What is Premature greying

PREMATURE GREYING Meaning

With advancing age, the hair has a tendency to lose its natural color, hence it is natural for the hair to turn grey with age. Premature greying makes young individuals look older which causes a great deal of concern, especially women.¹

At the root of each hair are special cells called melanocytes.  These cells are pre-programmed to produce melanin, the pigment that gives your hair its color, for a designated period of time. As some point, these melanocytes stop working causing grey hair to come up on the scalp.²

According to Ayurveda, premature greying of hair is called akalapalitya means graying of hairs before 32 years of age which is caused by excess of ushna guna of pitta.³

According to Ayurveda there are four main cause of premature greying of hair:⁴

• Food related (Aharaj) – Excessive use of salty (lavan), sour, bittr (katu Amla rasa), acidic (kshara dravya) food in diet, eating noncompatible food (Viruddha ahar sevan)
• Lifestyle related (Viharaj)- Atap sevan (excessive exposure of sunlight), Ratri jagaran (awakening during night), Dhuma sevan and Ativyayama (excessive exercise) and upavasa (fast), Atirajosevan (use of smoking and dust particle), Dushit vayu sevan (intake of vitiated air)
• Mind related (Mansik): Anger (Krodha), grief (shoka), afraid (bhaya) and mental stress (maansika shrama)
• Unknown/Genetic (Adibalapravritta)