Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of the Indian subcontinent, has its own distinctive approach to healing and life in general. The Sanskrit term "ayurveda" means "science of life." Developed over more than five millennia, ayurvedic medicine incorporates diet, herbs, aromatic oils and massage into a system of health maintenance that covers virtually every aspect of daily life. Ayurveda offers herb-based and common-sense remedies for a variety of hair-care issues.
Diet
Fundamental to Ayurveda is the premise that you are what you eat. Practitioners of ayurvedic medicine believe that the wellspring of all health is a diet that is rich in nutrients and as free of toxins as possible. Like many forms of traditional medicine, Ayurveda maintains that ill health almost always can be traced to some form of imbalance in your body, and more often than not that imbalance stems from a lack of balance in what you're eating.
According to D.J. Verret, M.D., author of "Patient Guide to Hair Loss & Hair Restoration," each person has a distinctive "dosha," or constitutional makeup, which consists of varying degrees of "kapha," "pitta" and "vata," with one of the three being the dominant or defining characteristic of the individual's nature. People in whom kapha is dominant can combat hair loss by eating a diet rich in cow's milk, butter, lean meat and fish and avoiding fried foods. Dietary musts for those who are pitta in nature include almonds, sesame seeds, milk and the herbs amalaki, ashwagandha and bala. Vata personality types should eat more onions, garlic, eggs and other dairy foods, according to Verret. Consult an ayurvedic practitioner to have your personal dosha identified.
Herbal Oils
Ayurvedic medicine maintains that all herbs and foods are either cooling or heating in nature. Kharta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Michael Tierra, authors of "The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs," write that regular treatment of the hair with oils derived from cooling substances can remedy dry hair, prevent hair loss and cure dandruff. Oils made from almond, coconut, pumpkin seed and sesame seed will keep your scalp soft and moist, which in turns helps to promote the growth of healthy hair. They also recommend regular head massage with buttermilk to keep both scalp and hair looking their best.
Hair-Nourishing Herbs
In an article that appeared in the 2001 annual Source guide published by Yoga Journal, Miriam Hospodar identifies brahmi, or gotu kola, and bhringaraj, or eclipta alba, as two of the most powerful ayurvedic herbs for nourishment of the hair and scalp. The latter helps the hair better tolerate the environmental and mental stress of 21st-century life while promoting its healthy growth. It also inhibits pitta dosha, which can cause premature hair loss and/or graying. Brahmi also provides the hair with nutrients that ensure healthy growth and development. Both of the herbs can be taken in capsule form--250 mg to 1 g daily of bhringaraj and 250 to 500 mg of brahmi--or as herbal teas. Alternatively, hair oils infused with these herbs, available in Indian markets, can be massaged into the scalp nightly. Always consult with a health practitioner before taking herbs for any condition.
References
- "Patient Guide to Hair Loss & Hair Restoration"; D.J. Verret; 2009
- "The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: The Most Complete Guide to Natural Healing and Health with Traditional Ayurvedic Herbalism"; Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Michael Tierra; 2009
- "Yoga Journal Source"; Beyond Brushing; Miriam Hospodar; 2001
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