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Sacha Inchi Skin Benefits

Superfoods aren’t just for eating. Some of them are also highly beneficial when applied topically to the skin. Enter Sacha Inchi (plukentia volubilis), an extraordinary plant that grows on vines native to the Peruvian Amazon. You could say Sacha Inchi is the new health nut for health nuts. But what makes this exotic botanical seed so special?

A Brief History of Sacha Inchi

The earliest accounts of Sacha Inchi use dates back to the Peruvian Mochica and Chimu civilizations some 3000 to 5000 years ago, confirmed by ceramic artifacts discovered from this era. It continued to be used and grown by the Chancas and then the Incas. Also known as Sacha Peanut, Jungle Peanut, or Inca Peanut, depictions of the plant have been discovered on Incan tombs.

Sacha Inchi remained a local secret until 1976. That’s when the Peruvian Minister for Agriculture opened an investigation on the Amazonian region’s potential for new types of food crops. Once Sacha Inchi’s impressive nutritional profile was recognized along with its ability to be sustainably harvested, the spotlight shone on its opportunity for growth as a functional food. Sacha Inchi was first exported to Switzerland from Peru in the mid 2000s. In January 2013, the European Union approved Sacha Inchi oil for sale as a novel food. In October 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Sacha Inchi as Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS).

A picture of sacha inchi pods unripened and a cross section of sacha inchi pods ripened and opened sitting atop a mound of dried sacha inchi nut seeds

Sacha Inchi Health Benefits

Sacha Inchi seed oil is obtained by cold press extraction using mechanical pressure. The seeds (nuts) are considered a superfood due to their impressive nutritional profile. They possess a high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids (94%), rich in Alpha-linolenic (Omega 3, 45-60%) and Linoleic (Omega 6, 25-37%) polyunsaturated fatty acids. They also contains Oleic (Omega 9, 8-12%) monounsaturated fatty acid plus Palmitic (3-5%) and Stearic (1.5%) saturated fatty acids. Sacha Inchi is also a robust source of antioxidant Vitamin E.

The human body does not produce Omega 3 or Omega 6, yet these nutrients are essential for optimal body and skin health. Omega 3 in particular is a potent anti-inflammatory essential fatty acid. Sacha Inchi seeds possess about 10 times more Omega 3 by gram weight than salmon and about 3 times more Omega 6 by gram weight than flaxseeds.

A study published in a 2011 edition of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry noted that Sacha Inchi contains very high levels of tryptophan, an amino acid that supports the production of serotonin, the body’s natural feel-good hormone and mood stabilizer. Sacha Inchi has also been shown to help balance cortisol levels, the body’s stress hormone. Since Sacha Inchi has the capability of influencing hormone levels, aiding the body with its adaptive response to stress, it is considered to be an adaptogenic herb.

A picture of dried ripened Sacha Inchi seeds

Sacha Inchi Supports Healthy Skin

Recent studies show that the body can effectively absorb essential fatty acids like Omegas through the skin and into the blood stream. When applied topically, Sacha Inchi oil nourishes the skin to help support cell membrane integrity, encourage cell regeneration, and increase skin elasticity. By reinforcing skin’s lipid balance, it also helps to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL), increasing skin moisture levels. Sacha Inchi oil is readily bio-available, and requires no preservative as it natural has the ability to fight oxidation.

The Skin Science

According to GREENTECH, the company that supplies Humanist Beauty with Sacha Inchi seed oil (Organic Lipactive Inca Inchi® WO) for its Humanist Beauty Facial Oil formula:

“Linoleic and linolenic acids are essential to the formation of the epidermal lipid barrier. They are cell membrane structural fatty acids. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are eicosanoid precursors, antagonists of inflammatory reactions. Linoleic acid also contributes to reducing black heads and the associated skin irritation.”

It supports its claims by way of clinical and sensory studies.

First, an in vitro keratinocyte regeneration simulation supporting +19% improved cell regeneration vs. control at 95% confidence level:

Chart showing cutometer results: skin suppleness: +66% vs. control. Radar chart showing sensory test results: Comfort 83%, Flexibility 88%, Softeness 94%, Moisturization 85%.

Next, an in vivo cutometer study supporting 66% increased skin suppleness after 28 days and a sensory test indicating improved perceived skin aesthetics:

Keratinocyte Regenration Simulation: +19% vs. Control. Reconstructed epidermis microscopic imagery vs. control.

GREENTECH has also conducted skin safety tests to determine that its ingredient is non-irritating, hypoallergenic, non-mutagenic and non-pro-mutagenic, and non-phototoxic.

Sacha Inchi Cultivation

While many other botanical oils are produced through plantations, Sacha Inchi is a forest crop, thriving in heavily forested areas. Its seed oil is produced through eco-friendly harvesting that encourages reforestation. In 2003, an Inca Inchi cultivation and industrialization development program was initiated in Peru called OMEGA Programme. This program supports the reforestation of the Amazon and operates in the context of fair and sustainable trade. This helps thousands of families living in the Peruvian Amazon, and GREENTECH is a founding member of this initiative. Hence, the Sacha Inchi oil used in Humanist Beauty products is both sustainably sourced and fair trade.

