Rosemary often steals the headlines when it comes to strengthening hair health and stimulating hair growth. For decades, this aromatic herb has received praise for its ability to thicken hair and ward off thinning. And while rosemary certainly gets its due, there may be another herb that stands a better chance of improving hair health: ginseng. This age-old root is prized for its widespread benefits for health but has become part of the hair care regimen as a result of its strong influences on encouraging hair growth and scalp wellness.

For ages, ginseng is used as an effective adaptogen: this plant enhances general wellness, decreases stress, and boosts mental functioning. Newer research has shown another excellent advantage of ginseng: its promotion of hair growth. Most people have heard of ginseng in the Chinese traditional healing practices, but only over the last decade have researchers started to analyze it on a deeper level and look into its hair-related impacts. As it turns out, this humble root may hold the key to not just healthier hair, but more voluminous, thicker locks.

While genetics undeniably play a significant role in hair loss and thinning, factors such as stress, diet, scalp health, and circulation are all contributing elements that can exacerbate these conditions. This is where ginseng comes into play. It enhances the circulation of blood on its scalp, hence becomes fundamental in hair development and stimulating healthy growth in nourishing the scalp. That more blood flows into it thus enables the strong transport nutrients to the follicle site.

Recent studies have proven that ginseng is a potent herb that promotes hair growth. Red ginseng extract may significantly enhance hair growth, according to a study conducted in the Journal of Medicinal Food. It is crucial for those individuals who experience hair thinning or alopecia because such a discovery opens up a new window of possibilities through natural, herbal interventions.

Active ingredients of ginseng, especially ginsenosides, are considered to play a crucial role in this process. Ginsenosides enhance blood circulation towards the scalp, thereby stimulating hair follicles and increasing keratin production. The latter is a protein responsible for hair strength and structure. Moreover, the mentioned compounds inhibit the action of 5-alpha reductase, which causes male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss. This helps ginseng in reducing the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that is responsible for hair loss.

Also Read: This Surprising Chilled Item Can Give You Shiny, Smooth Hair

Other Benefits of Ginseng for Hair Health

Aside from promoting hair growth, ginseng also offers a variety of other benefits that can help in creating a healthier scalp and stronger hair. Here are some reasons why ginseng should be part of your hair care routine:

1. Antioxidant Protection

Ginseng is full of antioxidants, which protect your hair from free radicals with harmful oxidative effects. In other words, these little molecules bring about oxidative damage, hair breakage and thinning, and unnatural aging of hair. All these problems are neutralized by powerful antioxidants in Ginseng from the inside hair cells outwards.

2. Keeps the Scalp Healthy

Ginseng has natural antimicrobial properties that keep the scalp clean and healthy. This is important in keeping conditions such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and folliculitis away from the scalp, thus impeding hair growth. A clean and balanced scalp ensures that hair follicles are not obstructed to create an optimal environment for hair to grow.

3. Hydration and Nourishment

Another property that is being provided by ginseng is to balance the scalp's natural oils. With fatty acids, it hydrates the scalp without getting greasy, making it ideal for people with both dry and oily scalps. This moisture balance will prevent hair breakage and split ends.

4. Stress Reduction

Stress is one of the most significant causes of hair loss, and ginseng is known to have an adaptogenic property. That is, it will make your body capable of resisting the effects of stress much more effectively. Ginseng would indirectly lead to a healthy scalp, as less stress would impact the body. This indirectly minimizes the chances of hair thinning due to the effect of stress factors.

How to Use Ginseng for Hair Health

If you want to add ginseng to your hair care process, then there are different ways through which you can do that. Many companies now create hair care products with added ginseng extract: shampoos, conditioners, hair masks- all of it. Thus, you'll be using ginseng without doing much.

Others prefer direct application of the ginseng-infused oils right on the scalp. However, pure ginseng oil can be quite strong, and blending it with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil is suggested for the best results. Just apply this mixture to the scalp and massage it very gently to stimulate blood circulation and nourish the roots of the hair. The oil should be kept for an hour before it should be washed off the oily hair.

Another option is to create a nourishing ginseng hair mask. Combine ginseng powder with olive oil to create a mask that you can apply to your scalp. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. This mask not only nourishes the scalp but also helps to repair damaged strands and improve overall hair health.

