Properties and application of burdock oil

Do you want to look young and beautiful, give your hair and nails strength and shine? Synthetic cosmetics only hides the flaws of our appearance, masks them. For the improvement of the skin, hair, nails, it is better to use natural and time-tested means. One of these products is burdock oil.

Burdock oil as a cosmetic and medicinal product known since ancient times. It is obtained from the roots of burdock, or, to put it simply, burdock. Indochina is considered its homeland. The area of ​​its growth is quite wide, it is unpretentious and does not require care, in many places it was considered a weed. This is a perennial plant with large heart-shaped leaves and round inflorescences. The European part of Russia, the region of Siberia with a temperate climate, the south of the Far East - these are the regions of its distribution in Russia. Abroad, the area of ​​its growth includes the whole of Europe, almost all of Asia, the Japanese islands, both of America.

Burdock can often be found on abandoned sites. This is due to his predilection for a soil rich in nitrogen compounds. Mention of the use of burdock in food found in medieval annals. In the modern world, many dishes of national cuisines of Japan, Brazil, and Korea include young shoots and rhizomes of burdock.

To extract burdock oil from rhizomes, the method of “fat extraction” is used, that is, other vegetable oils, for example, olive or sunflower oil, are used to extract it from the roots of the plant. To do this, crushed rhizomes of burdock are poured into the selected oil, then heated in a water bath (the temperature of the mixture must be kept around 50 degrees) for 60 minutes. After that, give the oil extract to stand in a dark place for about a week, filter - and burdock oil is ready for use.

The method of "cold pressed" to get burdock oil extract is not used.

The composition of this oil extract includes:

• vitamins A, C, D, E, F, K, PP, group B;
• beta carotene;
• macro- and microelements: K, Ca, Mg, Zn, I, P, Fe;
• polysaccharides;
• tannins;
• polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids: palmitic, linoleic, stearic, ricinoleic, oleic;
• sitosterol and stigmasterol.

The finished oil is produced not only in pure form, but also enriched with vitamins, with additives in the form of red pepper, propolis, nettle, chamomile and other natural ingredients.

Pure, pale yellow oil with a faint odor, thick, viscous, distinctly oily. Cosmetic variations of a more fluid character.

Burdock oil is very useful, it is used in cosmetology as a natural tool that improves blood circulation, stimulates the growth of hair and nails, as well as strengthens them.

It is also widely known for its ability to fight dandruff, irritation, inflammation and flaking of the skin, smooth shallow wrinkles. Mention its benefits and in the fight against lice. Therefore, burdock oil is part of many creams and masks for the face. Inulin (polysaccharide) facilitates the removal of dead epidermal cells, promotes the elimination of toxins, speeds up metabolism and improves cellular respiration.

Burdock oil extract has proven itself as an adjunct for the treatment of skin diseases such as acne (acne and pimples), eczema, herpes, to speed up the healing of small abrasions and scratches.

Burdock oil is also produced as a dietary supplement (biologically active food supplement), since, having fatty acids in its composition, it has tonic properties. It is recommended to use it both for prophylaxis and for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Inulin in its composition is a natural prebiotic that stimulates the large intestine. The oil itself improves the intestinal microflora, reduces the amount of ammonia formed in the intestine, which significantly reduces the risk of cancer.

Individual intolerance to the components - this is the only contraindication to the use of burdock oil. To find out if you have one, do a standard allergy test: put a couple of drops of the product on your wrist or elbow. If after a day there are no unpleasant effects in the form of redness or skin rash, you can safely use this cosmetic externally.

If you drink burdock oil, do not overdo it with the dosage: take only 1, maximum 2 teaspoons per day. In case of exceeding the recommended dose, do not blame me if you feel the side effect of the oil: nausea, vomiting, intestinal upset.

If you decide to take burdock oil as a dietary supplement, you can simply drink it or fill a variety of salads instead of sunflower or olive oil.

General instructions for use are usually packaged with a bottle of oil. But there are nuances of its use for hair, nails, skin.

To strengthen the hair and get rid of dandruff, burdock oil extract is used as follows:

• wash your hair and dry your hair with a towel;
• heat the oil to a warm state: it will improve its absorption;
• carefully rub it into the roots of the hair, massage it to improve blood flow in the scalp, then with a palm or comb spread over the entire length of the hair;
• wrap your head with plastic wrap, then wrap it with a warm dry towel, spend about 1 hour;
• rinse with shampoo, then apply balm.

The course consists of 10–12 such procedures. Spend them 1-2 times a week, then take a break for 2 weeks.

You can use burdock oil extract to strengthen the eyelashes and eyebrows. Preheat it to 40–45 degrees, then apply a brush (for example, from an old mascara) several times on the hairs. Be careful - do not allow eye contact. Remove excess oil with a cotton swab. These procedures are best carried out at night, 2-3 hours before falling asleep.

