Ratanjot (Onosma echioides)

What Is Ratanjot / Onosma echioides?

If you've ever handled an ayurvedic hair oil and found that it had a deep, rich reddish hue, then Ratanjot is most certainly the culprit.

While most people would assume that Ratanjot is merely a natural dye, something that gives the ayurvedic hair oil its quite pretty color, and nothing more, they would be completely mistaken.

The truth is that Ratanjot, also known by its botanical name Onosma echioides, is a root herb belonging to the boraginaceae family, found in the himalayas, and has been used in ayurvedic and unani medicine for centuries.

The roots of the Ratanjot herb contain two extremely potent bioactive compounds, namely alkannin and shikonin, that not only give the herb its characteristic red color but also make it extremely beneficial for the hair, in ways that go far beyond just the color, to say the least.

What Makes Ratanjot Work?

The two naphthoquinones present in Ratanjot, alkannin and shikonin, are powerful pigments. However, they are not just simple pigments.

Studies show that the naphthoquinones present in Ratanjot are also responsible for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. These are three different properties that are useful for the health of the scalp and the hair.

Ratanjot is also known to contain flavonoids and tannins. These are useful in the protection of the hair follicles from free radical damage. Tannoids are also known for their astringent properties. These properties are useful in tightening the scalp tissues and enabling the hair roots to grip the scalp better.

Benefits of Ratanjot for Hair

1. Strengthens Hair Roots — Ratanjot's alkannin and tannin content tightens scalp tissue and reinforces hair follicles from the base. Hair anchored in a stronger follicle breaks less, sheds less, and grows more consistently.
   
   
2. Soothes an Inflamed Scalp — Its cooling Sheeta Virya nature directly calms scalp inflammation — the kind that causes persistent itchiness, redness, and dandruff. It does not just mask the irritation, it addresses what is causing it.
   
   
3. Fights Dandruff at the Root — Ratanjot's antifungal and antimicrobial properties keep dandruff-causing bacteria and fungi in check. Regular use means fewer flare-ups, not just temporary relief.
   
   
4. Preserves Natural Hair Colour — The antioxidants in Ratanjot protect the pigment-producing cells in your follicles from oxidative stress. This slows down premature greying and helps maintain your hair's natural depth of colour for longer.
   
   
5. Adds Natural Shine and Lustre — Ratanjot nourishes the hair shaft and adds a natural luster that makes hair look healthy without any coating agents or silicones. The kind of shine that actually comes from within the strand.
   
   
6. Stimulates Hair Growth — When infused in a carrier oil and massaged into the scalp, Ratanjot improves blood circulation to the follicles, waking up dormant ones and pushing active ones to perform better.

The Color is Not Just Cosmetic - It Means Something

Ratanjot root, when infused with oil, releases alkannin, and the oil turns a beautiful deep red.

Not only is it beautiful, but it is also an indicator that something is happening - that the active ingredients are transferring from the root to the oil.

The deeper the red, the richer the infusion. And the richer the infusion, the more antimicrobial, antioxidant, and scalp-soothing goodness is in every drop.

Ratanjot is one of those rare herbs where you can literally see that it is working. And that is no small thing.

Why Ratanjot Belongs in a Hair Oil 

Alkannin and Shikonin are fat-soluble. They are activated and released in oil – not water, nor a dry powder paste.

This is why a Ratanjot-infused oil is exponentially more effective than Ratanjot powder applied directly to the scalp.

Oil delivers these active ingredients past the scalp and into the follicle – where they are actually needed – to strengthen and nourish. Powder masks only work on the outside. An oil works from the inside.

Warm it up, massage it in circular motions for 5-10 minutes, and then apply it for at least 30 minutes. This has been doing the trick for 2,000 years or so.

Ratanjot in Kiyo Beauty's Ayurvedic Hair Oil

Ratanjot is one of the 20 Ayurvedic herbs found in Kiyo Beauty's Ayurvedic Hair Oil.
Have you ever looked at our product and noticed that beautiful, rich red color? Well, now you know where it comes from and what it means.

It combines with Bhringraj, Brahmi, Amla, Neem, and 16 other herbs, each designed for a particular purpose. Ratanjot's purpose: scalp health, root strength, natural color retention, and that fabulous natural shine. No mineral oil. No silicones. No artificial fragrance. Just 20 herbs doing what they have always been known to do.