Some Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Hair Loss and Hair Growth

Curry leaves are ground to a fine paste and then shaped to a solid cake. 500ml coconut oil is heated and when it reaches boiling point, add this cake to the oil. The oil is then let to cool after adding a pinch of camphor. The oil is then stored in a bottle. Regular application of this oil clears premature graying of hair.

For baldness of the young (below 18 years) garlic is ground in honey and rubbed in the bald areas frequently (3-4 times a day).

Paste of henna leaves 100 ml, cow milk 1 litre, sesame oil 500 ml are mixed and boiled together. Allow this to cool and store in a bottle. Regular application of this oil helps in healthy hair growth.

Acalypha Indica (common name Indian copperleaf, or Indian nettle) (kuppaimeni in Tamil) 300 ml, its root and its bark 10 gm each are ground together, mixed in 350 ml coconut oil and boiled and cooled. Application of this on the scalp is an excellent ayurvedic home remedy for hair loss.

Chlorine, hair fall and Ayurveda

One reason for hair loss or early baldness is the chemical content in the water we drink and bathe, especially for people who live in big towns and cities. The civic agencies add chemicals to water to eliminate disease causing germs and make it potable. They add chlorine to kill bacteria and fluoride to aid healthy teeth. This water is then supplied through the public distribution system. When we drink this water we ingest harmful chemicals that can play havoc with our health.

One way to overcome this problem is by drinking bottled water. But that too has its own perils. First off we are not sure of the additives that make the water tasty. Also, bottled water may be stored for long periods of time before they reach us. This also can bring down its purity.

Both fluorine and chlorine are detrimental to our health when ingested over a long time. Fluoride affects our thinking and is detrimental to brain tissues. Similarly chlorine causes arteriosclerosis i.e., narrowing of arterial walls. This can lead to heart attack. It exacerbates asthma and respiratory illnesses. Externally, chlorine irritates the skin and aggravates allergies.

Also when we take a shower using chlorinated water, our skin is exposed to the harmful effects of chlorine. Our scalp just like the bottom our feet easily absorbs chemicals they come in contact with. It is said that we absorb more chlorine this way that by drinking a glass of chlorinated water.

Using a shower filter is a good solution. A search in the internet can get you a good one. And if you swim a lot, use swimming caps.

Now a remedy for a particular type of hair fall.

Some have the problem of round patches of hair falling out completely. This condition is called alopecia areata. It is also called spot baldness. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease. In most cases, the hair grows back completely.

Ayurveda texts suggest elephant teeth or tusk for this. People who make toys out of ivory leave out small bits and pieces as waste. Collect this waste and place them in a wide mouthed mud pot. Close this pot with a clay lid or another pot and the whole set up is covered with wet earth. Burn this whole set up in open air (this will give out a very strong odour hence outdoor burning). Once the pieces are burnt to ash, powder it, and mix it with equal amount of anjana stone or anjanakall (you will get it from herbal shops in Tamil Nadu and Kerala). Grind them to a fine paste. Apply this paste to the affected areas.

If you find it difficult to get this, you can get gajathantha basmam from ayurveda medical shops. Mix this basmam with a few drops of maalathyathi thailam and make a fine paste. Apply this paste over affected areas. After a few days, hair will grow in the affected area. At this stage, mix maalathyathi thailam with neelibringamala thailam and again apply it over the scalp and hair roots in this area. You will find that hair starts go grow lusciously over the affected part.

Also aarakvadharishtham 20 ml taken internally both morning and evening after food can help strengthen the hair follicles.


Note: All information in this blog is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, consult your doctor.

Some Home Remedies of Siddha System

From today for the next thirty days I will be blogging about home remedies based on Siddha medicinal system. Siddha system is said to be the oldest form of medicinal system, a few centuries older than Ayurveda. It is said that the Siddha system was developed by Siddhas or the enlightened ones.

The history of Siddha system is an interesting one as is the history of the Siddhas who developed it. These Siddhas were said to be spiritually evolved personalities who gained insight of the mysteries of universe through their austere meditation practices.

Most of the herbs used to make Siddha concoctions are available in South India and Sri Lanka. Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu is the abode for various medicinal herbs.

I will start with the head problems, or hair problems rather. After scouring through my collections I came across the following two remedies for head lice.

1. Before going to bed, spread leaves of Karunthulasi (Ocimum Sanctum no labiatae) also known as Krishna thulasi on your pillow. Sleep on the leaves. Lice will go away unable to bear the smell of the leaves.

