Ayurvedic Medicine for Hair Loss
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Is it safe to use Ayurvedic medicine for hair loss?
Could this type of holistic healing be right for you?
This article looks at Ayurveda from a western perspective, to help you decide if it may work better for you than conventional remedies.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurvedic medicine - known as Ayurveda - is the primary healthcare system of India.
Developed there thousands of years ago, it is one of the world's oldest medical systems still in use today.
Although Ayurveda is a fairly new concept to the western world, it is slowly gaining in popularity, particularly when western medicine fails and patients seek new approaches to their conditions.
The internet has made information about Ayurveda much more accessible, of course, and you will quite often come across Ayurvedic remedies when searching for hair loss solutions online.
So What is the Difference Between Ayurveda and Conventional Medicine?
In the US and other western countries, doctors tend to diagnose a health problem, then prescribe a treatment (usually medication) for that particular problem.
Ayurvedic medicine, on the other hand, is focused more on promoting overall good health, rather than on treating specific diseases. Indeed, some view Ayurveda as more of a 'way of life' than a medical system.
A practitioner of Ayurveda (vaidya) strives to promote harmony between his patient's body, mind and spirit. The principle of Ayurveda is that this delicate balance is essential to good health and that any imbalance can result in disease.
Ayurvedic medicine, then, is based on a 'holistic' (whole body) approach, where treatments are very much tailored to the individual.
Treatments are based on all sorts of factors in addition to the symptoms presenting themselves... the patient's employment, for example, and current relationships.
By tackling problems this way, Ayurvedic practitioners aim to encourage the body to heal itself and to maintain good health in the future.
Clinical and laboratory research on Ayurveda is supported by the Indian government and by other institutions around the world.
Doshas
According to Ayurvedic medicine, there are three 'doshas', known as :
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
A dosha is a type of energy believed to circulate in the body. It influences a person's health, mental well-being and body type. Ayurvedic practitioners can determine a patient's dosha and identify any imbalance.
It is the imbalance which is then treated, with the aim of restoring the mind, body and spirit to complete harmony and good health.
Ayurvedic Treatments
Unlike most western medicine, treatments are not just drug based (although there are some remedies that may be commonly recommended for particular conditions).
Ayurveda encompasses a range of healing methods to rebalance doshas, including dietary changes, massage with herbal oils, meditation, yoga, elimination of toxins, stress reduction, counseling and supervised fasting.
Rather than being issued with medication and sent on their way, the patient of a vaidya will be given a program of treatment involving a combination of these methods.
Ayurvedic Medicine for Hair Loss
What Causes Hair Loss?
Experts in Ayurveda believe that hair loss is caused by too much 'pitta dosha' in the body.
They also believe that hair is a by-product of bone formation, or is produced as a breakdown of bone tissue. They say that the metabolism of this tissue is dependent on 'digestive fire', which must be balanced.
Too much pitta dosha, therefore, causes an imbalance which triggers hair problems.
What Causes Excess Pitta Dosha in the Body?
There are certain foods and habits that are believed to contribute to this imbalance and which may ultimately lead to hair loss.
These include too much:
- fried food
- greasy/oily food
- spicy/sour/acidic food
- salty food
- meat
- smoking
- tea
- coffee
- alcohol
Living in a hot climate is also believed to aggravate pitta dosha.
Ayurvedic Remedies for Hair Loss
There are many remedies for hair loss recommended by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine and I've listed some of the more common ones here.
Please click here before trying any of these remedies and always talk to your doctor first
- Aloe vera juice or gel. This is believed to be very good for digestion, helping balance the pitta dosha. Aloe vera may cause diarrhea if too much is consumed, so it's best to only try a little at first and gradually increase it to an amount that works for you.
Note from editor
I swallow a teaspoon of aloe vera gel every day, in a glass of water. I cut this from my own aloe plants, which I grow specifically for this purpose. In my experience, it does help considerably with digestion.
Personally, I would not recommend products containing aloe vera gel - I find the 'real' gel straight from the plant to be effective, without additives... and cheaper!
However, it is possible to buy aloe vera supplements online if those are more convenient for you.
Aloe Vera Supplements at Amazon- Fresh vegetable juices, including spinach, carrot and alfalfa.
- Yogurt - this is another favorite of mine because of its high protein content. Protein is important for hair growth - and Greek yogurt has the highest protein content of all.
- Lots of water to clear the body of toxins.
- Nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin B, sulphur, zinc and omega fatty acids - these nutrients are also recommended by western experts to promote hair growth. Please see this page for more information.
- Sesame seeds (these are rich in various nutrients that support healthy hair)
- Deep breathing to control stress.
- Inverted asanas (yoga pose as shown here) to stimulate blood flow to the head and increase hair growth.
