You're mindlessly combing your hair when you notice grey coat strands attempting to blend in with your natural hair colour. And just when you thought it was limited to a few, it's everywhere! While it is natural to age, you are still young—perhaps, a premature grey hair!
Grey hair at a young age can cause you to feel self-conscious or shy, which could be attributed to societal and cultural perceptions of youth and beauty. In many cultures, youthfulness is associated with vitality, attractiveness, and good health. That is why you want to avoid or minimise having premature grey hair in as many ways as possible.
Ayurvedic medicine for grey hair, such as Bhringraj, Coconut Milk, and Amla, helps to nourish and protect the hair. And when combined with a healthy diet, it also aids in avoiding premature greying. But how exactly? Read on.
What is Premature Grey Hair?
Grey hair is a natural part of aging. However, there are instances when it shows earlier than expected.
Premature grey hair occurs when an individual's hair begins to turn grey or white before the age of 30-35. This age range is earlier than the expected age for greying of hair.
Various factors, such as genetics, stress, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle habits, cause this. That is why most experts advise affected people to adopt a healthier lifestyle, such as eating more nutrient-dense foods.
And thankfully, there are a variety of treatments and remedies, like Ayurvedic medicine, that can help to prevent or slow down premature greying of hair.
How Do Diet and Ayurvedic Medicine Affect Grey Hair?
Ayurveda considers the body a holistic system, emphasising the importance of maintaining a balance between the mind, body, and spirit to achieve optimal health.
According to Ayurveda, premature greying of hair can be caused by an imbalance in the doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) or a build-up of toxins in the body. Combining dietary changes and Ayurvedic treatments can help correct these imbalances.
The Relationship
Some of the factors influencing the links between diet and Ayurvedic medicine for grey hair are as follows:
1. Environmental and Lifestyle Issues
On the one hand, environmental factors cause premature grey hair. One is "Rooksha," or dryness caused by prolonged exposure to the sun, wind, and dry air. Overexposure to UV rays from the sun can damage hair follicles and cause premature greying.
However, natural environmental factors do not only affect your hair. They also have an effect on your lifestyle. This is called "achar," which refers to daily habits and behaviours that can impact overall well-being. Lack of sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, and high-stress levels, for example, can all contribute to greying of hair (Vihara).
2. Digestion
Our digestive system or digestive fire (Agni) breaks the food we intake and assimilates the proper nutrients into our body. Hence, if you have poor digestion, this can be detrimental to your hair.
But what causes a sluggish digestive system? Eating incompatible foods (mismatch of Vipaka, Guna, Virya, and Prabhava), skipping meals, overeating, consuming more processed or fried foods, and other factors can all contribute to this.
When these unhealthy habits are maintained, they can disrupt the body's natural digestive system. And this poor digestion contributes to premature hair greying.
3. Spicy and Sour Food
Excessive intake of spicy and sour foods can aggravate Pitta Dosha (the dosha responsible for the body's metabolic process) and contribute to premature hair greying. Compulsive overeating can trigger heat accumulation in the body, damaging hair follicles and contributing to premature greying of hair.
According to Ayurvedic theory, these foods should be consumed in moderation and balanced with cooling and nourishing foods. There is also ayurvedic medicine for grey hair, such as Shesha Ayurveda's Neelibringadi Intensive Hair Treatment Oil, to keep your hair healthy with the aroma and nutrients of natural herbs.
4. No Meal
Most people, especially women, do not eat because they believe it is the simplest way to maintain a slim proportioned body. However, what they do not realise is that this repetitive bad habit can negatively impact health, including an imbalance in the Vata Dosha (governs the nervous and digestive system).
When Vata is out of balance due to irregular or insufficient meals, it can cause dryness and depletion of the body's tissues, including the hair follicles, contributing to premature greying of hair. That is why you should eat a balanced meal every day.
Most importantly, skipping meals affects not only your hair but also your body, which can lead to malnutrition. In the worst-case scenario, it can result in death.
Shesha Ayurveda’s Aid for Your Crowning Glory
Your hair is essential to you, and a part of you deserves proper care. Hence, we offer products that can keep your hair healthy and prevent further problems. Here are a few examples:
- Bhringa Thali Hair Conditioner (Sulphate and Paraben Free)
- Neeli Bringadi Intensive Hair Treatment Oil
- Shirosamraksha Combo
- Kesh Samraksha 150g Pouch – 100% Natural SOAP-FREE Hair Pack/Hair Wash Powder
Contact us to learn more about our products containing Ayurvedic medicine for grey hair!