Chamomile Flowers for Hair Care

Flowers are very popular when it comes to herbal hair solutions. Chamomile flowers can be used in many types of shampoos and hair care products as they help with dandruff, an itchy scalp, or dry hair. It has well-known sedative and relaxing properties.

General problems of hair loss:
Dandruff, Graying of hair, loosing hair, brittle hair and slow growth of hair are some of the common hair problems that people complain about.

Though most of these problems are natural signs of aging or part of our genetic makeup, there are some simple preventative measures and home remedies that may help some of these hair complaints.

Hibiscus Flowers for Hair Care

Hibiscus (also known as rosemallow or jamaica) has many natural properties which have been valued through out the ages. One of its traditional uses is hair care.

This flower is used for curing dandruff. Hibiscus extracts are used in hair oils, shampoos, hair tonic and conditioners.

Many Ayurvedic hair oil formulations contain hibiscus. The crushed dried flowers are used as a hair dye as each hibiscus flower yields a natural dark purplish dye which may be used to colour premature grey hairs.

The human hair is made up of approximately 85% complex protein called Keratin, the balance consists of water, lipids and melanin pigments with trace minerals like calcium, magnesium, copper, iron. phosphorus, silicone etc. There is nothing as attractive as a thick head of hair which glows with natural health. To maintain this we need good hair care regimen that involves the following:

• Hair cleansing which involves removal of accumulated sebum, scalp debris and residues of hair grooming preparations. This should ideally be done on alternate days.
• Hair conditioning which involves making good the natural deficiencies of sebum and repairing the hair cuticle. This makes hair smooth, soft, shining and elastic.
• Scalp stimulation which involves in providing nutrients and hormonal support to hair by massaging the scalp and nourishing it.

The common problem faced is hair loss which can occur due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Dandruff
• Harsh shampoos which have a strong chemical base
• Pollutants in the air
• Hair colours, perming and straightening lotions
• Heredity
• Physical weakness and lack of proper nutrition
• Stress

A very simple traditional recipe is to cook some red hibiscus flowers on low fire in coconut or sesame oil and let it cool. This oil is then massaged into the hair. Red Hibiscus or Jabakusum as it is known in Hindi, is known for its hair growth related properties. Care should be taken to rinse the oil out with very mild shampoo otherwise it will nullify the good effect of the oil.

In case some people do not like to oil their hair, the hibiscus flowers can be made into pulp in the mixer and applied to the hair for thirty minutes and then rinsed out with water.

The benefits of Hibiscus treatment:

• Prevents hair loss
• Enhances growth of hair
• Discourages split ends
• Thickens hair
• Prevents premature greying of hair

Hair Loss Problem and Natural Tips for Healthy Hair

Balding or receding hairlines, double crown, cowlicks and the unusual pattern of hair growth are the common problems associated with the hair growth. There may be various reasons for these problems. Every day, every one looses some hair. Our body then replaces it with some new strands as part of the many renewal processes that are built into our body systems.

As we all age, 'the reappearance of new hair' event gradually slows down. This observable fact is more evident in men than women, whose 'male-pattern baldness is genetically determined and can begin as early as age 20. For women, hair normally thins after age 50, and considerable hair loss before that age is very rare.

Receding hair lines may occur due to change in the level of hormones, lack of proper diet, growing age, improper health and stress. Cowlick is a hair growth problem that is usually found in the hairline that is situated in the front. This type of hair growth problem is genetic. The hair may open or lift due to the growth of hair follicles in different directions. In case of double crown, there may be a great difficulty in styling the hair. The greatest problem occurs when hair are cut short in an excessive manner, thus sticking up.

The common problem faced is hair loss which can occur due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Dandruff
• Harsh shampoos which have a strong chemical base
• Pollutants in the air
• Hair colours, perming and straightening lotions
• Heredity
• Physical weakness and lack of proper nutrition
• Stress

Natural Tips for Healthy Hair

For Dandruff

• Massage the Scalp with pure coconut oil. This will also help for growth of hair.
• Apply the warm mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and coconut oil. Do a steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes and wash the hair with a shampoo.
• Apply coconut oil which has been boiled with small onions. Wash it off with a mixture of green gram powder and water drained from cooked (boiled) rice.
• Apply a mixture of almond oil and gooseberry juice with finger tips on the scalp.
• Mix Shikakai powder with the water drained from the cooked rice and wash the hair with it.
• Apply a paste of fenugreek and mustard to the scalp.
• Crush  the leaves of five petal hibiscus flower and take the juice. Wash the hair with this juice.
• Heat the oil with a little camphor. Apply the oil in the scalp and massage for 10 minutes. After 30 minutes wash the hair with a herbal shampoo. Do the steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes.

