Herbal Remedies For Alopecia Areata
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Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system mistakenly attacks a part of your body. When you have alopecia areata, cells in your immune system surround and attack your hair follicles, triggering hair loss in patches across the body. The amount of hair loss is different for everyone. It can affect people of all ages and genders, but the hair often grows back on its own with the help of immune-suppressing medication. It is sometimes called "spot baldness." The most common form of alopecia areata treatment is the use of corticosteroids, powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress the immune system.
According to Ayurvedic texts, an imbalance of Vata, Pitta, Kapha, and Rakta (blood) leads to Alopecia Areata. In Ayurveda, it is termed Indralupta. The white blood cells in your body that form the immune system attack the hair follicles, making them abruptly miniaturize. The shrinking of hair follicles prevents nutrition from reaching your hair, thus causing your hair to fall out. According to Ayurveda Chikitsasutra, further hair loss caused by alopecia areata can be prevented if diagnosed in its early stages. Ayurvedic doctors say that providing your hair with the required nourishment and treating the problem with Rasayana, made from special Ayurvedic herbs, can cure the problem effectively.
Symptoms Of Alopecia Areata
The symptoms are as follows:
- Small circular bald patches on the scalp, face, or other parts of the body.
- Mild itching or sensitivity may be experienced in bald areas.
- The hair around the bald patches becomes thinner as they go down. It looks like an exclamation mark; these hairs are referred to as "exclamation hair".
- Some people have structural abnormalities in their nails, such as dents or red nails.
Causes Of Alopecia Areata
The cause of alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder. As per Ayurveda, elevated levels of Kapha combine with Rakta and block the hair follicles, cutting off their nutrition source. This prevents new hair growth and causes the existing hair to fall off. Other causes are the modern lifestyle, avoidance of head baths, usage of harmful shampoos, allergic manifestations, avoidance of head massage, which leads to poor hygiene of the scalp, and vitiation of doshas, which causes the loss of hair.
Types Of Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata can be classified into 3 types:
- Alopecia Areata
Patchy hair loss leading to circular or oval bald spots is noticed in this condition. Alopecia areata is an auto-immune disease mainly found in people with a family history of this disease.
- Alopecia Totalis
People affected by Alopecia Totalis experience complete hair loss on their scalp.
- Alopecia Universalis
Alopecia Universalis is a rare version of the disease where hair loss occurs all over the body, including the scalp, beard, eyebrows, eyelashes, etc., thus leaving the entire body hairless.
Alopecia areata can be classified into 3 types. They are: alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis.
Natural Home Remedies To Prevent Alopecia
Ayurveda mentioned various simple home remedies that have been used to treat alopecia areata.
- Herbal Head Massage
Massage your scalp with easily available herbs such as small onions, amla, hibiscus, Brahmi, methi, and curry leaves. You can mix these ingredients in any oil such as coconut, olive, almond, lemongrass, rosemary, or tea tree oil to get good results. Regular massage with these herbs will maintain the harmony of your doshas, increase blood supply to your hair follicles and promote hair growth.
- Acupuncture
Studies show that acupuncture treatment has a great effect on people suffering from hair loss due to alopecia areata. In this method, tiny needles are inserted at certain points to increase blood circulation in the scalp and stimulate the hair follicles. Stimulation of the follicles prevents further hair loss.
- Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it's called essential oil therapy. Regular massages with a combination of Lavender, Rosemary, and Cedarwood oil may help in hair regeneration for those diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. It also helps in treating hair loss.
How To Prevent Alopecia Areata From Spreading
The following tips help to prevent Alopecia Areata from Spreading further:
- Nutritious Diet
Consuming a healthy diet will help your hair follicles absorb the required nutrition needed for hair growth. So try to include more protein-rich foods in your meals. Certain Ayurvedic herbs and foods will help purify your blood and promote new hair growth, such as Triphala, Coconut, Brahmi, Curry Leaves, Moringa, Sesame Seeds, and Cumin Seeds, Ghee, Peanuts, Almonds, Amla, and Fenugreek seeds.
- Protection against Trauma
Preventing any kind of hair or scalp trauma that may increase hair fall. Avoid the use of chemical hair products or hairstyles that pull at your hair too much. Protect your scalp from overexposure to the sun.
