10 Ayurvedic Home Remedy Tips to Stop Hair Loss

Men and women love to have thick, luscious, black hair.  It makes them feel young and confident.  But the numbers of men and women with healthy thick hair growth seem to be dwindling day by day.  There are a number of reasons for hair loss and similarly there are a number of home remedies too to treat this condition.

Long hair was a craze not so long ago.  Womenfolk would set aside time to take care of their hair, keeping the scalp adequately oiled and hair neat and untangled.  Washing the hair and drying it took a long time.  Spending so much time on hair has become a luxury for all these days.  People could not devote much time to hair care due to their hectic schedule.  It has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of people suffering from hair loss and poor hair growth.

Some reasons for hair loss include heredity, anemia, stress and anxiety, dandruff, autoimmune diseases like lupus etc, hypothyroidism, unclean or unhealthy scalp, fungus, chemicals, environmental pollution etc.

Take plenty of Fruits and Vegetables to arrest hair fall

Intake of healthy food like fruits and vegetables, keeping away from junk food and leading a stress free life, though sound clichéd, are still the basic tenets for healthy living as well as healthy hair.  So the first step to arrest hair loss is to adopt this healthy lifestyle.  This should be followed by trying a few home remedies specific to the individual’s condition.  Proper hair care takes time, but the benefits are there to be seen.

Some of the time-tested Ayurvedichome remedies for hair loss are given below.  Choose the one that suits you best, based on your body type and easy availability of ingredients.

Fenugreek Paste Arrests Hair Fall

Fenugreek is a great hair loss remedy.  The best way to use fenugreek is to make a paste with cow’s milk.  The paste made of fenugreek and milk is applied generously onto the scalp and washed off after 15 minutes with warm water and soap nut powder.  One note of caution.  This method is not suited for those who catch cold very easily.

Dried gooseberry, white pepper, kadukkai, aromatic turmeric (kasthuri manjal), and neem seeds of equal quantity are collected.  These are powdered individually and then mixed together.  A teaspoon of this powder is taken and boiled in milk to form a thick paste.  The paste is applied warm on scalp.  It is allowed to remain for 10-15 minutes and then washed off with soap-nut powder.

Arugampul (Bermuda grass) and athimathuram powder are added to coconut oil and boiled to reach a thick consistency of a thailam.  Filter the resultant preparation and store in a cool place.  This thick oil is applied to scalp and washed off after 15 minutes.  This is a very effective treatment for dandruff and hair loss.

Navacharam is the Tamil name for ammonium chloride.  One very effective way to combat hair loss due to fungus attack of scalp is to mix a teaspoon of navacharam in honey and applying the ensuing preparation on scalp, particularly in spots which have been affected by fungus.

Cut small onion (shallot) into half and rub it on the scalp where there is hair loss due to fungus, ringworm, or bacterial infection.  Wash off with warm water after 15 minutes.  Onion has well-known antibacterial and antiseptic properties and hence can help in arresting hair fall.  The same technique can be followed using wild garlic pods.  Freshly cut wild garlic pods are rubbed on scalp.  Garlic is also a well known antibacterial and antifungal agent which can prove beneficial in cases where hair loss is due to ringworm or other bacterial infections.  Care should be taken as some can be allergic to onion or garlic.  So the ideal way to benefit from garlic or onion is to test a small portion of the scalp initially and then if there is no reddening of scalp or unbearable itchy feeling, you can proceed to treat the rest of the affected areas of the scalp.

Henna Leaves help luscious hair growth

 Henna leaf is yet another time tested herb that helps in treating hair loss.  Collect two fistful of henna leaf and make a fine thick paste out of it.  The paste is patted flat and round into shape of a one rupee coin.  Allow this to try in shade for a day or two.  Drop these henna tablets into a bottle of sesame oil.  After 3-4 days place this bottle of sesame oil in hot sun for one day.  Heat the oil in stove and as the henna paste turns brown remove from stove and let it cool.  Store the oil in a bottle.  This henna steeped oil is applied on scalp and massaged thoroughly to prevent hair loss and premature graying.

Elephant tusk is prescribed in certain Siddha texts to treat hair loss due to fungal growth.  The tusk is burnt to ashes.  The ensuing fine powder is mixed in coconut oil and applied on fungus affected areas of the scalp.

Water amaranth (Ponnanganni in Tamil) and false daisy (karisalanganni, bhringraj) are two herbs used in preparing hair oil.  Bhringraj hair oil is a well known Ayurvedic hair oil for hair growth.  Both these herbs are cleaned and the leaves are ground to make a fine paste.  This paste is added to coconut and allowed to boil for 3-4 minutes.  Remove from heat and allow it to cool.  Store the oil in a bottle.  Apply this oil to scalp and hair every day.  This arrests hair fall and helps thick luscious hair growth.