For Healthy and Shiny hair

• It is better to apply castor oil for a healthy growth of hair.
• Wash hair with tea once in a week.
• Deep condition with curd, beer and egg.
• Apply besan in the hair and wash it with water drained from the cooked rice.
• Apply the mixture of an egg white, 2 spoon of castor oil, 1 spoon glycerin, in the scalp and hair. Wash it after some time.
• Soak a handful of gooseberry in a cup of milk for two hours. Make it as a paste and apply in the hair.
• Massage hair with warm coconut oil an hour before washing. Let it soak. Cover your head with a hot towel and wash your hair after an hour or so.
• Boil a few hibiscus flowers in coconut oil. Filter and use this hair oil to control hair loss and thinning.
• Do a 'steam-towel-wrap' once in a while, if your cuticles are damaged, as this steaming opens out the pores and absorbs the oil.
• Mix a little vinegar in warm water and rinse your hair with this solution. This will add bounce to dull and lifeless hair.
• Soak 1 teaspoon fenugreek in curd and keep it for a night. Have it in the next morning.
• Boil coconut oil with the juices of curry leaves, basil, hibiscus flower and gooseberry. Apply on hair, keep it for sometime and rinse.
• Egg white and curd is a good conditioner for hair.
• Take a cup of coconut and mustard oils. Soak half a cup of curry leaves in the oil mixture and keep it for a night. Next morning, heat on a slow fire till the curry leaves turn crisp. Remove from heat and add two to three camphor balls. Allow oil to cool and then strain. Apply oil to hair roots using cotton wool along the parting and massage in circular movements. Leave the oil overnight and shampoo the next morning. Repeat twice a week.
• Add a lemon peel to a 'shikakai' and 'amla' mixture while washing your hair.

For Graying

• Take a little Mehandi , an egg, juice of  half a lemon, one table spoon of instant coffee powder. Mix it together and apply on the hair. Wash it after 45 minutes.
• Boil one cup of dried gooseberry with 4 cups of water. Add a pinch of sugar in it. Keep boiling till the quantity of the liquid reduces to one cup. Mix 2 cups of Mehendi, an egg, juice of a lemon and the gooseberry solution and apply on hair. Wash the hair after two hours.

Benefits of Banana for Hair

There are a number of benefits of bananas. The benefits are not just limited to health but also extend up to beauty treatments as well. It is an effective beauty treatment for skin  as well as hair.

Bananas are great for your hair and scalp. They improve manageability and shine while moisturizing your skin and helping to prevent and control dandruff.

Banana is rich in:

• Potassium,
• Natural oils,
• Carbohydrates and
• Vitamins.

These help in softening the hair and protects the hair's natural elasticity preventing split ends and breakage. Bananas when used for hair has a number of benefits such as it creates manageability, shine, growth and controls dandruff. These are simply the best for hair and the scalp.

Bananas enhance the strength, endurance and shine of the hair and can be referred to as the banana food. Most of the banana hair products are available only at expensive spas and salons. However, you can make your own banana hair conditioner or mask. Just like a facial mask enhances the glow of your face immediately, a hair mask also improves your hair dramatically. Bananas are full of vitamins and is a number one ingredient for strengthening and volumizing the hair. It helps in repairing dry and sun-damaged hair.

The damages of hair that are caused to the hair by exposure to the dirt, pollution and other environmental toxins can be treated with the banana mask. Banana helps in protecting the hair from further damage. The vitamin B helps in the prevention of split ends.

The type of hair that is suitable for this treatment are dry hair, dyed hair and for hair after perm. It also serves as an excellent treatment for addressing the problem of dandruff and is helpful in retaining moisture on your scalp. However, if you are allergic to any of the ingredients used in the pack then it is best to avoid using it.

Bananas contain minerals and other nutrients that promote hair recovery and rehabilitation. Banana mask is perfectly suited for dry, dyed hair and for hair after the perm.

Hair loss of women and Aloe vera can helps to protect hair loss

Hair loss in women is very common. There are many causes behind women’s hair loss, including physical or emotional stress, surgery, chemical treatments and more, but there are also a variety of women hair loss treatment options to try if you are a sufferer.

• If your hair loss is caused by a deficiency, changing your diet or taking a multi vitamin and mineral supplement might be a helpful women hair loss treatment option.
• If your hair loss is caused by anemia, you should add plenty of iron-rich food to your diet, such as brazil nuts, broccoli and red meat.
• Vitamin B6 is important if you are a hair loss sufferer, as are iron and zinc. Protein-rich foods and amino acids can fight hair loss.
• Low copper levels can cause hair loss but too much copper can be toxic so you should speak to a healthcare professional before taking supplements.
• Vitamin B5, folic acid, silica, biotin and paraminobenzoic acid are believed to maintain the colour and thickness of the hair.

Aloe vera can help with hair loss. This plant contains 75 nutrients, 18 amino acids and 12 kinds of vitamins. Indians and Native Americans have used aloe vera for centuries to fight hair loss. Aloe vera balances the scalp’s pH and cleans the pores. It can be beneficial for alopecia sufferers because it is a natural anti-inflammatory. Stinging nettles and saw palmetto are other hair loss supplements you can try.