For skin care oil can not only be used in its pure form, but also added to a variety of masks.

Perhaps the use of burdock oil extract and for medical purposes in such diseases as:

• rash and pruritus;
• purulent inflammations and furunculosis;
• dandruff;
• sunburn to soften the skin;
• eczema;
• problems with the digestive tract;
• to reduce pain in the muscles and joints;
• rheumatism;
• diseases of the gallbladder, kidneys;
• diabetes (as an adjunct in combination therapy);
• baldness.

Burdock oil has the ability to restore joint cartilage. Use it 1–2 times a day by rubbing it into a sore joint, then wrap it in a warm woolen cloth. The course duration is a month – one and a half.

As already stated above, burdock oil is a prebiotic because of its high content of inulin and has the ability to restore the imbalance of intestinal microflora.

It also helps to improve the appetite, intestinal peristalsis, relieves spasms, helps in the treatment of gastritis, ulcers, constipation and colitis.

For treating the intestines, in particular, constipation, take 1-2 teaspoons in the morning before breakfast. The course lasts 3 weeks, followed by a break for 2-3 months. A similar regimen adhere to the year. Women during pregnancy and lactation need to consult a doctor.

To treat the symptoms of psoriasis, which manifest themselves as redness and a rash on the skin of the hands, add 10 drops of burdock oil to a glass half full of warm water. Keep your hands in this solution for about 10 minutes. Regularly repeat these manipulations and after 3-4 weeks you will notice an amazing result.

Often this disease also affects the skin of the head. Psoriatic rashes cause itching, contribute to dandruff, brittleness and brittle hair. As the disease progresses, hair follicles are thinning, hair loss, and bald head as the final.

The sequence of actions for treating baldness oil with burdock caused by psoriasis is as follows:

• heat the oil, then gently rub it into the skin of the scalp for about 10–15 minutes;
• put a rubber cap on your head or wrap it with cling film, wait 1.5 hours;
• when the horny crust softens, carefully comb it with a wooden comb (do not use metal combs).

There is another recipe for dealing with plaque psoriasis:

• soak cotton pads or just pieces of cotton wool with burdock oil extract;
• attach them to places of rash;
• cover the head with a film for 45 minutes;
• gently peel off the softened plaques.

Repeat these steps for 10–12 days.

Burdock oil is also used as part of complex therapy in the treatment of certain purely female diseases, such as uterine myoma, mastopathy, cyst, etc.

In the treatment of mastopathy, compresses are made of cotton swabs soaked in oil on the area of ​​the chest where the seal is felt, for half an hour - no more. And so for 14 days. Remember that burdock oil is not a cure - it cannot cure one thing!

You can easily make burdock oil for compresses yourself. For this you will need burdock roots (100 g) and 250 ml of vegetable oil. Grind the rhizomes, cover them with oil and leave in a dark place for 2 weeks. Strain before use.

In case of gynecological diseases, tampons moistened with burdock oil extract are injected before bedtime and left overnight. The course of therapy lasts 1-2 weeks.

Men are also helpful to care for themselves. Oil extract of burdock is able to strengthen the hair, reduce their loss not only on the lush head, but also on the chin. It also softens the skin, eliminates peeling, nourishes the hair bulbs, increases the rate of growth of the beard.

To enhance efficiency, red pepper is added to burdock oil. In pharmacies and shops they sell ready-made products with pepper, but you can make it at home - the components are more accessible. For this:

• Heat half a glass of burdock oil extract in an enamel pot (you can take a glass one, but the first is somehow safer);
• pour half a teaspoon of ground red pepper or pour 5 ml of liquid pepper tincture;
• mix the ingredients thoroughly.

For beard growth, smear the emulsion over the chin, rinse off after 60 minutes. To soften the skin (after the red pepper will burn), apply the cream.

Children's age is also a contraindication for the internal use of burdock oil: their gastrointestinal tract is not yet fully formed, it is sensitive to stimulation, that is, the oil extract can easily cause diarrhea.

But as a cosmetic product it is for children - ideal. Just do not forget about the test for allergies.

Burdock oil extract is used to strengthen the hair, cleansing the baby’s scalp. Rub the warmed oil into the roots, spread over the entire length and wrap in a towel. After half an hour, rinse.

In acute diaper dermatitis, babies develop poorly healing ulcers. To combat them, recommend the following recipe:

• prepare a compress in the form of a fleece soaked in burdock oil extract;
• during the sleep of the child attach the ready compress to the area with the wound;
• Try to prevent it from slipping off early (it takes about 20 minutes to soften the skin);
• gently clean the baby’s napkin.

