Natural Remedies for Bad Breath, and the Basics of Hair Loss

The yoga posture known as Yoga Mudra, the Lion pose, and sitting in the Lotus YOGA POSTURES posture with a Forward Bend are good asanas for combating bad breath (see appendix 4). You can also do the pranayama known as shitali (see instructions in chapter BREATHING EXERCISE 6). If you follow these guidelines, you can say good-bye to bad breath. Baldness See also “Hair Care Secrets” Hair loss is a subtle metabolic disorder.

It may be related to disease—I have seen hair loss in persons with diabetes, for example, or following typhoid infection. It may be due to some fungal infection on the scalp, or to hormonal imbalance. A deficiency of calcium, magnesium, and zinc may affect the nourishment of the hair enough that the hair starts to fall out. And there is a definite hereditary factor, in which genes appear to trigger hair loss at a certain age.

According to Ayurveda, early hair loss is often related to body type and the balance of the doshas. Pitta individuals, and those who have excess pitta in their system, are more likely than the other body types to lose their hair early in life, or to find that their hair becomes prematurely thin or gray. Excess pitta in the sebaceous gland, at the root of the hair, or folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles) can make the person start losing hair. To reduce pitta and preserve the health of your hair, drink aloe vera juice (⅓ cup) ALOE VERA or take some aloe vera gel (1 tablespoon with a pinch of cumin) 3 times a day for about 3 months.

Another effective way to pacify pitta is to rub some coconut oil on your scalp and OIL MASSAGE on the soles of your feet at bedtime. Wear some old socks, and to preserve the health of your pillow, wear a loose woolen cap or cover the pillow with a towel so it won’t get damaged by the oil. • Massaging the scalp with brahmi oil or bhringaraj oil at bedtime can help to prevent hair loss. In addition to the qualities of the oil, the massage itself will improve circulation at the root of the hair, thus bringing more nutrients to support hair growth.

• Massaging the hair with vitamin E oil may also be effective in preventing or slowing hair loss. Healthy hair depends upon a nourishing diet. Dairy products such as cheese, FOOD FOR YOUR HAIR milk, and yogurt are beneficial for the hair (assuming you digest them well), as are white radish and daikon. Coconut, cooked apples, and cabbage are also useful.