Jojoba oil is a liquid wax obtained from the seeds of a desert shrub by the same name. This cold-pressed oil has made a place for itself in a range of natural remedies, as a base for essential oils in aromatherapy, and also in cosmetic products available across the country. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties have made it a handy therapeutic oil to stock at home for all manner of skin problems. Here’s a closer look at some of the big reasons to reach for that jojoba oil. Here’s a list of jojoba oil uses as a natural remedy:
1. Fighting Acne And Skin Lesions
Jojoba oil is used in various formulations to treat acne and skin lesions, due to its anti-inflammatory properties and moisturizing effect. When hormonal changes and puberty cause excessive oil production in your body, jojoba oil can help you remove the sticky greasy buildup on your skin.
In one study, people who had skin that had lesions or was prone to acne were treated with clay jojoba oil masks. These masks were used twice or thrice a week for a 6-week period. The total lesion count dropped by 54% by the end of the study period. What’s more, the treatment worked for both noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions.1
2. Treating Skin Problems
Jojoba oil is used to heal and treat a range of skin problems including eczema, psoriasis, and even sunburn, besides helping slowdown the aging of skin with its antioxidant activity. Its analgesic, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties make it beneficial on multiple fronts.2
As a sunscreen, its potential is limited, with the myristic acid in it offering the equivalent of SPF 4 protection. What it is good for, however, is forming a protective moisturizing film that also inhibits parasitic growth in skin that’s dry or cracked. Ideal for anyone who’s left with painful sore skin after too much time in the sun.3
3. Healing Wounds
Jojoba oil is also being suggested as a way to heal wounds and is listed as a phytotherapeutic agent, along with other popular wound-healing remedies like aloe vera and tea tree oil.4 Research suggests that the jojoba liquid wax can help speed up the rate of wound closure. The wax helps stimulate synthesis of collagen, a building block of skin.5
4. Softening Chapped Skin
If you have skin that’s chapped or dry, using jojoba oil might make all the difference. The oil contains a wide range of fatty acids including oleic, linolenic, arachidonic, and linoleic fatty acids. These along with the triglycerides in the oil work well with sebum produced by your own body to keep the skin protected and moist. Which is why it finds wide application in cosmetics like creams and lotions designed to soften and moisturize skin.6
5. Treating Arthritis And Rheumatism
Jojoba oil is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, a reason for its usage as a means to fight inflammation in the body from the outside. Animal studies too have proven its effectiveness in battling inflammation. The oil helps reduce the levels of prostaglandin, a hormone central to inflammatory response. The oil can be applied topically to treat symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism, which are inflammatory conditions.7
6. Repelling Mosquitoes
Jojoba oil also has an interesting application beyond skincare. It has been tested for its effectiveness as a mosquito repellent and the results are promising. In one instance, it was tested along with other volatile oils like sesame, ginger, and chamomile oils, for its ability to deter Culex Pipiens, the filaria vector. It acted by deterring gravid mosquitoes from depositing their eggs in the area where the oil had been applied to plants. Jojoba and ginger were the most potent repellents, and could be a means to control the population of mosquitoes in your home or garden.8
7. Possible Treatment For Hair Loss
Like the sebum produced naturally by your hair and skin, jojoba oil is a moisturizer. It keeps your hair follicles from drying out. In addition, because it is an emollient, it helps not just to soothe your scalp but also to unclog blocked hair follicles. It is this property that has made some suggest that the oil when applied to the scalp can help with prevention of hair loss. However, much research remains to be done before this claim can be backed up adequately to recommend it as a remedy.
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