Does Ayurveda cure hair loss better than allopathic medicine?

Hair loss can be one of the most common hair problems. While there are thousands of boastful remedies for hair loss on the internet, what’s really wrong with that? Allopathic treatments for hair loss can be varied, but Ayurveda for hair loss is still popular with many. But what wins the bet? Let’s find out here.

What is hair loss?

Hair loss is used as an umbrella term for any hair loss. But in reality, some hair loss is completely normal. It is about 80-100 strands in women and about 50-70 strands in men. It is only worrying if this number increases or if your scalp becomes visible over time. Then you probably suffer from hair loss.

What are the different conditions of hair loss?

1. Androgenic alopecia

Also known as male pattern baldness or hair loss. This type of hair loss is very gradual and starts with thinning hair. In men, it manifests as hair withdrawal or thinning around the vortex. In women, it causes enlargement of areas or poor hair growth. It progresses in stages and there are 7 stages of progress. It is genetic, but it can be triggered by diet, stress, lifestyle, sleep and health problems.

2. Telogen effusion

This hair loss is triggered when your body is subjected to significant physical and mental stress. This may be due to several reasons such as sudden weight loss, pregnancy, illness (Covid-19, malaria, dengue, thyroid) and mental trauma. This manifests itself as rapid and severe hair loss. So people can end up losing 200-300 strands a day.

3. Alopecia Areata

This condition of hair loss is an autoimmune disorder. It appears as a round bald spot on the scalp and in some cases even on the rest of the body. This requires treatment with corticosteroids and should only be taken under the supervision and prescription of a dermatologist. Although there is no convincing evidence, research suggests that stress may be one of the triggers.

Now that you know about the conditions of hair loss, it is time to compare treatment options – allopathy against Ayurveda.

Allopathy Against Ayurveda: Which Is Better To Treat Hair Loss?

Allopathy and Ayurveda are two different types of science that are often used in the treatment of hair loss. Both work towards hair loss control, but the approach is quite different. Allopathy treats hair loss due to hormonal imbalance, stress, disease, vitamin and gene deficiencies. According to Ayurveda, hair loss can be caused by internal health problems such as digestion, sleep, metabolism, lack of food for follicles, among others.

Ayurveda does not directly treat hair loss, but uses a bottom-up approach where it is cures hair loss by improving your inner health. While allopathy works directly by blocking DHT, it reverses the effect of DHT on follicles and prolongs the hair cycle growth phase using clinically approved treatments. So what works better?

Allopathy and Ayurveda offer promising results when it comes to combating hair loss. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

What causes hair loss?

Hair loss can be caused by several reasons, some of the main reasons are listed below:

1. Genetic

Androgenic alopecia or male or female pattern baldness is one of the most common causes of hair loss. When your genes carry a genetic predisposition to hair loss, this is called genetic hair loss. It is best managed at an early stage or during the onset of the condition.

2. Stress

Hair loss is triggered by physical or mental strain or stress that pushes most hair into the telogen loss phase and this is also called Telogen Effluvium. During this period, you notice more than the desired dropout.

3. Nutritional deficiencies

Diets that do not have enough protein, iron, and certain vitamins and minerals can cause hair to weaken structurally, causing it to fall out easily.

4. Unhealthy lifestyle

Disturbed sleep cycles, lack of physical activity, alcohol abuse and smoking interfere with the normal functioning of the body, cause hormonal imbalances and lead to hair loss.

5. Health conditions

Health conditions such as PCOS, thyroid, depression, covid, dengue, typhus can trigger hair loss. By aggravating pattern hair loss or triggering telogen eruption. Not only do health conditions directly affect hair loss, but some of the medications you take also increase hair loss.

6. Internal health

Poor digestion, metabolism and absorption can affect dietary levels, hormonal imbalances, the balance of the dosha and bone health, which can contribute to hair loss by exacerbating existing hair loss conditions.

6. Environment

Exposure to constant pollution, elements and hard water can also worsen hair loss by deteriorating scalp health.

Let Ayurveda save you from hair loss. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

How does allopathy cure hair loss?

Allopathy treats hair loss with clinically proven prescription drugs such as Minoxidil, Finasteride, Redensyl. Allopathy solutions help to inhibit or block the production of DHT, increase blood flow to the follicles and prolong the duration of the anagen (growth) phase. Although these products are quite effective, they do not provide lasting results because they do not eliminate the triggers that worsen the condition of hair loss. Therefore, allopathic treatment cannot be considered as a complete solution for hair loss.

How Ayurveda works against hair loss?

Ayurveda, on the other hand, strives to achieve healing from within. It affects the underlying causes of hair loss such as indigestion, stress, sleep and metabolism. and is designed to improve internal health. Ayurvedic science uses traditional herbal blends, therapeutic techniques and dietary changes to solve these problems. Some powerful herbs, e.g. Shatavari, Ashwagandha, Guduchi, Amalaki in Bhringraj are useful in treating hair problems. They target a variety of underlying causes, improving overall health, delaying premature graying, controlling hair loss, improving scalp health, and promoting hair regrowth.

How can a combination of the two bring better results?

Ayurveda and allopathy have previously been used as individual treatments to address hair loss. But a combination of both can actually lead to fast and sustainable hair growth. Both sciences complement each other, each focusing on individual root causes and providing effective solutions. On the one hand, allopathy has clinically proven solutions, Ayurveda is completely natural and the treatment has no side effects. A holistic treatment that works on the internal and external factors that affect hair loss through both oral and topical use is what the hair loss industry currently needs, not a single product that more or less superficially affects hair loss. A complex problem, such as hair loss, requires a holistic and tailored solution. With the tune of these sciences, fix your health and hair loss with a single solution.