5 Useful Ways To Use Vitamin E For Hair Growth According To Ayurveda

In hope of seeing those new hair strands on your scalp, are you tired of using expensive products and failing every single time? You cannot steer clear of your hair fall issues unless your follicles receive the essential vitamins. Especially vitamin E!

“There could be many underlying issues associated with Vitamin E deficiency in your hair follicles. Ayurveda, with its holistic herbal formulations, resolves the intrinsic root cause for vitamin E deficiency,” says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

In this article, let's dive deep into the fascinating benefits of vitamin E for your hair and how to use it.

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks

"There could be many underlying issues associated with Vitamin E deficiency in your hair follicles. Ayurveda, with its holistic herbal formulations, ensures the resolution of the intrinsic root cause for vitamin E deficiency.”

-Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

The Ayurvedic View Of Vitamin E

In scientific terms, Vitamin E refers to a family of eight compounds as four Tocopherols (α, β, γ, δ) and four Tocotrienols (α, β, γ, δ) [1]. These are fat-soluble antioxidants that protect your hair follicle cells from the damage caused by free-radicals in the body. In general, an individual can obtain vitamin E in an adequate amount through a regular balanced diet [2].

However, according to the traditional Ayurvedic system, the food we intake is not dissected into separate entities of nutrition, unlike the various vitamins and minerals in modern science. Yet, the wholesome diets and many herbal formulations suggested for hair care in Ayurveda are found to be rich in Vitamin E.

It is believed in Ayurveda that all bodily activities are governed by the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Any imbalance developed in these three doshas disturbs the balance of the basic Prakriti (nature) of an individual, leading to various hair problems.

The underlying scenario of hair problems due to a deficiency of essential nutrients like vitamin E is evaluated as below in Ayurveda:

• When your diet lacks sufficient amounts of Vitamin E, it causes an imbalance in your Vata dosha level. This results in thin and lustreless hair with dry scalp.
• If you have poor metabolism due to Pitta imbalance in your body, your hair follicles fail to receive Vitamin E despite consuming a nutritional diet. It is indicated by scalp inflammation and premature greying.
• When there is an imbalance in your Kapha dosha, problems arise due to improper blood circulation to your hair follicles, which fail to receive sufficient Vitamin E from the blood. Excessive oil production with greasy dandruff on the scalp is what occurs as a result.

“In fact, the functioning of Vitamin E has a direct correlation to Bhrajaka Pitta (a subtype of Pitta Dosha), which regulates the activity of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues according to Ayurvedic wisdom,’’ explains Dr. Zeel.

Hence, it is critical to understand the current state of your dosha levels in the body to add the right diet and Ayurvedic herbal ingredients into your haircare arsenal, which in turn will address the Vitamin E deficiency while restoring your dosha balance.

So, before we understand how you can use Vitamin E naturally in different ways, let’s first take a tour of the benefits of Vitamin E for your hair health.

How Does Vitamin E Help In Hair Growth?

1. Improves Blood Circulation On Scalp

Vitamin E acts as one of the dominant stimulants for capillary growth, on which the ease of blood circulation of your body depends upon. It improves nitric oxide production, which in turn promotes smooth blood circulation in your scalp while maintaining optimum blood pressure [3] in the body.

This enhances the supply of oxygen and essential nutrients from the blood to your hair follicles, thus, supporting scalp nourishment and healthy hair growth.

2. Adds Shine To Your Hair

Heat styling, chemicals or UV radiations from the sun increases Vata dosha in your body while damaging the outer protective fat layer of hair cuticles. This makes your hair frizzy and lustreless with split ends. Vitamin E aids in bringing back natural shine to your hair` as it protects and preserves the outer layers of your hair from various external threats.

3. Prevents Hair Loss

The disparity between the production of free radicals and your body’s ability to neutralize their adverse effects leads to the build-up of oxidative stress in the body. Vitamin E, with its antioxidant properties, fights this oxidative stress, which is one of the major causes of severe hair fall.

In a way, Vitamin E blocks the erosion of your scalp tissues due to free radicals, thus, preventing hair fall as well as premature greying.

