Hibiscus Flower Benefits, Remedies, Precautions and Side Effects

Hibiscus is a kind of flowering plant native to tropical, sub-tropical and other warm climate areas. They are known for their long, extruding stem and large colourful petals. Also known as rose mallow in some areas, hibiscus comes in four colours namely white, peach, yellow and red. These varieties are used extensively in household gardens to enhance the appearance of the house and as an offering to god. Apart from the obvious decorative purposes, hibiscus has some medicinal uses also. Hibiscus has been known as a health supplement for a long time now. The Egyptians used hibiscus to make tea and lower body temperature. It is a very good weight loss remedy and can prevent high blood pressure. A lot of researches have been conducted regarding the benefits of hibiscus. 

Benefits of Hibiscus for the Skin

• Reverses the signs of Ageing

Hibiscus is one of the most commonly found anti-ageing plants out there. Easily grown in households, it increases the skin elasticity resulting in a natural younger look. It is very effective in lifting and firming the skin earning itself the name of ‘Botox Plant’.

• Fights Skin Damage

Hibiscus contains anthocyanosises, a powerful antioxidant, which is known to fight against skin damage and other free radicals caused due to pollution and ultraviolet radiation. These free radicals cause premature ageing and drying of the skin.

• Rejuvenates Skin with Moisture

As a person ages, the skin’s ability to retain moisture starts decreasing constantly. The hibiscus contains a natural moisturizing agent called Mucilage which is responsible for storing food and water. Mucilage has a very sticky texture that traps the moisture inside itself rejuvenating the skin.

Benefits of Hibiscus for Hair

• Natural Hair Loss Remedy

Hibiscus leaves along with the flowers are rich in several Vitamins and minerals making it one of the best natural hair loss remedies that can be tried at home. It solves the bald patch issues and promotes hair regrowth to stop hair loss.

• Great Hair Conditioner

Hibiscus are very beneficial for people having dry hair. A thick paste of hibiscus with water can replace the store bought conditioner. It even keeps several different problems that arise from dry hair away along with nourishing and conditioning the hair locks and scalp.

• Fights Against Premature Greying of Hairs

The anti-oxidant properties of the hibiscus along with the nutrients prevent premature greying of hairs by enriching the hair follicles. Regular use of hibiscus products will help in maintaining the colour and lustre of the hairs intact for a long time.

Benefits of Hibiscus for Health

• Great First Aid Component

The hibiscus has many beneficiary properties for our health. It is very effective in curing common colds, sore throat, headaches, and cough. A paste of hibiscus can be applied over burns and scrapes. It also recharges your energy by repairing free radical damage.

• Hibiscus Tea

There are a plethora of benefits to consuming hibiscus tea. It helps in managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is a very good antibacterial agent having anti-cancer properties. It protects the liver from diseases and eases any digestion pain too.

• Acne Healer

Hibiscus is rich in antioxidants and vitamins and contains anti-inflammatory substances which are very helpful against acne and pimples. It prevents the acne from spreading across the face and even clears the marks.

20 Home Remedies for Hibiscus

Body Pain

Ingredients required: red Hibiscus, hibiscus leaves, water.

Procedure:

1. Boil 5 petals and leaves of hibiscus for ten minutes.
2. Let the mixture cool down for half an hour. Remove the leaves and the petals from the water.
3. Drink this water for 21 days regularly to get rid of the recurring body pain.

Iron Deficiency

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus, water.

Procedure:

1. Boil some hibiscus in a cup of water until it reduces to half the original quantity.
2. Let the water cool after removing the flowers.
3. Drink this water slowly when it is still lukewarm to build iron in the body.

Menstrual Cramps

Ingredients required: white Hibiscus, water.

Procedure:

1. Boil some hibiscus petals in a bowl of water for 2-4 hours and keep them aside to cool down.
2. Drink this water during menstrual days to get some relief from the pain.

Face Pack

Ingredients Required: red Hibiscus, milk or water

Procedure:

1. Separate some petals from the hibiscus plant and let them dry under the sun for a day.
2. After the petals are dried completely, grind them to make a fine powder of hibiscus.
3. Mix this powder with some milk or water to use as a face pack against pimples and acne on your face.
4. Let the mask stay on your face for about 10 minutes before washing with cold water.