As with any hair care regimen, consistency is key when using ginseng for hair growth. To see the best results, these ginseng-based products should be used two or three times a week. One must be patient while using ginseng; hair growth is slow and gradual. If one suffers from hair thinning and scalp problems even after consuming ginseng, a visit to a dermatologist or trichologist to determine the underlying conditions will be advisable.

Whereas rosemary has long been the darling of herb enthusiasts claiming to help your hair grow, ginseng has emerged as one of the most powerful tools in the quest for healthy, thick hair. Through its properties of enhancing circulation, feeding the scalp with nutrients, and stimulating growth, ginseng proves to be an excellent remedy for people looking to get healthier-looking hair. Whether you use a commercially available product or make your own DIY treatments, you can enjoy great long-term benefits from ginseng when added to your hair care routine. The good news? It's completely natural and very effective as it supports the overall health of your scalp while fostering thicker, fuller hair.

Active ginseng components in cognitive impairment. Oncotarget. 2018

Antifatigue effects of Panax ginseng. PLoS One. 2013

Women can play a major role in preventing as well as eliminating Chagas Disease, a potentially life-threatening neglected tropical disease that affects 8 million people globally and causes 10,000 deaths every year, according to UN agencies.

World Chagas Disease Day is observed every year on April 14 to raise awareness around the disease, and the impact it has on lives.

In a statement, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Global Chagas Coalition urged health authorities to make women central to the fight against the disease and to empower them to make early detection, prevention, and care.

“Eliminating Chagas disease as a public health problem requires placing women at the center of diagnosis, treatment, and care strategies,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director.

“Ensuring timely access to quality health services, particularly for women of reproductive age, is essential to prevent new infections and advance toward the elimination of congenital Chagas disease in the Region of the Americas,” he added.

What Is Chagas Disease?

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a illness caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and is primarily transmitted by triatomine insect vectors.

It gets spread through

• oral transmission,
• blood transfusion,
• mother-to-child.
• through transplants of some organs (such as heart or kidney)
• through laboratory accidents.

If left untreated, one third of infected people—including women and the children they carry—will develop life-altering heart, digestive, and even neurological conditions, and may even become fatal.

Once endemic to 21 countries in Latin America, the disease has now spread globally due to migration. It is now a global health concern with cases found in 44 countries including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan.

World Chagas Disease Day 2026: Theme

World Chagas Disease Day was celebrated for the first time in 2020.

The theme this year is “Women at the heart of care, protecting the next generation” and underscores the key role women play in family and community caregiving, as well as their greater interaction with health services, particularly during pregnancy.

Chagas Disease: Role Of Women

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 2 million women aged 15-44 years are living with Trypanosoma cruzi infection worldwide.

Congenital transmission or mother-to-child transmission remains a major challenge, occurring in about 3–5 percent of pregnancies. However, it also provides a key opportunity for effective intervention.

The transmission cycle of the disease can be effectively broken by

• Treating infected girls and women before pregnancy
• Strengthening screening in maternal and child health services
• Eaccess to diagnosis and treatment.
• Newborn screening can help diagnose and treat, with a cure rate exceeding 90 percent.
• Increase awareness at community and family levels.
• Avoid foodborne transmission

“On the contrary, it represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen more equitable, accessible, and responsive health systems that recognize and respect women’s needs.”

The BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty has opened up about her experience of suffering from a painful womb condition, known as the "evil twin sister of endometriosis".

The 51-year-old Naga Munchetty explained her condition as adenomyosis, which can cause extreme pain at any time. Munchetty added that she has faced the condition even while presenting her show, The Independent reported.

Naga Munchetty said that adenomyosis has caused her severe pain since she was in her teens, and she has “become conditioned to accept” it.

“If you’re curled up on the floor screaming, sweating, flooding, passing out, vomiting, that is debilitating. But you end up normalizing that pain.”

What Is Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is an extremely painful condition, which affects the womb and causes the uterus to enlarge. Although it affects an estimated one in 10 women, it remains undiagnosed in most women.

It is a lesser-known but significantly debilitating gynecological disorder that is commonly mistaken for endometriosis.