Shallots, a remedy for fungal attack on scalp

Take a handful of small onions (shallots).  Cut them to thin slices.  Heat a liter of coconut oil and drop the onion slices into the oil.  When the onion slices start to float atop the heated oil, remove from heat and allow the oil to cool.  This oil is applied to the scalp once in two days for 10 to 15 minutes and then washed with soap nut powder.  This is an effective way to prevent hair loss.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Medicinal Uses of Curry Leaves

The curry tree (Murraya Koenigii) is native to India. The curry leaves are used extensively in South Indian and Sri Lankan cooking, especially in curries. Although thrown out later, the curry leaves are essential in providing the rich aroma to the curries. Recent studies have shown these leaves to possess anti-diabetic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective properties. They are also good for hair.

Curry leaves have plenty of Vitamin A and calcium. It also contains good amounts of amino acids. The leaves tend to excite the taste buds. They also help in quick digestion. Curry leaves take care of indigestion, stomach ulcers due to excessive acid secretion in stomach, diarrhea and other similar problems. It also prevents deposition of fat in various parts of the body.

One way to control blood sugar levels in a diabetic patient is to chew and eat a couple of curry leaves along with a few pepper corns first thing in the morning on empty stomach. The effectiveness of this remedy has led to studies on anti-diabetic property of curry leaves.

Take a handful of curry leaves, a dry red chilli and sauté them in ghee. Add a pinch of salt and pinch of tamarind to this and grind all of these to a fine paste adding water as necessary. This paste is mixed in hot rice and taken as a remedy for nausea, vomiting, digestive problems, diarrhea, bloated stomach etc.

Boils and similar eruptions appear on skin during summer. Most of the boils tend to subside over time, but some may persist and remain painful. Curry leaves come handy in treating such conditions. A paste made of curry leaves is applied on these persistent boils for quick relief.

Curry leaves are known to be effective in treating premature graying. Eating the leaves helps in strengthening hair roots. Add a handful of curry leaves to a litre of coconut oil and boil it for a few minutes. This hair oil is applied to the scalp. This is found to prevent premature graying as well as curing the condition.

Along with mint leaves and coriander leaves, curry leaves can be used in treating excessive pitta conditions. Some of the symptoms of excessive pitta include nausea and vomiting in the mornings. There may be even vomiting of bile. To treat this condition, make a paste of curry leaves with ginger, fried black gram, and salt. This paste is taken with food for a couple of days. This is very effective in treating nausea and vomiting due to excessive pitta.

The calcium content in curry leaves help in strengthening the bones. This can be had as a complementary treatment for people with osteoporosis and other similar conditions of the bone.

Thus curry leaves should be taken regularly for good health. Instead of throwing the leaves away from the curry, it would do a lot of good if we eat them. Thus curry leaves taken internally can strengthen the bones, improve digestion, and strengthen hair roots. External application helps hair growth. One of my earlier posts on Ayurvedic hair care details ways to make hair oil using curry leaves for premature grey hair.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Health Benefits of Oil Pulling

The best health benefit you can get from oil is to use it as a mouth rinse. This has been my experience. And you will agree with me if you browse through the experience of thousands who do ‘oil pulling’ everyday. I know many people who follow this simple process and safeguard themselves from unnecessary health complications. There are diabetics who are able to maintain their blood sugar at normal level just by adding ‘oil pulling’ to their usual daily regimen. Over a period of time they have even reduced the intake of insulin.

I have been ‘oil pulling’ for a couple of months. I use sesame oil of Idhayam Group. It comes in easy to use sachets. The company gives away these sachets for free as a form of social service and well as to create awareness among the people of Tamil Nadu. Thanks to our Parish Priest, every second Sunday people from this company come to our Sacred Heart Church in Kolathur, Chennai and give away free sachets. People from all walks of life, irrespective of religion, caste or creed gather here to collect the sachets. The participants number almost hundred and each share their experiences with one another. Each participant gets 30 sachets free. The ‘oil pulling’ community here is very active. Our Parish Priest got rid of his sinus problems with ‘oil pulling’ and prescribes this to everyone he meets.

I have seen here people cured of various ailments with ‘oil pulling’. Some of the ailments cured include headaches, eye irritation, hair loss, insomnia, migraine, bad breath, excessive sweating, heel fissures, acne, ulcers, etc. People with high blood pressure were able to regulate their BP with oil pulling. Most of the women told they were able to reverse hair loss with this simple process. Some were cured of asthma and bronchitis. It has helped people with varicose veins too.