Dry Skin

Ingredients required: red Hibiscus, coconut oil (or sesame oil)

Procedure:

1. Heat some hibiscus petals with a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil (or sesame oil) together.
2. Turn off the heat after 5 minutes and let the petals cool down a bit.
3. Apply these petals on your skin, especially the dry areas or cracks.
4. Leave the petals to dry on your skin for 3-4 hours or even overnight.

Hair Pack

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus, hibiscus leaves, egg.

Procedure:

1. Grind the leaves and petals of some hibiscus to make a fine paste.
2. Add one beaten egg to this mixture and stir it well.
3. Apply this paste to your hair and let it stay for 20 minutes.
4. Wash the paste with water.

Hair Cleansing

Ingredients Required: red Hibiscus, fenugreek seeds.

Procedure:

1. Leave some fenugreek seeds to soak underwater overnight.
2. Grind these seeds the next day along with some petals from a hibiscus.
3. Apply the paste on your hair and leave it for half an hour.
4. The paste is very effective against dirt trapped in the hair and stops dandruff from growing.
5. Wash off the paste using a shampoo.

Hair Shampoo

Ingredients required: red Hibiscus, Aloe Vera

Procedure:

1. Extract a cup of Aloe Vera juice from a freshly cut blade of Aloe.
2. Grind some hibiscus and mix it with the Aloe extract.
3. Apply this mixture on your hair just like you would have done with a shampoo.
4. This homemade shampoo guarantees nourishment from its ingredients and a natural shine to the hair.

Hair Colour

Ingredients required: red Hibiscus, henna powder, water.

Procedure:

1. In a big bowl, mix some hibiscus petals with water and henna powder to make a henna pack.
2. You can also dry some petals under the sun and then grind them to use the powder.
3. Apply the henna pack on your hair and follow the instructions given on the henna packet.
4. Mixing hibiscus provides nourishment to the hair during the colouring process and prevents the hair from drying.

Grey Hair

Ingredients Required: red Hibiscus, hibiscus leaves, coconut oil.

Procedure:

1. Take 10 petals and leaves from a hibiscus plant in a bowl.
2. Mix 200 ml of coconut oil in the bowl and then heat it.
3. Let the mixture come to a boil and then turn off the gas.
4. Let this oil cool down a bit before applying it to your hair to cover the white strands.
5. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo half an hour after applying the oil.

Treating Cough

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus leaves, water.

Procedure:

1. Wash 10-15 hibiscus leaves and then boil them with 3 cups of water.
2. Let the mixture boil until only three fourth of the mixture is left. Remove the leaves from the water.
3. Drink the water at regular intervals after it has cooled down to an acceptable temperature.
4. Hibiscus water is very helpful against common cough.

Treating Swollen Tonsils

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus leaves, hibiscus, salt, water.

Procedure:

1. Boil a combination of hibiscus leaves and flowers in a bowl of water.
2. Add salt to the mixture after it starts boiling.
3. Let the mixture cool down a little bit. Drink the water slowly.
4. Drinking this water regularly will provide instant relief from swollen tonsils and sore throat.

Curing Colitis

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus leaves, hibiscus buds.

Procedure:

1. Chop some hibiscus leaves and eat it raw or cook it with some other vegetables.
2. You can also eat the freshly formed buds of leaves of hibiscus.
3. Hibiscus leaves and buds have anti-inflammatory properties and they help in tackling and healing intestinal inflammation.

Overcoming Bloody Bowel Movements

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus leaves, water, brown sugar.

Procedure: 

1. Squeeze the juice of 8-10 hibiscus leaves in a cup.
2. Add water and brown sugar to the juice.
3. Drink the juice at regular intervals and before bowel movements to cure blood coming out from the rectum.

Treating Vomiting Blood

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus leaves, hibiscus.

Procedure:

1. Squeeze the juice of 10-15 hibiscus leaves and hibiscus.
2. Drink the juice directly to get relief from blood vomiting.
3. You can also add a little bit of water to dilute the taste of the juice.

Stop Bleeding and Cures Scathes

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus, hibiscus leaves, water.

