How To Make Bhringraj Oil For Hair Growth [Video]Bhringraj oil and hair growth are almost synonymous in Ayurveda. It is one of the widely used hair oils to to promote hair growth, to improve hair quality, to relieve split hairs, grey hairs etc. Let us learn today a simple way of preparing Bhringaraj hair oil. 

Before you start -I have derived this formula on my own. You are free to add or delete any ingredient. If you want my help in deciding your formula, I will be glad to guide you.I have given the quantities in ml. I also have given the quantities in parts. If you are not familiar with ml then just calculate the quantities in parts. You can consider 1 part = 1 ounce. If you have

What you need?

Coconut oil – 500 ml (10 parts) – Usually hair oils are also prepared with sesame oil base. But coconut oil is the preferred choice.Cow milk – 250 ml (5 parts) – cow milk comes with nutrition and we want to add that nutrition value into our hair oil. Remember that for all Ayurveda medicine preparation, whenever milk is told, pre-boiled milk only should be taken.Grated coconut - 200 grams

Herbal powders:Amla – Indian gooseberry – powder – 50 grams (1 part) – rich in anti oxidants and must have in all hair oils.Bhringaraja - Eclipta alba – another must have in all hair oils.  - 50 grams (1 part)Yashtimadhu - licorice powder – 50 grams (1 part)Triphala powder  - promotes natural hair colour. Also useful to relieve skin diseases of the scalp and to relieve dandruff – 50 grams (1 part)Aloe Vera – pieces of leaf – 25 – 50 grams (1/2 – 1 part)Hibiscus flower paste -25 – 50 grams (1/2 – 1 part)

How to make?It involves 2 parts.

Part 1 – Making kashayam

Kashayam is the water extract of the herbs.

Take all the herb powders – Amla, Bhringaraja, Licorice, Triphala, Aloe vera – into a wide mouthed vessel. (total – 250 grams – 5 parts) While adding herbs, keep around 10 grams(1/5th part) of each of these herbs separately. add the remaining part of the herbs to the vessel.

Add 1 liter water to it (20 parts) Boil this powder water mix till you get around 500 ml (10 parts) While boiling stir continuously. Boil in mild fire. Taking a wide mouthed big vessel

helps avoid spilling of boiling Kashayam. After getting 500 ml (10 parts), filter the Kashayam.

Part 2 – Bhringaraja Tail  (oil) preparation

Take 500 ml (10 parts) coconut oil in a big wide mouthed vessel. Add 500 ml (10 parts) of Kashayam to it. Add 250 ml (5 parts) milk to it. Put grated coconut powder into a mixer / grinder, add a little water, and grind it. Add

the ground coconut along with liquid to the vessel. Add chopped hibiscus flower pieces into the vessel. Start heating the whole mixture in mild fire. Stir continuously.

Observations:

The mixture now contains 500 ml (10 parts) of coconut oil and all other powders and water. The goal is to evaporate all the water content from the mixture and get only the oil. So, at the end you will get around 450 – 500 ml (9 – 10 parts)of the oil.

In the initial phase of boiling the oil, there will be larger bubbles. These bubbles indicate water being evaporated.

In the initial phase, the whole mass looks dirty. But as the process moves on, the liquid becomes clearer.

At the end stage,  The vessel will start emitting aroma, the powders turn into a paste, which you can roll into the form of a wick, there will be profuse frothing. Big bubbles disappear.

If you take the powder paste to fire, it will not produce sound. It indicates that there is no moisture in the oil and the Bhringraj oil is ready.

Stop heating at this precise point and filter it when it is hot.

Shelf life: 

If you store in air tight container, this oil is good to use for upto one and half years.

Preservatives required – None.

How to use?It can be applied at night and next day morning head bath can be taken. But for some people, applying coconut oil at night may cause worsening of sinusitis. For such people, it can be applied half an hour before bath. For more on this read here – How to apply hair oil

How And When To Apply Hair Oil? Ayurveda DetailsApplying oil to hair is one of the ways to improve hair strength and hair quality as per Ayurvedic principles. Apart from improving hair qualities, applying hair oil also has other benefits such as – sleep improvement, calmness of mind, remedy for headache etc. Based on the desired effects, the time and method of application of hair oil changes. 

Method of hair oil application  

How and when to apply hair oil to improve quality of hair? 

If you wish to improve the quality of hair, to promote hair growth, to prevent early grey hairs, and split hairs, etc, it is better to apply hair oil at night and take warm water head bath on the next day morning.

Suppose you are taking head bath twice in a week, according to this rule, you may apply hair oil, twice a week, on the nights before the head bath day.

Applying hair oil on the day, after bath is not desirable because, the oil may attract dust over the hairs, when you go out in Sun.

But if you are at home only and love applying hair oil during day, only a minimum quantity of one teaspoon is sufficient. Apply directly to hair roots.

For the purpose of hair growth, the oil can be applied to the hair root, scalp and to the length of hair.

Some people heat the oil in water bath, before application, which is perfectly fine, provided it is only mild heat.

People with headache, red colored rashes on the scalp, people with pitta imbalance should not opt for hot oil hair treatment.

