Ethnopharmacology and hair: Indian perspectives

Abstract

Hair, for most people, is what defines their physical appearance. Whether long or short it can be an expression of social conformity and affiliation. Hairstyles, along with clothing, reflect who you are in this fashionable world we live in. From most primitive recorded history hair has been man’s crowning glory and has made a noteworthy variance in his personal attractiveness. The condition of our hair reflects our inner health and beauty. There is nothing more radiant and beautiful than shiny vibrant hair. Hormonal fluctuations, diet, lifestyle and stress play a key role in appearance and health of hair. The havoc of modern life including pollution, use of harsh detergents, permanent hair treatments and excessive sun exposure are just a few of the things that can have an undesirable impact on the vitality of our hair. The bitter truth is that the robotic approach to discovering drugs from plants has to date proven its inability to excavate the hundreds of molecules that will contribute to the progress in human health. However, one can reasonably see that the last patches of primary rainforest on earth still hold hundreds of spectacularly active drugs that await discovery. Certain herbs for hair growth are used as herbal remedies for hair loss and pattern baldness, which are one of the biggest concerns among men and many women. Ethno-medicinal plants, as a group, comprise approximately 8,000 species and account for about 50% of all the higher flowering plant species in India. In the ancient Indian system of medicine known as Ayurveda, the context of treatment of hair and problems associated with it dates back centuries. Numerous drugs have entered the international market through exploration of ethnopharmacology and traditional medicine with extensive uses of medicinal plants.