Using ayurveda for hair loss is the use of diet, herbs and massage as a remedy for baldness. In addition, ayurvedic treatment for hair loss can include meditation, aromatherapy, breathing exercises and yoga. To use this ancient form of Indian medicine to combat hair loss, you must understand the three doshas, or constitutions: Pitta, Vata and Kapha. Each person's dosha is unique, but baldness is believed to be the result of too much Pitta dosha. Therefore, using ayurveda for hair loss requires balancing the Pitta dosha.
Diet is one way to balance the Pitta dosha. Some people suggest drinking one-third of a cup (78 mL) of aloe vera juice each day as a hair loss remedy. Other tips include eating small amounts of white sesame seeds, because they have high levels of calcium and magnesium. Those minerals help strengthen hair follicles. Green, leafy vegetables, raw oats and dried fruits also are recommended as part of this type of ayurvedic diet.
Hair follicles also benefit from oil massage, which is another part of the ayurveda for hair loss treatment. A number of different oils may be used, including castor, almond, coconut, vitamin E and Brahmi. Nutrich oil combines a number of oils and herbal extracts, including bhringraj, which has been shown in research to grow hair on balding mice. The oils are said to strengthen the hair follicles, and the massage improves blood circulation to the head. Leaving the oils on the hair overnight can further strengthen and repair hair.
Yoga also encourages blood circulation to the hair follicles and increases oxygen flow to the head. Various positions, particularly headstands, are believed to relieve stress from the head. That stress is considered by ayurvedic practitioners to be a cause of hair loss.
Meditation can help with hair loss as well. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation, can reduce stress, anxiety and tension, all of which are contributing factors to hair loss. Meditation is helpful in bringing the dosha back into balance, which is considered crucial to restoring hair growth.
Using ayurveda for hair loss is a customized treatment. For best results, those interested in ayurvedic therapies should determine their dosha; a number of online quizzes are available as resources. After an individual's dosha has been identified, the best foods, oils, minerals and exercises for that temperament can be recommended, and a custom plan that includes diet, massage and other ayurvedic principles can be created to address hair loss.