Healthy, black hair is a symbol of beauty and also indicates
the wellness of the mind and the body. Ayurveda too attaches importance to
maintenance of healthy black hair throughout one’s life. However, cases of
premature greying are increasing nowadays.
Causes
Premature greying occurs due to gradual reduction in melanin production
in the hair bulb. Inadequate nutrition (deficiency of Vitamin B, iron, copper
and iodine in daily diet), hereditary factors, unhealthy and unhygienic scalp, use
of harsh shampoo, soap and other hair styling methods using hot water or hot
air, emotional disturbances, anger, over physical exertion, smoking and certain
medical conditions like thyroid disorders and anaemia may slow down the natural
skin pigment. Severe illnesses too can stop or affect its production. Scientists
though are yet to be able to fully explain the exact causes of this change in hair
colour.
Ayurveda says hair colour changes due to the vitiations of pitha dosha. Regular and heavy intake of
food items with high quantity of salt, sourness and alkali vitiates pitha dosha and causes premature
greying.
Prolonged and a high degree of grief, tiredness and anger
makes the body hot and that hotness reaches the head and finally causes greying
of hair. The Sanskrit term palitham is
used in Ayurveda to explain greying of hair. Premature greying is akala palitham. There are many remedies
in Ayurveda to cure premature greying. Nasya
Karma (administration of medicines through nostrils) is one of the major
treatment protocols. There are various drug formulations described for nasya treatment. The well-known formulation called anuthailam, neelyadi thailam,
processed with jeevaneeya ganam, Neem
oil (oil of Azadirachta indica) etc, are used for nasyam. The use of sodhana
karma of panchkarma treatment procedure
has prime importance in the remedies mentioned for premature greying. Nasya karma and external application of
oils after sodhana karma will give
more effect.
Another procedure is the use of rasaayana drugs after sodhana
karma. Narsimha Rasayanam is one
among the main rasayana formulations
mentioned in various classical texts. Bhringaraja
(Eclipta alba), Khadira (Acacia
catechu) and iron are the main ingredients in this formulation. Chyavanaprasam and Brahma Rasayanam with Indian gooseberry as a major ingredient are a
few other rasayanam drugs used against
premature greying by an Ayurvedic physician. Also various oil preparations such
as Nelibringadi Thailam, Kayyunnyaadi thailam and Prapoundareekaadi Thailam are externally
applied on the head. Neeli
(Indigifera tinc toria), Bhringaraja
(Eclipta alba) and Indian gooseberry are mainly used in these oil formulations.
If one follows Ayurvedic health care protocols like ideal
food habits, minimal anxiety and use of Rasayana
drugs, one can prevent premature greying, and delay normal greying during old
age. It is not easy to totally avoid greying of hair with any simple remedies,
especially when it occurs hereditarily in families.
Home remedies
n A mixture of Lohachoornam, Bringaraja (Eclipta alba), Thriphala (Terminali chebula, Emblica officinalis and Terminalia
bellirica) and black mud kept in sugarcane juice for one month can be used for
eternal application.
n A combination of Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Thailam
(seed of Sesamum indicum), padmakinchalkam
(stamen of lotus) and yashtemadhu
(glycyrrhiza glabra) are mixed with honey and used for external application.
Bhringaraja (Kayyunyam – eclipta akaba)
This erect plant is
found throughout India and it has the property to blacken and strengthen hair.
It is also used in reducing inflammation, increasing sexual power, and curing
jaundice and other liver disorders. The whole plant is used in different
formulations.
Rasa – Katu, Thiktha
Guna – Rooksham, Laghu
Veerya – Ushnam
Vipaka – Katu
It is used in
formulations like Kayyunyadi Thailam,
Naarasimha Rasayanam, Bringaraja Thailam and Bringarajasavam.
Neeli (Neelayamari –
Indigo- fera tinctoria)
This plant is found throughout India, especially on the outskirts
of forests, along roadsides, and in wastelands. Its leaf, root or the whole
plant is used as medicine. It has the property to strengthen and blacken hair.
Rasa – Thiktha Katu
Guna – Laghu, Rooksha,
Sara
Veerya – Ushna
Vipaka – Katu.
It is the main ingredient in Neelibringadi Thailam.
(The author Dr M S Naushad is Deputy Manager (R&D), Nagarjuna
Ayurvedic Group.)
