Jojoba

Where does it come from?

Jojoba (Simmodsia chinensis) is an evergreen shrub that can reach a height of up to four meters. The jojoba plant has taproots that can grow up to 13 meters long and enable the plant to survive in almost any environment. Jojoba thrives in dry climates and arid landscapes and is native to Arizona, Southern California and Mexico (1).

What does jojoba do?

And which scientific studies prove this? The jojoba plant has been used in traditional Native American medicine since time immemorial. The Indians use jojoba oil to treat minor injuries and sore skin areas. Since the late 1970s, the jojoba plant has been commercially cultivated in the USA and has enjoyed great popularity as a source of high-quality oil. Jojoba oil is a light golden, thick, biodegradable oil consisting of long-chain fatty acids without side chains. Jojoba oil is mainly used for the production of cosmetics, as it is one of the highest quality cosmetic oils. It is of a higher quality than whale oil and is also cheaper, as whale oil has become much more expensive in recent years due to the decline in whale populations. Cosmetically, jojoba oil is used as a skin balm and is also often used in hair care products. It helps rejuvenate the skin and protects the integrity of the hair structure with its colorless and odorless waxy ester texture. Other industrial uses for jojoba oil include the manufacture of candles, solvents, fire retardants and machine oil. Nutritionally, jojoba oil is a very good alternative to saturated fats and vegetable oils. Because jojoba oil consists of long-chain fatty acids and because it contains fatty acid alcohols, it is not digested in the same way as other fats. Studies on animals have shown that jojoba is an effective supplement for weight loss. In rats, its use led to reduced food intake with no visible side effects. Human studies are still pending, but there are anecdotal reports suggesting that jojoba has a similar appetite suppressant effect in humans.

Who needs it?

And are there any deficiency symptoms? All healthy adults can benefit from jojoba supplementation (see above). Jojoba is not an essential nutrient and therefore there are no deficiency symptoms. A recommended daily dose for jojoba has not yet been established.

How much jojoba should be taken?

It should be taken as recommended on the label. Consult your GP before taking any supplement.

Safety and side effects

Jojoba is considered safe and harmless for most people when used on the skin. Jojoba can cause some side effects such as skin rashes and allergic reactions. Taking jojoba orally is not safe for anyone. It can cause serious side effects including heart damage.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Applying jojoba to the skin appears to be safe during pregnancy and lactation. Oral ingestion is not safe.

References

1. Goldstein, G., H.H. Naqvi, D. Yakir, T. Ceccardi, and I.P. Ting. 1989. supercooling and low temperature stress in Simmondsia chinensis, a drought-tolerant evergreen species. Oecologia (submitted for publication).
2. Boozer CN, Herron AJ. Simmondsin for weight loss in rats. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006 Feb 7.