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Loss
of hair at a very tender age has become a common disorder
these days. It causes a great deal of concern to persons
affected by loss of hair, especially Indian women who
regard good hair growth with thick long hair as a sign of
beauty.
Hair is formed in minute pockets in the skin, called
follicles. An upgrowth at the base of the folic, called
the papilla, actually produces hair ; when a special
group of cells turn amino acids into keratin, a type of
protein of which hair is made. The rate of production of
these protein " building blocks." determines
hair growth. The average growth rate is about 1.2 cm per
month , growing faster on women between the ages 15 and
30. Causes
The most
important cause of loss of hair is inadequate nutrition.
Even a partial lack of almost any nutrient may cause hair
to fall. Persons lacking vitamin B6 lose their hair and
those deficient in folic acid often become completely
bald. But the hair grows normally after the liberal
intake of these vitamins.
Another important cause of falling of hair is stress such
as worry, anxiety and sudden shock. Stress leads to a
severe tension in the skin of the scalp. This adversely
affects the supply of essential nutrition required for
the healthy growth of the hair. General debility,
syphilis, chronic cold, influenza and anaemia, also gives
rise to this disorder. It makes the roots of the hair
weak, resulting in the falling of hair. Unclean condition
of the scalp can also cause loss of hair. It weakens the
hair roots by blocking the pores with the collected dirt.
Heredity is another predisposing factor which may cause
hair to fall.
Treatment
The healthy
condition of the hair depends, to a very large extent ,
on the intake of sufficient amounts of essential
nutrients in the daily diet. Hair is made of protein and
adequate protein is necessary for luxuriant hair. Women
require 60 grams, men 80 to 90, adolescent boys and girls
80 to 100 grams of protein. It is supplied by milk,
buttermilk, yogurt,soyabean, eggs, cheese, meat and fish.
A lack of vitamin A may cause the hair to be caurse and
ugly. A deficiency of some of the B vitamins, of iron,
copper and iodine may cause hair disorders like falling
of hair and premature greying.
Lack of inositol causes loss of hair. Any person having
trouble with his or her hair should eat foods rich in
inositol such as yeast, liver and molasses. Research has,
however, shown that women have a low requirement of
inositol. Although this vitamin may help to stimulate the
growth of a woman’s hair, its lack is probably not a
major cause of slow growth . Women are generally
deficient in iodine and vitamin B1, either of which can
slow down circulation to the scalp to such an extent that
hair may fall out and new hair grow in very slowly. Women
who keep their diets adequate in iodine, the B vitamins
and iron have a better growth of hair.
According to Adelle Davis, a world famous nutritionist,
"increasing the intake of protein, particularly of
liver, wheat germ and yeast, and supplementing the diet
with a teaspoon of inositol daily usually stops a
man’s hair from falling, and I have seen three or
four persons whose hair became thick after these
improvements were made. "
Persons with a tendency to lose hair should thus take a
well balanced and correct diet, made up of foods which in
combination should supply all the essential nutrients. It
has been found that a diet which contains liberal
quantities of ( i) seeds, nuts and grains, ( ii)
vegetables and (iii) fruits would provide adequate
amounts of all the essential nutrients. Each food group
should roughly form the bulk of one of the three
principal meals. These foods should , however, be
supplemented with certain special foods such as milk,
vegetable oils, honey, wheat germ, yeast and liver.
Home
Remedies
Several home
remedies have been found useful in the prevention and
treatment of the loss of the hair. The most effective
among these remedies is a vigorous rubbing of the scalp
with fingers after washing the hair with cold water. The
scalp should be rubbed vigorously till it starts to
tingle with the heat. It will activate the sebaceous
glands and energise the circulation of blood in the
affected area, making the hair grow healthy.
Amla oil, prepared by boiling dry pieces of amla in
coconut oil, is considered a valuable hair tonic for
enriching hair growth. A mixture of equal quantity of
fresh amla juice and lime juice used as a shampoo
stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss.
Lettuce ( salad-ka-patta) is useful in preventing hair
loss through deficiencies. A mixture of lettuce and
spinach juice is said to help the growth of hair if it is
drunk to the extent of half a litre a day. The juice of
alfalfa ( lecerne) in combination with carrot and lettuce
juice, taken daily also helps the growth of hair to a
remarkable extent. The combination of these juices is
rich in elements which are particularly useful for the
growth of hair. While preparing alfalfa juice, the leaves
of the plant only may be used when it can be obtained
fresh.
Daily application of refined coconut oil mixed with
limewater and lime juice on the hair, prevents loss of
hair and lengthens them. Application of the juice of
green coriander leaves on the head is also considered
beneficial. Amaranth, known as chaulai-ka-saag in the
vernacular, is another valuable remedy. Application of
its fresh leaf-juice helps the growth of the hair and
keeps them soft.
Mustard oil, boiled with henna leaves, is useful in
healthy growth of hair. About 250 grams of mustard oil
should be boiled in tinned basin. A little quantity of
henna leaves should be gradually put in this oil till
about 60 grams of these leaves are thus burnt in the oil.
The oil should then be filtered through a cloth and
stored well in a bottle. A regular massage of the head
with this oil will produce abundant hair.
Another effective home remedy for loss of hair is the
application of coconut milk all over the scalp and
massaging it into the hair loss. It will nourish the hair
and promote hair growth. The coconut milk is prepared by
grinding the coconut shavings and squeezing it well.
Washing the hair with a paste of cooked black gram dal,
(urad dal) and fenugreek ( methi) lengthens the hair. A
fine paste made from pigeon pea or red gram ( arhar dal )
can also be applied regularly with beneficial results on
bald patches. Regular use of castor oil as hair oil helps
the luxuriant growth of the hair.
Certain home remedies have also been found useful in case
of patchy loss of hair. The seeds of lime and black
pepper seeds, ground to get a fine paste, is one of the
valuable remedies. This paste applied on the patches, has
mildly irritant action. This increases blood circulation
in the affected area and stimulates hair growth. The
paste should be applied twice a day for a few weeks.
Another useful remedy for patchy loss of hair is the
paste of liquorice (mulethi) made by grinding the pieces
in milk with a pinch of saffron. This paste should be
applied over the bald patches in the night before going
to bed.
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