Hibiscus is an anti-aging superpower and termed the natural botox plant.
It’s a secret ingredient for making your hair shine and your skin glow!
Hibiscus Folklore and History
Hibiscus sabdariffa often called Roselle Indian Sorrel, Jamaican Sorrel, Rosella, Canamo de Guinea.
Hibiscus has a strong history with the feminine archetype and as a symbol of beauty. Mayan medicines and beauty treatments include hibiscus as a staple component for female issues. Greek Adonis was transformed into a Hibiscus flower and then fought over by the goddesses Aphrodite and Persephone. In India hibiscus are offered to goddesses.
Wear a hibiscus flower over your left ear in Hawaii if you’re in a significant relationship, or over the right ear if you’re looking for love.
Hibiscus has been used for respiratory disorders, heart health, nervous disorders and metabolic disorders as well as a natural fabric dye.
When in Egypt, you can order “karkade” – hibiscus tea! Scroll down for a recipe.
What’s inside hibiscus?
Hibiscus flowers contain, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, malic acid, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, fatty acids and several types of pigments used for both topical and internal use. The anthocyanosides are beneficial for skin and hair care.
Hibiscus the natural botox plant
Botox paralyses wrinkle-causing muscles giving you a face devoid of expression. Hibiscus however, smoothes out wrinkles and improves skin tone, without making you look like a waxwork figure.
Botox prices UK
It also costs a bomb! Here are London prices as at 1st September 2021. You will still have to buy face creams, toners etc after your treatment. You won’t be told to rush to the chemist for cheap products either.
Hibiscus has been called the botox plant for three reasons:
- elastin,
- antioxidants,
- and AHAs
Hibiscus has great anti-aging benefits because it maintains elastin in the skin by decreasing the activity of elastase, an enzyme that breaks down our skin’s natural elastin,”
Elastin works in tandem with collagen to keep skin looking youthful. Where collagen plumps, elastin is responsible for the skin’s ability to “snap back” — so when elastin levels naturally decline with age, skin sags. Elastin is what keeps our skin looking firm, youthful and less wrinkled. Hibiscus blocks the enzyme responsible for breaking down connective tissue. So you’ll notice more elasticity to your skin and improvement of loose, sagging skin.
Hibiscus’ high content of antioxidant vitamin C is vital for collagen production. The anthocyanins, fight off free radicals,
Natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) gently exfoliate skin, brighten and reduce hyperpigmentation
Hibiscus extract rarely causes allergic reactions and suits all skin types so is better than Botox which simply paralyses wrinkle-causing muscles.
We use hibiscus extract in our moisturiser Proposal in Paris
Hibiscus antioxidants and AHA
Hibiscus flowers are natural sources of both antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Both contribute to keeping your skin smooth, blemish-free and glowing.
Antioxidants provide protection against damage by free radicals. Free radicals are involved in skin sagging, wrinkling and hyperpigmentation (dark spots).
The anthocyanosides inside Hibiscus, protect your skin against UV and also calm inflammation (redness) .
AHAs can brighten the skin, smooth out roughness. and reduce spots by increasing cell turnover. This is termed ‘exfoliation’.
However, most alpha hydroxy acids are harsh factory synthetics that cause flaking, redness and pain from over aggressive exfoliation.
Compare the gentle action of hibiscus, that reduces age spots, smoothes and freshens your complexion without side effects. There’s no downtime.
Whether you’ve had surgery, injectibles or prefer the natiual look, Proposal in Paris is part of a glowing face routine. You can either leap right in with the full size, or order the Try-Me Experience.
Anti-ageing hibiscus for skin – tighten lift and renew
- high mucilage fights wrinkles by locking in moisture to keep skin hydrated and supple
- natural skin tightening properties for lifting sagging or loose skin (source).
- smoothes, softens, rejuvenates and moisturises
- increases elasticity
- protects collagen and elastin
- wrinkle-busting myricetin suppresses collagenase and elastase (enzymes that destroy collagen and elastin).
- AHA’s improves complexion by gently removing dead skin and lightening blemishes and discolouration
- astringent saponins deep clean pores and oily skin without stripping natural oils
- calming antioxidants soothe red or inflamed skin
- It contains malic and citric acid, that gently exfoliate and brighten the skin
- hibiscus extract may speed up wound healing by stimulating fibronectin, a protein that helps the edges of a wound close.
Health Benefits of Hibiscus
Hibiscus has been studied as an aid to liver health and weight loss. A refreshing cup of Hibiscus tea can help to flush and cleanse the liver and kidneys. Hibiscus inhibits the formation of calcium oxalate , so prevents the formation of kidney stones.
It’s immune boosting and a traditional remedy for coughs, colds and flu.
The iron and vitamin C content make it useful as an iron tonic for those with anaemia.
Hibiscus tea’ anti inflammatory properties and nutrients are a delicious way to give yourself a boost.
Hibiscus for hair health
Hibiscus is packed with flavonoids, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, fatty acids and other pigments that work wonders for hair care – from strengthening the roots to reducing fullness and split ends.
Hibiscus flowers are known for to improve hair growth, while the mucilage makes hair smooth and silky.
- promotes hair growth by strengthening roots and hair
- delays premature grey hair
- reduce hair loss and prevents baldness (without harmful effects associated with drugs)
- protects hair against split ends and dryness.
- moisturises and soothes dry, flaky itchy scalps to helps reduce dandruff
- softens hair and improves shine
- mucilage acts as a natural de-tangler while adding softness
- amino acids bond to the , adding strength and elasticity
- softens and repairs skin on your scalp
- balances pH of your scalp and hair.
- AHA’s slough away dead skin cells and build-up from your scalp,
- healthier hair follicles and ideal sebum production.
Look for it in shampoos, hair tonics and scalp rubs. Make your own hair rinse with the recipe below.
How to brew Hibiscus tea
The red hue is from the antioxidant anthocyanins!
Use 1 – 2 teaspoons of dried hibiscus flowers/calyces per cup of boiling water
Steep for 3 – 10 minutes depending on taste.
Add honey if required.
Tip: If you brew too much, use the cooled tea as a hair rinse or scalp rub.
Can be served as an iced drink or used in flavouring your Kombucha
Tip: If you brew too much, use the cooled tea as a hair rinse or scalp rub.
Hibiscus tea benefits
Use the dried flowers/ calyces to brew delicious, rosy coloured tea which is a diuretic, it also treats liver disorders, high blood pressure, increases blood flow and kills bacteria.
Hibiscus flowers contain significant amounts of vitamin C, anthocyanins, and polyphenols that protect against free radicals that contribute to premature aging (source).
Leaves contain mucilage which soothes sore throats or dry coughs.
See the sections above for all the benefits to hair and skin. Well worth having some in your tea stash.
Fasting tea
Hibiscus is one of plants you can drink doing intermittent fasting traditional fasting teas.
Fasting tease help to reduce hunger pangs, and hibiscus tea is said to help more than others.
Singh, V et al. (2015). Study of colouring effect of herbal hair formulations on graying hair. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4471652/
2 Okoduwa, S et al. (2015). Comparative Analysis of the Properties of Acid-Base Indicator of Rose (Rosa setigera), Allamanda (Allamanda cathartica), and Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) Flowers. Available: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bri/2015/381721/.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92761/