Some useful plants which combat with hair loss

Nettle root lotion to combat hair loss: 1 bit of nettle root, minced one fourth of a liter of water. Is boiled nettle root to simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool and apply it to the scalp with a firm massage.

Rinse in vinegar and nettle: Add 100ml of vinegar and chopped 250g nettles to a liter of water. Boil for half an hour and strain. Apply as a lotion after washing your hair two or three times a week.

Geranium leaves: Another effective remedy for hair will not fall. Take geranium leaves in boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Rinse hair with water.

Drink of alfalfa for the hair stop falling:

When you want to fight hair loss is also necessary to fight from within. A bald man took the drink daily and in three months and had hair again. In a blender put a handful of alfalfa, half a dozen clean lettuce leaves (lettuce that comes in sheets, not round) and two chopped carrots. Extract the juice and drink immediately.

Horsetail rinse to combat hair loss: In a quart of boiling water, take 7 tablespoons of horsetail, 7 of fresh rosemary and nettle 7 for 5 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes and strain the infusion. Use it after shampooing, making massage and do not rinse. Do not use dryer.

Infusion of basil and parsley: Boil a few sprigs of basil and parsley, cool and apply it every night.

Green Tea: This is a good remedy for baldness in men. Take one to three cups a day.

Guava leaves: A very effective remedy to stop hair loss. Put a handful of guava leaves in a quart of water and boil. Apply with a rigorous massage the scalp.

Abrotano male: Put 20g of leaves in a quart of water and simmer 20 minutes. Let stand for a week and apply to scalp three or four times a day.

Romero: Crush 20g rosemary leaves and put them to quiet. Massage the scalp with this water twice a day.

Verbena: Cook 15g of flowers in one liter of water for 20 minutes. let cool and then rinse your hair with this water after washing.

Mamey to combat hair loss: Crush the seeds and make a paste adding a little castor oil. Rub the scalp with this paste every night.

The danger of medical drugs

One issue that I discussed earlier, but due to repeated “accusations” against medicinal plants, I must repeat or extend their defense.

One way is to confront news like the following:

a) Alternative medicine can be dangerous for children and adolescents, and even deadly, according to a study conducted in Australia. 39 cases studied in children over 2 years, with 17 cases affected by not using conventional medicine. Four deaths.

b) Drug kills 2,000 in France. Paris | The health scandal caused in France by the Mediator, a drug for diabetics who are overweight and have caused some 2,000 deaths, stirred the political sphere which took 11 years to have it off the market, after the first warnings about its danger.

Another way is to argue how they should handle these drugs derived from plants:

In a previous post I stated, “In short, the regulations for medicinal products prepared from raw herbs or their derivatives, must be the same as for allopathic medicines. As for the dried herbs that are packaged and sold as such, regulations should monitor , first the good manufacturing practices and also other recommendations included in the packaging and labels or tags, as well as any material of propaganda. “

You can also highlight other issues of common synthetic drugs as well as frequent self-medication:

1 .- Aspirin has its risks. Overconfidence in aspirin has become a danger, since it is capable of producing poison, frequently associated with viral diseases. Its property of reducing blood clotting may also cause problems and frequent use can cause gastrointestinal mucosal lesions.

2 .- To take daily painkillers may raise the risk of stroke. Analgesic consumption (type of ibuprofen) daily for several years may increase the chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke, according to Swiss research published in the British Medical Journal and compiled by the BBC website.

On the simultaneous use of natural and allopathic, I take what the President of the Chilean Society of Phytotherapy and speaker of the 6 th International Congress on Complementary Medicine, Dr. Miguel Morales, said.

“He warns about the risks of mixing drugs with herbal medicine allopathic and / or herbs without medical supervision. He indicates that they may alter treatment, increased adverse reactions, toxicity occur, but also, it may enhance therapeutic success.

But if these requirements are not met by either the economic interests of the pharmaceutical industry, because despite being aware of all developments that have taken the various disciplines and technological advancement do not develop each of the stages of the investigation of future medicine either by omission or intent, or the rush to get the product to market or because they are demanding market demand or population health status, as well as professionals in the field especially the physician does not know or know only superficially mechanism action of drugs with poor real support physicochemical aspects of the particular case to prescribe now. This also goes at hand with misdiagnosis and lack of knowledge or because the patient has no fundamental culture and do not provide all the information to the doctor, is then presented with both a public health problem. “

I think that ultimately, both allopathic and natural medicines (from plants) are obviously important and they are not responsible for the problems caused by misuse. We, human beings are who act improperly. Whether consumers, health professionals, manufacturers, authorities and all other stakeholders. To the extent that if the goal is not the welfare of the people, these stories will continue coming out.

This article was translated from the original, written in spanish at http://plsmeddrherbie.blogspot.com/