4. Balances Oil Production

Imbalance in pH levels on your scalp may cause any of the two extreme conditions, i.e., insufficient oil production (aggravated Vata) or excessive oil production (aggravated Kapha), with hair loss occurring in both the cases.

Vitamin E plays a vital role in normalizing oil production and pH levels on the scalp by locking the natural moisture and soothing sebaceous glands. It helps your scalp get revived, providing an ideal condition for strong and healthy hair growth.

5. Promotes Stronger Hair Growth

Vitamin E promotes the synthesis of collagen, which is used in the building of keratin, your main hair protein. Also, it triggers strong hair growth by strengthening the roots on the scalp. In a way, Vitamin E also reduces the chances of conditions like psoriasis by boosting your immunity system. [4]

How To Take Vitamin E For Hair Growth According To Ayurveda?

1. Ayurvedic Hair Oils

Based on your aggravated doshas, you can choose hair oils with the following natural Ayurvedic herbs that are rich in Vitamin E.

A. Vata-Pitta Dosha Pacifiers

I. Shatavari (Wild Asparagus)

The nutritive herb, Shatavari, is considered as one of the sacred herbs for women in Ayurveda. With rich antioxidant properties of Vitamin E, Shatavari controls the aggravated Vata and Pitta in your body while boosting voluminous hair growth. But, it is not suitable for Kapha Prakriti people.

II. Devdar (Cedar)

Cedarwood as an essential oil for hair is well-known for improvising blood circulation and thus, increasing hair growth. With the richness of vitamin E along with many other essential nutrients, Cedar aids in treating hair thinning and different kinds of Alopecia.

B. Pitta-Kapha Dosha Pacifiers

I. Nimba (Neem)

Neem contains Vitamin E at substantial levels and it is one of the well-known Ayurvedic ingredients to treat Pitta type hair problems. Neem or Nimba strengthens the hair roots while treating your scalp for conditions like dryness, dandruff, and other infections.

II. Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry)

A hair oil that contains Amla can be the best to treat disorders caused by elevated Pitta and Kapha doshas. It is very much helpful in combating premature greying and hair fall as it contains high nutritional value of many essential vitamins for hair growth along with Vitamin E.

III. Kumari (Aloe Vera)

With its excellent properties to heal the scalp by cleaning pores while balancing pH levels on it, Aloe vera stands as a tremendously beneficial herb in treating issues like dandruff and hair fall.

C. Vata-Kapha Dosha Pacifiers

I. Krishna tila (Black Sesame)

Krishna tila, with rich vitamin E along with exceptional medicinal properties, is often considered in Ayurvedic hair treatments to pacify imbalanced Vata dosha. It has the properties of ‘Yogavahi’, which means the nature of penetrating into deepest tissues according to Ayurveda.

Thus, it nourishes your hair from within the deepest tissues of your scalp and keeps your hair roots stronger. Also, Krishna tila when combined with other herbs can act as Tridosha hara, the formulation to pacify all the three doshas.

II. Bhringraj (Eclipta Alba)

Best known for treating hair loss and premature graying, Bhringaraj is called the ‘’King of Herbs’’. With generous levels of Vitamin E in it, Bhringraj oil can be used as tridosha hara to treat hair problems caused by an imbalance of any Dosha.

You can also have a scalp massage with generic oils that contain Vitamin E like Almond oil, Olive oil, Coconut oil, or Sesame oil regularly.

2. Ayurvedic Shampoos

A. Shikakai (Soap Pod)

By name, Shikakai translates to ‘fruit of hair’ and can be used as a highly effective hair cleanser. With rich antioxidant properties of Vitamin E, it helps restore healthy scalp and prevent hair fall. It also makes your hair look luscious and free of dandruff.

B. Reetha (Soap Nut)

Reetha, which has been used as a natural shampoo for centuries, also contains good amounts of Vitamin E. It is very beneficial in promoting hair growth, enhancing volume as well as the texture of your hair. You can soak the Reetha overnight in warm water and use it the next morning as a hair cleanser, after boiling for about 15 minutes.

C. Quinoa

A gentle cleanse with Quinoa powder nourishes your hair with rich proteins along with Vitamin E. This helps in repairing your damaged or broken hair shafts while promoting stronger and thicker hair growth. It is well known for its Vata-pacifying qualities.

