Ayurvedic medicine, often known as “Ayurveda,” is one of the world’s oldest holistic (“whole-body”) healing systems. It was invented in India almost 3,000 years ago. It is founded on the idea that health and wellness are dependent on a delicate balance of the mind, body, and spirit. Its primary purpose is to promote health rather than to combat sickness. However, treatments may be tailored to individual health issues.
Students of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) believe that everything in the cosmos, living or dead, is interconnected. You are in good health if your mind, body, and soul are in harmony with the cosmos. When this balance is upset, you become ill. Genetic or congenital problems, injuries, temperature and seasonal change, age, and your emotions are all variables that can throw this balance off.
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that everyone is made up of the five basic elements found in the universe: space, air, fire, water, and earth.
Ayurveda considers hair loss to be a symptom of many disturbances occurring in your body, thus when treating hair loss, it is vital to consider Doshas (energy) imbalances as well as Dhatus (tissues). According to Ayurvedic specialists, Ayurveda tries to manage the core cause of hair loss using Shamana (pacifying therapy) and Shodhana therapies (purification therapies), as well as dietary and lifestyle changes.
Medha Singh, CEO of Juvena Herbals, told ABP Live that Ayurveda believes in a comprehensive approach to mending and healthifying hair. She went on to describe hair types, issues, and treatments based on Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Vata hair/Vata imbalance:- Thin, straight, and higher porosity. Slightly rough, and curly sometimes. Mostly normal to dry.
Porosity:- It’s your hair’s ability to absorb and hold moisture. Higher the porosity thinner your hair gets with an uplifted cuticle.
The imbalance in Vata Dosha causes excessive dryness, flaky scalp, frizzy hair, and dandruff.
Components of Vata:- Air and space.
Remedy:- For Vata imbalance in hair as per its two components is to oil hair once in 3 days. Apply oil post shampoo also. Moisturizing herbs and henna with protein should be applied once a week.
What to eat:- Vata is cold and dry Dosha. So you need to give some weight to it. Eat Ghee, Omega-3, Nuts, Anjeer, a complex sugar, and salt intake should not be low. Cottage cheese and curd should also be consumed frequently.
Exercise:- Surya Namaskar, Vipareet karni asan, Bhastrika, Kapal bhati, Ground walk.
Pitta hair/Pitta imbalance:- Excess pitta heats up the hair follicles which creates hair fall, hair loss, early greying. Problem like Tellogen effluviumis also seen which is temporary hair loss.
Pitta Components:- Water and Fire.
Since Pitta components are Water and Fire take care that you provide more water and a cooling effect through herbs. Henna with jatamansi, hibiscus, mint, triphla, curd, sesame works. Soft exfoliation without shampoo should be preferred. Apply oil with cool properties like essential oils of Lavender, Eucalyptus in olive, coconut oil.
Above this oil when we apply a cooling mask over the scalp and hair for 30-35 minutes, the water in the mask stays over the scalp for half an hour and this hydrates the scalp and the follicles, reducing its heat. Pitta becomes balanced with repeated applications. Apply once in 3 days for better results. Shampoo is recommended once a week.
Diet:- Avoid spicy food, Processed carbohydrates, and Diuretics. Eat easily digestible foods. More pro-biotics and fewer pre-biotics will help. Drink an optimal quantity of water. Slow down and rest well. Sleep for 8 hours. Once a week be on a liquid diet. Dry fruits, bananas, sweet potatoes, Amla juice, curd, and carrots are considered good.
Exercise:- Surya Namaskar, Ground walk, Anulom-Vilom, Shitali.
Kapha type/Kapha imbalance:- Thick, shiny, smooth, mostly straight and strong are the Kapha type hair.
An imbalance in Dosha can make the scalp oily. Give scalp acne, dandruff, lices. Sticky dandruff occurs due to blocked follicles.
Kapha Components:- Earth and Water.
These two components will be in optimal ratio if you exfoliate the scalp once in 3 days with Herbs and Protein. Amla, Harad, Bahera, Jatamansi, Bhringraj, Brahmi, and Sesame are the herbs and proteins which can declog the follicles. Adding 1 tsp of pure henna powder to these ingredients will cure scalp acne and dandruff. For scalp, and acne add Fuller’s earth too. Apply oil made by Aditya Pak and Tail Pak vidhi. Tea Tree, Neem, and Eucalyptus essential oil in sesame oil can remove lices completely.
Diet:- Sour food, refined sugar, fried, and oily food should be avoided. Sprouts, Khichadi, Figs, Fox Nuts, Almonds, Apples, Papaya, fermented food, and Cow’s milk with Ghee are some excellent dietary sources along with Triphla Tea to help the detoxifying organs eliminate the inside impurities.
Ayurveda teaches you a discipline that can keep you in the best of health and beauty if you incorporate it into your day-to-day life.