2. Mix mercury in kuppaimeni (acalypha indica) juice. Soak a cotton twine in this mixture. After some time take out the twine and dry it in shade. Before going to bed tie one of the twine to the hair and leave the other end hanging over to the ground. It is found that lice will go out through this twine.

Given below is a preparation that helps luscious hair growth.

Gooseberry juice one litre and fresh kadukkai juice one litre are mixed in a glass container. 100 gm of serankottai or semecarpus anacardium nut is cut to pieces and added to this mixture. This mixture is then transferred to a glass bottle and the lid closed tight. The bottle is buried in earth for one month.

After one month, take the bottle out, filter the ingredients. Take two litres of pure coconut oil, heat it over stove and add the filtered liquid onto coconut oil. Heat the whole mixture for sometime and let it not boil. Cool the oil and filter it again. Save the oil in a bottle. Apply one teaspoonful of this oil to your scalp for luscious hair growth. This also helps to cure premature graying.

Siddha System a precursor to Ayurveda, and Siddha herbs for Hair

As mentioned in my earlier article, Siddha system of medicine was developed in South India. The early text books written by Siddhas were in Tamil. The Dravidian civilization was at its zenith then. Plenty of notes on the Siddha medicines could be found in epics of those times. Thirumoolar Thirumandiram and Tholkappiyam are examples. This was before the Aryans occupation of the Sind region and Gangetic plain.
The therapeutics of Siddha medicines consist of mainly metals and minerals and herbs. The earlier Ayurveda texts do not mention metals and minerals, while from the beginning Siddha texts mention mercury, sulphur, copper, arsenic and gold and there usage in therapy.
Siddha medicinal philosophy is based on the premise that what is there in the cosmos is there in human body, in short humankind is made up of the same material as that of the universe. The system sees harmony in the Universe and wants to establish the same harmony in the human body mind and spirit using the herbs, minerals and metals.
Another feature of the Siddha medicine is that most of the preparations are in compond formulation. So by its synergistic action, toxicity is diminished. The pharmacodynamics of this system is entirely different from other systems of medicines.
To know more about some great Siddhas like Bhogar etc visit the website. Thiswebsite mainly deals with the alchemy aspect for which the Siddha system is very famous.
Now for some remedies for hair problems.

A noted Siddha remedy for dandruff. Take 5 gm of alum, green vitriol 1 gm and mix them in water. Apply the mixture on the scalp and wash it off after 15 minutes. Do not use plastic or rubber combs to the hair for a few days. Bathe your head with neem bark decoction.

For premature greying and dizziness. Curry leaves (250 – 400 gm) are ground to a fine paste and then moulded to small round flat forms and dried in shade. Heat coconut oil 1kg over stove and add this dried curry leaf cakes when the oil is about to boil. Add a tiny amount of camphor to the oil and allow the whole oil to cool. Once cooled, store the oil in a glass bottle. Regular application of this oil, (once a day) should solve premature greying.

Ayurveda for Dandruff

Ayurveda texts mention that our human skin has a thin waxy covering on it. This is to protect the surface of the skin from drying up. Ayurveda recommends application of a thin coat of oil to skin to preserve this waxy layer. When the skin gets dried it results in breaking of the skin. This leads to complications like chapped skin, dandruff etc.

Always ensure that there is oil on hair and skin. Never allow the skin to get dry. Avoid frequent usage of shampoo. Shampoos have a tendency to remove the oil from skin and hair leaving them dry.

Natural substances like shikakai (soap nut) powder too should be used in moderation to prevent drying up of scalp and skin. To help retain the oil, rice porridge water (conjee) can be added to make a consistent paste before application.

When the hair roots dry up, the outer layer of the scalp breaks up and come off as flakes leading to dandruff and hair loss.

Neelibringadhi oil, triphaladhi oil, kayyunyathi oil are all excellent preparations for the scalp. After bath apply a thin layer of any one of these oils.

Henna leaves, linseed, athimathuram (Indian liquorice), nellimulli (small caltrops) of equal quantity are ground together to make a fine paste and this paste is applied on scalp 10-15 minutes before bath. Similarly karisalankkani leaves, nellimulli and athimathuram can be used in the same manner.

If there is itching of hair root, dandruff etc nalpamarathi thailam, dinesavalyathi thailam, dhurvathi thailam, etc can be used. Anyone of these can be applied to the scalp 10-15 minutes before bath.

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.

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.

Medicinal Properties of Fenugreek

Fenugreek has been used as a home remedy to treat a number of ailments ranging from stomach ache, arresting hair fall, increase virility, general tonic etc.

