Causes of hair fall

Hair fall may be due to several reasons:

• Poor nutrition
• Erratic and irregular lifestyle – late nights and long hours
• Environmental factors such as pollution and climate
• Stress, anxiety and tension and inadequate sleep or rest

These factors can lead to excess toxin build-up in the body.

In Ayurveda, hair fall is a direct by-product of the quality of your bone tissue. If there is weakness in the bone tissue, hair loss is a natural result.

Herbs

You may use herbs such as Aloe Vera, curry leaves, hibiscus, amla (gooseberry leaves), methi (fenugreek leaves), coconut oil and til (sesame seeds) oil. They are nourishing for the head. These herbs may be consumed or applied on the head. Find out how these herbs may be used as hair cleansers and hair packs.

Hair cleansers

a. Shikakai – This is a natural cleanser and removes excess oil off the scalp. If your hair is already frizzy and dry, use this in combination with reetha (a soap nut, similar to shikakai), amla and hibiscus.

b. Aloe vera - Take fresh gel and apply it over the scalp; leave it for a few minutes and, then, wash it off. It is a cooling and soothing scalp cleanser, good for a heated-up scalp, associated with redness, itching, rashes or scalp pimples.

c. Hibiscus leaves and some flowers - Grind these to a slimy paste. It lathers well. Wash your hair regularly with it for well-nourished, strong and black hair.

d. Amla or Indian gooseberry – This can be used as a paste/ concoction with tea or you can combine it with reetha or shikakai.

e. Besan or gram flour – Mix this with water and use it to wash your hair after an oil massage.

These cleansers can be used as stand-alone Ayurvedic treatments for hair fall or as a mix. For example, reetha or shikakai can be used alone or as a mix with amla, yastimadhu (licorice), and neem and so on.

Along with these Ayurvedic treatments for hair growth, your diet and your food habits are major factors in determining the quality and quantity of your hair. After all, for healthy growth of hair, you must take care of the agni or fire metabolism inside you.