Hair
Care
Hair Loss
and Balding
Many people
face the hair falling or thinning problem before reaching
his early mid age. This problem sharply decreases
one's personality which is a great problem in this
modern world. Ayurveda can be very beneficial in treating
these conditions as it investigates the root cause
of the problem. The causes for these hair conditions
are:
• According to Ayurveda, hair problems are manifested
by vitiated Pitta dosha. Pitta is increased by excessive
intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meats and excessive
smoking. Pitta is also aggravated by eating too much
fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour, and acidic foods.
• Long term use of medicines, low blood circulation,
anemia, general weakness after typhoid like fever,
stress, anxiety, and mental tension and dandruff are
also prime causes of hair loss.
Treatment
• Avoid the causes that vitiate the Pitta dosha.
• Avoid the use of chemicals on hair. Use natural
shampoo. It's better to use shampoo containing Amala
(embilica officinalis), Shikakai (Acacia concinna).
• Use coconut oil or mustard oil at least three
times in a week. Certain medicated oils like 'Mahabhringraj
oil', 'Amala oil', and 'Arnica oil' are very useful.
Put oil on the scalp, and massage gently in the roots
of the hair.
• Always massage your hair before having bath
with above mentioned oil.
• A special Ayurvedic preparation made from
Bhringraj (Eclipta elba), Amala, corals, iron and
black sesame seeds is very useful, and even stops
the graying of hair.
• A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is
good to drink to induce hair growth. The juice of
alfalfa mixed with that of carrot, and lettuce juice
is also good to take.
• Green coriander leaves are also useful
• Soak two tablespoonfuls of fenugreek seeds
(methi, Foeniculum vulgare) overnight in water. Grind
the softened seeds into a fine paste and apply on
the scalp. Then wash the hair with soap-nut solution
or shikakai.
• A paste of licorice made by grinding it in
milk can be applied in the bald patches. It induces
hair growth. A paste of seeds of lemon and black pepper
may also be applied on the bald patches.
• Blood purifying liquids khadiraaista and saaribaadyaasavam
taken twice daily (20 ml in same quantity of water)
are also useful medicines.
• Rubbing the nails is also a good acupressure
to avoid this.
Dandruff
Danddruff results in itching and flaking of the scalp.
It can also affect the ears, eyebrows, and forehead.
The primary cause of dandruff is thought to be yeast
called Pityrosporum ovale. Over activity of oil glands
is another possible cause.
Self-Help Guidelines
1. Identify and avoid potential allergic food. Reduce
animal proteins and ear grains, vegetables and fruit.
2. Diabetes can also cause dandruff. Reduce sugar
intake.
3. Reduce yeast containing foods such as bread, cheese,
wine and alcoholic beverages.
4. Try lukewarm showers and rinse with cold water.
5. Massage your scalp and do yoga.
Ayurvedic Remedies
1. Prepare an emulsion by mixing one part of sandalwood
oil with three parts of fresh lemon juice and apply
on the scalp.
2. Wash the hair with green gram powder or amla powder
in curd.
3. Soak two spoonfuls of fenugreek seeds overnight
in water. Grind it into paste and apply.
4. Thoroughly rub a thick gel of aloe-vera leaves
on the scalp. Leave overnight.
5. Combine olive oil and ginger root and apply on
your scalp before shampooing.
6. You can also find lots of Ayurvedic drugs for this.
Premature graying of
hair
Graying of hair is a natural process
that happens with increasing age, but if the hair
starts graying before the age of 35, it is termed
as premature graying that occurs due to the aggravation
of Pitta dosha. Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol,
meat, fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour, and acidic
foods increases pitta and leads to graying prematurely.
Remedies
* Apply a paste made from 2-Tsp.
henna powder, 1-tsp. curd, 1-tsp. fenugreek seed powder,
1 tbsp. coffee, 2-tbsp. mint juice and 2-tbsp. basil
juice. Apply this paste to the hair for two hours.
For a darker color, leave this paste in for 3 to 4
hours. Wash hair with any natural shampoo.
* Grate some fresh ginger. Mix with honey and place
it in a jar. Eat 1 tea spoon everyday.
Itchy
scalp
Aggravation of Pitta dosha, stress,
allergic reaction to shampoo, air conditioning, pollution
and central heating lead to an itchy and red scalp,
with tiny pimples or sores, dull and dry hair.
Remedies
* Add 1 teaspoon of camphor to half
a cup of coconut oil and store it in glass container.
Dosage: Massage this oil into the scalp before bed.
Grind some jasmine roots with lime juice. Wash the
hair and scalp with it.
The causes for these hair conditions are as follows:
* Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meats
and excessive smoking.
* Eating too much fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour
and acidic foods.
* Intake of too many chemical medicines, low blood
circulation, anemia, general weakness after disease,
stress, anxiety and mental tension.
* Chronic diseases like typhoid fever, presence of
dandruff or lice and hormonal imbalance.
Treatment
* Use herbal shampoo to clean the hair.
* Use amla (embilica officinalis), Shikakai (Acacia
concinna) for washing the hair.
* Enhance oiling and massaging of scalp.
* Use coconut oil or mustard oil at least three times
in a week.
* Use medicated oils like 'Mahabhringraj oil', 'Amala
oil' and 'Arnica oil'. Put oil on the scalp and massage
gently in the roots of the hair.
* Maintain a regular bowel movement everyday.
* The diet should contain more green leafy vegetables,
salads, milk, fruits and sprouts. Take more proteins,
milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soybean and vitamin
A.
* Do regular physical exercise.
