The Science Behind
Our Botanicals

A prospective, open-label (non-randomized) clinical trial in adults aged 18–55 with increased hair shedding. As an open-label pre/post design, it is a lower evidence tier than a randomized controlled trial — we present it as the strongest available structured human study of Bhringaraj, not as definitive proof. Participants received standardised oral Eclipta alba extract for 24 weeks. Primary outcomes were measured by the 60-Second Hair Comb Test and weekly diary counts, assessed at baseline, Week 12, and Week 24. Secondary outcome was Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC). Results demonstrated a clinically meaningful reduction in hair fall counts over the 24-week period. The study is one of the few structured clinical trials of Bhringaraj in a human subject population, providing prospective evidence for the herb's Ayurvedic classification as Keshya — a hair-nourishing botanical in the Charaka Samhita.

A peer-reviewed pharmacological review published by researchers at the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka — cross-referencing E. alba against Ayurvedic pharmacopeia texts including the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridayam. The review documents Bhringaraja's historical classification, key phytochemical constituents — wedelolactone, ecliptine, coumestans, flavonoids — and their documented mechanisms including stimulation of dermal papilla cell activity, inhibition of 5α-reductase, and improvement of scalp microcirculation. Confirms traditional Ayurvedic formulations — Bhringaraja Taila, Bhringarajadya Ghrita, Neelibringadi Taila — specifically prescribed for hair fall (Khalitya) and premature greying (Palitya). Note: mechanistic claims such as dermal papilla stimulation and 5α-reductase inhibition cited in this review are drawn from the broader Ayurvedic pharmacological literature and preclinical research, not from the review's own human trials.

100 patients randomized to rosemary oil (n=50) or minoxidil 2% (n=50) for 6 months. Both groups showed significant hair count increase at 6 months (P < .05), with no statistically significant difference between groups. Scalp itching was significantly more frequent in the minoxidil group (P < .05), giving rosemary a tolerability advantage.

Triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial — 60 women with female androgenetic alopecia, 12 weeks. TrichoScan analysis showed the anagen-to-telogen ratio increased significantly in the Amla group vs. placebo (P = 0.002) — a higher proportion of hairs in the active growth phase. Physician and patient satisfaction scores also increased significantly (P < 0.001). No significant side effects reported.

Research published in PMC (PMC5429933) confirmed that Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) inhibits 5α-reductase — the same enzyme targeted by finasteride (Propecia) for androgenetic hair loss. The enzyme converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT); excess DHT miniaturises hair follicles and is the primary driver of pattern hair loss in both men and women. Using an enzymatic assay (no animal testing), Amla extract demonstrated a Finasteride Equivalent Activity (FEA) of 18.99 mg finasteride equivalent per gram of crude extract — second highest among 17 tested plants. This mechanism complements the anagen-phase evidence from the RCT in Study #4, suggesting Amla acts through both DHT suppression and active follicle stimulation.

Prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, two-arm parallel trial assessing topical Ashwagandha root extract serum in adults with mild to moderate hair loss over 75 days. Outcomes measured by TrichoScan digital analysis, 60 Seconds Hair Comb test, and Hair Pull test. One of the first placebo-controlled topical trials of Ashwagandha specifically for scalp hair health outcomes, published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine.

PRISMA-guided systematic review of 9 clinical trials — all confirmed significant cortisol reduction with W. somnifera supplementation (durations 30–112 days). This matters for hair health because elevated cortisol is a clinically established trigger for telogen effluvium — follicles prematurely shift from active growth (anagen) to the resting (telogen) phase, causing increased shedding. Ashwagandha's withanolide compounds modulate the HPA axis that regulates cortisol release.

Brahmi's inclusion in the Root + Scalp Strength Oil is grounded in its longstanding Ayurvedic classification and an emerging mechanistic rationale for scalp health — not a large body of dedicated human hair trials, which do not yet exist at the scale seen for Rosemary or Bhringraj. We present this evidence honestly rather than overstating it.

Ayurvedic classification: Brahmi is classified as a Medhya Rasayana in the Charaka Samhita and Atharva Veda (circa 800 BC) — a category of rejuvenating herbs specifically prescribed for nervous system support, scalp nourishment, and stress resilience. Classical Ayurvedic oil preparations for hair — including Brahmi Taila — have incorporated Bacopa monnieri for centuries as a scalp tonic.

Mechanistic rationale (stress and hair): A 2025 clinical study of an Ayurvedic scalp leave-on treatment published in the International Journal of Research in Dermatology — which included Brahmi as an active — noted Bacopa extract's role as an HPA axis modulator and cited its documented Protein Kinase C (PKC) inhibition. The study also notes that stress-driven oxidative damage in hair follicles is a measurable mechanism of hair loss — and Brahmi's documented adaptogenic and cortisol-modulating properties are indirectly relevant to this pathway. This is not direct clinical proof of Brahmi's hair-specific efficacy, but it provides a plausible mechanistic rationale that aligns with its longstanding Ayurvedic use as a scalp tonic.

15 female volunteers applied cream containing 0.5% boswellic acids to one cheek, matched base cream to the other, once daily for 30 days. The boswellic acid side showed significant improvement in tactile roughness and fine lines. Biophysical and echographic measurements confirmed results. Follow-up at 2 months showed results were sustained. No adverse reactions were reported.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face study in 15 female volunteers. A cream containing 0.5% boswellic acids (BAs) was applied to one half-face; matched base cream to the other, once daily for 30 days. Significant improvements in Dover's global photoaging score, tactile roughness, fine lines, and skin elasticity were recorded on the boswellic acid side. Noninvasive echographic measurements suggested dermal tissue reshaping — indicating new deposition of collagen and elastic fibres. Sebum excretion was reduced. Results were sustained at 2-month follow-up. The treatment was well tolerated with no adverse effects reported. Published in Dermatologic Therapy.

