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.)