I AM 25 AND GREYING

Q I am barely 25 years old but I have already started greying. This is beginning to affect my self-confidence quite severely. None of my friends are in the state I am in. Is there any medicine in ayurveda for restoring the original black colour of my hair?

A Before I discuss the ayurvedic approach to treating grey hair, a brief overview of hair: Initially, hair is transparent. The pigment called melanin is what gives our hair its colour.

In general, the more melanin present in the hair, the darker the hair colour.

If for any reason, the melanocytes stop producing the pigment, the result is hair that is transparent. The transparent hair against your healthier darker hair is what gives the appearance of grey hair.

Grey hair is more noticeable in people with darker coloured hair because it stands out. Grey hair can be harder to colour as it is more resistant to hair colour/dye due to a decreased amount of melanin.

Now let’s explore the reasons for hair turning grey: One of the main reasons is heredity.

Grey hair can also be the result of certain medical conditions. For instance, if you are deficient in B12 or suffer from a thyroid imbalance or anaemia it can cause your hair to go gray.

Also, smokers are found to be four times more likely to have grey hair than nonsmokers.

Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence that any diet, herb, supplement, or natural product, can reverse grey hair.

Try this home remedy: Make a paste of equal quanities of thriphala powder, seeds of mango fruit and henna powder with water. Keep the paste in an iron vessel for a day and use as an external application before bath.

Massaging the scalp with the juice of beetroot can also prevent premature greying to a certain extent.

Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. They contain plenty of essential vitamins and minerals crucial for general health and well-being. Usage of curry leaves in food can also help prevent premature greying.