By Lisa Petty, ROHP
“The best way to live your life is to go to the other side of the rainbow young, but at a very old age.” -Craig D. Slovak
Time isn’t always on your side- particularly if you’re busy! Here are some herbs that do double duty and offer inside-out aging benefits:
Black seed oil (Nigella sativa)
Also known as black cumin oil, this oil comes from seeds used exclusively in Indian and Middle-Eastern culinary dishes. This well-researched oil is native to south and southwest Asia and is a staple in Ayurvedic medicine.
- Look fabulous: Applied topically, black seed oil provides a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities: It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal. The oil has traditionally been applied to skin for psoriasis and painful skin eruptions. Research shows it inhibits the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria associated with eczema. The oil also contains skin-supporting vitamins C and E, as well as calcium, zinc, and fatty acids.
- Age well: As a supplement or food, black seed oil provides more than 100 valuable bioactive compounds and, along with the aforementioned nutrients, it contains iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, boron, and potassium. It has been studied for its anti-tumor, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. This antioxidant oil supports the health of the lungs, liver, kidneys, and stomach, and may also support cognitive function.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Also a common culinary spice, fenugreek is native to the Mediterranean and has a long history as an herbal remedy.
- Look fabulous: Research shows that creams containing fenugreek increase skin elasticity and hydration, improve skin fatigue, and may play a role in the ability of skin to resist aging that results from sun exposure.
- Age well: Mineral-rich fenugreek has been studied for its antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant, and immunological activities. Research suggests it also protects against oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Derived from the seeds of the native Mediterranean flowering plant, borage oil is composed of approximately 24 percent anti-inflammatory gamma linolenic acid (GLA).
- Look fabulous: Supplementation with borage oil helps improve hydration of damaged and dehydrated skin by decreasing the amount of water lost through evaporation.
- Age well: Laboratory research suggests that borage oil may protect DNA by modulating oxidative genetic damage and promoting the death of unhealthy cells. Animal studies also show that borage oil may support cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Maritime pine bark (Pinus pinaster)
This medium-sized pine tree is native to Mediterranean regions and has bright red-brown, deeply fissured bark. Legend suggests that in 1535, a French explorer steeped the bark of this tree to make a tea to treat scurvy among his sailors.
- Look fabulous: Maritime pine bark extract, taken orally, may be effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles and skin pigmentation changes that result from chronic skin exposure. This extract may also enhance collagen synthesis and improve skin barrier function.
- Age well: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, researchers found that supplementation with 50 milligrams of maritime pine bark extract three times daily led to decreased use of pain medications, improved walking distance, reduced foot swelling, and decreased gastrointestinal upset in participants who had osteoarthritis of the knee. Other research suggests that maritime pine bark may support memory.
Lisa Petty, ROHP, is a nutrition and healthy living expert for TV and radio, an award-nominated journalist, and an author who has shared her unique perspective with thousands of people through her workshops, lectures, coaching, and extensive writing. She is author of Living Beauty: Feel Great, Look Fabulous, & Live Well, a modern guide to feeling younger at any age. Her website is www.LisaPetty.ca
Article originally published in Good Health Lifestyles magazine.