In addition to the OMEGA Programme, there are other charitable and fair trade initiatives fostering sustainable Amazonian Sacha Inchi cultivation. Your purchase of Herban Wisdom Facial Oil not only helps support the local Amazonian indigenous people, it contributes to the greater movement towards building a regenerative economy founded upon positive social and environmental impact.

If you’d like to receive a sample of Herban Wisdom Facial Oil, click here to order. The sample is free, there’s just a small charge for shipping and handling.

Why Are Adaptogens Trending?

A simple guide to understanding adaptogens and how they work

If you’re interested in natural skincare or all-natural remedies to improve well-being, you’ve probably run across the term “adaptogens.” After all, healthier lifestyles incorporating superfoods, plant-based ingredients, and holistic wellness practices are gaining widespread momentum, and adaptogens as of late has been a big part of the trend. Here, we’ve encapsulated the lowdown on adaptogens and why they’re so special.

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens are herbal compounds that help the body “adapt” to physical, emotional, and environmental stressors. Counteracting the effects of acute and chronic stress, adaptogens act as a physiological resistance mechanism. Found in plant-based herbs and mushrooms, these miracle compounds assist the body to promote optimal, normalized function.

A brief history of adaptogen research

In the early 1900s, Nanai hunters were the first to introduce Russian scientists to berries and seeds that could help night vision. During war times, pilots consumed these “tonics” to increase energy, improve vision, and avoid body fatigue. The results led to what we know about modern-day adaptogens. The term “adaptogen” was introduced into scientific literature by Russian toxicologist Nikolay Lazarev in 1957 to refer to substances that increase the “state of non-specific resistance” in stress.

Although modern doctors and scientists have since popularized the term “adaptogen”, Ancient practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine herald the first recorded use of herbal tonics referred to as rejuvenators, qi tonics or rasayana, herbs that are today classified as adaptogens. These tonics were used to normalize the body from ailments ranging from sexual weakness to thirst, shortness of breath to body fatigue, exhaustion to diabetes, and stress management to overall vitality.

How do adaptogens work?

Adaptogens interact with four primary systems within the body:

1) Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis or Endocrine system

2) Central nervous system

3) Immune system

4) Sympatho-adrenal system (fight or flight)

On a day-to-day functional level, our system is constantly “resisting” stressors: working out, deadline pressure, running late to an appointment. During these uncomfortable moments, our body releases hormones, such as adrenaline, to resist these stressors and produce a feeling of confidence, strength, or prolonged energy. Adaptogens fuel this natural reaction, giving you natural resistance and extended results.

Research conducted by Dr. Alexander Panossian, Research Projects Director at the Swedish Herbal Institute, indicates that adaptogens work on a cellular level, influencing the body’s cortisol release. His studies highlight the effects of adaptogens on the body’s ability to respond to stress, to produce energy and stamina, and to reduce fatigue.

How Do Adaptogens Work?

Adaptogen evolution

Three general characteristics were defined in 1969 by pharmacologists Brekham and Dardymov of what constituted a true adaptogen:

  • Nontoxic —not harmful and has minimal to no side effects.
  • Nonspecific —builds adaptive energy, with ability to both raise and lower, to keep the body in balance when affected by multiple stressors.
  • Normalizing —enhances natural homeostatic mechanisms to help return stressed physiological systems to normal.

The original list of adaptogenic herbs included Panax Ginseng, American Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Siberian Ginseng (or Eleuthero), Schisandra, Rhodiola, Shilajit, Rhaponticum (or Maral Root) and Cordyceps. As research evolves, however, the definition and list of true adaptogens continues to evolve. For example, many researchers would today classify botanicals like Sacha Inchi, Turmeric, Reishi, Licorice Root, Holy Basil, Amla, Bacopa, Goji Berry, Jiaogulan, Gotu Kola, Aloe Vera, Maca, and Shatavari as adaptogens.

Final Thoughts

In full transparency, the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom™ Facial Oil is made with natural extracts that more progressive investigators would classify as adaptogenic such as  Licorice Root and Sacha Inchi. You can find the whole list of ingredients used here.

Adaptogens and adaptogenic agents are not without controversy, with some citing poor clinical testing methodology and a lack of solid proof of efficacy. Others point to the thousands of years of use in TCM and Ayurveda as substantiation enough. Due to their proven activity on rebalancing cortisol-related responses, it stands to reason that topical application of adaptogenic substances on inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne or edema or erythema could be beneficial to calming and soothing the skin. Though most adaptogens are perfectly safe when used in skin care, it is important to read the product labels, and if there are concerns, consult with a skin specialist, if possible, before use.