10 Ayurvedic Remedies for Hair Loss

For thousands of years, men and women of all countries and races have shared the tragedy of premature hair loss.

The first step is to locate the root cause of your diet or lifestyle that may be increasing the Pitta Dosha. Once you locate it, try to give up or at least reduce the diet, habit, or activity responsible for increasing Pitta.

Internal use of Ayurvedic medicines like Thikthakam kashayam, Thikthakam ghritham as per medical advice is effective to correct the metabolism. Ayurvedic general tonics like Narasimha Rasayana, Chyavana prasam are effective for improving hair growth. In alopecia, due to systemic diseases, treatment of the same is also required.

According to Ayurveda, the hair is derived either as a by-product or produced as a breakdown product of Asthi (bone tissue). Any disturbance in this tissue metabolism, which very much depends on the digestive fire, can affect the health of the hair. To a certain extent, the quality of hair depends on the body constitution.

The reason for hair loss is a subject that no two doctors, seem to agree on and everyone seems to have their own opinion on the subject. The major causes of hair loss are hormonal, nutritional deficiencies, and complications to other diseases and medications. Hormone-related hair fall may also result from an increased sensitivity of hair follicles to male hormones or due to a greater number of male hormone receptors attached to hair follicles. This is the component that is inherited through the genes — termed as Pitta constitution.

According to Ayurveda, an excess of Pitta dosha in the body is increased by

• Hot climatic conditions
• Excessive intake of spicy
• Salty and sour food
• Hot and sharp food
• Tea
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Meats
• Excessive smoking
• Eating too much fried, oily, greasy, and acidic foods also aggravate pitta

Tips for balancing the Pitta (balancing herbs)

• Shatavari—asparagus – vegetables that improve the quality of Asthi dhathu (Eg: bitter vegetables) are effective in treating hair loss.

Other causes of hair loss

• Acute illness
• High stress
• Thyroid imbalance
• Certain drugs
• Sudden weight loss
• High fever

Ayurvedic Remedies for Hair Loss in Men and Women

High protein and an iron-rich diet

Eating a good amount of raw vegetables, fresh fruits, salads, green leafy vegetables should be included in the diet on a regular basis.

Use a natural shampoo to clean the hair

Amla (embilica officinalis), Shikakai (Acacia concinna) are very good for washing the hair.  Rub your scalp after washing the hair. It increases the blood circulation and activates the sebaceous glands.

Oiling and massaging of the scalp

Oiling and massaging of the scalp is very beneficial for stopping the hair loss. Use coconut oil at least three times a week. Certain medicated oils like Neelibhringadi oil, Kunthala kanthi oil, Kanjunnyadi oil are very useful. Put the oil on the scalp, and massage gently in the roots of the hair.

Regular daily bowel movements

In the case of constipation, a mild natural laxative can be taken. Triphala is very useful.

Excercise

Regular physical exercise is very beneficial as it helps in balancing the aggravated doshas

A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is good to drink to induce hair growth.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch spinach leaves
• Add 1 bunch Lettuce (Salad Patta or Kasmisaag) leaves (can be substituted with cabbage)
• 1 lemon
• other spices

Directions:

• Wash the leaves properly first.
• If using a juicer, slice the lemon and put it int he juicer along with the leaves.
• If using a mix or a grinder, grind the leaves properly and put the mixture in a cheesecloth or a muslin sieve and squeeze the complete juice out. Squeeze a little lemon juice for a tangy flavor and you can add any spices if you feel like. I would suggest black pepper as it is also good for hair and gives a spicy flavor to the drink. You can make a mask of the leftover leaves paste or use them as a garnish on your salad or any dish.
• Drink a whole glass of juice every day

The juice of carrot and lettuce juice is also good to take

Recipe:

Ingredients

• 100 g (3½ oz) carrot
• 200 g (7 oz) lettuce
• ice cubes
• chopped coriander leaves, to decorate

Directions

• Chop the carrot into chunks and separate the lettuce leaves.
• Juice the carrot with the lettuce, taking care that the lettuce leaves do not clog the machine.
• Pour the juice into a glass of ice
• Decorate with chopped coriander and serve immediately.

Green coriander leaves

Applying juice of green coriander leaves on the head helps hair loss.

Green gram and fenugreek

Washing the hair with a paste of cooked green gram and fenugreek (methi) two to three times a week helps hair loss.

Licorice paste

A paste of licorice made by grinding it in milk Fenugreek-Seeds and Olive Oil and can be applied to the bald patches.

Fenugreek Seeds

The seeds of fenugreek are soaked in coconut oil and kept under direct sun rays for seven days and applied to the scalp, which prevents hair loss.

Traditional therapies like Dhara, Abhyangam, Thala pothichil, Nasya shows excellent effects.