An Ayurvedic Perspective on Hair Loss: Understanding the Root Cause

Hair loss used to be something that affected us in old age but now we are seeing people in their thirties and forties with hair thinning.

Indian herbal medicine or Ayurveda is a medicine system that is over three thousand years old and offers a beautifully holistic way to understand why hair loss happens and how to restore balance.

While modern medicine often focuses on the scalp and hair follicles alone, Ayurveda looks deeper, viewing hair as a by-product of your body's nutrient metabolism ("upadhatu" of "asthi dhatu"). When the deeper tissues are nourished, hair thrives. When they're depleted or inflamed, hair suffers.

Below is a simple explanation of hair loss through an Ayurvedic lens - and how you can support healthy, strong, vibrant hair at any age.

The Ayurvedic View: Hair Is a Reflection of Internal Balance

According to Ayurveda, hair health is influenced by the balance of your three doshas - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha - and the strength of your dhatus (body tissues). Hair loss is often the result of:

• Nutrient depletion

• Digestive weakness

• Stress or nervous system imbalance

• Excess heat or inflammation

• Toxin build-up in the body

• Hormonal changes

Understanding which dosha is driving the imbalance helps guide treatment.

The Doshas and How They Contribute to Hair Loss

1. Vata-Type Hair Loss (Dryness, Thinning, Breakage)

Signs:

• Dry scalp or dandruff

• Brittle hair that snaps easily

• Overall thinning

• Stress-related shedding

• Constipation, anxiety, poor sleep often accompany it

Why it happens:

Vata governs movement and is aggravated by stress, overthinking, irregular routines, late nights, dehydration, and cold windy weather. Excess Vata dries out the scalp, weakens the hair roots, and reduces nourishment to the follicles.

Ayurvedic support:

• Grounding, warm, oily foods (sesame oil, ghee, stews, root vegetables)

• Regular scalp oiling with Bhringaraj oil, Brahmi oil, or coconut oil

• Ashwagandha or Brahmi for the nervous system

• Nasya (medicated nose oiling) to calm Vata

2. Pitta-Type Hair Loss (Heat, Inflammation, Early Greying)

Signs:

• Burning, itchy scalp

• Premature greying

• Bald patches or rapid shedding

• Heartburn, acne, irritability common alongside

Why it happens:

Excess Pitta creates heat in the scalp, leading to inflammation around follicles. This weakens the hair root and accelerates shedding. Hot climates, spicy foods, stress, and hormonal changes can all aggravate Pitta.

Ayurvedic support:

• Cooling foods (cucumber, aloe juice, coriander, mint, coconut water)

• Avoiding alcohol, coffee, and spicy fried foods

• Herbs like Amla, Bhringaraj, Shatavari, Guduchi

• Cooling hair oils (Bhringaraj + Amla, coconut-based oils)

• Stress reduction and breathwork

3. Kapha-Type Hair Loss (Oily Scalp, Heavy Shedding, Dullness)

Signs:

• Greasy scalp

• Feeling of heaviness or congestion

• Slower hair growth

• Sinus congestion, sluggish digestion, fluid retention often present

Why it happens:

Kapha excess leads to sluggish metabolism and toxin accumulation (ama). This congestion can block follicles, reduce nutrient flow, and cause hair fall.

Ayurvedic support:

• Light, warming foods (ginger tea, steamed greens, lemon, turmeric)

• Avoiding dairy, heavy, and oily foods

• Herbs such as Trikatu, Punarnava, Turmeric

• Weekly exfoliating herbal hair masks (neem, methi, amla)

Other Ayurvedic Factors Behind Hair Loss

1. Weak Digestion (Agni)

   Even with a perfect diet, if digestion is weak, nutrients won't get to the hair roots. This leads to thin, weak, lifeless hair.

2. Hormonal Shifts

   Ayurveda links hair changes during perimenopause, postpartum, or thyroid imbalance to disturbances in Vata and Pitta.

3. Stress & Nervous System Depletion

   Chronic stress is one of the biggest modern triggers for Vata-type hair loss.

4. Toxin Build-Up (Ama)

   Toxins in the gut or scalp block nutrient delivery and impede hair growth.

5. Poor Sleep

   Sleep nourishes the deeper tissues including bone and hair tissue. Lack of sleep quickly affects hair vitality.

Best Ayurvedic Herbs for Hair Health

These herbs have been traditionally used to strengthen the scalp, reduce shedding, and support follicle health:

• Bhringaraj - Known as the king of hair, supports regrowth, reduces shedding, and cools Pitta.

• Amla - Vitamin C–rich, antioxidant, and cooling; excellent for greying and Pitta hair loss.

• Brahmi - Calms the mind, reduces stress-related shedding, and nourishes the scalp.

• Ashwagandha - Balances stress hormones and supports hair growth from within.

• Methi (Fenugreek) - Improves shine, reduces breakage, strengthens follicles.

• Neem - Great for dandruff, fungal scalp conditions, and Kapha/Pitta imbalance.

What Ayurvedic Treatment for Hair Loss Looks Like

A personalised Ayurvedic plan for hair loss includes:

• Dosha-specific diet guidelines

• Daily routines to balance Vata, Pitta, or Kapha

• Scalp oiling and massage

• Herbal supplements and teas

• Digestive support

• Stress reduction practices

• Sleep optimisation

The goal is to support your whole system, not just your scalp.

When to Seek Individual Support

Hair loss is one of the most treatable complaints in natural medicine when we address the root cause. If hair loss is sudden, severe, or paired with hormonal symptoms, digestive issues, or stress, Ayurveda can offer a tailored plan to restore balance and regrow healthy hair.

If you'd like help understanding your dosha and the deeper cause of your hair changes, I'd be happy to guide you. Book a consultation and we can create a personalised plan using herbs, nutrition, and Ayurvedic wisdom.