Hair on the pillow and in the drain, and a scalp that itches and flakes.
What it looks like: Noticeably more hair coming out when combing or washing; Widening parting or thinning at the crown; Itchy, flaking scalp; Hair that has gone dry and brittle; Premature greying.
Hair is regarded as a by-product of bone tissue in Ayurveda, and hair fall as a Pitta disorder of the scalp — heat at the root. That framing explains what patients report anyway: it worsens with stress, with heat, after fever, and after any period of poor nutrition, rather than being a problem of the hair itself.
Shiro Abhyangam and Shiro Pichu deliver cooling medicated oil to the scalp and hold it there. Thalapothichil — a herbal paste held on the head — is used where the scalp is hot and inflamed. Nasyam is added where the picture points higher up. Internal medicines and a look at iron, thyroid and diet run alongside, because a scalp treatment on top of an untreated deficiency is wasted effort.
Typical course: 7 to 14 sessions, with internal treatment over 2 to 3 months.
When to see a doctor first, not us: Hair loss in defined round patches, loss with scarring or scalp sores, or sudden loss across the whole scalp needs a dermatologist — these are distinct conditions with distinct treatments.
Assessed at Sri Vinayaga Ayurvibe, a doctor-led Ayurveda hospital at Nookampalayam, Perumbakkam, Chennai 600131 — reachable from Sholinganallur, Medavakkam, OMR, Velachery, Pallikaranai and Tambaram. Open every day, 10 AM to 8 PM.
This page is for you if you have noticed more hair on your pillow, in the drain or on your comb, or your scalp has become itchy, flaky or oily in a way it was not before. Perhaps the shedding began after a fever, a stressful period, a crash diet or the birth of a child, or perhaps it crept up slowly. Here we explain how Ayurveda reads hair fall and dandruff, what the doctor checks and what a realistic plan of care involves.
The classical texts give hair loss its own name, Khalitya, and treat premature greying, Palitya, as a related problem. Both are described as Pitta reaching the scalp and, together with Vata, disturbing the roots. That is why the doctor asks about heat elsewhere in the body, such as acidity, irritability or burning eyes, and not only about the hair.
Dandruff is described separately, as Darunaka: a dry, itchy, scaling scalp driven by Kapha and Vata. In practice there are two common pictures. A dry scalp with fine white flakes and tightness needs different care from an oily scalp with yellowish, sticky flakes, and the wrong oil on the second can make it worse.
In this framework hair is among the last tissues to receive nourishment, so it reflects digestion, sleep and diet with some delay. That is also why a hair plan is measured in months.
The consultation covers the pattern of loss, whether diffuse thinning, a widening parting, a receding hairline or patches, and how long it has been going on. Your scalp, diet, sleep, stress, menstrual history and any recent illness or delivery are discussed, and your pulse, tongue and constitution are assessed in the same visit.
Common medical causes of hair fall include low iron or vitamin B12, thyroid imbalance, PCOS and recent major illness, and they need treating in their own right. If these have not been checked, the doctor may ask for blood tests through your physician before or alongside treatment here.
The state of the scalp decides the therapy more than the amount of hair lost. Where dandruff is oily and sticky, heavy oiling is held back and Thalapothichil, a cooling herbal paste covering the scalp, is often preferred. Where the scalp is dry and tight, Shiro Abhyangam and Shiro Pichu bring warm medicated oil to it.
Nasyam is included in some plans because the classical texts treat the nasal route as the way into complaints of the head, and list hair fall and early greying among them. Navara Mukha Lepam, a rice-and-milk face pack, is occasionally added where dry, dull skin is part of the same picture.
Internal medicines, prescribed after the consultation, are directed at digestion, nourishment and whatever heat the assessment finds. Plans differ widely: a person shedding after typhoid, a woman with PCOS and a student with dandruff before exams do not need the same approach.
A typical plan is 7 to 14 therapy sessions, with internal treatment continuing over 2 to 3 months. Sessions are often grouped in the early weeks, and the doctor reviews your scalp and shedding at intervals while the internal course runs.
Hair grows slowly and sheds in cycles, so any change is judged over months rather than days. Photos taken in the same light at the start give you and the doctor something honest to compare against. The cost depends on the plan, and the clinic tells you before you book.
If you are seeing a dermatologist, or using minoxidil, a medicated dandruff shampoo or prescribed supplements, carry on. We never ask you to stop medication prescribed by another doctor, and stopping minoxidil abruptly is itself usually followed by shedding.
Thyroid tablets and iron or vitamin supplements prescribed for a deficiency are part of the treatment, not an alternative to it. Tell the doctor which shampoos and products you use, so that scalp therapies and home care fit with your dermatologist’s plan rather than working against it.
Hair reflects the whole diet and routine, so most of this list is about the body rather than the scalp. Your own advice is written at the consultation.
Sri Vinayaga Ayurvibe — 12/597, Main Road, Nethaji Nagar Main Rd, Nookampalayam, Perumbakkam, Chennai 600131. Phone: +91 81229 39197.