Fenugreek of late has drawn the attention of the medical world for its anti-diabetic properties. It is available in capsule form in many health food stores.

It can

1. Pacify heat.
2. Stop diarrhea.
3. Soften skin
4. Cure cough.
5. Cure mouth ulcers.

The list goes on and on. My other blog on Siddha Home Remedies lists some of the home remedies that can be made using fenugreek to cure many ailments.

A Simple Ayurvedic Hair Oil for Hair Care

One formula for hair growth used from time immemorial is given below. It has both external and internal components.

The four main ingredients needed to prepare this concoction are

1. Juice of henna leaves 200 ml
2. Juice of karisalankanni leaves (false daisy or swamp daisy) 200 ml
3. Juice of adukku chembaruthi (hibiscus flower and buds) 200 ml
4. Juice of kariveppilai (curry leaves) 200 ml.

Add all the juices to 800 ml of coconut oil and heat the combination.

Anjana kal is a sort of black stone available in local herbal stores in South India. 40 gm of this is ground to a fine powder and sieved using a fine piece of cloth. Also 40 gm of ashes of coconut shell is sieved and stored.

The oil is heated to the required level (one way to test this is to see whether a grain of paddy when dropped into the oil turns to a puffed one).

Place the anjana kall powder and coconut shell powder in a wide mouthed steel vessel. Cover the mouth with a cotton cloth to filter. Pour the hot oil into the vessel and let it cool. Store it in a cool dry place.

Regular application of this oil helps in hair growth. It can be used by people of all ages.

To further strengthen hair growth, ‘lohasavam’ 15 ml can be taken twice a day (morning and before bed).
‘Narasimha Rasayanam’ 1 teaspoon twice a day also helps.

Ayurvedic Hair Care Tips - Part 1

Human hair grows to half an inch per month. The hair can be divided into three parts, the bulb, the root and shaft. The bulb is the swelling at the base below the root that comes up from the dermis, the root is the portion of hair beneath skin surface and shaft is the hair above skin surface. Life span of a human hair is said to be between two to three years. It is normal to shed 50 to 70 strands per day.

Excessive hair loss can be attributed to weak hair roots. Some of the reasons for hair loss include heredity, infection of scalp, certain drugs, stress, environmental pollution, chlorine in water, hormonal imbalances, menopause, pregnancy, diseases like typhoid, flu etc.

Some more reasons for hair loss include

• lack of essential nutrients in body

• dust that is not cleaned off from scalp

• cleaning hair with excessive hot or excessive cold water

• scalp not patted dry after a bath

• application of oil on scalp after a bath without proper drying

Some precautions to be observed:

• Do not allow others to use your comb, keep it to yourselves.

• Avoid combs with very sharp teeth.

• Never use a dirty comb

• Change your comb after a month.

• Do not use combs of others.

• Do not comb in a hurry. Take your own time to comb your hair.

• Run your comb gently through your hair. Never test your strength with your hair.

Coconut oil has been used from time immemorial for luscious hair growth. Application of coconut oil on scalp nourishes the hair roots and strengthens hair follicles.

One inexpensive way to have a soft and shiny hair is to apply not so sour curd obtained from cow’s milk onto to your hair. After about fifteen minutes you can clean off the hair with lukewarm water.

Records show that our ancestors cared for their long hair with the help of herbs and oils. They took time to dry their hair and expose it to scented fumes. They prepared herbal oils that nourished the hair roots and hair follicles. Above all they led a stress free life which should have been the primary reason for their healthy hair.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Siddha Remedies for Hair Problems

Writings of Siddhars

The Siddhars presented their recipes for herbal tinctures and base metal amalgams in poetic form. In fact all of their writings, be it their philosophical ideas or yogic practices all of these were in poems with difficult meters similar to those of the epics of the Sangam Age of Tamil Nadu.

Their works are full of tantric imagery, references to Kundalini, the sleeping serpent power that resides in each of us, and also ways to control this power. The esoteric nature of their imagery and their philosophy which defies human logic resulted in their works still being not translated.

To know more about Siddhars click here.

The Siddhars have classified diseases as 4,448 in number and prescribed medicines in the form of herb, roots, salts, metals and mineral compounds. They formulated methods to process metals, minerals, herbs and natural raw materials to make churnams, chenthurams and leyhams, etc. (Churnam is in the form of powder, leyham is in the form of a thick paste). Siddha practitioners claim that there is mention of treating AIDS in the writings of the Siddhars. AIDS was called "Vettai Noi" in the Siddha parlance. In Chennai some AIDS patients are treated with Siddha remedies along with their regular allopathic treatment.

