Shahnaz Husain, who received
international acclaim for pioneering the Herbal beauty care movement and taking
the Indian herbal heritage of Ayurveda worldwide, shares her experience.

It is due to the medicinal properties of Ayurvedic
ingredients that I have promoted our ancient system of herbal healing
throughout the world. At a time when the modern world is staggering under the
side effects of chemicals, Ayurveda is the only alternative.

Seeing the damage caused by chemicals, I embraced Ayurveda
and made it relevant to modern cosmetic care and cures. Innovation has been the
basis of our formulations. For instance, we made the Chemoline range to
alleviate the effects of chemotherapy and radiation on the skin and hair. An
article I read on cancer and the side effects of chemotherapy had a deep impact
on me. It said that cancer cases are expected to surge in the next 25 years.
Chemotherapy, the treatment given for cancer, has several side-effects and one
of the most visible and distressing is hair loss and skin problems, like skin
sensitivity and pigmentation. This happens because chemotherapy does not target
only cancer cells, but affects other cells of the body. The hair follicles also
get affected and so does the skin. In most cases, the hair comes out in clumps.

It was the extreme distress of cancer patients due to hair
loss and skin problems that prompted me to start working on Ayurvedic
ingredients, known for their powerful healing properties. They actually help to
set up a healing process in the body and also help to calm the nerves and
reduce stress. Our Chemoline Scalp tonic draws upon the soothing and healing
properties of ingredients like amla,
manjishtha, hibiscus, brahmi, trifala and fenugreek seeds, which have a
gentle, cooling effect on the scalp and promote blood circulation to the hair
follicles. This restores the natural balances and helps the absorption of
nutrients, thus checking hair loss and promoting healthy hair growth.

Brahmi, for instance, helps to reduce
stress-related conditions. We worked on ingredients that help to soothe skin
and scalp sensitivity. With the skin, there are problems like dryness, moisture
depletion, redness, itching, peeling, allergic rashes or hives. The Chemoline
skin cream contains plant oils and extracts, like aloe vera juice, date, chironji, along with wheatgerm oil,
argan oil and almond oil which heal, soothe and nourish the skin. 

In my long experience of treating hair loss, including
Alopecia, I have found Ayurvedic ingredients extremely useful, due to their
powerful healing properties. They not only help to aid the removal of toxins
and stimulate hair growth, but many of these herbs have been known to calm the
nerves and reduce stress. They also contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes and
other valuable substances, which are imperative for hair health. Brahmi helps in treating stress-related
hair problems, while herbs like Bhringaraj
and Manjishtha have powerful tonic
properties. Amla is the richest
source of Vitamin C and also helps to restore the ideal balance. Trifala, a combination of three herbs,
is known to promote hair growth and is one of the important ingredients of our
specialized hair tonic. Plant ingredients and natural substances do not harm
the structure of the hair. In fact, they help to strengthen the hair.

As part of our CSR activities, we have sent Chemoline products
free of  cost to cancer hospitals, like
Sloan Kettering, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Dharamshila
Cancer Hospital, MNJ Cancer Hospital, Tata Memorial, etc.

We have also become known for our therapeutic products and
treatments for specific skin and hair problems like acne, pigmentation,
premature ageing, scars, dandruff, hair damage, hair loss / alopecia, etc. The
Ayurvedic ingredients that we use not only have specific curative properties,
but have no harmful after-effects. In fact, many of them help to soothe the
skin and cure inflammatory conditions. Therefore, we must return to Ayurveda,
because our future lies in turning the time clock back to natural living. India
will lead the international cosmetic world over the next decade with the plant
power of Ayurveda.