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The magic of Indian traditional herbs and their potency in curing different ailments is a fact hidden from none. Most of the cures to our problems lie in nature itself. For our hair problems too even though there are many modern medicines, the natural remedies provide a more sustainable cure and most importantly with none or minimal side effects. One such hidden gem is the pink-shaped flowering plant Jatamansi which is found only in the Himalayan range at a height of 3,000-4,000 metres.
Jatamansi is used in many Ayurvedic preparations and can be counted as a very effective cure for hair problems. You can very well regard it as a magical potion as it reverses greying of hair apart from helping resolve other hair problems. It helps control hair fall, enhances hair growth, fights dandruff, etc. it is one of the best Ayurvedic herbs for hair.
What is Jatamansi ?
Jatamansi is a herbaceous plant which is hairy and small in size, and therefore called a dwarf plant. It is a plant-based herb. It is a critically endangered species as per the IUCN (International union for Conservation of Nature) list of medicinal plants.
Jatamansi is also known as muskroot, nard, nardin or spikenard. In Ayurveda, it is known as “tapaswani”.
Jatamansi rhizomes are used to make aromatic medicinal hair oils, stimulant, antispasmodics (used to relieve spasm of involuntary muscle), to treat hysteria, convulsions, and epilepsy. Its roots are used medically to treat insomnia, blood circulatory disorders and even mental disorders.
The essential oils made from the flowers are often used to make perfumes or for medicinal purposes. Jatamansi oil is often used as a perfume during Indian religious ceremonies.
The Jatamansi powder made from its dried roots is known to be good for skin and hair. It is a remedy for the effects of continuous exposure to dust and air pollution. ‘Can ayurveda reverse grey hair ?’ is a frequently asked question and the answer is a resounding yes. And Jatamansi is one of the biggest reasons for the answer as it is capable of reducing the pitta levels in the body. This is one of the biggest jatamansi benefits for hair.
Benefits of Jatamansi for Hair
Experts recommend jatamansi for hair growth. It increases the size of the hair follicles and extends the phase of hair growth. The increase in hair follicle size leads to stronger and thicker hair strands.
By applying Jatamansi oil to your scalp you can control hair fall and promote hair growth. As per Ayurveda, the oily and healing properties of Jatamansi help in curbing hair fall and promotes hair growth. Results have shown that it boosts hair growth in cases of male pattern baldness and even in case of cancer, post-chemotherapy.
It also helps in darkening your hair colour. As per a research where 5 different herbal preparations comprising different herbs were compared for its colouring strengths as hair colour, Jatamansi led to maximum darkening of hair.
It also makes hair soft and silky. You can see a significant difference if you use the oil extracts and massage it onto your scalp. It is very effective for dry and brittle hair. It even helps reduce dandruff with regular oiling and also prevent split ends.
Other Health Benefits of Jatamansi
Apart from being good for hair it has multiple other health benefits. It helps improve memory and brain functions by acting as a brain tonic. Its antioxidant property prevents cell damage. It acts as a stress relaxant as it calms down the brain and manages anxiety as well as insomnia. Jatamansi helps induce sound sleep. This is one of the most important benefits of jatamansi for hair.
Due to the presence of antifungal and antioxidant properties, it benefits the skin. It prevents wrinkles. Massaging Jatamansi oil in your skin helps control infections. It’s healing properties help in the healing of wounds.
It helps in improving memory functions. It helps control symptoms of memory loss and if consumed regularly helps enhance memory alertness. It also manages the symptoms of epilepsy.
It is a very good antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory benefits. It helps reduce the causes that often lead to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. Jatamansi’s anti- inflammatory and antioxidant properties can defend against such causes and have a protective effect on your health.
It is also used to cure intestinal worms and other digestive problems. The hepatoprotective properties of Jatamansi root helps improve liver health and even treats jaundice. Its analgesic property helps in relieving pain and swelling.
How to Consume Jatamansi for Healthy Hair
It is consumed as a bitter tonic. The roots and rhizomes are the edible parts of this plant. Jatamansi is available in various forms, like oil, powder, tablets or the root itself. The root can be boiled and eaten.
The tablets are Ayurvedic products made of the extracts of the plant’s roots and are easily available in the market. The recommended daily dose for adults is 1-2 tabs.
Adults can consume 1-3 grams of Jatamansi powder, twice daily. It can be mixed with ghee, honey or water as per the preference of the individual.
How to Use Jatamansi for Hair
Applying Jatamansi oil helps to promote hair growth. Jatamansi root paste can also be applied on hair to improve hair strength and growth.
- Take 2-5 drops of Jatamansi oil. Decide the amount of drops as per your requirement. Mix with 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil. Apply on the scalp once or twice a day to control hair fall.
- Jatamansi oil can also be mixed with homemade hair tonic or hair oil.
- Mixing Jatamansi oil with sesame oil on the scalp promotes shine and hair growth.
- Castor oil and Jatamansi for hair is a very effective remedy. This, if applied together, helps hair growth on bald patches.
- If you are using the Jatamansi roots or powder, then soak it in almond or coconut oil overnight. Boil it in medium heat the following morning. Apply this oil to the scalp.
- To cure dandruff or any other scalp infection, mix 25 grams of jatamansi powder with 200ml of neem oil. Leave the mix for one to one and a half days for the powder to soak in the oil. Ideally keep it in sunlight. Then apply this oil and leave it overnight or keep it for about 10-15 hrs. Wash it off with a mild shampoo.
Precautions to take While Using Jatamansi
Jatamansi root preparations are mostly safe when used in an appropriate dosage. It is also non-toxic. Though there are many clinical studies which have proven results on the benefits of using Jatamansi for hair, some precautions are necessary if a person is suffering from hypersensitivity. Jatamansi formulations in some cases may cause skin irritation, breathing difficulty, nausea, and vomiting. Also, it is suggested that women avoid the use of Jatamansi during pregnancy and the breast-feeding period. Though there is not enough scientific evidence against its usage during this period, it is better to avoid it during this time.
The popularity of Jatamansi for hair has risen immensely in recent times. A number of people use Jatamansi infused in oil as it is one of the most effective remedies for hair. It is also regarded as one of the more potent ways on how to stop white hair. Do visit us at Traya to find out from our experts about many more such ways to enhance the quality of your hair.