"Vettai Noi" is due to Azhal Kurtrum (fault of pittam or bile, acidic nature) exhibited in the blood stream. To treat this they prescribe a regimen based on herbs namely arugampul(Cynodon Dactylon Pers), karisilankanni (Eclipta Alba Hassk), musumusukkai (Mukai Scavrillia), thoodhuvalai (Solanum Trilobatum Linn) and jeeragam (Luminum Cyminum)

Now for some Siddha remedies for baldness.

Athimathuram (Indian Liquorice) is powdered. Buffalo’s milk is added and made into a paste. This paste is applied to the bald areas. Bathe after 5 – 10 minutes. Regular application helps hair growth in bald areas.

Kuppaimeni (Acalypha Indica) and coconut oil ½ litre each is taken. Root of kuppaimeni 35 gm is cleaned and ground to a fine paste. This is added to the coconut oil. Again add kuppaimeni juice to the oil and heat the whole mixture. Allow the mixture to boil for a while. Remove this from stove and allow it to cool. Filter the mixture and store the oil in a bottle. Apply this oil on head 15 minutes before you take bath. This too helps baldness.

Some More Remedies for Baldness and Hair Loss

One Siddha preparation that can help cure premature balding is to rub garlic in honey and applying the ensuing paste in areas bald. Regular application once a day can help hair growth in those areas.

In case of bald patches due to autoimmune disease following remedies may be used. Pepper powder, small onion (shallot) and salt are ground together to a fine paste and applied on affected areas. Another remedy is to burn and char elephant tusk and mix this powder in honey to form a fine paste. Apply this paste on affected areas. Both these methods are effective in treating bald patches.

Sometimes there is loss of hair as a side effect of certain fevers. In such circumstances, after head bath first wipe out all water using a soft towel. Then grind an onion to a fine paste. Mix honey to this paste and apply it in affected areas.

Take 100 ml of kuppaimeni juice and 100 ml of coconut oil. Mix the two in a wide pan. Also crush 25 grams of root of kuppaimeni plant and extract its juice in a separate bowl. Now heat the 100ml kuppaimeni juice and 100 ml coconut oil mixture. After 5 minutes add the root extract to it and allow the mixture to simmer for another 5 minutes. Remove from fire and allow it to cool. Store it in a bottle in a cool dry place. Apply regularly on scalp for quick results.

Another hair oil based on Siddha herbs. Juice of henna leaves 50 ml, cow’s milk 500 ml, sesame oil or gingely oil 400 ml are mixed and heated. Allow the mix to boil for sometime. Once it is boiled for nearly 5 min, allow it to cool and store in a bottle. This oil is helps in luscious hair growth.

Now a cure for headache.

Kasthuri manjal (curcuma aromatica), karuva pattai (wild cinnamon), sandal paste, korai kizhangu) (coco grass or nutgrass), samprani (Boswellia serrata Var glabra), cloves (krambu), vaal milagu (Java pepper) 4 gm of each of these are collected and ground to a fine paste using mother’s milk. Heat the mix to boil and then allow it to cool. When it reaches a lukewarm state, apply on forehead, nape, as a thick paste. This can help cure chronic headaches. 

A Simple Ayurvedic Hair Oil for Hair Care

One formula for hair growth used from time immemorial is given below. It has both external and internal components.

The four main ingredients needed to prepare this concoction are

1. Juice of henna leaves 200 ml
2. Juice of karisalankanni leaves (false daisy or swamp daisy) 200 ml
3. Juice of adukku chembaruthi (hibiscus flower and buds) 200 ml
4. Juice of kariveppilai (curry leaves) 200 ml.

Add all the juices to 800 ml of coconut oil and heat the combination.

Anjana kal is a sort of black stone available in local herbal stores in South India. 40 gm of this is ground to a fine powder and sieved using a fine piece of cloth. Also 40 gm of ashes of coconut shell is sieved and stored.

The oil is heated to the required level (one way to test this is to see whether a grain of paddy when dropped into the oil turns to a puffed one).

Place the anjana kall powder and coconut shell powder in a wide mouthed steel vessel. Cover the mouth with a cotton cloth to filter. Pour the hot oil into the vessel and let it cool. Store it in a cool dry place.

Regular application of this oil helps in hair growth. It can be used by people of all ages.

To further strengthen hair growth, ‘lohasavam’ 15 ml can be taken twice a day (morning and before bed).
‘Narasimha Rasayanam’ 1 teaspoon twice a day also helps.

