If you are experiencing hair loss, you may also be looking for remedies to stop or prevent it. Ayurvedic medicine may provide some new insight to herbal remedies. Developed 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda remedies are not widely studied, but they have the advantage of being used for a very long time. Talk to your doctor about your hair loss, and discuss what options may be right for you.
Alopecia
According to the Mayo Clinic website, balding is technically called alopecia. Not just for men, alopecia affects women as well. Pattern baldness, called androgenetic alopecia, can affect approximately one-third of men and women, states the website. It is usually permanent, although there are some types of alopecia that are temporary. Called alopecia areata, it can affect your scalp or body hair. According to the website, hormonal changes, irritation, damage, stress, and genetics can all cause hair loss. Talk to your doctor if you are losing more than a normal amount of hair when showering or brushing.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is an ancient healing art developed in India approximately 5,000 years ago, states the book "The Ayurveda Encyclopedia." It is a holistic healing practice that believes the human body has a mixture of elements, such as air, water, fire, earth, and ether. These combinations make up a person's overall constitution, called a dosha. According to the Ayurveda Institute's website, there are three main doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. Vata is linked with air, pitta is associated with fire, and kapha is related to earth. A person is usually a mixture of all three, however, one or two may dominate. In a balanced person, there is harmony. Imbalances can cause symptoms and diseases to manifest.
Ayurveda and Alopecia
In Ayurvedic medicine theory, excesses of vata or pitta can cause hair to fall out at the root. The hair follicles will then fill with blood or kapha, inhibiting regrowth, states "The Ayurveda Encyclopedia." The treatment theory may involve reducing vata or pitta energies with appropriate herbs and diet, as well as stimulating circulation to the scalp. The book mentions the use of an herb called Bhringaraj, which is bitter and astringent and can be used topically and internally. Gotu kola can also be taken orally, while myrrh, cedar, jasmine, and black pepper can be applied topically. Don't take herbal medicine internally without discussing it with your doctor.
Bhringaraj
Clinical evidence of Bhringaraj is limited, although one study found it to contain levels essential minerals. Published in "Spectrochimica Acta: A Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy" in November 2008, researchers at S.V.D. College in India found that the herb contained iron, manganese, and copper. "The Ayurveda Encyclopedia" states that in Ayurvedic philosophy, Bhringaraj is the main herb for the hair. It is used to help prevent aging, graying, and balding. It may also maintain and rejuvenate hair, pitta, the kidneys, and the liver. This herb is not regulated by the FDA, so talk to your doctor if you want to try it.
Ayurveda Remedies
According to the book "The Ayurveda Encyclopedia," one remedy commonly used for hair loss is a paste applied to the balding areas. Sometimes the bald area is oiled and stimulated, then covered with a paste of black pepper, chitrak, cedar, wild licorice, Spanish jasmine and Ceylon jasmine. Ask your doctor about these herbal remedies before using them, and talk to a licensed Ayurvedic practitioner as well.
References
- The Mayo Clinic Website: Alopecia Information
- The Ayurveda Institute Website: Dosha Information
- "The Ayurveda Encyclopedia"; Tirtha, SS; 2007
- "Spectrochimica Acta: A Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy"; Characterisation of bhringaraj and guduchi herb by ICP-MS analysis, optical absorption, infrared and EPR spectroscopic methods; Reddy, SL; November 2008
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