I feel fresh everyday and have lots of energy. I don’t feel tired in the evenings. The food I eat tastes good. My mouth feels fresh. I cannot keep myself awake beyond 11 o’clock at night. I sleep like a log and get up refreshed in the morning. I am able to sit before the computer for quite a long time without getting tired.

Sesame oil and sunflower oil are considered best for ‘oil pulling’. You can use coconut oil also. Some use olive oil too. One of my earlier posts details how you can do this simple process. I request everyone of my readers to try this inexpensive ‘oil pulling’ and reap rich benefits. If you need any clarifications or help you can email me.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Some Medicinal Uses of Oil

Athi Oil

Athi oil is obtained by processing leaves, bark and fruits of Athi tree (Ficus retusa). The oil is used in treating cuts, burns, sores etc. It is an excellent home remedy for cat bite. This oil is still used in Tamil villages for treating the above-mentioned conditions. To prepare this oil you need the bark of athi tree, athi leaves, sesame oil and athi fruit.

The athi bark is powdered thoroughly. Tender athi leaves are ground to a fine paste. Same with tender athi fruits. The three are mixed thoroughly. This mixture is then added to sesame oil and then stored in a cool, dark place. After a week, you can start using the oil. Apply a thin coat of oil on the body. Skin diseases like eczema, scabies, skin allergies etc can be cured with regular application. This oil is very effective in treating acne and pimples. It is found to cure even persistent and tough acne, septic and pus filled pimples, acne scars etc. Athi oil is well known for its action on chronic sores and ulcers.

Cardamom Oil

Cardamom oil is known to provide a healthy sheen when applied on skin. It can be prepared the following way. The ingredients are cardamom 5 gm, camphor 5 gm, vetti ver 5 gm and sesame oil 200 ml. Make a fine powder by griding cardamom, camphor and vettiver in a mixie. Now heat sesame oil in a mud vessel and once it nears the boiling point and starts to give off vapors, drop the powder into the oil and let it cool. Store the oil in a bottle in a cool dry place. After childbirth, women can apply this oil on stomach, thighs and breasts to strengthen the sagging muscles in those areas. Stretch marks will start to disappear on regular application.

Olive Oil

Olive oil has excellent medicinal properties and is rich in antioxidants. It is ideal for those suffering from blood pressure, ulcers, indigestion, cancer etc. Though olive oil was not used in India, its easy availability these days has resulted in Indians starting to use olive oil both internally and externally. Olive oil is an excellent remedy for skin, especially during the winter and cold season. One way to get the maximum out of olive oil is to mix it with equal quantity of sesame oil and using that mixture to make a paste with green gram powder. This combination of green gram, olive oil and sesame oil can be applied on skin once or twice a week and can be washed off after 30 minutes to one hour. This is found to soften the skin and retain moisture.

Some newborns have black scaly patches on scalp. One can apply olive oil in these affected spots and gently comb the hair. A gentle olive oil head massage once a week followed by a warm water bath will help cure this condition.

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Ayurvedic Hair Care - Part 6

Home remedy for dark and thick black hair

Ingredients

Hibiscus (Shoe flower) the dark red ones 20 nos

Coconut oil 200 ml

Method

Heat the coconut oil and when it nears the boiling point, drop the shoe flowers with the stalk into the oil. As soon as the flowers are dropped remove the coconut oil from heat and allow it to cool. Strain out the flowers and store the oil in a bottle in a cool place. Apply this oil to your hair everyday for healthy hair growth.

Fenugreek remedy for arresting hair loss

Method

A handful of fenugreek seeds are soaked in water the previous night. The fenugreek is ground to a fine paste the next day morning. This paste is then applied to the hair roots. Allow the paste to stay for 5-10 minutes and then wash it off. Regular application will stop hair loss and will help healthy hair growth.

Home remedy for premature grey hair

Ingredients

White karisalankanni plant

Coconut oil or sesame oil

Method

Take a small whole white karisalankanni plant and pound it thoroughly. Make a fine paste of the pounded plant using a mixer. Make dime-sized tablets out of the paste and dry them in shade for a couple days. Once thoroughly dried, store these tablets in a bottle. Soak a couple of these tablets for two days in either coconut oil or sesame oil 50 ml as and when needed. This oil is applied on hair to treat premature greying of hair. For good results regular application for at least 2-3 months is recommended.

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Ayurvedic Hair Care - Part 5

If there are cuts or grazes on skin you can use usilam powder obtained from usilam tree leaves. This powder can be used instead of soap during the Friday/Saturday bath.

