Ashwagandha is a small evergreen shrub. It grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. The root and berry are used to make medicine. Ashwagandha is commonly used for stress. It is also used for many other conditions including anti-aging. 

Scroll down for the powerful ashwagandha benefits for hair.

Ashwagandha and Hair Loss

Ashwagandha is a superb tonic for your hair. Most herbalists will tell you that ashwagandha and hair loss go hand and hand. Why? Because ashwagandha antioxidant and hormone balancing effects reduce hair loss and promote healthy and shiny hair.

When used in hair oils or herbal shampoos, ashwagandha works to increase scalp circulation and improve hair growth, and it also helps with dandruff and greasy hair.

Ashwagandha and Gray Hair

Ashwagandha for gray hair.  Ashwagandha is also said to preserve our natural hair color. The powerful antioxidants in ashwagandha fight the free radicals that are usually responsible for hair graying. Also when it comes to ashwagandha and gray hair,  ashwagandha, stimulates the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for hair color. Ashwagandha reverses grey hair.

Reasons for Hair Loss and Graying

Stress, hormonal imbalance, and aging can cause hair loss. The cause of hair loss and graying can be internal and external. Ashwagandha combats all of these negative conditions that cause unhealthy hair. It also helps strengthen the hair roots and fight premature graying. Know what affects your hair and how to deal with it using Ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha is a Rasayana or elixir in the Ayurvedic arsenal that helps to preserve youth and reverse aging. So how does this herb work its magic on your tresses?

A rule of thumb – a healthy head of hair can be traced back to a healthy body! Ashwagandha can reduce stress, inflammation, and even cortisol levels in the body, working as a general health tonic especially as you age.²

By hitting straight at the roots (pun unintended!) of aging, it can help reduce hair loss and prevent graying – the natural signs of aging. Ashwagandha also has a role to play in improving the overall health, consequently promoting healthy hair growth.

The Doshas

In Ayurveda, depending on the body’s constitution, people are classified into three doshas or body types – Vata, pitta, and Kapha. Those with a pitta constitution (a fiery nature in both body and mind) often report premature graying of hair and hair loss and are prescribed ashwagandha as a remedy.

How To Use Ashwagandha To Stop Hair Loss

Several conditions such as stress, hormonal imbalance, and just simple aging can cause hair loss. Ashwagandha’s role in treating systemic illnesses comes into play here.  Here’s how to use ashwagandha to stop hair loss.

• Ashwagandha promotes restorative sleep and works to reduce the negative effects of anxiety, a sure trigger for hair loss.
• It is also said to strengthen the hair roots. A hair tonic made with a few twigs of the herb and a neutral hair oil such as coconut can be used daily to reduce hair loss.
• When combined with the herb Guduchi (Tinospora Cordifolia) in a tonic, ashwagandha can provide support to the bones and increase the ability of the scalp to hold the hair.

Keep The Grays Away

The Ashwagandha root is known to slow down age-related graying of hair and also prevent premature graying.

In a study conducted on elderly men, ashwagandha was found to help increase the melanin content of hair, among other benefits, with minimal toxicity.

Ashwagandha in Diet

Ashwagandha isn’t something that you eat, so the only way to get the benefits from this amazing herb is to take it as a supplement. You can buy it as a tincture, a root powder, or in a pill format. Taken as part of a beauty multivitamin, it can provide you with the most powerful results. While Ashwagandha works great on its own, it can work with other herbal extracts, vitamins, and minerals to do even more. You want to look for a specially formulated blend of all-natural ingredients designed to boost the health of your hair.

Bottom Line for Ashwagandha for Hair

Though ashwagandha can be used to treat a variety of conditions, it is important NOT to self-administer it. Always consult an Ayurvedic or herbal practitioner before starting an ashwagandha regimen.

In some cases, adverse effects such as overgrowth of facial hair have been observed in patients, owing to ashwagandha’s action on the hormonal system.

It’s important to take stock of your hormonal health, among other factors, before starting a course of Ashwagandha – an Ayurvedic or herbal doctor will help you take these steps.