Mainly cultivated in India and Canada but also in Europe, Mustard is a plant with yellow flowers and black, white or brown seeds allowing us to qualify the mustard in question. Rather difficult to differentiate visually speaking, from a properties and qualities point of view, these plants are quite similar. They will all be used to prepare the condiment of the same name, the famous mustard. From its crushed seeds, we obtain a virgin vegetable oil with a pungent and surprising smell. Known for strengthening your hair and working wonders on the scalp, Mustard oil will promote hair growth while preventing hair loss and fighting against dandruff. Its natural composition of allyl isothiocyanate and erucic acid also gives it a stimulating and warming action, useful for stimulating blood circulation in the muscles for example. Latin name: Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. Part used: seed (first cold pressed)
This article was updated on 13/09/2023Main properties
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stimulating, hair strengthening :
mustard vegetable oil is widely known for its benefits to the scalp. It stimulates hair growth while preventing hair loss by promoting blood circulation.
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feeding :
this vegetable oil helps strengthen the hair by sheathing and deeply nourishing it.
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toning, firming :
mustard vegetable oil has the particularity of having a slightly warming effect. It helps stimulate blood circulation and firms the skin. It can be used in massage with another vegetable oil to prepare the muscles for exercise, for example.
Characteristics and composition
Cosmetic features
- Skin type: mature.
- Hair Type: Hair Loss, All Hair Types, Dull, Dandruff, Frizzy, Thin, Curly.
Organoleptic characteristics
- Appearance: oily liquid - possible freezing at low temperature
- Color: yellow to golden yellow
- Odor: pungent, rising, atypical.
- Touch: dry.
Characteristics for formulation
- Unsaponifiable and active ingredients: campesterol, sterols, sitosterols, allyl isothiocyanate, brassicaterol.
- Comedogenicity index: 3 (=fairly comedogenic)
- Average saponification index: 168 - 184
- Oxidation stability: good
- Stability at high temperatures: good
- Inci name: brassica juncea seed extract
Fatty acid composition
- erucic acid (omega 9 MUFA): 22 to 50%
- linoleic acid (omega 6 PUFA): 10 to 24%
- oleic acid (omega 9 MUFA): 8 to 23%
- linolenic acid (omega 3 PUFA): 6 to 18%
- eicosenoic acid (omega 9 MUFA): 5 to 13%
- palmitic acid (AGS): ≤ 4.5%
- behenic acid (AGS): ≤ 2.5%
- stearic acid (SFA): ≤ 2%
Physical characteristics
- Density at 20°C: 0.910 to 0.921
- Peroxide value: 15
- Acid number: 4,000
- Iodine index: 100 to 120
Botanical characteristics
- Botanical family: Brassicaceae
- Country of origin: Germany, Austria, mainland France.
- Distilled part: seeds
- Obtaining process: first cold pressing
- Latin name: Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.
Precautions for use
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Be careful, contrary to what one might believe, mustard oil is not edible due to its composition of erucic acid in particular.
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For the skin, it is preferable to dilute this vegetable oil at least 50% in another more neutral vegetable oil such as argan, castor, coconut... This is a powerful oil with a slight effect heating on the skin. Be careful with fragile skin and scalp. It is preferable to carry out an allergy test in the crook of the elbow before using on a larger area. Do not use on the face.
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This vegetable oil is reserved for use in adolescents and adults.
Authorized ways of use
Authorized users
Storage
Store preferably in a cool place, away from light and heat.
For the Dull hair, Fine hair
Efficiency: ++++
Fine, dry and dull hair can count on the richness of Mustard vegetable oil to restore tone and vitality. This is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and is also of very specific interest due to its allyl isothiocyanate composition. Coupled with a slightly dense and viscous texture, these constituents provide sheathing and intense nutrition of the hair.
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Application advice :
apply as a hair mask the necessary quantity of Mustard vegetable oil diluted with the same amount of Castor and/or Coconut vegetable oil for example. Insist on the ends and lengths, massage and leave for 20 to 30 minutes before using a neutral shampoo.
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Complementary essential oil(s) :
complete Ylang Ylang essential oil is often used in hair care at a rate of 1%. In addition to providing a very pleasant smell, it helps regulate sebum secretion while cleaning the hair. It is particularly used to combat hair loss and brittle and dry hair.
Against the Hair loss
Efficiency: ++++
Mustard vegetable oil is known to prevent hair loss. It is composed of a specific substance, allyl isothiocyanate, responsible for circulatory and vasodilatory properties making it possible to improve blood flow to the scalp. This contribution helps to further nourish the hair while slowing down the fall. In Ayurvedic medicine, mustard vegetable oil is used against alopecia. In addition, its richness in fatty acids makes it possible to nourish and therefore strengthen the hair. It must be used diluted in another vegetable oil to avoid possible irritation of the scalp.
