean water with 5-10 clean fresh guava leaves for about 20 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and allow the tea to cool to room temperature. Wash your hair with the concoction daily to deter lice from hair.
Alternatively, you can use guava leaves with turmeric powder or tea tree oil and massage your hair with the mixture.
Note: Do not use tea tree oil alone without a carrier oil such as coconut oil or olive oil because tea tree oil is very concentrated and can burn you if used alone.
Main points: guava leaves can be used to manage parasitic insects on hair such as headlice either alone or in combination with other herbal supplements and essential oils.
Read also:
Manage and Prevent Hair Diseases
One of the common diseases of hair is dandruff. Guava leaf is packed with flavonoids, ellagic acid, and other important antioxidants that can penetrate deep into the hair root and destroy fungal spores, and inhibit fungal growth.
It was also shown in this study that acetone and methanol extract of guava leaves prevent the growth of dermatophytic fungi.
You can combine one tablespoon of ground guava leaves with one tablespoon of organic honey. Then, massage your hair scalp from the tip to the root while concentrating on the area most affected by dandruff.
Main points: guava leaves are effective in preventing and managing hair diseases such as dandruff through the action of flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, and ellagic acid.
Increase Hair Thickness
Guava leaves were also shown to improve and increase the thickness of hair. Guava leaves in combination with egg white can nourish your hair and increase hair cell regeneration, which leads to an increase in hair fulness.
If you want to use guava leaves for this method, just combine one tablespoon of ground guava leaves with one egg. Then, massage your hair gently with this mixture and allow it to stay for about 3 hours. Rinse off your hair with lukewarm water. Repeat this procedure daily.
Main points: guava leaves can be used to increase the thickness of hair.
Help Remove Dirt
Guava leaves destroy insects including headlice that are living in both root and tip of the hair. This helps keep hair healthy and free from damage that may be caused by headlice and diseases.
Main points: guava points can help keep your hair free from dirt, which increases hair health and general growth.
Can we store guava leaves water?
No, you cannot store guava leaves water for more than a day. This is because the tea contains water, which can allow fungal and microbial growth. And this makes the water damage.
How long should I boil guava leaves?
You can boil guava leaves on the heat for about 20 minutes.
Can I boil guava leaves and drink?
Yes, you can boil guava leaves and drink as a tea. It was shown that people with diabetes, indigestion problems, and heart diseases find relief when they drink guava leaves tea.
What are the side effects of drinking guava leaaves?
There is no known side effect of guava leaves. However, drinking the tea frequently was found to cause constipation. There is also a risk of drug contraindication.
Learn more about the health benefits of guava.
Conclusion
Guava is among the common plants that are used traditionally in ethnomedicines. It was shown to heal and prevent various diseases. We have discussed the benefits of guava leaves for hair growth in this guide. We hope that you find this useful. Let us know what you feel in the comment section below.
References
AL Aradi, Ibrahim & Al-Ghareeb, Meshal. (2005). Review Article: Hair Fall: Common Causes and Treatment Modalities. PAN ARAB LEAGUE OF DERMATOLOGY. 16.
Beatriz, Padrón-Márquez & Viveros- Valdez, Ezequiel & Oranday, Azucena & Carranza-Rosales, Pilar. (2012). Antifungal activity of Psidium guajava organic extracts against dermatophytic fungi. Journal of medicinal plant research. 6
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