Posted on by Rachel

The Ayurvedic Herbs Part 2

Last year I went to Paris for a few days and I came across the natural shop ‘Aroma zone’. This shop is really a paradise with all natural products. You can find there a lot of different natural hair herbs, oils, materials to make your own hair products and so much more! It was really a walhalla for a real no-shampoo fan like me! So you can maybe already gues that I walked out with a big bag full of natural hair products, including 4 bags of ayurvedic hair herbs that I didn’t know already.
Because my previous blog about the Ayurvedic hair herbs did not include all the Ayurvedic herbs, this is a sequel. Because there is so much more in the world than shampoo!

Tulsi

Tulsi, or ‘holy Basil’, is known for its detoxifying and purifying effect of the skin. Tulsi grows in India and is a bushy shrub that grows to about 45 inches. The leaves of the shrub are oval and toothing, with colors varying from pale green to dark purple. The plant has delicate lavender colored flowers, and the fruit consists of small rust colored nuts. These nuts are ground into a very powerful powder. 
In Ayurvedic medicine Tulsi has been used for thousands of years for its various healing properties. Tulsi is full of anti oxidants, nourishing the skin and hair and has an antibacterial effect. As a result, TULSI works very well against dry flaky skin, irritated skin, dandruff, itching and wounds on the skin. Tulsi works sedative and soothing to the skin.
Tulsi is also mild cleansing for your hair and it purifies your scalp and hair. 
Tip: If you don’t like Tulsi for your hair, you can also use the powder as a face mask. Tulsi is also a really nice natural medicine against acne, eczema or psoriasis. Information of Aroma Zone, detoxtrading and food. NDTV

 

Nagarmotha

Nagarmotha is an Ayurvedic herb which grows in humid areas in India. It is a kind of swamp grass, but is also known as ‘Asian walnut grass’. The tubers of this swamp grass are dried and ground up to the very fine powder which is called Nagarmotha. Nagarmotha has a somewhat woody and spicy scent. In India, Nagarmotha is used against many different diseases. 
Nagarmotha is especially known for its nourishing effect on the skin. This fine Ayurvedic herb works well against itching, dandruff, acne, eczema and even scabies. If you make a hair mask with Nagarmotha, this powerful herb will nourish your hair intensely and also stimulate hair growth by stimulating blood flow to the hair follicles. 
Nagarmotha can also be used as a face mask. Information from Aromazone and anthemis.nl

Lotus Powder

Lotus powder is crushed flower that is found in the locks in Asia. The lotus is used in Asia as a medicine against various diseases. Lotus powder is anti-bacterial and it inhibits inflammation and contains many antioxidants. This all ensures that Lotus powder has a soothing effect on the skin. It soothes and nourishes your irritated scalp considerably. In addition, Lotus powder is also very nice for your hair. It contains a good amount of vitamin B and vitamin C. When you process lotus powder in a hair mask, it will nourish your hair and your scalp considerably. 
Information of Aroma Zone and herbsnpuja.com

Kapoor Kachli

Kapoor Kachli, also called ‘Wild Ginger’ or ‘Spiked ginger-lily’. Kapoor Kachli is not the same as the ginger we buy in the supermarket, but it is a family of the ginger. 
Kapoor Kachli comes from India and is also commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. Kapoor Kachli is like the other Ayurvedic herbs and it is very nice for your scalp. It is full of antioxidants and has soothing and calming properties for the skin. Kapoor Kachli gives your hair volume, it stimulates hair growth, reduces hair loss, makes your hair feel thicker and add’s shine to your hair. All in all a very nice herb for a delicious hair mask. 
Information of Aroma Zone and elemental.eu

 

How to make a (cleansing) hair mask with these herbs?

There are two different ways how you can wash your hair or nourish it with these herbs.
The first way is as follow:
  1. If you want a cleansing hair mask, you always choose 1 herb that actually cleanse your hair! (Reetha (or a tea from the whole soap nuts), Shikakai, Ziziphus Spina Christi, Tulsi, fenugreek or a type of clay (green clay or Rhassoul) and use 1 TBSP from that herb.
  2. Then choose the herbs you would like to use to nourish your hair. If you have an irritated scalp, choose a herb that will help against that. If you want to nourish your hair more of make it softer, choose a herb that will add more shine and soften your hair? Take from each herb 1/2 of 1 TBSP and add it to the mix. You need about a total of 3 TBSP of herbs for medium long hair (hair that is to the shoulders or just over the shoulders).
  3. Make sure there are no big chunks in the herbs.
  4. Add some tapwater (or a regular tea or rosewater; this is really nice for your scalp and smells nice) to the herbs until you have a nice paste. You can also add about 200 ml of water, then it will be a very diluted mix.
  5. Wet your hair and spread or divide the mixture over your scalp and your hair. 
  6. Let the mixture in your hair for a minimum of 10 minutes (I use it as a hairmask and leave it for 30 minutes) and then rinse it out very well! Rinse for as long as there will be no herbs left in your hair. (The water has to be clear)
  7. When you use Ziziphus spina christi, you have to follow up with a citric rinse or an apple cider vinegar rinse. 
  8. Is your hair really dry? Add one TBSP of raw honey to the mix. 
If you don’t like the herb pieces in your hair, you can also wash your hair in the Ayurvedic way:
With this method you follow the first 3 steps as described above. Then you will add much more water in step 4, like: 500 ml of water. You will put the whole mixture in a pan and boil it for a minute. Then you wil let it rest the whole night.
The next day you filter all herbs out of the mixture.  (You can use tights to strain the herbs). This way you will have a very strong tea of the ayurvedic herbs. You will use this strong tea to clean an nourish your hair.
Pour the strong tea over dry hair and divide it well! Let it settle and give it a few minutes to clean your hair. Rinse your hair after about 10 minutes.

Are you curious about the other Ayurvedic hair herbs? Please read my other blog about the ayurvedic herbs.

Do you already use the Ayurvedic hair herbs for your hair? or are you excited about the herbs after you read this blog? Let me know! 

Do you want to stay inspired and receive nice tips or triqs? Or do you just want to be immediately informed when a new blog is online? You can follow me on my Facebook page @natuurlijkehaarverzorging or follow me via my Instagram account: @rachel_naturalhaircare

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