Diet Recommendations For Alopecia Areata
Ayurveda recommends some of the foods that help with balancing your doshas and rejuvenating your hair follicles. They are as follows:
- Ayurveda recommends the consumption of vegetables and fruits to have a cooling effect on your body. Asparagus, leafy vegetables, cucumber, snake and bottle gourds, pudina (mint), pumpkin, coriander, pineapple, pomegranate, and foods that calm the Pitta dosha.
- Lentils, beans, green peas, and other protein-enriched vegetables provide nutrition for your damaged hair follicles. Carrots are the best vegetable to boost your immune system because they are rich in beta-carotene.
- Foods that are rich in protein, like salmon, fish, eggs, meat, nuts, almonds, yogurt, and soya, help to promote hair growth and regeneration.
- Consumption of ghee is the best remedy to cure alopecia areata. It helps nutrition easily reach your hair roots, resulting in healthy, lustrous hair. It calms the Vata dosha and boosts Agni.
- Honey helps revitalize your dormant hair follicles. So it is used to cure alopecia areata. Honey acts against elevated Pitta dosha to reduce inflammation of your scalp.
- At the same time, you must avoid processed foods because they contain preservatives, lose natural nutrients and harm your digestive and immune systems.
- Avoid refined carbohydrates, which have high sugar levels and produce more androgen hormones that cause hair thinning and hair loss.
- Overconsumption of dairy products such as milk may irritate your immune system and cause more hair fall due to alopecia areata.
Herbal Remedies To Cure Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata happens due to the aggravation of Vata-Pitta-Kapha Doshas and Rakta (blood). The following herbal remedies will help restore the equilibrium of your doshas and cure the disease.
- Triphala
This is a very effective herbal medicine for hair loss treatment. It promotes hair growth by rejuvenating your hair follicles. Amla in Triphala helps restore the pH balance of the scalp and promotes healthy hair growth. Bibhitaki, another ingredient in Triphala, helps fight scalp infections with its antifungal and antibacterial properties.
- Yashtimadhu
It helps balance Vata and Pitta Doshas and prevents dandruff and scalp irritations caused by the affected areas.
- Tila
Tila, or sesame seed, contains omega fatty acids that help to nourish your hair roots and moisturize your scalp. They also improve blood circulation, which rejuvenates your hair follicles.
- Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has a cooling effect that calms the aggravated Pitta dosha. Pitta is responsible for inflammation and excess heat on your scalp. Aloe vera helps to get rid of excess sebum or residues of hair products. The presence of Vitamin A, C, E, Vitamin B12, and folic acid in aloe vera nourishes your hair and prevents hair loss.
- Brahmi
Brahmi has the power to eliminate excess ama from the body and acts as a blood purifier. Brahmi also helps oxygen and nutrition easily reach your hair follicles. The alkaloids in Brahmi make your hair thicker and shinier.
- Amla
Amla is the best herbal remedy for premature graying. It helps strengthen your hair shafts, and its antimicrobial properties keep scalp infections away.
- Alfalfa
Alfalfa is an herbal supplement loaded with vitamins and minerals. It helps to improve hair growth, acts as a hair stimulant, and prevents hair fall.
- Bathua
Bathua is a useful herb for hair care. It effectively treats alopecia areata by purifying your blood. It is rich in iron, phosphorus, vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, and fiber. Bathua gives your hair a nutritional boost, making hair shafts stronger and less prone to damages. .
Alopecia areata is a condition that causes hair to fall out in small patches, which can be unnoticeable. The condition develops when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. Some of the herbs that effectively cure Alopecia Areata are Triphala, Yashtimadhu, Bathua, Alfalfa, Amla, Brahmi, Aloe Vera, and tila.
Ayurvedic Oils For Alopecia Areata
Ayurvedic hair oils are a unique blend of herbs that stimulate the scalp and hair follicles by bringing harmony to your Doshas. They are as follows:
- Bhringraj Taila.
- Bakuchi Taila.
- Gunja Taila.
- Vidarigandha Taila.
- Onion Oil.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned information related to Alopecia areata is taken from various Ayurvedic resources. Always take the advice of an Ayurvedic doctor before starting herbs and herbal medicines for treatment.
