Premature Graying of Hair

The hair is an extension of the skin. It is composed of the same cells that comprises the epidermis, or the outer layer of the skin. It grows from hair follicles that penetrates deep down to the surface of the epidermis. The scalp is made of sebaceous glands that secretes an oily substance called sebum. This sebum is responsible for the color, luster and nutrition of the hair. The hair is nourished through the bloodstream.

Premature graying of hair is an untimely condition where the hair loses its natural color to gray.

Causes
Two primary causes of premature graying is due to taking faulty diets and engaging in too many mental troubles which produces tension on the skin scalp, thereby cutting off the nutritional supply of the hair.

Deficiency in iron, copper, iodine and vitamin B can also contribute to this condition.

Uncleaned scalp, washing the hair using hot water, blow drying and constant usage of hair dyes can make the hair looked old.

Heredity also plays an important factor in premature graying.

Home Remedies
Indian gooseberry: Cut the fruit into pieces. Dry it under the shade. Boil using coconut oil until it turns into dust. Apply the oil produced on the hair to encourage hair growth and hair pigmentation.

Amla: Soak dried pieces of amla overnight in water. Use the water when rinsing the hair after shampooing. Another method is to mix 1 teaspoon of almond oil and a few drops of limejuice. Massage the mixture on the scalp every night to prevent premature hair graying.

Amaranth: Apply fresh amaranth juice on the hair to make it softer, enrich its color, and encourage hair growth.

Curry leaves: Boil curry leaves in coconut oil to form a tonic. Apply on the hair to stimulate hair growth and pigmentation. You can also take it in chutney form or, extracted in buttermilk.

Ribbed gourd: Dry pieces of ribbed gourd in the shade. Soak in coconut oil for 3-4 days. Boil oil until the pieces turned into black. Massage oil in the scalp to strengthen hair roots and restore hair pigmentation.

Butter: Take a small roll of butter made from cow’s milk. You can also massage a small piece of butter on the hair roots twice a week to prevent premature graying.

Vitamins: Take a minimum of 10 mg of pantothenic acid, 100 mg of para-aminobenzoic acid, and 2 gm of inositol. Take it all together as a supplement or from a food source such as yeast and liver. These vitamins can also be produced in the intestinal tract by taking sufficient amount of yogurt daily and 1 tablespoonful of yeast before each meal. It taking calcium panthothenate and para-aminobenzoic acid tables, take it along with the yeast and yogurt as a supplement not as a substitute.

Diets
Eat foods that contains all the essential nutrients to the body.

Avoid white flour and refined sugar products such as jams, jellies, sodas and pastries for they drains the body’s much-needed energy and causes gray hair and wrinkles on the skin.

Further Suggestions
Apply almond oil on the scalp and massage it deliberately.