Hair fall/loss

                               Hair fall/loss- Ayurveda perspective

 

khalitya & Indralupta

Introduction

Hair loss /Alopecia can affect the entire body or can be limited only to the scalp region. It can be permanent or temporary. It can result from a multitude of causes ranging from the normal aging process, certain medical conditions & hormonal imbalances which are discussed in detail below. It is more prevalent in men.

Symptoms

Gradual hair loss in the upper region of the head- In men, usually, the hairline recedes in the forehead part. In women, there is some widening or broadening of the hair region. In older women, there is a recession of the frontal hairline.

Loss of hair as patches or in circular patterns- It can occur in eyebrows, scalp, or beard regions. There will be pain associated with itching in the scalp region which leads to hair fall.

In some cases, there is sudden loosening of the hair, which means hair fall as strands during combing or shower. But this is temporary & can be reversed.

Certain medical procedures like radiation therapies can cause hair loss all over the body. But usually, hair grows back gradually.

There may be flaking areas in the scalp associated with ringworm infections. Itching, pain & oozing are also evident in these cases.

Causes

As discussed, earlier causes are multifactorial

Inheritance- Hair loss can be caused due to family history. Androgenic alopecia is a condition occurring in men which can be inherited.

Hormonal as well as medical conditions- Menopausal changes, pregnancy, labor, & thyroid problems can trigger hair loss.

Medications- medicines for high blood pressure, cardiac diseases, arthritis, depression & gout can cause hair loss in the long run.

Stress induced – It is very commonly seen that after some physical or emotional shock, there is considerable loss of hair. But this is temporary.

Hairstyling & treatments- Some of the trending hairstyles like African braids & ponytails can cause the hair to fall off. This type of hair loss is termed traction. Hot treatments, use of chemical coloring dyes, excessive blow-drying & ironing are the contributing causes of hair loss. The hair loss can be permanent.

Ayurvedic treatment for Hair loss

Ayurvedic treatment for Hair fall

Ayurveda treatment of khalitya & Indralupta

In Ayurveda, baldness or khalitya is mentioned as a result of the 4 doshas. So, there are symptoms like redness & itching. This condition is named Alopecia areata. The patchy baldness is referred to as Indralupta. It is known as spot baldness that occurs mainly on the scalp & sometimes all over the body. It is an autoimmune condition. Hair falls are caused due to incompatible foods, improper sleep & pitta increasing food activities.  Ayurveda acharyas explain that when the doshas like Vata, combines with the Tejas, they get vitiated due to improper food as well as activities. They reach & localizes in the scalp region & cause Indraluptha. The vitiated blood & Kapha dosha blocks the hair follicles & prevent the new hair growth. So, in the pathogenesis of this disease, there is the involvement of three doshas & the blood.

The major srotas or the body channels involved in khalitya, indralupta are Rasa vaha srotas, sweda vaha, pureesha vaha, majja vaha & Asti vaha srotas.

Management of baldness or khalitya is mainly virechana, purgation therapy. The basic line of hair loss treatment is pachana-digestive, stomachic, purificatory therapies, & Rasayana therapy. Local application of gunja lepa, hastidanta mashi, bhallatakadi lepa, madhukadi lepa, gokshuradi lepa is very effective. Emesis, purgation, Nasya & oil massaging are also very specially indicated in this condition. Bloodletting therapy is best recommended for removing impure blood in khalitya.

In Indraluptha similar treatment can be reciprocated according to the condition as well as dosha involvement. It is best to consult an expert doctor before trying any home remedies. Every individual has a different constitution or Prakriti & that medicines have to be dispensed according to the Prakriti of that particular individual.

Pathya, Dos

A protein-rich diet that includes fish, egg, beans, seafood

Iron & zinc-rich diet like raisins, dates, varieties of seafood

Walnuts, avocados, legumes, beetroot, oats & black pepper.

Avoid junk foods of all kinds, smoked meat & processed food /drinks.