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.
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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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Credit: AI
Thanks to growing popularity of complex and elaborate skincare trends on social media, perfect skin has become the ultimate beauty goal for many teenagers.
But experts are warning that this obsession is fueling a worrying condition known as cosmeticorexia, where young people use anti-aging and active skincare products far beyond what their skin needs, increasing the risk of irritation, allergies, and long-term damage.
Teenagers and even younger children suffer from severe skin damage, chemical burns, and dermatitis. The cause of this issue is not a common medical condition but a reflection of an unhealthy trend called cosmeticorexia (dermorexia).
This dangerous obsession pushes people to treat their skin as an unacceptable defect that needs to be constantly adjusted, filed, tightened, peeled, and made younger.
Social media and anti-aging marketing culture promote this disorder by encouraging adolescents to use various comedogenic creams, serums, and toners with harmful effects on sensitive and fragile skin. Thus, millions of teenagers damage their skin beyond repair before it naturally matures.
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There are multiple concerns about the health of teenage skin from a medical perspective. The skin of adolescents is thinner and more sensitive to external influences.
In addition, teenagers' skin is subject to increased sebum production and associated risks of comedones, blackheads, and dermatitis.
The use of "cosmeceuticals" or prescription drugs with neurotoxins, retinol, AHA (glycolic acid), and vitamin C can accelerate skin damage when used inappropriately.
Recent research has shown that the standard skincare regimen of a teenager who follows social media and beauty vloggers includes more than eleven irritating substances. Topical application of such a combination of cosmetics damages the upper layer of the skin, provoking allergic reactions, dermatitis, redness, and irritation.
Moreover, the use of retinol and AHA (glycolic acid) without medical supervision may lead to photosensitivity, increasing the risk of UV-induced skin damage. Finally, an increasing number of cases of allergic contact dermatitis are linked to synthetic and harmful substances found in luxury cosmetic products.
Also read: Vitiligo Myths Debunked: It's Not Contagious or Caused by Food
Cosmeticorexia is an example of a psychodermatological disease, where psychological problems manifest through dermatological conditions.
The constant pursuit of flawless skin can lead adolescents to adopt harmful skincare practices that ultimately damage their skin rather than improve it.
From a medical point of view, the role of healthcare providers is to combat this dangerous trend by addressing its immediate consequences.
Teenagers' skin does not require anti-aging treatments or additional nourishment. The only essential skincare routine includes three simple steps: gentle cleansing, applying a non-comedogenic moisturizer, and using a hydrating sunscreen every day.
Doctors, parents, educators, and social media platforms must work together to counter the anti-aging industry's growing influence on teenagers.
Raising awareness about age-appropriate skincare and discouraging unnecessary cosmetic treatments can help protect young people from avoidable chemical damage and long-term skin problems.
By Dr Gaurav Garg Dermatologist & Hair Expert, Founder, Dermalife Skin Hair Clinic
Credit: AI
America's falling birth rate is often reported with concerns like shortage of labour, a growing aging population, and slower population growth. But another major consequence is unfolding within the healthcare system that is going unnoticed.
As fewer women have children and more delay pregnancy, women's healthcare is evolving beyond maternity care to address changing health needs.
According to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3.63 million babies were born in the United States in 2024, a slight increase from 2023.
However, the general fertility rate fell to a record-low 53.8 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, marking the lowest level ever recorded.
One of the biggest changes is maternity care. With fewer births being reported, hospitals, particularly in rural communities, are struggling to keep labour and delivery departments financially viable.
The problem has contributed to the rise of a maternity care challenge where pregnant women have limited or no access to obstetric services.
The 2024 March of Dimes Maternity Care Deserts Report found that more than one in three U.S. counties lack a single obstetric clinician or birthing facility, leaving millions of women with reduced access to prenatal and delivery care.
Women living in these areas are more likely to receive inadequate prenatal care and experience higher rates of preterm birth.
Also read: Beyond The Bump: Why Preconceptions And Antenatal Care Are Key To A Healthy Pregnancy
At the same time, healthcare providers are broadening their focus beyond pregnancy. Women today are delaying childbirth, having fewer children, or choosing not to become parents altogether.
As life expectancy increases, demand is growing for services related to menopause, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, pelvic floor disorders, mental health, and healthy aging.
The shift also explains why fertility care is expanding despite declining birth rates. As more Americans postpone parenthood into their late 30s and 40s, many require fertility evaluations, egg freezing, or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Rather than indicating more births, the growing use of assisted reproductive technology reflects changing reproductive timelines.
An aging female population is also changing healthcare priorities. Older women face a higher risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and dementia, increasing the need for preventive care and long-term disease management.
Health systems are investing more in menopause clinics, wellness programs, and other women's health services.
America's falling birth rate is therefore reshaping far more than population statistics. It is redefining women's healthcare, shifting the focus from pregnancy-related care to comprehensive support throughout every stage of life.
On World Population Day, the conversation is not just about how many babies are being born. It is also about ensuring that healthcare evolves to meet the changing needs of women, whether or not they choose to become mothers.
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Chai and pakoras are practically non-negotiable once the rains set in. For a large number of Indians, though, monsoon comes with something less welcome: a blocked nose, itchy eyes, and a "cold" that just won't quit.
Most people write this off as a seasonal cold. It's often not. A large share of the patients I see in July aren't fighting a fresh infection. They're dealing with allergic rhinitis that's been present for months at a manageable level, and monsoon has simply pushed it past a threshold they can no longer ignore.
The scale of this is easy to underestimate. A national study under the Global Asthma Network, which surveyed more than 1.27 lakh children, adolescents, and adults across India, found that close to a quarter of Indian adolescents aged 13 to 14 live with allergic rhinitis. Roughly one in ten adults does too.
Other Indian research puts the overall incidence of allergic rhinitis anywhere between 20 and 30 percent of the population. This isn't a niche complaint. It's one of the more common chronic conditions walking through general practice doors, most of which are simply unnamed.
The same national study found something more concerning: nearly three out of four people who met the clinical criteria for allergic rhinitis had never actually been diagnosed with it. Many had lived with recurring congestion, sneezing, and disturbed sleep for years without anyone connecting the dots.
A separate survey of over 1,600 physicians across India found that while a large share see allergic rhinitis routinely in practice, more than half had never used immunotherapy, one of the few treatments that changes the course of the disease rather than just quieting it temporarily.
Indian allergen-testing data show a clear rotation of triggers through the year: dust mites dominate winter, pollens dominate summer, and fungal and insect allergens rise sharply once the rains set in.
The reason is straightforward. Once relative humidity in a city climbs past 70 percent, which happens routinely through the monsoon, fungal spores and dust mites both multiply fast. Waterlogging pushes fungal spore counts up further. A damp curtain or a mattress that never quite dries between showers becomes a long-term allergen source that outlasts any single rainy day.
Allergic skin and eye conditions tend to flare with the same seasonal humidity and allergen load as allergic rhinitis, and in practice, they rarely show up in isolation. A patient with monsoon-triggered nasal symptoms is worth a closer look for coexisting asthma, eczema, or conjunctivitis, simply because in the Indian patient population, these conditions travel together more often than not.
For anyone with a known allergic condition, a few habits make a real difference once the rains arrive:
Monsoon doesn't create new allergy patients. It reveals how well the existing ones are actually being looked after.
“Let knowledge be your shield against the changing seasons."
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