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Application advice :
apply as a hair mask the necessary quantity of Mustard vegetable oil diluted with the same amount of Castor and/or Coconut vegetable oil for example. Leave on for 20 to 30 minutes then use a neutral shampoo.
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Complementary essential oil(s) :
complete Ylang Ylang essential oil is often used in hair care at a rate of 1%. In addition to providing a very pleasant smell, it helps regulate sebum secretion while cleaning the hair. It is particularly used to combat hair loss and brittle hair.
In case of Wrinkled skin
Efficiency: ++++
Mustard oil is recognized for its toning, firming and stimulating blood circulation action. It is used as a treatment diluted in another vegetable oil to firm the bust and also in slimming treatments.
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Application advice :
a teaspoon of mustard oil can be combined with a tablespoon of oily macerate of Daisy applied to the bust daily.
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Complementary essential oil(s) :
essential oils of Rosat Geranium, Italian Helichrysum or Cistus can be added up to 1% to your treatment.
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Other suitable vegetable oils :
vegetable oils Rosehip, Prickly Pear Seeds or even Meadowsweet are recognized for their firming properties.
Against the Dandruff
Efficiency: +++
Mustard vegetable oil is also used in care to fight against dandruff. By activating blood circulation but also through an antiseptic action, mustard oil promotes this elimination of dandruff.
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Application advice :
weekly, apply as a hair mask the necessary quantity of mustard vegetable oil diluted with as much castor and/or coconut vegetable oil for example. Leave on for 20 to 30 minutes then use a neutral shampoo.
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Complementary essential oil(s) :
cade, Tea Tree or Atlas Cedar essential oils are often used in cases of dandruff; they can be added at 1% to your treatment.
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Other suitable vegetable oils :
clay Rhassoul or clay Green can be very useful in treatment to eliminate dandruff and cleanse the scalp. The clay mask can be made with a hydrosol of Bay saint thomas for example for even more efficiency.
For the Frizzy hair, Curly hair
Efficiency: ++
Mustard vegetable oil is useful in the preparation of many hair treatments, especially for hair that is difficult to style such as curly or frizzy hair. Its richness in fatty acids as well as active molecules makes it possible to strengthen the hair while nourishing it and sheathing the hair fiber.
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Application advice :
apply as a hair mask the necessary quantity of mustard vegetable oil diluted with as much castor and broccoli vegetable oil for example. Insist on the ends and lengths, massage well and leave for 20 to 30 minutes before applying a neutral shampoo.
In case of Rheumatism, Aches, Muscle cramp, Cardiovascular pathology
Efficiency: ++
Mustard oil has a slightly warming effect due to its allyl isothiocyanate composition. It can therefore be used by athletes to prepare the muscles for exercise. In addition, this heating effect is coupled with a toning effect particularly on blood circulation. Its use in massage before or after sport can be effective for warm up or relax muscles. It can also be useful in case of rheumatic pain.
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Application advice :
mustard oil can be combined in massage with Arnica oily macerate on the muscles.
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Complementary essential oil(s) :
to promote the warming effect of Mustard oil, Pepper and Turpentine essential oils can be used.
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Other suitable vegetable oils :
for an effect on the muscles promote the macerate ofArnica or St. John's wort, for a circulatory effect, the Calophyll Inophyl is recognized.
The different mustard oils
We find in nature different mustards from the botanical family Brassicaceae. From their seeds, these plants are capable of offering numerous derived products including vegetable oil. In this guide, we have described more precisely the Brown Mustard oil known by the Latin name Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. You can also find other vegetable oils from other mustards such as black mustard (Brassica nigra), field mustard (Sinapis arvensis) or white mustard (Sinapis alba) ; to name only the main ones. These plants are quite similar from a botanical point of view but also from a point of view of their properties.
This plant has been known since ancient times and is more widely used as a condiment.
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Bibliography
Publication: Kumar, V., Thakur, AK, Barothia, ND, & Chatterjee, SS (2011). Therapeutic potentials of Brassica juncea: an overview. Tang [Humanitas Medicine], 1(1), 2-1.
Work : de la Charie, T. (2019). Treat yourself with essential oils. Why and how does it work? Editions du Rocher.
Work : Pobeda, M. (2014). The benefits of vegetable oils: Learn to know them and use them for your health and beauty. Poessneck, Germany: Marabout.
Work : Zahalka, J. (2022). Complete dictionary of vegetable oils: 90 vegetable oils 10 oily macerates. DOLPHIN.
Website : PFAF, Plants For A Future. Brassica juncea Brown Mustard PFAF Plant Database. https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Brassica+juncea