AYURVEDIC REMEDIES FOR DISEASES OF SKIN AND HAIR
BALDNESS
Baldness may be local or general. Normally, people are found with hairlessness on a circumscribed area of the skull or the beard. In worst cases, hair of the beard, eye
lashes, eyebrows, armpits and even pubic region is lost. In Ayurveda this condition is known as khalitya.
Excessive mental worry, anxiety and anger are considered to be the cause of this ailment. A type of pathogenic organism is also considered to be the cause of loss of hair from the
body including the head.
Even though it does not cause any physical pain, it creates a lot of psychic problems. A sort of inferiority complex develops in the mind of the patient, specially because of the
effect on baldness on beauty.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Baldness: Bhringaraja is the drug of choice for the treatment of the disease. Maha bhringaraja taila or Nilibhringadi taila is commonly pre-scribed by the physicians.
This is to be
gently massaged over the scalp about one hour before taking bath. By this massage some of the existing weak hair fall out. Therefore, in the beginning, the hair will look thinner and
the baldness would appear as if increasing. The patient should not get scared by this. In fact, it is better if the whole head is thoroughly shaved and then this oil is used for
massage.
It should be used constantly for about six months before any significant results could be achieved. Powder of bhringaraja should be give to the patient orally. One teaspoonful
of this powder should be mixed with honey and given on empty stomach, twice a day.
Elephant tusk is very popularly used by Ayurvedic physicians for the treatment of this ailment. The tusk is cut into small pieces and burnt to ashes.
This is rubbed with ghee or honey over the patches, daily. This can preferably be done at night so that the ash or bhasma of elephant tusk remains in contact with the skin of the skull
overnight.
Some irritating medicines are also used for the treatment of this condition. They work very well if baldness appears in young age. Ashvakanchuki rasa is used by Ayurvedic physicians
for this purpose. It is basically a strong purgative. These tablets are crushed, mixed with honey and externally applied. This is applied over the skull in the afternoon and allowed to
dry up. The patient should go to bed without washing his head. In the beginning, application of this medicine causes a little redness and irritation in the skull but slowly hair begin
to grow.
Diet to taken by baldness patients: Weakness is often the cause of hair fall and the patient should, therefore, take nourishing diet. Meat, fish, ghee, butter, milk and such other high-protein diet
is normally
recommended. Care should be taken to keep the liver free from overwork. Therefore, fried things are strictly prohibited for such patients.
Other regimens: Worry is one of the primary causes of baldness. The patient should, therefore, try to maintain a tranquil disposition and avoid anxiety. Spending
sleepless nights,
excessive sexual indulgence, and suppression of the natural urges of stool and urine, are strictly prohibited. A constipated patient is likely to get disturbed sleep. The tension
further aggravates the baldness. The patient should, therefore, see that he gets clear motions every day. A glass of water early morning will be quite helpful for the patient. It
will be necessary for him to walk for about 2-3 kilometres either in the morning or in the evening.
Many hair oils are advertised in newspapers to cure baldness. Most of them make exaggerated claims. The patient is, therefore, advised not to go in for them but consult a physician.
