A common plant found growing along farm edges, drains and empty fields across rural India may hold the answer to nagging hair problems that expensive products often fail to fix. Known in everyday language as ghamra, this plant is called bhringraj in Ayurveda, and is also referred to as keshav raj. Because most people don't recognise it, they mistake it for a useless weed and pull it out, even though it has been used in traditional medicine for generations.
A medicinal plant many mistake for a weed
Dr Smita Srivastava, an Ayush doctor practising in Raebareli district, says bhringraj is far from an ordinary plant. It has long been part of traditional Ayurvedic treatment, but due to lack of awareness, people growing up around fields often fail to recognise its value and end up destroying it without a second thought.
The nutrients packed inside bhringraj
According to Dr Srivastava, bhringraj contains iron, calcium, magnesium, flavonoids and alkaloids. These elements are beneficial not just for liver health but also for hair. It is this nutrient profile that makes bhringraj oil an effective natural remedy in Ayurvedic hair care.
What bhringraj oil does for your hair
Applying bhringraj oil regularly offers several benefits. It helps prevent premature greying and boosts hair growth. It also works to stop hair fall and helps get rid of dandruff. Dr Srivastava says bhringraj oil can start reducing hair fall within 2 to 4 weeks of use, though it needs to be applied regularly for at least 3 months to see its full benefit.
How to prepare bhringraj oil at home
Dr Srivastava explains that making bhringraj oil at home is simple. Heat mustard oil or coconut oil in a large vessel, then add bhringraj leaves or bhringraj powder to the hot oil. Keep cooking the mixture until the oil turns green in colour. Once it changes colour, let the oil sit in the same vessel so the plant can fully release its nutrients into it. When bhringraj has released all its properties into the oil, warm it slightly and apply it to the scalp and hair in the evening. Leave it on overnight and wash it off the next morning. Dr Srivastava says following this routine consistently brings noticeable benefits to hair health.