If you are accustomed to apply hair oil daily, then a little quantity of hair oil can be applied daily in the morning. As a general rule, it is better not to expose hair to direct sunlight or dust, especially after applying hair oil.

 How and when to apply hair oil for dandruff - 

If you are using hair oil particularly for dandruff or for scalp conditions, if the oil is processed with neem and other herbs having bitter odor, then it can be applied half to one hour before head bath.  Hot water head bath is helpful.

The oil can directly be applied to hair roots and the whole of scalp.

Oil to relieve headache - 

If your Ayurvedic doctor has advised an oil for headache, then it makes sense to apply the hair oil in the evening time, around 5 – 6 pm. Because, usually the headache is associated with Vata. If we divide a day into three parts, last part is dominated with Vata. Hence, when the Vata is just getting the dominance, it makes sense to apply the oil for headache.

Hair oil for a good night sleep - 

Hair oil for a good night sleep is better to apply after food at night. It will be better to do a gentle massage over head after hair oil application.

Coconut oil for people with cold and sinusitis - 

Hair oils with coconut oil base may worsen sinusitis and cold in a few. If still you wish to enjoy benefits of coconut oil,  take 100 ml of the oil, add 5 grams of pepper powder to it and heat it in mild heat for five minutes and filter the oil when it is still hot. Use this oil for applying to hair.

Coconut oil- bad or good, benefits, Ayurvedic and contemporary viewsCoconut oil is one of the most debated dietary substance for its benefits and hazards. Coconut oil is used in Indian customs since thousands of years. The Coconut oil is in use since the time of Sushruta Samhita, around 2000 years before. But recent Dietary guidelines for Americans categorizes coconut oil as a food to be avoided. In this light, a comprehensive all-inclusive discussion will be helpful to clear the air.  Coconut oil-  Ayurveda details –

Coconut and coconut oils are widely used in Ayurveda, in the form of  -

Food ingredient For external application For internal administration.

Sushruta has described Coconut oil  health benefits as follows -

It is a natural coolant. It takes relatively long time to undergo digestion. Improves hair quality and strength. Promotes hair growth. It is a natural aphrodisiac Nourishes the under-nourished body tissues Useful in the treatment of certain diseases like emaciation, debility, respiratory

conditions, diabetes, urinary system disorders. Coconut oil for skin: Quickens wound healing and helps in filling up of skin

depression in wounds. Calms Vata and Pitta, Supports Kapha.

There are a number of Ayurvedic herbal medicines with coconut oil as base, that are used predominantly externally and also internally for many health conditions.

Example: (Caution: Meant only for information. self medication is dangerous)

Asana Eladi Kera Tailam (Asana Eladi coconut oil) – useful in the treatment of skin diseases and disorders related to head and ear.

Chemparuthyadi Keratailam – useful in eczema, and pediatric conditions. Dhurdhurapatradi Keratailam  - Useful in dandruff, itching and eczema. Eladi coconut oil – Useful in skin conditions. Karpooradi coconut oil – pains, cramps, rheumatic joint complaints. Kayyanyadi coconut oil – Used in the treatment of headache. improves quality of hair.

Contemporary views about coconut oil –

Different views regarding coconut oil -

Coconut oil is rich in saturated fatty acid, which is bad for heart and cholesterol. Coconut oil is considered under solid fats, and is advised to be replaced with oils wherever possible.

Coconut oil is a major source of Lauric acid, a fatty acid, which is claimed to benefit in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus.

Though coconut oil is rich in saturated fatty acid, there is structural difference. It is rich in medium size triglycerides.

Wikipedia enlists two clinical trials with coconut oil - A single-blind randomized controlled trial on children with pneumonia at the

Philippine Children’s Medical Center found that coconut oil accelerated the normalization of respiratory rate and resolution of crackles.

A randomized double-blind clinical trial with 40 women exhibiting obesity found that supplementation with coconut oil promoted a reduction in obesity without causing dyslipidemia.

Coconut oil is good or bad? Discussion and conclusion:

According to Ayurveda, coconut oil is nourishing in nature, when taken internally. Hence used in emaciation, debility etc.

Ayurveda also explains coconut oil’s benefits in respiratory condition, which is supported by the clinical trial proving its efficacy in Pneumonia in children.

Ayurveda hails external use of coconut oil to promote hair growth, wound healing, as natural coolant and in conditions like eczema.

Coconut oil is processed with medicinal herbs and used in many diseases. Convincing research evidence is present to prove that coconut is not really the direct

cause for obesity or high cholesterol. In Kerala, a southern state of India, coconut oil is used in almost all the dishes. (My favourite is Banana chips. Must admit, I love it.

)If coconut oil was really the cause for obesity, Kerala should have been the abode of obese people, which is not the case

Having said that, it is not advisable for people with obesity and high cholesterol to include coconut oil in the diet.

For preparing hair oils, no other base is as good as coconut oil. Other uses of coconut oil are – skin moisturizer & softener. For a normal healthy individual, coconut oil is very good to be included in regular

diet, but in limited quantities. Use it in limits and enjoy its benefits.

Note: I do not believe or endorse ‘thin’ and ‘non sticky’ coconut oil for hair. Natural form of coconut oil is the best form to apply to hair or to skin.