Dr. Pragati Chaudhary, Dr. Pankaj Katara
Vol. 8, Jul-Dec 2019
Abstract:
Stress is a condition arising from external physical or mental overload. Response to stressful situations varies according to person’s physical and mental constitution and also the nature of stress inducing stimulus. Poor response to stressful conditions or prolonged exposure to the same not only leads to feeling of anxiety, nervousness or embattlement but may also lead to various somatic symptoms like gastrointestinal reflux, anorexia, malabsorption, hair fall and premature graying of hair. Acute or chronic loss of hair (more than 100 per day) from scalp and other body parts is known as alopecia. A significant fraction of population nowadays is seeking medical aid for the same. The role of stress in its pathogenesis has been substantiated by many pre-clinical and clinical trials. Three types of hair loss that are mainly associated with stress are Telogen Effluvium, Trichotillomania and Alopecia Areata. Hence, the alopecia treatment must be holistic in approach i.e. it must aim at stress management along with the treatment of hair loss. According to classical Ayurvedic texts line of treatment of hair loss in the form of Indralupta or Khalitya involves many Panchkarma procedures like Samshodhana, Nasya, Murdhni Taila etc. that not only cause cessation or deceleration of hair loss but also promote mental health. This review thus deals with the role of stress in the pathogenesis and the mode of action of aforementioned Panchkarma procedures in the management of the stress induced alopecia.