Procedure:

1. Chop some hibiscus and leaves into small pieces.
2. Make a thick paste of the leaves and flowers using a mortar and pestle.
3. Apply the paste over the cut or injured area and keep pressure on it for a moment.
4. You can leave the paste over the cut for 2-3 hours by covering it with a bandage or a cloth. 

Treats Ulcers

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus, neem leaves.

Procedure:

1. Skin ulcers are quickly becoming a common disease all over the world.
2. Chop some hibiscus and grind them to make a paste.
3. You can also add neem leaves to the combination if you like.
4. Apply the paste over the affected area or over the ulcer to get relief.
5. Let the paste dry and it will come off on its own.

Fights Hair Loss

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus, hibiscus leaves, extra-virgin coconut oil.

Procedure:

1. In a small cup, add 10 hibiscus leaves and flowers along with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
2. Heat the solution until all the oil from the leaves and flowers has been extracted and they have turned black.
3. Remove the leaves from the oil and set it aside to cool.
4. Gently massage your hair with this oil before going to sleep.
5. Wash the hair with a mild shampoo in the morning to remove the oil.
6. Repeat this procedure 2-3 times a week to prevent hair loss.

Improves Skin Health

Ingredients Required: red Hibiscus, yogurt, honey.

Procedure:

1. Wash 4-5 hibiscus leaves and grind them to make a thin paste.
2. Add the paste in a small cup of yoghurt and some honey and mix it well.
3. Apply this paste on your face and let it sit for half an hour.
4. Wash the paste with cold water.
5. Repeat this remedy couple of times a week to fight UV damage and premature ageing and to remove dead skin cells.

Preventing Tuberculosis

Ingredients Required: Hibiscus leaves.

Procedure:

1. Boil a handful of hibiscus leaves in three cups of water.
2. Let the solution boil until it is reduced to three-fourth of the original quantity.
3. Strain the leaves and drink the water after it has cooled down considerably.
4. Drink this water regularly to treat a long-term cough and prevent tuberculosis.

Precautions for Using Hibiscus

• Surgery

While the properties of hibiscus affecting our blood sugar level seem advantageous for regular use, it can give rise to several complications during surgery. Hibiscus can make it difficult for the doctors to control the blood sugar level during the surgical process and after that. Thus, it is advised not to use a hibiscus for a 2-week period before and after the surgery.

• Interaction with Other Drugs

Hibiscus has many health-related effects of its own. Its interaction with another kind of medication can cause problems and leave the medication useless sometimes. For instance, hibiscus is known to inhibit the ant malarial effect of the drugs like quinine and chloroquine. Consult your doctor before starting a new medication along with using a hibiscus.

• Overdose

It is possible to overdose on hibiscus also. Hibiscus acts on the blood and cholesterol levels of our body and thus it is advised not to consume hibiscus daily. For instance, a 5-day rest must be taken if you have been consuming hibiscus for 10 days in a row.

Side Effects of Hibiscus

• Hallucinations

There have been some cases of people feeling intoxicated after consuming hibiscus tea or any other product contain hibiscus. Few of them even complained about experiencing hallucinations.

• Blood Pressure

Hibiscus is very helpful for people having high blood pressure but can have severe side effects for people having low blood pressure generally. People suffering from hypotension should not use hibiscus as it may cause dizziness, faintness and heart failure also.

• Fertility and Pregnancy

Hibiscus has emmenagogic properties which have the tendency of stimulating menstruation or blood flow in the pelvic region. Due to this, pregnant women should not use hibiscus in any way because unprecedented blood can complicate the birthing process. A doctor should be consulted if you are undergoing birth control.

FAQs on Hibiscus

• Can hibiscus help in losing weight?

Apart from lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure, the hibiscus helps in improving the metabolism of the body and strengthening its digestive capabilities. Due to this, a person always feels full of energy and can experience gradual weight loss.

• Is Hibiscus edible?

Both the leaves and flowers of a hibiscus plant can be eaten. The leaves can be added to salads and greens and can also be cooked with a stew. Hibiscus tea, which is made from the leaves, is very beneficial for the body. The flowers can be eaten raw, cooked, pickled or as a salad.