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Methods Of Naturopathy

-- DISEASES OF THE HAIR --

Hair spring from the skin, each having a root and a stem or shaft which is generally rounded and varies in thickness. The chief part of the stem is of a fibrous character, the fibres being composed of soft cells with air spaces between them. The colour of the hair is due to the pigment scattered in varying amounts, throughout the hair, while a white hair is produced by the formation of very numerous airspaces throughout the cells composing it. The root of the hair is set upon a fibrous papilla, from which it drives its nutriment. The root is deep and the growing part of the hair pushes the older part out through the cuticle. The average rate of growth of hair is about 6 inches in a year, though in some persons when the hair reaches a certain length, it ceases to grow and is gradually pushed upwards till it falls out, to be replaced by a new hair which develops from a fresh papilla. Attached to the underside of each follicle (the tube which contains the part of the hair embedded in the skin) is a small muscle. It is these muscles which produce 'goose-flesh" when the hair are raised. The sebaceous glands open into the follicles of the hair. It is the over-active sebaceous glands which produce what fashion-conscious women call greasy hair. The secretion of the seanbeous glands reaches the surface by the hair follicle and serves to lubricate the hair and give pliability to the surface of the skin.

Blood, while it circulates through the skin, provides nutriment to the hair and if due to some defect the nutriment does not reach them, they start falling. No application of any oil or pomade or cream can provide the natural nutriment to the hair as is claimed by advertisements of hair restorers. Only a vigorous massage of the head can activate the circulation of the blood in the skin and revitalize its function of providing the necessary nutriment to sustain the hair. Oil is merely a vehicle for massage; it has no other function. If massage is not neglected during childhood, a person is likely to have a full thatch throughout his life.

The skin that covers the scalp has to be healthy and the follicles and the sebaceous glands should function properly. If these conditions are not present baldness results. The skin of the scalp must be thick and loose for a rich growth of hair.

Falling of the Hair
The hair may be called a barometer of health. The moment the falling of the hair is noticed, one should take to vigorous massage of the scalp, because if the hair fall and fine down appears on the scalp, total baldness is not far away.

The hat band or the cap should never be tight because it is likely to interfere with the circulation of the blood in the scalp. Intellectual overwork is not the only reason of baldness since manual labourers are also seen falling prey to total baldness.

After the scalp has been thoroughly and vigorously massaged, rinse the hair with cold water and then comb your hair. A cold douche of the hair is always helpful if done regularly. The best way to do it is to immerse your head in a flat-bottomed vessel for a minute. The hair should be combed with the fingers and dried through massage.

Baldness
Patchy baldness, alopecia areata, is common on the scalp, but may affect the hair all over the body. It occurs mainly among adolescents and is not caused by any organism or bacteria as is commonly believed.

Some suppose that it is caused by the disturbance of the sympathetic nervous system. The real cause, however, is the disturbance caused in the veins carrying blood to the skin. That is why the affected skin turns pale and rough. The only remedy is a vigorous massage of the affected part. No applications of any oils or creams have had any marked effect once the disease strikes.

Dandruff
A morbid condition of the scalp is the emergence of dandruff which is caused by the excessive secretion of the sebaceous glands. The secretion mixed with dirt forms scales or a distinct encrustation. It can interfere with the nutriment reaching the hair and also to baldness. Dandruff is infectious and personal articles like comb, towel, etc. of the patient should not be used by others. The hair of the patient should be cut short and the scalp kept clean. The hair should be washed with whey, gram flour and myrobalan soaked in water.

Lice-Infested Hair
Lice get sustenance from the insanitary condition of the hair. The hair may be cleaned, but what of the lack of sanitation in your body? Women should take to a diet of fruits and vegetables for some weeks. They should also wash the hair with decoction of myrobalan, whey or juice of lemon mixed with lukewarm water.