Mona Verma, stood in front of the mirror and stared at her reflection. She was stunned to observe a layer of grey hair. Mona got her first grey hair in her late teens. Worried and anxious at that time she tried a few home remedies. Later, she took it in her stride and just chilled. Today, in her late twenties the grey strands were much more noticeable and obvious.
Our body has millions of hair follicles that line the skin. These follicles generate pigment cells (colour) containing melanin. When these hair follicles lose pigment cells due to many reasons our hair turns grey.
According to a study, the primary cause of Premature Hair Greying in a Young Indian Population is genetic. However, environmental factors, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and diseases are also found associated with this issue.
Causes for Premature Greying of Hair
There are many reasons for premature greying of hair. A deficiency of vitamin B-6, B-12, biotin, vitamin E, vitamin D-3 and minerals like copper contribute towards premature greying.
Other causes are genetics, stress, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorder, sinusitis, smoking, anxiety, erratic sleep schedule, sun exposure, excessive use of hair dyes/colour and gadgets like dryers and straighteners.
Lifestyle modifications like a balanced diet, regular exercise, supplements, and relaxation techniques do help but there isn’t any guarantee that the pigmentation may return back to normal.
There is no cure for premature greying. If the condition is due to deficiencies or disease, then it may be controlled and reversed to a certain extent with treatment. The conventional approach relies on hair dye or colour consisting of harmful chemicals.
In Ayurveda premature greying or Akala palitya is mostly due to imbalance of Pitta Dosha. If Pitta is disturbed it affects the hair colour. However, it is best to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for a correct diagnosis.
Panchakarma is a highly recommended Ayurvedic remedy for premature greying. It helps in eliminating toxins and balancing the three doshas.
Remedies like Nasya Karma, Shiro dhara (pouring oil on head), Shiro pichu (cloth dipped in oil kept on head), Shiro basti (oil is kept on head with an apparatus), Shiro lepa (application of medicated paste over the head) and Shiro abhyanga (oil massage to head) are beneficial.
This post has been originally written for The Quint. You can read the rest of the post here
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