Ayurveda aims not only to prevent and treat diseases, but also to achieve healthy longevity. Although herbs are often used in Ayurvedic treatments, this natural product pharmacology can help in achieving beautiful skin and promoting hair growth.
This time, we will explain the relationship between Ayurveda and hair growth, its specific effects, and introduce the shampoos and treatments developed by our company.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a science of happiness that aims for healthy longevity, and it also offers effective methods for achieving mental satisfaction, a sense of purpose in life, and beauty. In addition to the prevention and treatment of holistic medicine, it shares the philosophies of Yoga and Buddhism. It is a manual for resolving anxieties and worries and living beautifully and healthily.
The core of Ayurvedic treatment lies in "herb utilization." Natural product pharmacology, which uses a wide variety of herbs, is not limited to the prevention and treatment of diseases. It understands the broad efficacy of herbs and uses them for purposes other than medicine. Compared to specific diseases and intractable illnesses, assisting with beautiful skin and hair growth is easier.
What is the relationship between Ayurveda and hair growth? Is it effective?
Hair thinning and hair loss with aging are one of the phenomena of aging. These are related to body constitution and scalp aging. In Ayurveda, there are three types called Tridosha ("Pitta," "Vata," and "Kapha").
※For more details, please refer to this article.
People who suffer from thinning hair or hair loss have a "Pitta" constitution. "Vata" constitutions have dry, brittle hair mixed with gray hair, but their hair does not thin. "Kapha" constitutions have thick, moist, black hair and are not prone to thinning hair or hair loss.
The percentage of people who have at least some "Pitta" constitution is about 60%, so about half of the people will suffer from thinning hair.
Relationship between Ayurveda and hair growth
Ayurveda is the world's largest herbology, and its core is natural product pharmacology. A vast number of herbs have been investigated, and approximately 10,000 types have been shown to have pharmacological effects. From the perspective of holistic medicine, the primary goal is the fundamental cure of diseases, but it also possesses abundant data in the beauty field, such as for beautiful skin and hair growth.
Ayurveda considers two factors regarding beauty. The first is mental and physical health. For example, beautiful skin cannot be achieved without improving liver function. This is because the skin is considered a mirror of the liver. The second is to target the improvement of specific tissues such as the skin and hair roots. Originally, Ayurveda is the science of longevity, and it adopts the theory of longevity for the maintenance and improvement of beauty and health.
Ayurvedic theory of longevity
The Ayurvedic theory of longevity refers to improving the balance of the Tridosha. It is believed that if the Tridosha are in harmony, the functions of the seven tissues (Sapta Dhatu) will improve, and the excretion of waste products (Mala) will be promoted.
In modern scientific terms, it means that if the balance of life functions is regulated, cellular tissues are activated, and the production of aging-inducing substances is suppressed. This theory of longevity is almost identical to our company's theory of healthy longevity through cellular rejuvenation.
Our hair growth theory
Our company has established a hair growth theory that integrates modern science and Ayurveda. We believe that since thinning hair is scalp aging, it is impossible to restore hair without scalp rejuvenation.
American pharmaceutical companies sell vasodilators and male hormone synthesis inhibitors as hair growth agents, but it has been scientifically proven that they do not achieve the expected results. Many hair growth agents (quasi-drugs, etc.) are also commercially available in Japan, but they are not theoretically effective, and there is no data to show actual effectiveness.
Our company conducted various cell tests on approximately 300 types of herbs said to be effective for beauty and health at the Longevity Science Laboratory of Yokohama City University. In particular, we identified 18 effective herbs that promote the proliferation and rejuvenation of 6 types of hair follicle cells and developed Ayucelra™-SC with an optimal blend. These herbs were, in fact, Ayurvedic herbs that promote hair growth. Furthermore, herbs that exhibit detoxifying effects, scalp cooling effects, antioxidant effects, and scalp rejuvenating effects were also included. These studies can be said to have validated Ayurvedic hair growth data with modern life science.
Our company believes that hair regeneration is impossible without the rejuvenation or activation of hair follicle cells, dermal fibroblasts that support them, and epidermal keratinocytes. Using this hair growth theory and traditional Ayurvedic herbs, we have confirmed hair regeneration in men and women of all ages (Patent No. 6977233).
You can check our research results on hair growth and regrowth here.Hair thinning and hair loss can occur even without scalp aging. Misuse of highly toxic shampoos and treatments, poor hygiene, and dietary and lifestyle habits that aggravate the Pitta constitution can induce hair thinning and hair loss. Furthermore, drug treatments and radiation therapy also induce hair loss.
However, these factors can be easily improved. Even by just using our company's shampoos and treatments, which have almost no cytotoxicity (cytotoxicity is one hundredth of typical commercial products), a remarkable improvement in hair can be observed.
Difference between herbal extracts and oils, types of hair growth herbs
So, which is better to use: herbal extracts or herbal oils?
Which is better: extract or oil?
In Ayurveda, herbal oils are preferred for beauty and health. Herbal ingredients are dissolved in oil and applied to the scalp. Since water-soluble components do not penetrate the skin, it is reasonable to use skin-permeable herbal oils.
However, when expecting hair growth effects, it is necessary to penetrate water-soluble components into the hair follicles of the scalp, so it is more reasonable to apply herbal extracts than herbal oils. Also, since applying hair oil to the scalp can make the hair sticky and prevent going out, it is more reasonable to use herbal extracts from the perspective of daily life.
