Graying of hair is becoming one of the fastest growing problems. Everyone has a genetically determined time to get gray hair and no one can stop hair to turn gray. Some health conditions make the hair gray earlier than normal such as thyroid disorders, vitiligo, anemia and smoking. There are various Ayurvedic remedies to cure graying hair problems. The Ayurvedic name for graying of hair is Palitya.
The root hair is surrounded by a hair follicles, which is a thick layer of tissue. These hair follicles have number of malanocytes, pigment cells. These melanocytes produce a mealnin pigment which gives color to hair. Lighter or darker color of hair depends on the content of melanin. As we age, these hair follicles die and leads to less hair strands and less pigment content. Less melanocytes will give transparency to hair, and thus, causing hair graying. Hence, continuous loss of hair follicles causes complete graying of hair.
Ayurvedic View of Graying of Hair
- This condition is caused by pitta dosha aggravation.
- Factors such as stress, anxiety and anger are additional causes.
- Long lasting gastric upsets as well as chronic cold and sinusitis are also some of the predisposing factors.
Ayurvedic Cure for Graying of Hair
- Amla — Take approx. 1 teaspoon daily dried amla powder with honey twice a day. Washing the hair with amla powder is also beneficial. Mix powdered dried amla in lemon juice, apply into the hair and massage on the scalp.
- Henna — Add henna leaves to some mustard oil and heat gently to make an easy, home made medicated hair oil.
- Sesame oil — Sesame oil massage on the scalp helps improve hair growth and also helps in preventing hair loss and premature graying.
- Pound dried amlas to make a powder and mix with water to make a paste. Apply this paste onto the hair half an hour before a head wash. Repeat 2 or 3 times a week.
- Mix approx. 100 grams each of drier, powdered amla, brahmi and bhringraj, shikakai and henna into 1 kilograms coconut oil. Heat on a a very low flame preferably in an iron pan till mixture becomes smooth. Filter and use as a hair oil everyday or on alternate days.
- Take 1 teaspoon of powdered mixture of amla, harad and baheda preferably with lukewarm water once or twice daily for a few days.
These are some of the Ayurvedic remedies for graying of hair.
Characteristic Symptoms of Hair Graying
- Graying of hair begins at a younger age.
- Premature graying portrays the person as much older than the person’s actual age.
