Fact Check: Can Lemon Ginger Tea Make Hair Long and Strong?

Claim

The Pinterest post highlights the health benefits of drinking lemon ginger tea. The user Cathy Foster claims, to drink lemon ginger tea every day to make hair long and strong, relieve inflammation and pain, treat ovarian cysts naturally, bid diabetes goodbye, fight indigestion, and improve skin health.

Amongst the other claims, the user also claims that lemon ginger tea can make hair long and strong.

The post can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim is Mostly False. Although lemon, ginger, and tea have health benefits, there's no proof or medical backing that lemon ginger tea aids in hair growth or strength.

Health Benefits of Lemon, Ginger and Tea

Lemon, or Citrus Lemon (L.), is part of the Rutaceae family and originates from South Asia, especially Northeast India. A peeled lemon has 17 calories, while an unpeeled one has 22. One tablespoon of lemon juice contains 3 calories, and a quarter cup provides 31% of the daily vitamin C, 3% of folate, and 2% of potassium. Known for its versatile uses in food, medicine, and nutrition, lemon and its components—juice, leaf oil, citric acid, and alkaloids—may help with conditions like osteoporosis, insomnia, asthma, nausea, acne, throat infections, and pH balance.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been appreciated for its health benefits for a long time. It contains natural compounds that have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which help support and regulate the immune system. Ginger is also known to help relax muscles and is praised for its powerful antioxidant properties, which promote overall health and well-being.

Tea is loved for its delicious taste and its reputed health benefits. Although people have associated tea with health for centuries, scientific studies on its properties have been ongoing for about 30 years. The health benefits of tea are thought to come from its high content of bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols. These polyphenols are known to have antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects, support detoxifying enzymes, strengthen the immune system, and decrease platelet clumping

Exploring human Hair

The human body is mostly covered with tiny, colorless vellus hairs, except for the palms, soles, and certain mucosal areas. Human hair helps with protection, temperature regulation, secretion of pheromones, and social interactions. Hair growth is influenced by vascular, endocrine, and neural signals and factors like age and dietary habits. Scalp hair sheds at an average rate of 100 to 200 follicles per day and grows at approximately 0.35 mm per day, 1 cm per month, or 15 cm annually.

Healthy hair is usually shiny, smooth, and has clean or tapered ends. Hair texture and shine come from the hair surface, while the ends reflect the health of the hair cortex. Hair can be straight, wavy, or curly and vary in colour from blonde to black, brown, red, or grey, with natural differences being a part of our identity. Cultural trends, fashion, and celebrities often influence people to change their natural hair structure. Although most cosmetic treatments are safe, they can still cause damage. Frequent styling or naturally fragile hair can lead to problems like dullness, frizz, and split ends.

Can Lemon Ginger Tea Make Hair Long and Strong?

Various studies highlight the nutritional benefits of lemon, ginger, and tea, including their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties, as well as their uses in food and medicine for conditions such as insomnia, asthma, and nausea. However, there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus to support the claim that lemon ginger tea can make hair long and strong.

There have been studies that have focused on individual ingredients related to hair growth. A study was published in the Proceedings of the International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental and Ramification Researches (ICOSTEERR 2018), and utilized an animal model to investigate the effects of ginger extracts on hair growth. The study found that red ginger extract promotes hair growth effectively, even more than 2% minoxidil in some cases. Red ginger gel matched minoxidil’s results in initial and final hair growth, making it a strong natural option for hair growth. However, the study focused on the topical application of gels formulated with both white and red ginger extracts and did not isolate the effects of ginger taken internally or individually.

Another study about the positive impact of tea on hair growth that was published in the journal Phytomedicine found that EGCG, a key compound in green tea, helps promote hair growth by stimulating hair follicle cells and preventing cell death. It works by activating specific cell pathways that encourage growth and strengthen hair follicles. However, while the study explains the role of EGCG in promoting hair growth, it does not specify how much green tea should be consumed daily to meet the necessary amount for this benefit, nor does it indicate the amount of EGCG in green tea that is sufficient for hair growth.

Some studies discuss the role of lemon in hair care. One such study published in the journal Plants mentions that freshly squeezed fruit of C. limon mixed with olive oil is used as a natural remedy for the treatment of hair and scalp disorders. However, this study doesn't mention hair growth and making hair long and strong.

Yet another study, led by Jung-Il Kang et. al also highlights the role of limonin on hair growth The study shows that limonin, found in immature citrus, helps promote hair growth by boosting cell growth in hair follicles through specific pathways thus suggesting that limonin could be used as a treatment for hair loss. However, this study focuses on limonin as a component of citrus fruits and does not specifically mention the role of lemon itself.

These studies have discussed the roles of lemon, ginger, and tea individually, but there is no research evidence addressing the combined effects of lemon and ginger tea on promoting long and strong hair. Additionally, the studies only provide limited and unclear information on the individual impact of lemon, ginger, and tea on hair growth and do not mention their role in strengthening hair. Moreover, there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus recommending lemon ginger tea as a solution for making hair long and strong.

Dr Ruby Sachdev, Consultant Aesthetic Physician, Gleneagles Hospital Bengaluru, said "While drinking lemon ginger tea can offer a variety of health benefits, including improved circulation and reduced inflammation, it is not a miracle solution for making hair long and strong. The key to healthy hair is a combination of a balanced diet, proper hair care, and good overall health. Lemon and ginger are rich in antioxidants, which may support scalp health and improve blood flow to hair follicles, potentially promoting hair growth. However, for optimal results, it's important to also focus on nutrition, hydration, and addressing any underlying health conditions that may affect hair growth."

Health Dialogues Final Take

While lemon, ginger, and tea are often praised for their health benefits and are used in various natural remedies, there is no conclusive evidence or widespread medical agreement to suggest that lemon ginger tea can make hair long and strong. These ingredients may contribute to general wellness due to their nutritional properties, but claims regarding their direct impact on hair growth and strength remain unsupported. Hence, the claim that lemon ginger tea can make hair long and strong is Mostly False.