In case of skin conditions like scabies or eczema, iluppai oil cake obtained from Indian Butter tree can be an alternative for the usual soap.

Shikkakai powder or boondhi kottai powder can be used for cleaning if you are using herbal oil.

For those using cow’s ghee, green gram powder can be used for cleaning.

The Don’ts

On the day of this special weekly bath you have to observe the following dietary restrictions. You should not have vegetables like ash gourd, snake gourd, bottle gourd and milk. Salt, sour and pungent tasting foods should be reduced to the minimum. No daytime nap and no sex on those days.

The vegetables to be avoided are

• Ash gourd

• Brinjal or eggplant

• Pumpkin

• Cluster beans

• Mango

• Coconut

• Bottle gourd

• Bitter gourd

Onions should not be taken. Green gram, mustard, fennel seeds, sesame, groundnut, palm candy, milk, curds, tobacco, crab, fish, chicken, mutton, pork etc should be avoided.

Avoid alcohol and all other such products that induce an altered state of mind. You should not loiter around in hot sun after this bath.

The Do’s

You can have

• Tender broad beans

• Tender drumstick

• Tender brinjal

• Tender mango

• Indian gooseberries

• Sundakkai (Devil’s fig)

• Manathakkali (Black Nightshade)

• Pepper

• Cumin seeds

• Fenugreek

• Cardamom

• Asafetida

• Fried salt

• Cow’s ghee

As for non-vegetarian stuff you can take quail or iguana in moderation.

Adopting these dietary restrictions on Friday/Saturday bath can help fast and natural hair growth. Some more hair growth products will be detailed in my subsequent posts.

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Ayurveda Hair Care - Part 4

There is a saying in Tamil ‘sani neeradu’ which means ‘bathe on Saturdays’. Some conveniently take it to mean to bathe only on Saturdays, while others see this as a way to conserve water during the dry summer season. But the saying lays emphasis on a complete bathing after application of oil on scalp and the whole body. And it is an experience in itself. This Saturday bathing is meant for men, and women are supposed to have this bath on Fridays, I do not know why this is so.

Apart from the regular bathing on all the other days, this Friday or Saturday special bathing is still followed in many households in Tamil Nadu, India. It is followed as a ritual and when combined with other useful practices recommended by the Siddha system, this is found to re-establish a sort of harmony in the human system. The whole process takes at least 3-4 hours. It is a wonderful relaxing experience.

Proper and regular ‘Saturday bath’ strengthens your body. The mouth and jaws are strengthened. The eyesight gets sharper. The respiratory system improves. The hearing capacity improves. It helps hair growth. It is an excellent hair loss treatment.

With this bath, dry skin problems become a thing of past. You can prevent eczema, scabies and other such skin diseases. You won’t suffer from itchy skin. The body becomes clean and fresh. There is reduction in stress. It cools the brain.

Some things to keep in mind before taking bath

• The oil has to be bearably warm

• Place a bit more oil on the crown

• Also apply some oil to the soles of your feet

• If herbal oil you can instill two to three drops in your nostrils

• Also instill two to three drops in your ears

Similarly use warm water for this bathing.

Herbal oil can work wonders on proper application. When applied on the soles of your feet it cures diseases of the eyes. It improves the eyesight. When a few drops of this oil are instilled into the eyes it cures problems of the ears. A few drops to the ears cure ailments that afflict the head and scalp. It gives you a clear mind. When the oil is applied on head, it cures most of the diseases that affect the whole human body.

Sesame oil and coconut oil are the best ones for application on hair and scalp. Neem oil is also a good alternative except for the smell, which some may not like. Pure cow ghee can also be used as an alternative.

Pancha karpa oil is a Siddha preparation that can be safely used on hair that can benefit you in many ways. With regular usage it is found to strengthen the hair.

Ingredients:

Kasthuri manjal (turmeric)

Pepper

Neem seeds

Kadukkai (chebulic myrobalan)

Kernel of Indian gooseberry seeds

The above items are taken in equal quantity by weight. Cow’s milk equal to the total weight of the five ingredients is taken. All the five ingredients are ground to a fine powder. This powder is dropped into the milk and allowed to boil. This is allowed to reduce to two-thirds of the original quantity. This would have reached an oily consistency by this time. Now it is removed from stove and allowed to cool and then stored in a bottle. This is applied on hair and scalp. Regular application benefits the scalp and hair immensely. This helps to stop hair loss.

My next post will elaborate on the diet and other things to be observed after this special bath.

