Hair Care and Homoeopathy.
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1995 Nov / Dec VOL VI NO 6.
Ananda Prasad Sarangi.
In our daily practice, we come across many hair problems including falling of hair, premature graying of hair. We must have some information about normal hair. Here, we shall discuss only hair of the scalp.
In normal condition, the average number of hair on scalp is 1000 to the square inch of the scalp and approximately about 120,000 over the entire area of the scalp.
Part of the hair under the skin is the root and the portion projecting from the surface is the shaft.
Growth of the hair occurs at the hair bulb where the cell capping the papilla proliferate and form the germinal matrix of the hair. As the daughter cells are displaced upward progressively, they become keratinised to form the fibre like cornified cells which forms the shaft of the hair.
The colour of the hair is due to the presence of melanin. Graying of the hair occurs due to the collection of minute air bubbles in the cortex and medulla of the shaft due to the loss of melanin formation cells in the germinal matrix.
There are three phases of hair over our scalp, Anagen, Catagen and Telogen. Normally 80 to 85 percent of the hair over our scalp are anagen hair and are in a growing phase. Nearly 1 percent are catagen hairs and in a regressing phase. The rest 15 percent are telogen hairs which are in a resting phase.
Alopecia - The loss of hair is either patchy or generalized. In normal conditions there is some hair fall every day. The duration of the life of a single scalp hair is about 4 years after which it is shed and is replaced.
Alopecia can be divided into two categories - Scarring and Non scarring.
Scarring alopecia - In this category there is formation of scars or ulcers after the hair fall. There is no chance of reappearance of the hair. The cause of this type are: infections, injury and burns.
Non-scarring alopecia - In this category the hair falls for a certain period and there is every possibility of reappearance. The cause of this type are: inflammations, use of certain medicines, Anti cancer drugs, long continued fever (Typhoid) deficiency of vitamins and protein, anaemia, parathyroid disorder, frequent exposure to X-ray, itching of the scalp and excessive mental stress and strain.
There are four varieties of alopecia which are -
- alopecia congenitale
- alopecia premature
- alopecia senilis
- alopecia areata.
Congenital alopecia or alopecia adnata is a rare condition nearly always temporary, in which hair loss may be scanty or the growth is retarded. It is usually caused by the delay in the development in the hair and may be associated with defective growth of the teeth, nails and other structures. In this type we find normal hair growth after some time which may be for weeks to a year. Very rarely the conditions remain permanent.
Temporary baldness may come from localized eczema, psoriasis, parasitic affections, erysipelas or superficial local injuries. Dandruff is one of the commonest causes of this type of alopecia. Loss of hair can also occurs from typhoid fever, small pox, diabetes, phthisis, syphilis, leprosy mental anxiety and nervous shocks and abuse of mercury.
Alopecia areata is characterized by one or more circumscribed rounded area of complete baldness without any apparent change in the skin. It is a patchy loss of hair.
Alopecia totalis or universalis is the condition with hair loss not only from the scalp, but also eyebrows axillae and pubic area.
Treatment:
In Homoeopathy all the three miasms, psoric, syphilitic and sycotic are responsible for the different hair diseases. Also we have very good anti-miasmatic medicines for these troubles.
A few specifics are as follows -
Choclerhea can be used locally for dandruff.
Ceonanthus can be used locally for nourishment of hair.
For premature greying - Arsenic, Kali-iod, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Silica, Secale and
Sulph are useful. But medicines should be selected on the basis of symptom similarity for
best results.
General Hair Care:
To prevent alopecia, care must be taken to make the hair roots strong. For this, massage of the scalp is essential which ensures a regular blood flow to the hair follicles. It should be done by fingers-tips and brushes which rub the scalp gently. Gentle pulling of the hair without snatching is a good practice to make the hair strong. Washing the head with cold and warm water helps regular blood flow into the hair follicles.
Hair should not be washed with strong soaps and caustic soda. Non-irritating soaps or a combination of glycerine, alcohol, tincture of green soap with or without eggs is ideal for washing the hair. Sweet almond oil, lanolin, glycerine and rose water or scented castor oil may be massaged on the scalp in small quantities to replace the natural secretion which has been removed by washing. This application should be made after making the hair absolutely dry after cleaning. Hair should not be combed when it is moist. Never dry hair in excess sun-light.
Diet should include proteinous food like milk, eggs, pulses and cereals. Green leaves, fruits and vegetables must be taken daily. Excessive food intake and drinks like tea or coffee should be avoided.
