Ayurvedic Remedies for Hair Loss

We are lucky that India is the Origin of Ayurveda which has one of the oldest and richest cultural traditions associated with the use of traditional herbs. Ayurvedic practitioners have identified a number of Medicinal preparation and surgical procedures for curing various ailments and diseases with the use of these herbs.

Various parts of herbs, like the stems, leaves, roots, flowers and fruits, are used to cure hair problems. In this age of growing medical costs and side-effects, more & more people are choosing natural solution over artificial; simple over complex. Nowadays people include Herbs in their regular diets. People prefer green herbs, not only because of their low fatty oil content, which is for good health, but also to maintain and restore their hair,

Herbs are a real boon as the use of Herbs has been used since 5000 years back by Ayurveda, and learnt about their aromatic, therapeutic and savory properties through trial and error. According to Ayurveda, there is no single herb that is useless. This is indeed true; Herbs play a major role in beauty aids as well as therapies.

Here you can see some important Indian medicinal plants used in Hair care. Information has not only been gathered from recent literature, or prior art search, but also includes some uncommon herbal practices performed in the olden times & as per Ayurvedic text.

Problems & Understanding Hair fall

There are certain problems that pester you so much that you finally tend to give up on them. Many hair problems are such e.g excessive hair fall is one issue that many have given up thinking about. This is basically because no chemicals or combinations of modern treatments have shown to actually work!

That is chiefly the reason why more and more people around the world are now turning to the ancient Indian Ayurveda for various health issues. Especially for nagging problems, where conventional medicine with its chemical formulations, often does not give a comprehensive cure, the much safer option of Ayurveda is proving to be the ray of hope for many.

For those struggling with the frustrating problem of hair fall, Ayurveda has a wholesome approach to the issue.

Ayurveda believes that the bodily constitution of an individual and the genetic traits affect the quality of hair and initiation of hair loss. The most common causes of hair fall, found among women, are nutritional deficiencies and hormonal problems. Sometimes, hair loss can also occur due to a chronic illness or taking strong medications, like steroids.

Ayurveda seeks to cure hair loss in a more holistic manner. The therapy is based on addressing the causes behind hair loss directly. So, metabolic disturbances among various biochemicals, including hormones, which lead to hair loss, are corrected.

Wrong Diet & lifestyle leads to hair loss

Excessive consumption of hot, sour, salty and spicy foods, along with excessive intake of beverages like tea and coffee, contributes to Hair loss. Indigestion and acidity, generates a lot of bodily heat, which needs to be controlled.

Consuming meat and alcohol can also induce hair loss among some people. The intake of greasy, oily and fried foods that are heat-generating, acidic and tend to aggravate the Pitta, should be avoided. Thus, include cooling foods like asparagus, mint (pudina), coriander (dhaniya) leaves, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, bitter gourd (karela), green leafy vegetables, pineapple, cherries, yogurt and warm milk. Ice cold drinks should be avoided for healthier and better digestion.

Hair should not be cleaned with chemical formulations like commercially available shampoos. Ayurveda recommends using natural cleansers like Indian gooseberry (amla) and shikakai for washing hair. This should be supported with regular massaging of the scalp with natural Oils.

You can also use Herbal Oils & Herbal Shampoos, which help to strengthen the roots of the hair, preventing further hair loss. Massaging with warm Herbal oils helps to boost the blood circulation to the scalp, which stimulates hair growth in dormant hair follicles.

Cleansing the body from within

Health practitioners recommend that bowel movement should be regular to ensure that toxins are not retained within the body. These toxins are responsible for aggravating hair loss. Thus, bowel cleansers are commonly recommended. Among these, triphala is the most recommended of all ayurvedic herbs. In case you suffer from chronic constipation, it should be discussed in detail with the health professional.

Some Important Traditional Practices for Hair Care

·         Apply a paste of coriander leaves to alleviate itchiness and dryness of the scalp.

·         Use a paste of fenugreek (methi) seeds and cooked, green gram on the scalp two times a week.

·         Soak methi seeds in coconut oil, and keep in a glass container, in sunlight. Allow the concoction to gain potency over a period of five days. Then apply it directly to the scalp.

·         For stimulating hair growth, drink a combination of spinach, carrot and lettuce juice.

·         Exercise regularly for balancing the bodily constitution.