P.S: I had erroneously mentioned ‘linseed oil’ in some previous posts where it is supposed to be ‘sesame oil’. I have corrected the mistake.

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Ayurvedic Hair Care - Part 3

For healthy hair growth you should adopt certain healthy practices. The most important one is to apply oil to the scalp before bathing. Oil should be applied at least 15 minutes before a bath. Similarly the hair should be patted dry thoroughly after a bath. After this you can apply hair oil. You should ensure that the scalp does not remain dry for quite too long. The scalp and hair should have oil always.

Cleaning your hair is very essential to keep it healthy. Since India is a hot country, and more so the southern part, people sweat a lot and the dust gets settled on skin and scalp very quickly. Bathing twice a day would be ideal. One thing you need to keep in mind is that you should not bathe immediately after some strenuous work which had involved physical exertion. Do not bathe when you are dripping with sweat. Rest for a few minutes to let the body come back to the normal temperature and then have your bath. Also do not bathe immediately after a full meal.

After bathing use a towel to pat your hair and scalp dry. Ensure that the scalp is thoroughly dry. Do not use a hair dryer for this purpose. The hot air can damage the hair roots. Apply oil only after the scalp is patted dry.

Given below is a method to prepare the oil that is applied to scalp before bathing.

The ingredients are dried Indian gooseberry, fenugreek, and dried lemon peel. 50 gm of each of these are powdered and added to a liter of sesame oil. This oil is then applied to the scalp and allowed to stay for some 30 minutes and then washed off.

Another way is to apply sesame oil to hair. Now add soapnut powder, green gram powder, bengal gram powder, and powdered rice to rice congee. Make a thick paste of good consistency and apply the paste onto your hair and scalp. Wash it off after 30 minutes.

Another alternative is to apply sesame oil to hair. Then collect henna leaves, sesame, athimathuram, Indian gooseberries, and make a fine paste of these with cow's milk. Heat this fine paste a little and once it reaches a bearable level of heat apply it on the hair and scalp. Leave it for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off.

Another herbal preparation found to be very effective is to make a paste of karisalankanni leaves, nelli mulli and anthimathuram and applying it on the hair after the usual application of oil. This is then washed off after 10-15 minutes. This helps in luscious hair growth. The hair will have a nice fragrance and it will keep away diseases that affect your hair.

You can try a simple preparation to stop hair loss. For this you need to make a paste of split red gram (thuvaram paruppu in Tamil). Red gram is soaked in water the previous night. The next day morning it is ground to a fine paste and applied to scalp and washed off after 10 or 15 minutes. If you do this frequently, it will help in arresting hair loss and also aid in hair regrowth.

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Ayurveda Hair Care - Part 2

A healthy body begets a healthy mind. I would like to add healthy hair. A comprehensive hair care in Ayurveda starts inside out. Hair weakens with deficiency of vitamins or minerals in the body, or changes in food habits. Some common hair problems are hair fall, inadequate and lackluster growth, change of color, gradual receding of hairline leading to baldness, alopecia or round shaped small bald patches on scalp, dandruff and head lice, graying of hair.

Though many reasons could be attributed to the cause of the above mentioned conditions, the basic one according to Ayurveda is the body ‘heat’. A ‘heat body’ is somewhat akin to an acidic body, and this body ‘heat’ increases with anger, anxiety, confusion, jealousy, depression and such emotions. Some physical reasons could be constipation, walking barefoot in hot sun for long, etc.

Leading a stress free life is essential for good hair growth. Meditation or other such practices can help in managing stress in your life. Also you should start eating more fibrous foods and drinking more water. This alone can take care of constipation most of the time. Stubborn cases of constipation can be treated with some Ayurvedic laxatives. For people who walk too much in hot sun, one way to reduce their body ‘heat’ is the application of sesame oil on the soles of their feet. For this purpose they should clean their feet before going to bed and pat them dry with a towel. Sesame oil is then applied to the soles of both feet and rubbed vigorously for a minute or two. This is said to have a soporific effect and can induce a good night sleep. In addition, it reduces the body ‘heat’ too.

Is it necessary to apply oil to hair? While there is an ongoing debate on whether you need oil for hair growth, Ayurveda does suggest application of oil to help healthy hair growth. One of the famous hair oils that aids in hair growth is the neelibringadhi oil. This can be applied to the scalp after a bath. This oil is found to help arrest hair fall and activate luscious hair growth.

Application of oil to your hair helps in reducing the body ‘heat’. It keeps the hair fresh. The hair would not get tangled. The color of hair improves with regular application of oil. Since the oil strengthens the hair root, there is a reduction in hair loss.

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