Summer is at its peak and is wreaking havoc, but it will soon be over. Most of us are eagerly waiting for the time of year. But as we slip into fall, we will see pumpkins. Most of us probably hate pumpkins as food, but they are fun. The creepy, evil-faced Halloween smileys have some attraction to them. Not to mention, some (we mean just a handful) people happen to love pumpkins. Pumpkin cheesecakes, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin candles – they are really into pumpkins. But how beneficial is a pumpkin from a health aspect? (1) (2)
Studies reveal that while pumpkins are incredibly beneficial for health, their seeds can do wonders. Pumpkin seeds offer a wide range of benefits, including some severe stuff like controlling cholesterol, preventing osteoporosis, improving the immune system, fighting depression, improving bladder function, improving conditions of learning disorders, and more.
When it comes to hair care and skin care, pumpkin seeds are super effective. They help to cure baldness by stimulating hair growth. They aid in forming collagen and skin cells, thereby rejuvenating skin. They help maintain a healthy scalp and strengthen hair. But the question is, how do you use pumpkin seeds for hair loss prevention and skin care?
The Simplest Solution:
Eat the pumpkin seeds! This will allow you to enjoy every health benefit the seeds offer, including hair and skin. How can you eat it? Here is how:
Toast the pumpkin seeds and convert them into a tasty snack. Heat the seeds at 300°C for an hour to dry them properly. Add a tablespoon of cumin and olive oil to the seeds. Add garlic powder, red pepper, and cardamom, and cook for as long as it takes to toast them properly. Allow them to cool and eat! Store for later use.
Using Pumpkin Seeds for Hair Loss
If eating isn’t what you prefer, you can always use pumpkin seeds externally to prevent hair loss. However, you must know that using whole seeds is not a method. You really cannot use the seeds on their own externally. You need to extract the oil from the seeds. If you have the means to do so, it is good, but if you don’t know how to extract the oil, just hit the market and buy some organic pumpkin seed oil.
Once you have the oil, create a conditioner. You will need one egg, shea butter, apple puree, and pumpkin seed oil. Here is how you need to proceed:
Cut an apple, take one half, and puree or blend it.
Add a tablespoon of the oil and shea butter to the apple puree.
Whisk the egg in a separate container.
Add the egg to the apple puree mixture, shea butter, and pumpkin seed oil while constantly stirring.
Your conditioner is ready for use! Wash off your hair using shampoo and apply the conditioner to your hair and scalp. Leave it for 20 to 30 minutes and then rinse off. Use a shower cap if necessary while waiting for 30 minutes.
Also Read – Ways to Get Rid of Hair Loss with Fenugreek Seeds
This homemade conditioner will help reverse balding, prevent hair thinning, and make the locks shiny and smooth. You will enjoy these benefits because of vitamins A, B (biotin), K, sulfur, and zinc in pumpkin seed oil. Of course, shea butter, egg, and apple also have benefits to offer!
Using Pumpkin Seeds for Skin Care
As before, save yourself some trouble and get the pumpkin seed oil. You can use the oil to make toner and also use it as a face cleanser. But how? Here is how you need to proceed.
Toner: Get hold of your preferred cosmetic toner, add pumpkin seed oil to it, and apply it to your skin. As far as proportions are concerned, use in equal proportions if you have normal skin. In case of dry skin, increase the oil content; in case of oily skin, add less oil to the toner. Exact proportions cannot be mentioned because you must determine the best proportion per your skin’s needs.
Also Read – Health, Skin, and Hair Benefits of Fenugreek Seeds You Need to Know
Anti-aging face cleanser: To make a face cleanser, you will need the following in addition to pumpkin seed oil:
Nutmeg: this is known for its anti-inflammatory features and ability to cure acne scars. It is also known for preventing pimples.
Raw honey: this one helps to cure acne, eczema, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea and even helps to maintain the pH balance of the skin.
Tea tree oil is optional, but adding this component will help if you have oily skin. If you have dry skin, you can skip this.
To make the cleanser, use the components in the following quantities:
Raw honey – ½ cup.
Pumpkin seed oil – 1 tablespoon.
Nutmeg – 1 teaspoon.
Tea tree oil – just a few drops (again, this one is optional).
Mix the ingredients thoroughly, and your cleanser is ready! Use it daily instead of your regular cleanser, and you will notice that fine lines and wrinkles are reduced over time, skin becomes soft and supple, skin tone lightens, acne scars are healed, and more…
Also Read – How to Prevent Hair Loss After Pregnancy?
Summary
As summer transitions to fall, pumpkins take the spotlight as Halloween decorations and health boosters. Studies show that pumpkin seeds offer various benefits, from cholesterol control to immune system enhancement. In hair care, they stimulate growth and rejuvenate skin. Consuming pumpkin seeds as a tasty snack or extracting their oil for external use prevents hair loss. A homemade conditioner with pumpkin seed oil, egg, shea butter, and apple puree promotes healthy hair. For skin care, pumpkin seed oil can be added to toners or used as an anti-aging face cleanser with nutmeg, raw honey, and optional tea tree oil. Regular use yields benefits like reduced wrinkles, softer skin, improved skin tone, and healing of acne scars.