Hair Care in Ayurveda

Human hair has had an important social significance for human beings throughout the history of mankind. It has been a symbol of love and respect in many traditions. In the Hindu tradition, the first born son tonsures his head on the death of his father or mother. This rite of tonsuring the head is done on the day of cremation. He also shaves off his mustache. The next day, the son is taken in procession from his home to the crematorium to take part in the rites and ceremonies performed at the crematorium. You can find this act of giving away of hair as a sign of respect, mourning and for various other reasons in different cultures throughout the world.

The biblical character Samson was said to have had his strength in his hair. When his hair was cut he lost his strength. He regained his strength when the hair grew back again.

Pictures of Lord Jesus depict him with shoulder length hair. The great gurus and rishis were said to have had thick lock of shoulder length hair. The great Fathers of the Church were always found with long hair and beard. The pictures of the great poet Thiruvalluvar show him with shoulder length hair which is tied at the top as a knot.

Devotees in India offer their hair as a token of love and thanksgiving to Lord Balaji in Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh. Men of certain religious faith like Orthodox Jews and Sikhs for example may never cut their hair or shave some or all of it.Womenfolk of orthodox Christianity and Judaism cover their heads using headscarves as a sign of modesty.

Cutting off hair or tonsuring in public was meted out as punishment. Heads were shaved in the concentration camps of Second World War. Long hair of women was cut as a sign of punishment.

More recently, Yoko Ono, wife of John Lennon cut her long hair on her husband’s assassination. She said “John loved my hair, so I gave it to him”. Hippies of the 60s and 70s grew long hair to show their antipathy towards the mainstream society.

Though hair is not considered necessary for survival, loss of hair or baldness does cause a lot of stress in most of the people.

Women tend to be more careful in the upkeep of their hair. Women with long hair clean it regularly and take extra care in maintaining it. Hair grows and stays well in a healthy body. Care should be taken to keep the scalp clean and free from dust.Frequent usage of shampoo with chemical contents can harm the scalp. Dry scalp is a fertile place for dandruff. Dandruff on scalp can lead to weakening of hair root and result in hair loss. It is very difficult to eradicate dandruff once it has set in. It can also lead to baldness.

Hair loss due to hereditary genetic condition like male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness can be can be reversed with judicious use of excellent herbs and oils. Ayurveda and Siddha manuscripts mention number of hair oils as well as oral preparations that help in restoring hair and preventing hair loss.

Mainstream system utilizes oral drugs like finasteride or minoxidil for hair growth.These drugs were originally meant for treating BPH and high blood pressure and the hair growth was a side effect. The side effect of using these drugs for hair growth remains to be seen. Finasteride is found to cause birth defects in unborn baby of pregnant women. This drug can be absorbed by the skin and so pregnant women should not handle this drug.

I will introduce you to some herbal preparations that help in hair growth as well as prevent hair loss in my subsequent posts.

Ayurvedic Hair Care Tips - Part 1

Human hair grows to half an inch per month. The hair can be divided into three parts, the bulb, the root and shaft. The bulb is the swelling at the base below the root that comes up from the dermis, the root is the portion of hair beneath skin surface and shaft is the hair above skin surface. Life span of a human hair is said to be between two to three years. It is normal to shed 50 to 70 strands per day.

Excessive hair loss can be attributed to weak hair roots. Some of the reasons for hair loss include heredity, infection of scalp, certain drugs, stress, environmental pollution, chlorine in water, hormonal imbalances, menopause, pregnancy, diseases like typhoid, flu etc.

Some more reasons for hair loss include

• lack of essential nutrients in body

• dust that is not cleaned off from scalp

• cleaning hair with excessive hot or excessive cold water

• scalp not patted dry after a bath

• application of oil on scalp after a bath without proper drying

Some precautions to be observed:

• Do not allow others to use your comb, keep it to yourselves.

• Avoid combs with very sharp teeth.

• Never use a dirty comb

• Change your comb after a month.

• Do not use combs of others.

• Do not comb in a hurry. Take your own time to comb your hair.

• Run your comb gently through your hair. Never test your strength with your hair.

Coconut oil has been used from time immemorial for luscious hair growth. Application of coconut oil on scalp nourishes the hair roots and strengthens hair follicles.

One inexpensive way to have a soft and shiny hair is to apply not so sour curd obtained from cow’s milk onto to your hair. After about fifteen minutes you can clean off the hair with lukewarm water.

Records show that our ancestors cared for their long hair with the help of herbs and oils. They took time to dry their hair and expose it to scented fumes. They prepared herbal oils that nourished the hair roots and hair follicles. Above all they led a stress free life which should have been the primary reason for their healthy hair.