Dandruff or dry skin…..try this!!!

This is one post for remedial that does not have a Katrina Kaif or a Sushmita Sen promoting the products of the FMCG’s who in turn charge obnoxious amounts to the customers since they not only need to cover their own costs of the product but also the overhyped brand ambassadors who with their sexy eyes appeal to your pocket to go out and buy the shampoo or the moisturizer that nourishes the skin…..well it sure does nourish their bank accounts….that’s what I know for sure.

When we’re young we tend to take many a things for granted and at that age our body is very forgiving…it takes on a lot of abuse and it doesn’t complain….well, at least it waits till you’re 40 plus and then it all comes back one after another. I had been another wannabe cool dude whilst in college and white shirts, blue jeans, puma shoes and loads of hair gels were the order of the day. It kind of gave you an almost instant acceptability into the cool dude groups. I wanted to be a part of it and why not?

But my usage of the hair gel didn’t stop just at the college level and it became a vital aspect of my grooming every day whether it be office work, meeting friends or socializing with the extended family. It (the hair gel) was on my scalp for most of the time that I was awake (and probably asleep too).  What I didn’t realize then is that while hair gels may not be the reason why people go bald they definitely can be the reason why you have dry, coarse or brittle hair. The main reason why hair gel application can be harmful to one’s hair and scalp is because the hair gels generally contain a lot of chemicals. It is said that dandruff can also be a manifestation of an allergic reaction to chemicals in hair gels, sprays, and shampoos. But then I was ignorant of all this and as they say, ignorance is bliss.

You may have made the observation that many bald people and people with receding hair lines or thinning hair, often have shiny scalps. This shiny layer is caused by a buildup of oil called ‘sebum’, which combines with dead skin cells, cosmetic styling products (such as hair gel) and other pollutants. This oil layer builds up and becomes embedded into the scalp, making it impossible to wash out using conventional shampooing methods. The hardened embedded oil fills in pores around the edges, eventually entirely filling the pores. This causes hair follicle miniaturization and eventually can contribute to total hair loss.

So, while hair gel does not cause hair loss, it may be a contributing factor, especially if you have used it for years without being careful to wash your hair and scalp daily, particularly before bed, in order to prevent the clogging of your skins pores.

And in my case one of the repercussions of abusing my body was the thinning of the hair, receding hair line and extremely dry scalp. It can get pretty embarrassing at times when a friend or a colleague at work extends his hand to rub off the flakes scattered on your shoulder or even on the back. And even after trying out most of the shampoos available in the market all assurances of Shahrukh Khan and his bold claims on his mega paying ads ‘dandruff bhaag jayega’ fell way way short on expectations and results.

So, here is my own tried remedy which works surprisingly fast, easy to use, does not cost you a dime and above all does not contribute to the already swelling bank accounts of these good for nothing actors who urge you to buy the products.

Azadirachta indica or Neem is also known as “Sacred Tree,” “Heal All,” “Nature’s Drugstore,” “Village Pharmacy” and “Panacea for all diseases”. Products made from neem trees have been used in India for over two millennia for their medicinal properties: neem products are believed to be anti fungal, anti diabetic, anti bacterial, anti viral and sedative. It is considered a major component in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine and is particularly prescribed for skin disease.

My remedy (not patented…yet 🙂) to get rid of dandruff is to boil about a handful of the neem leaves in water till the water remains to ¾th of the original quantity or till the color of the water is somewhat like the color of tea. After letting the water cool off I put it in a container or a water bottle in my bathroom. So any every day while taking a bath I put in some quantity (about a glass full) of neem water into the bucket and mix it with normal water such that not only my hair and scalp but also the skin of the entire body (specially during these winter months) gets nourished.

I have been doing this for the last 2 weeks and the results are amazing….I could tell the difference within a short span of 3 days as my scalp felt less itchy and my skin felt much more revitalized. And what does it cost me….practically nothing. All I need to do is to pluck some leaves on a Sunday and boil and keep 3 bottles of the neem water which takes me through the entire week and the following Sunday I just repeat the exercise.

Neem is very beneficial to the skin as it makes the skin healthy, flawless and cures the skin diseases. It is actually the blood purification property of the neem that keeps you skin flawless. It is good for skin care. Neem oil as well as neem leaves are excellent for dry skin. These cure the dryness of the skin. 

Neem also has antiseptic, anti pyretic, anti inflammatory, anti bacterial, anti viral, anti fungal and anti parasitic qualities and practically without any side effect. Because of such a vast array of associated benefits, since long time it has been associated with ayurveda “science of life”. It does blood purification, treats fever, illness, remedy for many skin ailments, and prevention for malaria, dengue, and other insect bite.

Neem cures eczema and this has been proved through researches as well. The affected area can be treated with neem leaf extracts. This gives relief to the patients. Itching and redness of the eczema can be treated by applying neem oil and by using shampoo and soap containing neem extract. In a severe condition of eczema, neem creams can also be used.  Acne is another very common skin problem that are more common in girls than boys. So curing acne is another neem benefit.

So use this miraculous plant and enjoy its benefits.