- Bhringaraja. Sometimes called the 'king of hair', this herb is probably the most common Ayurvedic medicine for hair loss. Taken internally or used on the scalp as an oil, it is believed to stop hair loss and prevent premature graying.
- Brahmi. Also known as Indian Pennywort, this can be applied to the skin or taken as a supplement. It is believed to prevent hair loss and treat split ends and dandruff.
- Amla Oil. This comes from the Indian Gooseberry and can be used instead of conditioner. It is believed to prevent hair loss by strengthening the follicles.
- Neem Oil. This is believed to promote hair growth by nourishing the scalp. It also protects against dandruff and lice.
- Natural soap nuts - or 'ritha'. These are used for cleaning the hair without stripping it of its natural oils.
- Ashwagandha. This is believed to help strengthen the immune system, indirectly promoting healthy hair growth.
- Hot oil massage. Popular oils include coconut, almond, brahmi and amla. These oils nourish the scalp and hair, whilst massage increases the circulation of blood to the hair's roots. (NOTE: To safely warm oil, place it in a container, into a bowl of warm water).
- Horsetail. Recommended by some western hair loss experts too, horsetail is a good source of silica.
Western Perspectives of Ayurvedic Medicine for Hair Loss
Ayurvedic medicine has not been widely studied in the west - in fact, this interesting article published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medicine discusses how western research has focused more on the effects of certain Ayurvedic treatments, rather than in understanding Ayurveda's main concepts and principles.
In the US, Ayurvedic medicine is viewed as a type of CAM - Complementary and Alternative Medicine. According to a 2007 National Health Interview Survey, it was used by 200,000 US adults in the previous year.
The problems with using Ayurvedic medicine for hair loss in the west
In India, a practitioner of Ayurveda (vaidya) will have undergone years of extensive, state recognized, institutionalized training.
In the US, however, no states license Ayurvedic practitioners and there are no national standards for training.
This means that it is VERY important that you thoroughly check the training and background of anyone you consult regarding Ayurvedic treatment.
Buying Ayurvedic medicine for hair loss online
There are LOTS of Ayurvedic remedies available online and they can be very tempting to those of us affected by hair loss and anxious to find a solution as quickly as possible.
However, Ayurvedic products are considered 'dietary supplements' in the US. This means that they do not have to meet the same standards of safety and effectiveness as conventional medications.
In 2008, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) funded a study of the contents of Ayurvedic products bought over the internet. These products were either made in India or the US.
Worryingly, the research revealed that 21% of these products contained lead, mercury and/or arsenic that exceeded standards standards acceptable for daily intake.
Another problem with Ayurvedic medicines bought online is that they may produce side effects you weren't expecting. There is also the risk that they may interact with any conventional medications you are taking, causing unwelcome problems, or - if you try more than one Ayurvedic remedy at a time - may even interact with each other.
So Should you try Ayurvedic Medicine for Hair Loss?
To me as a hair loss sufferer, many of the principles of Ayurveda make perfect sense... and the idea of treating the body as a whole in order to tackle the issue of hair loss is an attractive one.
Indeed, many Ayurvedic treatments - such as ensuring the diet is rich in protein and other valuable nutrients, plus the use of scalp massage with certain oils - are more or less in line with western approaches to treating thinning hair.
Respected institutions such as John Hopkins agree that Ayurvedic medicine can certainly produce positive results, but it is very important to take the proper precautions if you wish to try Ayurvedic medicine for hair loss in the west...
- Speak to your doctor first and be sure to check that any remedies recommended to you are safe to use and will not conflict with other medications you might be taking. This is particularly important if you are pregnant or nursing.
- Thoroughly check the background and training of any Ayurvedic practitioner you consult about your hair loss. This page contains some good information about finding a well qualified practitioner.
- Don't try treating yourself with Ayurvedic medicine - ensure this is done only under the supervision of a well trained practitioner.
Have You Tried Ayurvedic Medicine for Hair Loss?
If so, then I would love to hear about your experiences.
Please do contact me here with any comments, tips or advice you may have.
Sources - and for more information
The Chopra Center - Understanding Pitta
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Comments from our readers...
Is it safe to use Ayurvedic medicine for hair loss?
YES! Ayurveda is, like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) excellent and safe for treating any number of things including hair loss. The only draw back is the cost as visits are costly and so is the medicine especially when you have to take it for a period of time.
My family and I only see an Ayurvedic doctor or a TCM doctor, with rare visits to Western doctors that we reserve for blood tests or radiology tests.
So give them a go... it is all natural and not only will your hair thicken but your eyes will shine and your skin will glow!
Good luck,
Anna
P.S. My daughter who is a distance runner was plagued with tenia (athlete's foot) on her toes that for years she could not get rid of with conventional treatments. The TCM doctor gave her a potion to drink and it went. That was several years ago... it has never come back! Same with my husband's chilblains. He was troubled each winter, now he does not remember ever having the condition!
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