Ayurvedic Natural Hair Care Therapy

Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old system of preventive medicine and healthcare that originated in ancient India. Ayurveda means "knowledge of life span". An ayurvedic hair care regimen usually includes herbal mixtures and natural oils that are minimally processed, or in many cases, used whole. Although, Ayurveda is usually discussed with regard to natural black hair, anyone can benefit from its principles. Ayurvedic medicine requires that you get in tune with your emotions and inner thoughts and then pursue a lifestyle that keeps you feeling balanced and stress free.

Some common Hair Problems and its Reason:

Dandruff

Dry skin flaking off the scalp and itchiness is referred to as dandruff. The aggravation of Vata (wind humour) generally causes this dryness

Hair Loss / Balding

When the amount of hair lost grows higher than the normal hair fall that takes place due to the change in environment, increasing age or growth of new hairs, it is referred to as hair loss problem that needs special care. Improper or poor diet, exposure to a lot of chemicals or cosmetics, hormonal imbalance, stress, anxiety and mental tension are some causes of hair loss.

We are all aware of cancer patients, when they go through chemotherapy. Even sometimes after recovery from typhoid, people start loosing hair to the extent that they go to doctor for help.

Premature Graying of Hair

Graying of hair is a natural process that happens with increasing age, but if the hair starts graying before the age of 35, it is termed as premature graying that occurs due to the aggravation of Pitta dosha (bile humour). Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meat, fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour, and acidic foods increases pitta and leads to graying prematurely.

Itchy Scalp

Aggravation of Pitta dosha, stress, allergic reaction to shampoo, air conditioning, pollution and central heating lead to an itchy and red scalp, with tiny pimples or sores, dull and dry hair. Presence of dandruff or head  lice also gives itching sensation.

Here, I would like to give you all few valuable and helpful tips to get rid of your hair related problems and have very good growth and luster.

·    Warm hair oil scalp massage two or three times a week will help stimulate and moisturize the scalp. You can use good quality coconut, almond or olive oil.

·    Ayurvedic herbs that help hair health include Eclipta alba and Gotu Kola. Eclipta alba is called "Bhringaraj" -- literally, king of tresses. It nourishes the hair and helps resistance to stress as well. Brahmi, sometimes called Gotu Kola, also helps balance the mind and nourishes the hair and scalp. Since Ayurveda considers the health, color and luster of hair so dependent on overall mind/body health, synergistic Ayurvedic herbal preparations for hair can also include herbs such as Country Mallow, which is supposed to strengthen the physiology, and Winter Cherry, which aids resistance to stress.

·    Make Your Own Herbal Oil:- Take 500gms of coconut oil or olive oil or sesame oil and mix 200 gms of Fenugreek seeds. Fill them in one glass bottle together and keep it for few days (7-10 days) in the area where you have enough sunlight coming. Then filter the oil and throw away seeds from the oil and rub that oil on your scalp every day before going to sleep and leave it whole night. You will see that not only you have new hair growing but all your hair has turned darker. 

·        Yogurt recipes for winter hair care:-

1. Dandruff is a common hair problem during winter and this is why, you can prevent or get rid of dandruff using yogurt.

2. You can simply use yogurt on the hair and scalp few minutes before taking bath. Yogurt is an excellent product for dry hair.

3. Beat yogurt and then apply on the hair and scalp. Leave for 30-45 minutes and then rinse of with lukewarm water. Use a mild shampoo if required.

4. Yogurt and honey is a perfect recipe for winter care! Beat yogurt and add few drops of honey to it. Apply on the hair and leave for 30-45 minutes. This conditions the hair and stores the moisture therefore preventing the hair from becoming dry.

5. Yogurt when mixed with olive oil makes up an effective hair care recipe. You can add olive oil to the previous hair mask recipe. Mix yogurt and add few drops of honey and olive oil.

6. One of the yogurt recipes for hair care is yogurt and egg hair mask. This mask increases hair growth and strengthens the roots.

7. Beat and egg while whipping yogurt and then apply on the hair. The best way to apply this yogurt mask is by parting hair lines an applying on the exposed scalp. This way, you apply the mask properly. Leave it for an hour and then rinse off with cold water and use a mild shampoo.

8. Mash a banana and add it to the beaten yogurt. Apply this paste on the hair and leave for 30-45 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and little shampoo.

9. Take half cup of yogurt and one teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix it well in one bowl and apply it on your scalp, cover your head with shower cap and leave it for 20-30 mins. Then wash your hair with little shampoo. If you want to have lustrous hair then applies it on your hair as well from roots to end.

·      To have more growth and for smooth as well as shiny hair, this tip is really effective. Take one egg, one table spoon of Castor oil and one tea spoon of lemon juice. Mix it all with egg's white and yellow part both. Now apply it on scalp and hair from roots to end and cover your head with shower cap to have steam like effect for 20-30 minutes and then shampoo your hair. You will be definitely surprised to see your hair quality after this treatment.

·      Another valuable fruit is Amla, which is also called Indian Gooseberry and its botanical name is Emblica Officinalis. If you drink its juice or apply it on scalp for half an hour and wash your hair with lukewarm water not only stop hair loss but will help to grow new hair and darken your hair which means it prevents gray hair problem. If you get its juice to drink, it will boost up your immune system like anything. Aloe Vera is another beneficial plant for hair.

·       For baldness, massage with castor oil or at least extra virgin olive oil on scalp (at night) can make unbelievable difference. After massage take one small towel, soak it in warm water, and squeeze it to take out excess water. Now fold the towel and put it in microwave for 45seconds and then wrap it around your head and leave for 2-3 minutes. Again repeat same process of putting it in microwave and wrapping in around your head all over, at least 5-6 times. Now just cover your head with some scarf or shower cap or simply put some cloth on pillow, when you sleep so your pillow doesn't get dirty. Next day morning shampoo your hair. In starting repeat this process at least twice in a week but then you can do it once in a week. This therapy is simplest of all but most powerfulwhen it comes to give fast result and it can be followed by anybodyfor any kind of hair related problems.

·        For head lice take some olive oil or coconut oil or jojoba oil or almond oil in a bowl or cup depending on your hair growth, which covers all your scalp and hair. Now take some camphor like almost 2 gm or 1 gm OR just one small piece out of 8 pieces packed in one packet as shown in picture. Put that one piece in the oil which you have kept in bowl and cover it. Keep it like that for few hours, so that camphor dissolves in the oil. Now apply it on scalp and hair and leave it for 7-8 hours and then shampoo your hair. Repeat this just 2-3 times and you will see all lice are gone. I myself have experienced this and my grandma told me to do this to get rid of head lice. Best time to apply it is before going to sleep at night and next day morning shampoo your hair as usual. You yourself will see the result, unbelievable. And please keep camphor away from children because it is not something to eat but very good for killing any kind of bacteria or germs or something like head lice. But, PLEASE DON'T EAT IT.

There are many more tips but some of herbs are hard to find in western countries but if you are lucky then maybe you can get some of them. For more information, GO HERE

Watch this video that shows how to make natural detanglers and gel from plants