An Ayurveda approach to Androgenetic Alopecia (Khalitya) - A Case Study

Abstract

Face is the mirror of our personality and healthy vibrant hairs add a lot in improvement of our confidence and personality. In today’s developing world there are lots of changes in the dietary habits and lifestyle due to which its ill effects are seen in the form of systemic and local minor diseases. Hair fall has erupted as a major problem. Hair loss also known as Alopecia refers to loss of hair from part of the head. Androgenetic Alopecia (male pattern baldness) is commonest type of alopecia. Pattern hair loss by age 50 affects about half of men and a quarter of women. About 2% of people develop Alopecia at some point in time. In Ayurveda, gradual falling of hair is termed as Khalitya. It comes under the heading of Kshudra roga (minor disease) or Shiroroga (diseases of head & scalp). In the present case, a 20 years old male presented with problem of hair loss. He has severe itching in head since last two years. Also, he complained of severe dandruff and dryness in skull. He was having hair loss on vertex of skull. On basis of symptoms, he was diagnosed as severe case of Khalitya which is caused by Dushti of Chatur Dosha i.e., elevated Pitta along with Vata Dosha and Rakta Kapha Dushti. The principle of treatment is to regain the Samavastha of all the vitiated Doshas by oral medication like Narsimha Rasayana, Bhringraj Asava, Ashwagandha Churna, Aragvadha Phal Majja and by local application of Dhardhur Patradi Taila. There was gradual reduction in itching. Scaling and dryness of scalp reduced many folds with each consecutive follow up visit and then disappeared completely. Hairs start growing on the vertex bald patch. This case report showed that combined Ayurveda modalities resulted in great improvement in overall condition of the patient with no side effects.