Rash, prickly heat in infants should be lubricated with clean oil, applying with fingertips and lightly rubbing. For various skin irritations, add a couple of drops of burdock extract and chamomile and / or streamer infusion to the bathing water of your baby.

Please note that in most of the recipes presented, burdock oil is used warm. For its heating it is better to use a water bath, and not a microwave oven, since in the latter it is impossible to regulate the heating temperature of the composition, as a result of which there is a risk of burning during the procedure.

So, in order to properly heat the burdock oil and get a safe product, you need to take two containers of different sizes. In the one that is more, you should pour water in half and put it on fire. When the liquid boils in it, a smaller capacity is placed in the water, into which burdock oil has been poured in advance. Wait until the oil reaches the temperature you need, and with the help of tacks, pull out the pot.

For cosmetic use, burdock oil is often combined with others to increase its effectiveness, for example, with almond or castor oil. Many add it to the finished purchased perfume means, such as shampoos, balms, face or hand cream, at the rate of 5 ml of oil per 200 ml of product. The shelf life of such improved cosmetics products is reduced to 90 days.

Our legs, especially the heels, need careful care. Everyone knows how rough your skin is after winter frosts.

Foot care with burdock oil can be done using several methods.

• By adding a few drops of oil to a warm foot bath (5 drops to 1 liter of water). Bath to take 30-40 minutes.
• By mixing your daily foot care product (cream) with some amount of burdock oil extract.
• By rubbing clean oil on the heel affected by coarsening. After 45–50 minutes, wash the heels with lukewarm water, clean with pumice stone, apply cream.

Elbows, like heels, are very sensitive to roughness. Rub the oil into the problem area 20 minutes before taking a bath.

Burdock oil can help with brittleness, stratification of nails, treatment of fungal lesions, accelerate the growth of the nail plate.

• From the delamination of the nail plate, mix 5 ml of oil extract with a couple of drops of lemon juice, soften the nails in a hot bath and rub the prepared mixture. Do not flush for at least an hour. If possible, leave until the morning.
• For a nightly nourishment of nails, prepare a mixture of 5 ml burdock and 1 drop of fir oil.Rub it into your nails and put on cotton gloves until the morning.
• For a quick mask, you will need chamomile extract and 5 ml of burdock, grape oil and sour cream. Stripe the nails in a warm infusion, mix the remaining ingredients together and apply the heated mixture on the nails. After a quarter of an hour, remove with a cotton swab dipped in chamomile infusion.
• To care for the cuticle and nails, first warm a quarter cup of oil to 40–45 degrees. Then dip the nails in the oil for 10-15 minutes. Wash fingers with warm water. This is best done at bedtime, and wear cotton gloves at night.

To improve the appearance and improvement of the skin of the hands and nails, daily rub the oil of burdock for 10–15 minutes.

The skin of the lips is very delicate and can easily wear down, crack, especially in winter. To soften, smooth lips, reduce pain, apply oil with your finger tips 1-3 times a day.

For dry, brittle hair, burdock oil extract is used in the following ways:

• apply it on the entire length of hair up to the tips, comb and roll your head for 40 minutes;
• mix 20 ml of burdock oil extract with chamomile, bey and ylang-ylang ether drops, apply the mixture to your hair;
• add 10 capsules of "Aevita" (a combined preparation of vitamins A and E) to 10 ml of burdock oil, spread it on your hair;
• rub into the hair a mixture of equal amounts of oil extracts of burdock, chamomile and wheat germ.

With increased oiliness of hair, you can make a mask of this composition: 10 ml burdock, 5 ml of grape oil, a teaspoon of grapefruit pulp and 5 drops of citrus essential oil.

Masks from a combination of burdock and castor oils (1: 1) give a good effect. You can enrich this composition with a couple of drops of the essential oil that suits you.

For hair loss, masks are advised:

• from a mixture of propolis and burdock oil extract in equal quantities;
• burdock oil with crushed red pepper;
• 100 ml of oil of burdock mixed with red pepper, 1 ml of essence beat, 1 raw yolk, 1 tsp. honey, 1 tsp. lemon juice and apply on dry hair for 1-2 hours.

If your curls faded and weakened after chemical waving, use a mask of equal amounts of nettle extracts and burdock. Or as follows: 2 raw yolks, 30 ml of burdock oil, 1 tsp of cocoa and 5 ml of an oil solution of vitamins A and E.

For dry skin:

• add a few drops of oil extract to your face / body cream before use;
• Mix 5 ml of burdock and chamomile oils, rub into dry skin 2 times a day.

With oily skin, it is also possible to use this wonderful oil, because it has the ability to normalize the function of the sebaceous glands.

