Jojoba
Scientific Names: Simmondsia chinensis
Common names: goat nut, coffee berry, aloe-vera gel
Ayurvedic names: Simmondsia chinensis
Chinese names:
Bangladesh names: jojoba
Arabic names: الجوجوبا ( Jojoba)
Rain Forest names:
Family:
Approximate Number of Species Known: 28030
Common Parts Used: leaves
Collection:
Annual/Perennial: Perennial
Height: 14- 15 feet tall
Actions: oils massage for soothing effect, smoothness
Known Constituents:
Constituents Explained:
Description: (please note: this is the general characteristics – colour, flavor etc)
Traditional Use: Usually for oil , massage, hair
Clinical Studies:
External application of clay facial masks is a cosmetic procedure generally used to reduce skin lesions and to improve overall skin condition. An open, prospective, observational pilot study about self-treatment with clay jojoba oil masks on participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and acne.
Participants received written information, instructions, and questionnaires without direct contact with the study physician. For 6 weeks, they applied the masks 2-3 times per week. The primary outcome is the difference of skin lesions: baseline vs. after 6 weeks.
194 participants returned questionnaires and diaries. 133 of these participants returned complete and precise lesion counts. A 54% mean reduction in total lesion count was observed after 6 weeks of treatment with clay facial mask.
Both inflammatory and non-inflammatory skin lesions were reduced significantly after treatment compared to baseline.
The study gives preliminary evidence that healing clay jojoba oil facial masks can be effective treatment for lesioned skin and mild acne vulgaris.
References:
Meier L, Stange R, Michalsen A, Uehleke B. “Clay Jojoba Oil Facial Mask For Lesioned Skin And Mild Acne – Results Of A Prospective, Observational Pilot Study.” 2012 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22585103
Source:
Jojoba
Herb Name: Jojoba
Other names:
Goat nut
Scientific name: Simmondsia chinensis
Family: Simmondsiaceae
Common part used:
The seed oil is used – this is in actual fact a wax ester and not oil.
Jojoba is a woody evergreen shrub or small multi-stemmed tree that typically grows to a height of 10 to 15 ft. Leaves are opposite, oval or lanceolate, gray green, and have a waxy cuticle that reduces moisture loss. The plant develops one or a few long tap roots (up to 40 ft) that can supply water and minerals from far below the soil surface.
Jojoba is usually dioecious (male and female flowers are borne on separate plants). Female flowers are small, pale green and commonly solitary or in clusters at the nodes. Male flowers are yellow, larger, and occur in clusters. Pollination occurs via wind or insect.
Jojoba is best suited to areas that are frost free and is not grown in the northern midwest. When temperatures drop below 20°F, flowers and terminal portions of young branches of most jojoba plants are damaged. During early seedling development, excessive cold may kill an entire plantation. Frost may not damage taller plants to the same degree, but it can reduce yield. Jojoba is very tolerant of high temperatures.
It is an evergreen shrub or small tree, native to the Sonoran desert, with leathery leaves and it has petal-less flowers that give way to ovoid fruits containing a single seed.
Medicinal Uses: Jojoba has been claimed to be effective in promoting hair growth and relieving skin problems. Its primary applications are to treat chapped and dry skin, dandruff, dry scalp, and psoriasis. Jojoba wax beads are used as an exfoliating agent in facial scrubs, skin conditioners, and soaps. Jojoba is also used as a replacement for petrolatum in creams, ointments, lotions, and lipsticks. Other claims include treatment of acne vulgaris, athlete’s foot, cuts, eczema, hair loss, mouth sores, pimples, seborrhea, skin abrasions, warts, and wrinkles. Although little clinical evidence is available to support these claims, most applications appear to be based on theory and a long history of anecdotal use.
Used externally, this herb is used for sensitive and dry skin. It is also used for acne, psoriasis, eczema, wrinkles and seborrheic problems. It’s also used to promote hair growth, for dandruff and dry scalp.
Jojoba’s oily moisturizing properties make it ideal in commercial body and bath preparations. For this reason it is used in many hair conditioners, moisturizing creams, lotions, lipsticks, soaps, massage oil sunblocks and other skin products.