The balding problem is a real worry for most men (and a great many women, too), which is why there's such demand for products and therapies for hair-loss prevention.
While lots of people – especially guys – eventually come to terms with losing their precious keratin strands, a good many will do anything to make sure they retain their hairline even if it means spending huge sums of money.
But if scientific studies are anything to go by, the remedy for balding may be much easier to get than we might think.
In a 2017 scientific study conducted and published by Kinin – a wasabi-making company, findings supposedly showed that the pungent green condiment contains isosaponarin, a chemical supposedly good for promoting hair growth.
The study reported that isosaponarin works by awakening and stimulating papilla cells found within the human scalp to respond to external stimuli. This happens by causing proteins to develop that help the cells find new pathways to receive nutrition.
This isn't that surprising considering that isosaponarin has been already been shown to boost the production of human collagen, but the study's authors believe that the chemical could be up to three times more effective at preventing hair loss when compared to other available treatments out there.
Additionally, wasabi also contains another chemical – 6-MSITC – that could potentially help reduce hair loss. According to data, the chemical has also been shown to successfully block the growth of breast cancer cells.
While all of this may seem promising for those seeking solutions to hair loss, it must be noted that the study was commissioned and published by a company with plenty on the line when it comes to wasabi sales.
Secondly, the desired hair growth won't happen with just any old tube or packet of wasabi from convenience stores. In fact, it has to be freshly-grated wasabi, which can come at a premium if you check around for prices.
But for those who really want a way to fix their receding hairlines, it probably won't do much harm to try rubbing wasabi directly on the scalp, or perhaps even try other unorthodox methods of stimulating hair growth – including rubbing onion juice on the head, rinsing hair with beer, or just eating inordinate amounts of curry.
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Cover image sourced from Fine Dining Lovers and Week In China.