To improve and nourish the skin with useful substances, make a mask according to this recipe:

• mix 2 tablespoons of oil extract of burdock, 10 g of cooked oatmeal, 10 g of liquid honey;
• apply on clean skin for a quarter of an hour;
• wash the mask with warm water.

For the elimination of acne, cleansing the skin using a mixture of equal amounts of calendula oil and burdock. Calendula enlarges pores, cleans them, and the disinfecting action of burdock increases the effectiveness of the procedure.

For problems in the form of acne, rash, reddening of the skin, a lotion of 25 ml burdock oil, 5 drops of lavender essential oil and eucalyptus and 50 ml of rose water is recommended.

Burdock oil will also be of great benefit when used in body care. Here are some recipes:

• when taking a bath, pour 4–5 tablespoons of the product into warm water;
• rub the whole body with burdock oil extract 10–15 minutes before douche;
• mix a third cup of burdock oil extract with a tablespoon of jojoba and 5 drops of neroli, use regularly in the form of heat;
• Make a mixture of 10 ml of burdock oil, 10 ml of jojoba oil, 1 drop of geranium juice and hops, 2 drops of fennel oil and lubricate the breast.

Most people do not know that burdock oil is useful for weight loss. Naturally, do not forget about the diet and exercise load.

When fighting against cellulite, rub after a shower problem areas with a mixture of 10 ml burdock oil with lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary essences (1 drop each). Perform such operations every other day.

If you want to reduce the girth of the hips or waist, use a wrap:

• Prepare a mixture of 15 ml of burdock oil extract, 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of red pepper (also ground);
• heat in a water bath to 40 degrees;
• apply on the desired areas and wrap with plastic wrap for half an hour;
• if it starts to burn, reduce the period of wrapping;
• Wash gently with water.

You can use the following composition for slimming massage: 3 tablespoons burdock, 1 teaspoon peach, 1 tablespoon shea butter, 5 drops of lemon, grapefruit and bergamot essences. All mixed, heated before use.

Burdock oil extract is often used in a mixture with herbal oils. With complex use, the beneficial effect is enhanced.

When stretching the chest, the following recipe is recommended:

• mix burdock oil extract (10 ml), jojoba (10 ml), rosemary esters (2 drops) and anise (2 drops);
• rub the composition for 5 minutes, remove the excess with a napkin.

The course lasts 2 weeks. Strengthen the effect of massage, smoothing the skin with a combination of grape seed oil and burdock (10 ml) and 2-3 drops of vitamin E.

Applying burdock oil extract for cosmetic purposes, follow these recommendations:

• use the product on clean hair / skin;
• take breaks of 7–14 days between courses;
• for easier rinsing do not wet the hair, but first apply shampoo;
• if you are blond, use colorless or yellowish oil;
• After washing the hair, apply a balm or rinse with a solution of apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water).

Nowadays wide and thick eyebrows are becoming more and more popular. To make them so, you can again use the miraculous oil of burdock for this.

To enhance the growth of eyebrows, 2 tablespoons of nettle leaves, chop and pour one cup of boiling water. After 15 minutes, strain the mixture through a sieve and add 2 tablespoons of burdock oil to it.

To prevent the hair from falling out, take 3 tablespoons of burdock oil (slightly warmed in advance), 2 yolks, 2 tablespoons of honey (also warmed and melted) and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and apply to eyebrows.

Currently on the market are all sorts of variations of burdock oil: with the addition of medicinal plants and components, and in its pure form. Natural supplements enhance the effect of the product, but a large number of flavors and preservatives causes understandable alertness. For internal use, choose pure burdock oil.

When buying a finished product should pay attention to some criteria.

• The composition of the proposed oil extract. Burdock oil should be mentioned first, that is, have the highest percentage content. And generally, the fewer components mentioned in the composition, the better.
• On the basis of oil. Producers of high-quality goods must show this.The best option in quality are oils from almond and olive pits, and from soybean or rapeseed - cheap and less useful.
• On the bottle. Packaging must protect the oil from sunlight, that is, to be made of opaque or darkened material.
• On the date of issue and expiration date.

Strictly observe the storage conditions of the product:

• ambient temperature should be maintained at 12–15 degrees;
• protect from direct light rays;
• store in a tightly closed bottle without the possibility of air penetration;
• out of the reach of children;
• away from open flame and microwave sources.

Opinions on the use of burdock oil are mostly positive. Some complain about the quality of the oil, the bad washout from the hair and skin after application due to the high fat content of the product, but the majority of consumers note that the advantages of this product are undoubted. Burdock oil extract moisturizes and nourishes the skin, nails and hair, accelerates growth, regeneration, strength and shine will come. They note that the effect from the use in the winter-spring period, when the body lacks the sun and vitamins, is most noticeable.

On how to properly apply burdock oil for hair, see the following video.