Greying Hair and Ayurveda

Scalp hair gives a lot of aesthetic value to our lives.
Younger individuals devote a significant amount of time and money to style thei
r hair in order to enhance their personality. No amount of bad hair is tolerated
by any of us under any circumstance. We easily get annoyed by its change in
colour or if they shed off. Greying of the hair is an indicator of ageing in your
body. Inevitably this is the phase of our life which one is bonded to go through.
But if it gets triggered when still in your 20s or 30s then it is actually an issue.
This trigger is known as premature or early aging. There are various factors
because of which the greying in early age occurs. People who present with such
condition should be assessed for syndromes and metabolic diseases. Hair dyes
are not the permanent fixes and only resolves the cosmetic concern adding more
harm to the hair later. Let us find out what are the reason because of which
greying of hair happens at such early ages.

The natural colour to the hair is because of the pigment melanin produced by
melanocytes. As we age the melanin is produced less or is stopped, hence the
effect is grey hair. The lifestyle is the most responsible reason for the hair
turning grey, which actually affects the body negatively (bad lifestyle) and thus
affects the hair. It is researched that ROS – Reactive Oxygen Species is
responsible for ageing, which occurs due to the lack of antioxidant activity of
cells. Oxidative stress can also be a result of ultraviolet (UV) rays, pollution,
emotional factors, or inflammatory causes. oxidative load due to psychological
stress implying that even emotional factors play a role in premature greying.
Certain mineral and vitamin deficiency also causes this issue.

Now that we have seen what are the causative factors according to the moder
science, Ayurveda opines that imbalance and aggravation of all the three dosha
in the body, especially pitta dosha is responsible for grey hair. Excessive intake
of salty, spicy and oily food. Day sleep and aggravated mental stress. Frequent
digestion issue, gastritis, bloating, nausea etc is an indicator of the impaired
digestion. So to cut the long story short according to ayurveda the hair health
depends upon the digestive capacity or digestive health of an individual and also
the quality and quantity and type of food the person eats.

How to address the greying hair concern? What should be done?
While we have discussed the possible causes of the appearance of grey hair, and
what not to do to prevent further greying, let us now look at some grey hair
treatments in Ayurveda that you can indulge in while at home.

1) Application of coconut oil
2) Sesame oil
3) Bringraj
4) Amla
5) Indigo
6) Curry leaves
7) Black tea
8) Methi seed powder

Use of the pastes of these herbs and decoctions for application and hair wash
can help reduce this, it is a good alternative for the artificial or chemical
products used to mask the grey hair.