Types of hair growth herbs
Our company obtained approximately 300 types of herbs known for their efficacy in skin beauty and hair growth from the Indian subcontinent and conducted various tests using six types of cells involved in hair formation. As a result, we successfully identified herbs that showed efficacy for each cell type, using the promotion of proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, hair matrix cells, dermal papilla cells, epidermal melanocytes, and sebaceous gland cells, as well as the recovery from UV and oxidative damage, as indicators.
Research into Ayurvedic information on these herbs revealed that they are registered for hair growth, longevity, detoxification, and scalp cooling effects. Now, let's introduce some of the representative herbs.
Amla (Amalaki)
Amla (Emblica officinalis) fruit is considered a representative longevity herb in Ayurveda and is also known as Indian gooseberry. Many herbal preparations contain amla fruit because it contains substances called adaptogens that work to maintain homeostasis. Furthermore, most Ayurvedic hair care products contain amla fruit.
Our company verified the physiological effects of amla fruit at the cellular level and discovered new insights. Amla fruit extract significantly promoted the proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes and simultaneously induced the rejuvenation of differentiating cells. After purifying its active ingredients using these physiological activities as indicators, we analyzed them with a mass spectrometer and identified them as gluco-gallic acid, a type of tannin. Tannins are thought to control reactions involving glucose, thus enabling various biological activities.
Ceylon leadwort
Our company has discovered that Ceylon leadwort (Plumbago zeylanica) is a very important herb for hair growth. Its active ingredient has been identified as plumbagin.
Ceylon leadwort extract was found to significantly promote the proliferation of hair matrix cells and dermal papilla cells. This is a significant contribution to hair growth research. We also found that it strongly inhibits "5α-reductase," the enzyme that produces "DHT (dihydrotestosterone)," which is the cause of androgenetic alopecia (AGA).
In the literature, Tibetan medicine states that Ceylon leadwort has a heavy metal detoxification effect and is positioned as a specific remedy for premature baldness.
Eclipta alba
Eclipta alba (Eclipta alba) is one of the most famous hair growth herbs in Ayurveda, alongside Amla. Most hair growth products contain Eclipta alba extract, but its mechanism of action was unknown.
Many cell tests have not been able to find its effectiveness. However, hair growth effects have been found in mouse hair growth tests. Therefore, it is thought to have beneficial hair growth effects at the tissue level.
The active ingredient in Eclipta alba is wedelolactone, which has been shown to suppress inflammatory responses by strongly inhibiting arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (5-Lox). Hair loss is a characteristic of the Pitta constitution. The scalp of a Pitta constitution is always hot, which causes hair loss.
Therefore, herbs that have a scalp cooling effect are effective in preventing hair loss. From the above, it is expected that Eclipta alba normalizes the scalp environment and prevents thinning hair and hair loss.
You can check our research results on hair growth and regrowth here.Development of hair growth product using herbal extracts
A characteristic of Ayurvedic formulations is the combined use of herbs. Our company devised the optimal combination of 18 herbs selected through cell testing, using rigorous human cell tests and human monitor tests (Patent No. 6977233). This experiment is based on our ingenuity and is unparalleled in terms of quality and quantity.
We have put a lot of effort into maximizing the performance of hair growth products that use herbal extracts. Herbal extracts are extracted with 50% ethanol and contain both aqueous and oily components. We use highly safe surfactants to dissolve both components in an aqueous solution.
In addition to herbal extracts, nutrients are also necessary to support the proliferation of hair root cells. Therefore, we added amino acids and nucleic acid components in an optimal ratio for cell proliferation. To enhance the effect of the herbal components, we added three active ingredients commonly found in quasi-drugs (pantothenic acid, glycyrrhizin, and swertia japonica). These components are expected to have synergistic effects in humans.
Finally, we added two unique moisturizing ingredients. The herbal extract hair growth product has almost no cytotoxicity, so it is safe to ingest.
How to use hair growth products
Our company conducted monitor tests for hair growth products and successfully confirmed remarkable effects regardless of gender or age. Through rigorous photography, we provide before-and-after data to relevant parties. Incidentally, promotional advertisements using unretouched data from the same person are extremely rare.
Our company recommended applying the hair growth product to the scalp twice a day, morning and evening, with a light massage, without changing the usual daily routine. However, we asked that the product be applied not immediately after washing the hair, but after the scalp had dried.
Light massage is expected to accelerate hair growth. Hair regeneration takes 3 to 4 months for women and 6 months for men. If used continuously for several years, women's hair volume and quality will return to their younger days, and they will be able to go out with confidence.
Summary
Most people who have used the hair growth product developed by our company are satisfied with it. It is significantly superior to existing pharmaceutical products and quasi-drugs.
Originally, it has been scientifically proven that hair growth drugs (Minoxidil and Propecia) are not as effective as expected. Also, the active ingredients designated by quasi-drugs are not expected to have much hair growth effect. This is because quasi-drugs are products that only contain ingredients that have undergone safety tests, and those ingredients do not necessarily mean efficacy.
Conversely, truly effective ingredients are prevented from being used in quasi-drugs. Many consumers mistakenly believe that simply because a product is labeled "medicinal," it is effective. While the "Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act (formerly the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act)" is effective in cracking down on unscrupulous businesses, it has become a major obstacle when selling effective beauty and health products.