In a 1994 mechanistic study, chamazulene was shown to inhibit leukotriene B4 (LTB4) formation in a concentration-dependent manner — IC50 of 15 µM in intact neutrophil cells, 10 µM in cellular fractions. It also blocked arachidonic acid peroxidation (IC50: 2 µM). LTB4 is a potent pro-inflammatory eicosanoid driving redness, immune cell infiltration, and skin irritation. Matricine showed no effect at up to 200 µM — confirming chamazulene as the specific active responsible. This is mechanistic biochemical evidence, not a direct human skin trial, but it establishes a plausible anti-inflammatory rationale for Blue Tansy's use in redness-prone skin formulations.

2025 peer-reviewed review in Current Functional Foods (Bentham Science) examining Tanacetum annuum's chemical profile and documented mechanisms. Confirms the anti-inflammatory activity of chamazulene, antibacterial and analgesic properties of sabinene and camphor, and antioxidant activity of myrcene. The review concludes Blue Tansy shows promising "adjuvant activities" for redness-prone and acne-prone skin. As with Study #11, this is a review of emerging mechanistic and phytochemical evidence — direct large-scale human skin trials are limited, and we cite this as supporting rationale rather than definitive clinical proof.

PubMed-indexed phytochemical review confirming C. ternatea extracts possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity, with antioxidant and enzyme-inhibition findings relevant to skin aging. Key active compounds: ternatin anthocyanins — among the most stable naturally occurring anthocyanins identified in plant research, retaining potency in formulation. Supplementary in vitro research (PMC7866120) demonstrates that C. ternatea polyphenols inhibit collagenase activity in enzymatic assays — the enzyme responsible for collagen degradation in skin aging. This is enzymatic inhibition evidence, not a human clinical outcome study.

Two independent enzymatic studies — both conducted without animal testing — confirm C. ternatea inhibits the key enzymes responsible for collagen and skin matrix breakdown in aging skin:

Study A (Maity et al., 2012, Indian Journal of Pharmacology): Standardised C. ternatea leaf extract screened against hyaluronidase, elastase, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) using enzymatic inhibition assays. The extract demonstrated significant inhibition of both hyaluronidase (IC₅₀ 18.08 µg/ml, P < 0.001) and MMP-1 (P < 0.05). MMP-1 is the primary collagenase responsible for collagen fibre degradation in photoaged and ageing skin. The biomarker identified was taraxerol, a triterpenoid unique to C. ternatea. Published in Indian Journal of Pharmacology (PubMed-indexed).

Study B (Zagórska-Dziok et al., 2021, PMC7866120): Water extracts of Clitoria ternatea tested against collagenase using the Collagenase Inhibitor Screening Kit (Abcam). Results confirmed significant collagenase inhibitory activity. The study also confirmed a significant decrease in intracellular free radicals and inhibition of lipoxygenase activity, establishing both anti-aging and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in a single model.

Aloe vera is one of the world's most studied topical botanicals, with a long history of use across Ayurvedic, African, and Latin American traditional medicine. The clinical evidence base is broadly supportive of its skin hydration and barrier benefits, though most studies tested Aloe vera in formulations alongside other ingredients rather than in complete isolation — consistent with how it has always been used in traditional practice.

Systematic review (Hekmatpou et al., 2019): A PRISMA-guided systematic review of 23 clinical trials — focused largely on wound-related skin applications including burns, pressure ulcers, and postoperative wounds — found that Aloe vera is associated with retaining skin moisture and supporting skin integrity. The review's conclusion, drawn from this wound-care context, remains relevant to Aloe's broader moisturising and barrier properties as described in the traditional and phytochemical literature. The inner gel contains over 75 active compounds including acemannan, vitamins A, C, E, and B12, bradykinase enzyme, and zinc — the phytochemical complexity that underlies its traditional classification as a skin-nourishing botanical. The review covers a range of clinical applications and supports Aloe vera's relevance to moisture retention and skin integrity. Published in the Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences.

AQP3 mechanistic evidence: Separate mechanistic research has identified Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) — the epidermal water channel — as a potential pathway for some of Aloe's hydration-related effects. This reflects the broader body of work showing that Aloe barbadensis constituents interact with skin hydration biology at a molecular level. These findings come from formulation-level research rather than pure Aloe isolate studies, and are cited here as mechanistic context rather than standalone proof.

Glycerin is the most extensively studied humectant in cosmetic dermatology, with multiple independent human studies confirming its effects:

Mechanism review (British Journal of Dermatology, 2008): Fluhr et al. published a comprehensive review of glycerol's effects on human skin in the British Journal of Dermatology. It documents that glycerol operates via the Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) transporter in epidermal keratinocytes — AQP3 facilitates both water and glycerol movement into skin cells. The review confirms that topical glycerol improves stratum corneum hydration, skin barrier function, and mechanical properties of the epidermis, and describes glycerol as playing a key role in skin physiology including barrier repair and elasticity. The review discusses Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) as an important pathway in glycerol transport and skin hydration biology. (PubMed 18510666)

Clinical evidence (bilateral RCT): A double-blind, bilateral controlled study in 17 healthy volunteers confirmed that 10 days of topical 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration and improved barrier resistance to surfactant-induced irritation vs. matched placebo. (Lodén & Wessman 2001, PubMed 18498456)

Atopic dermatitis RCT: A 4-week double-blind trial confirmed glycerol increases stratum corneum hydration and significantly improves clinical signs in patients with dry, inflamed skin. (PubMed 18025807)