THE AYURVEDIC WAY
Hair is one of the fundamental elements among the
various health components of the body such as skin and teeth etc.
It is the
mirror of the healthy individual. Nowadays hair problems have got a vital place
in health issues. It Is due to several aspects included in today’s lifestyle
like irregular and unhealthy styles of eating, poor hygiene of hair, hereditary
factors, hormonal causes, sleep related disorders and so on.
Even right
from childhood, all are facing hair problems, which is a serious health problem
in today’s world indeed.
It is
specifically mentioned that the mistakes made by an individual, is called as Pradhnyaparaadha in Ayurveda. Many of such hair issues have the
root in the diet and lifestyle of the person itself.
Hair problem
causes can be categorised under 3 major heads as follows
Dietary, Behavioural,
Psychological
1. Dietory causes-
As diet or food is the basic of the 3 needs
for survival, it definitely has a pivotal role in causing hair problems.
- Spicy, oily, junk food –which ultimately results
in pittavruddhi- leading to hair fall and of course obesity, which is the
major cause for hair fall and greying of hair.
- Atiksharyukta (excessive salty) food like wafers,
pickles, salted dry fruits and sour food like sauces etc.
- Viruddhanna sevan- frequent intake of food like curd, milk, rice and
salt together, fruit-salad, ice-cream with fruits, bananas with milk, milkshakes,
fish and milk etc..
- Excessive consumption of tea, coffee, aerated
drinks, which disturb digestion and leads to acidity and then to hair and
skin problems.
- Inadequate intake of calcium rich food like milk,
ragi curd, buttermilk etc.
All these above dietary causes lead to vitiation of the pitta
and vata dosha causing hair problems .Oily food leads to obesity (sthaulya), which
blocks the channels needed for the nutrition of the hair, ultimately leading to
the hairfall, greying and baldness.
2. Behavioural-
·
Atishrama
(excessive exertion)
·
Sleeplessness
(insomnia)
·
Excessive
exercise or lack of exercise
·
Continuous
exposure to temperature changes like air conditioner or heat.
·
While
driving, exposure to dust, heat, wind which results in hair fall, splitting of
hair etc.
·
Frequent
use of hair dryer for wet hair.
·
Frequent
use of artificial hair colours, dyes, gels, shampoos and lotions and frequent
changes in hairstyles.
·
Lack
of hair hygiene
·
Lack
of oil application to hair and improper combing styles.
·
Physiological
conditions like nursing mothers (calcium deficiency in body), menopause (osteoporotic
changes due to lowered calcium levels)
Above causes have major role in hair fall, dandruff and greying.
·
Some
conditions like alopecia and baldness have hereditary as well as hormonal
origin.
3. Psychological –
Krodha (anger), shoka (grief), bhaya, chinta (stress) lead to
vatapittavruddhi and also vitiation of
other doshas and dhatus.It results in hair greying and hair fall.
Solutions for the hair problems
·
Try
to have food with all rasas including bitter, madhur rasas etc.
·
Avoid
tea, coffee, cold drinks.
·
Avoid
salty, oily, junk, fried food.
·
Eat
green and leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli etc.
·
Eat
fresh fruits every day.
·
Chew
1 -2 tsp. of black sesame seeds, which is good for hair.
·
Avoid
viruddhanna as described earlier.
·
Have
food rich in calcium like milk, fresh curd, ragi etc.
·
As
properly cooked food is the key to healthy body, try to include various
ayurvedic recipies and spices like cumin seeds (jeerak), fenugreek seeds
(dhanyak) in cooking. This results in proper digestion and good health.
·
Have
sound and adequate sleep.
·
Practice
relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, listening to music to lower the
stress.
·
In
Ayurveda, panchakarma technique like “Shirodhara” is available which is proven,
quite beneficial for healthy hair. Consult the ayurvedic physician and get done
seasonal panchakarma, which not only prevent diseases, but also keep the
individual healthy like basti and nasya.
·
Ayurveda
considers the hair as the mala (a by-product of the metabolism)of the asthi
,take necessary treatment by the ayurvedic physician for the conditions like
alopecia and baldness.
·
Apply
ayurvedic medicated hair oil to scalp and hair with gentle scalp massage.
·
Wash
hair with ayurvedic hair wash powders, which keep the hair healthy.
·
Use
scarves or caps to cover the hair to protect from too much heat and wind
·
Consult
the doctor for the conditions like alopecia as early as possible.
This article, in nutshell, suggests you to follow and live
ayurveda for long, healthy, lustrous hair.
“Live Ayurveda & Be Healthy”
Dr. Prajkta Kulkarni ,
Asst. Professor, Sharir Rachana.
Tilak Ayurved
Mahavidyalaya, Pune
