hair fall
Premature hair fall and/or baldness, in Ayurveda, is related to excess pitta in the system. Such individuals may also find that they have the associated problems of premature graying of hair. The excess pitta starts accumulating at the base of the hair follicles, causing inflammation and hair fall.
Hair fall can have several causes – diet that is deficient in calcium, hormonal imbalance, general infection in the body or localized scalp infection, and genetic factors.
Hair Fall Home Remedies:
- Drink aloe vera juice regularly to reduce pitta.
- Massage coconut oil or almond oil on your scalp regularly before showering. Massaging the scalp with brahmi oil or bhringraj oil at bedtime. This has the dual effect of reducing body heat and also improving circulation at the roots of the hair.
- Eat white sesame seeds every day. These are a great source of calcium and magnesium as well.
- Drink a tea made with equal proportions of jatamamsi and brahmi in hot water.
- Grind fenugreek (methi) seeds with water and apply the paste on your scalp. Leave it on for 10 minutes before washing it off completely.
- Boil a handful of neem leaves in water. Cool and filter. Use this water for rinsing your hair.
- Hibiscus is another great flower that is useful against hair fall. It is usually stored in the dried form for a few months. In a cup of coconut oil, heat 5 fresh flowers or a tablespoon of dried flowers till charred. Filter and use as hair oil. Here is a simple homemade hair oil recipe using hibiscus, curry leaves, fenugreek seeds in coconut/sesame oil.
- Curry leaves are also very effective for general hair growth. Internally, you can eat curry leaves as part of your regular diet, as curry leaves powder with rice and ghee etc. or even apply topically on the scalp as a paste made out of curry leaves and water. Wash completely after letting it remain for10-15 minutes.
- Amla (Indian Gooseberry) is also very effective in preventing hair fall. Externally, it can be applied on the scalp as oil (amla oil). Internally, it can be eaten in several forms – whole fruit soaked in concentrated sugar syrup or used in chutneys and other recipes, dried amla fruit or amalaki powder.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes:
- Following a pitta-pacifying diet and lifestyle will be helpful, in general. Avoid spicy, salty, deep fried, sour, fermented foods and alcohol. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Avoid over exposure to the sun and over exercising, adopt some relaxation practices to reduce stress, and try to take it easy in general (I know, easier said than done!).
- Eat a nourishing diet with adequate dairy products (if you are able to digest them) like milk, home-made fresh yogurt that is not sour, buttermilk. Grains like ragi, fresh leafy vegetables, coconut, white radish, cabbage and cooked apples are also good for hair growth.
- Yoga and meditation are very effective for reducing stress. Just observing your breath with your eyes closed for a few minutes every day is highly beneficial, not just for hair fall, but for general well-being as well. Some effective yoga poses are Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana), Camel Pose (Ushtrasana), Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), Cow Pose (Gomukhasana).
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That was very useful, Anu…..from every aspect of a remedial action ! I am sure to try out these techniques as I have been a silent witness to my hair falling out in bunches.
Thanks for writing in, Jaysh! I’m glad you found it useful. Being in India, you will have access to some of the herbs easily, like hibiscus, neem, amla etc. Do try them out along with the diet/lifestyle changes and I am sure you will see a gradual change for the better.
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I have a question. Ayurveda says hairfall and premature graying is caused by Pitta aggravation. Won’t fenugreek aggravate pitta?. Ayurveda says fenugreek is pitta aggravating. I doubt if that can help with hairfall.
Shruthi, just looking from a doshic perspective is too simplistic and not a complete viewpoint, per Ayurveda. Every substance has something known as a “prabhava” or “special effect”. So fenugreek is pitta aggravating, but has certain qualities that enhance hair growth and help with scalp issues like dandruff. Another example of this seemingly contradictory concept is the usage of sesame oil as the base of almost all traditional Ayurvedic oils. It is used in “pinda tailam” which is supposed to be for reducing pitta aggravations. Sesame oil is heating, but is still used for its good qualities as a base oil. Hope this helps. Half knowledge can sometimes be dangerous :).