Natural Remedy Can Reverse Gray Hair?

There is no scientific evidence that any diet, herb, supplement, or product can reduce or reverse gray hair, however, there are some underlying conditions that may result in premature gray and some ancient approaches you might be interested in.

It might help to first understand why we get gray hair. Hair color is produced by tiny hair pigment cells within our hair follicles called melanocytes. As we age, the activity of these melanocytes gradually declines until they stop making pigment. New hairs grown in without pigment, resulting in gray hair.

Each one of us has a genetically determined time when we will get gray hair. Although nothing can stop hair from turning gray, there are some conditions that can cause hair to gray earlier or more quickly than normal.

•Thyroid disorders. Conditions such as Grave's disease, Hashimoto's disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism have been linked with premature gray hair.

•Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. It can be due to a diet low in vitamin B12, which is found mainly in meat, eggs, and milk. It can also occur if the stomach can't absorb vitamin B12, due to surgery involving the stomach or small intestine (such as gastric bypass surgery), diseases that affect the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, fish tapeworms, or small intestine bacterial overgrowth, or a lack of protein called intrinsic factor due to an autoimmune reaction or a genetic defect.

•Vitiligo. A condition in which your skin loses melanocytes, resulting in very light patches of skin and possibly premature gray hair.

•Early menopause

•Smoking. Cigarette smoking has been linked to premature gray hair.
Addressing these underlying conditions, in some cases, may help to prevent hair from going premature gray.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, premature gray hair reflects an underlying disturbance.

Hair, according to TCM, reflects the quality of blood and the strength of the kidneys. The kidneys and blood have a broader role in TCM than they do in Western physiology.

Foods that are thought to strengthen the blood and kidneys are:
•Hijiki seaweed

•Blackstrap molasses

•Black sesame seeds

•Nettles

•Wheat grass

•Chlorophyll
Keep in mind though that consuming excessive amounts of these foods is not recommended. For example, excessive amounts of iodine (from seaweed) may increase the risk of developing thyroid problems, which itself is a cause of premature gray hair.

Foods to avoid, according to TCM, are excessive meat, dairy, and salt

Many commercial products that claim to restore hair's natural color contain herbs that are used in TCM to strengthen the kidneys and blood. The most popular is a herb called He Shou Wu, also called Polygonum multiflorum or Fo-Ti.

The name He Shou Wu means "black-haired Mr. He" in Chinese. This name refers to a legend of an older villager named Mr. He who took this herb and restored his black hair, youthful appearance and vitality.

He Shou Wu isn't right for everyone with grey hair, say TCM practitioners, which is why a consultation is recommended. If used improperly, it is thought to lead to emotional ailments such as anger or depression. For more information about He Shou Wu, read the He Shou Wu / Fo-Ti Fact Sheet.

In ayurveda, hair is associated with an imbalance in the pitta constitutional type. An imbalance in the vata constitutional type, aggravated by stress, is also associated with premature greying.

Olive Oil Recipe For Preserving Hair

After a long winter’s exposure to dry indoor heat, our hair needs some nourishing relief! Here’s the simple solution. This easy hair treatment will result in healthier, more manageable hair and a really clean, invigorated scalp. Olive oil nourishes, conditions, and improves the strength and elasticity of your hair, while the couldn’t-be-easier process is both stress-reducing and health-promoting.

Here’s how.

INGREDIENTS (enough for 1 or 2 treatments, depending on the length and thickness of your hair)

½ cup olive oil
5 drops frankincense essential oil (others may be substituted, if you wish)
1 plastic bag that can fit over your hair

1. Pour olive oil into a jar with a lid, then add essential oil. Put lid on jar and shake well to disperse the essential oil. Let sit for 24 hours in a cool, dark place. Shake again before use.

2. Rinse hair with warm water. Warm 1 tablespoon of oil treatment in the palms of your hands. Using your fingertips (not nails), gently massage the oil into the scalp in a circular motion. Repeat until the entire scalp has been massaged. Rub the ends of your hair with the remaining oil.

3. Place a plastic bag over your hair, secure by tying or with a hair clip or clothespin, and allow the oil to remain for at least a half-hour.

4. Rinse well, then shampoo as usual.