Adenomyosis leads to debilitating symptoms such as

• intense pain
• heavy menstrual bleeding,
• cramps,
• abdominal bloating
• fertility issues.

Differences Between Endometriosis And Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis occurs when endometrial cells—typically restricted to the lining of the uterus—break through the myometrium, the muscular wall of the uterus.

Endometriosis, on the other hand, happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. These tissues commonly develop on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the pelvic lining.

In contrast, adenomyosis is inside the uterus but produces serious complications. These out-of-place endometrial cells continue to act as they would in a regular menstrual cycle, becoming thick and shedding, which leads to internal bleeding, inflammation, and intense pain.

Adenomyosis: The Condition Without Treatment

Despite going to the doctors several times, Naga Munchetty was not diagnosed until recently, as she was led to believe the pain she was experiencing was “normal”.

No absolute cure for adenomyosis exists except for a hysterectomy, which involves the removal of the uterus. Nevertheless, several treatment options can alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life. These include:

1. Pain Relief

Ibuprofen and naproxen, over-the-counter pain medications, are usually prescribed to relieve menstrual cramps and pain.

2. Hormonal treatment such as

• Birth control pills
• Hormonal IUD (Intrauterine Device)
• Progesterone therapy

GnRH agonists, such as Lupron, induce temporary menopause by suppressing estrogen production, thereby reducing adenomyosis symptoms. However, these injections can cause severe side effects, including mood swings, hot flashes, and bone density loss, making them unsuitable for long-term use.

4. Surgical Intervention

• Endometrial Ablation: This involves the removal of the uterine lining to manage heavy bleeding, but it is not a permanent solution and is not suitable for women who want to become pregnant.
• Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE): A non-surgical procedure that cuts off the blood supply to the affected areas, reducing the size of the adenomyotic tissue.
• Hysterectomy: The only permanent solution for adenomyosis, a hysterectomy is usually considered as a last option for women who have finished their childbearing years.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is caused by excessive salt intake; however, according to scientists, there are more reasons. Experts also blame a brain glitch. A part of the brain that makes us breathe while laughing or coughing could also cause a blood pressure spike, as per researchers from New Zealand and Brazil. This could explain why medication is not enough for controlling BP in some people. According to experts at the University of Auckland, there is a part of the brain that could cause high BP, thereby suggesting that the brain is responsible for hypertension.

Is the brain responsible for high BP?

Experts say that the lateral parafacial region is located in the brainstem. It is the oldest part of the brain and regulates heart rate, digestion, and breathing. Its action causes one to exhale during a cough, laugh, or workout. These actions are driven by abdominal muscles. Researchers also found that this area could connect to the nerves that tighten blood vessels and raise blood pressure. However, it is possible to reverse this action by inactivating this region.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition wherein blood pushes against the walls of the blood vessels with too much force. Initially, it has no symptoms, but it is a silent killer. Over time, untreated high BP can lead to a stroke or a heart attack. While it is mostly believed to be a consequence of smoking, drinking alcohol, eating salty foods, and not exercising, experts have found other causes as well. As per research by the University of São Paulo in Brazil and the University of Auckland in New Zealand, published in the journal Circulation Research, rat brains had their brain cells in the lateral parafacial region switched off.

How is high BP triggered by the brain?

Researchers in the study successfully reactivated neurons in some rats and found that brain circuits ultimately raised BP. Experts mapped out what happened and compared it with rats that did not have hypertension. In the hypertensive group, lateral parafacial region neurons were helping with breathing but were also raising BP. This suggests that changes in breathing, which involve abdominal muscle contractions, can also trigger high BP. This is why patients with sleep apnoea experience interrupted breathing while sleeping and high blood pressure.

Apart from normal breathing, lateral parafacial region neurons are activated when oxygen levels are low. Experts also checked whether they could trigger the brainstem with medication. They noted that it was tricky because drugs would work on the entire brain and not a specific region. It could be activated by signals from the neck cells near the carotid artery. These can be safely targeted with medication.

How to control persistent high BP?

To control persistent high BP, medication every day is a must. But to intensify the benefits, try the following simple tricks:

1. Reduce salt intake
2. Meditation
3. Quit smoking
4. Lose weight
5. Limit alcohol intake