At Vedix, we customize a comprehensive hair care regimen consisting of hair oil, shampoo and serum for you with the right blend of Ayurvedic ingredients in balanced formulations.

3. Ayurvedic Hair Masks

A. Coconut Hair Mask

Coconut milk is rich in natural Vitamin E. You can apply it gently on your scalp with a cotton ball, as a hair mask, and leave it for about 20 minutes before rinsing off your hair.

B. Avocado-Banana Hair Mask

Prepare a smooth mixture by combining avocado, egg and banana pulp. Apply it on the scalp. Leave it for a while and wash it off properly. Then, apply a mixture of vinegar and water, which can be rinsed off after a few minutes. The egg acts as a natural cleaning agent. Avocado (with rich Vitamin E) and banana, condition your hair while giving it a natural shine.

C. Yogurt-Honey Hair Mask

Honey and yogurt are good sources of natural Vitamin E, which can be combined to make a very effective hair mask. Honey conditions your hair by sealing the natural moisture in your hair strands and repairing your split ends and damaged hair.

Yogurt, on the other hand, keeps your scalp moisturized and free of microbial infections. For better results, you can apply this hair mask at least once a week.

D. Pumpkin-Honey Hair Mask

Prepare a hair mask by combining pumpkin puree with honey. Apply it gently throughout your scalp and leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing. Pumpkin puree, which has Vitamin E in it, acts as a natural conditioner to your hair, while promoting longer and healthy hair growth.

4. Vitamin E-Rich Foods Based On Ayurvedic Prakriti

 

On the ideal process of cooking, Dr. Zeel says, “The oils should not be heated beyond their smoke point. To identify the endpoint of heating, you can drop jeera or mustard seeds in the oil and just check when it crackles. In Ayurveda, processes like deep frying, temperature baking and barbecue are contraindicated.’’

5. Use Of Vitamin E Supplements

According to Dr. Zeel, it is very rare for a person to have vitamin E deficiency. Unless an individual is diagnosed to have severe vitamin E deficiency, it is not recommended to take the Vitamin in supplement form.

Generally, deficiency can occur when an individual has a very low-fat diet. In such a case, you can deal with it efficiently and naturally by incorporating vitamin E-rich Ayurvedic herbs and wholesome balanced diets in your regular lifestyle.

However, in a few genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis or Crohn’s disease, it becomes difficult for the body to absorb the fat and thus, vitamin E from the foods. In such cases, you may need to intake vitamin E in supplement form.

Here are a few symptoms that indicate the deficiency of Vitamin E:

• Tremors
• Vision problems
• Pain in nerves
• Damaged immune system
• Weakened muscles accompanied by numbness in arms and legs.

Synthetic Vitamin E found in supplements is commonly dl-α-tocopherol and available in the form of capsule, serum, tablet, fortified foods, etc.

Important Note:

It is always advised to undergo a blood examination for diagnosing vitamin E deficiency and oral supplements must be taken under the guidance of an experienced doctor. Hypervitaminosis E (excess of vitamin E) in the body is not safe. Also, Vitamin E supplements are usually taken in combination with other vitamins and nutrients to avoid unwanted side effects.

Are There Any Risk Factors Associated With Using Vitamin E Supplements?

Side Effects Of Hypervitaminosis E

• Bleeding in the brain
• Nausea
• Headache
• Vision problems
• Fatigue
• Irritated skin with a mild rash
• Diarrhea

Precautions

• Vitamin E supplements should not be taken with other medications like blood thinners, cancer treatments (chemotherapies) as these may interfere with each other.
• Excess Vitamin E supplements should be avoided in conditions like pregnancy [5], cardiovascular problems, diabetes, etc.
• Even breastfeeding mothers should not take vitamin E supplements as it may get passed to the baby and may cause harm if it is at an undesirable level.

What Is The Best Time To Take Vitamin E Supplements?

It is best to consume vitamin E with food, especially with a heavy meal containing fats, rather than on an empty stomach. This enhances vitamin E absorption in the body. Also, make a habit of taking the supplement at a standard time in your routine every day. If taken on an empty stomach, they may cause nausea, heartburn or other gastric issues.

The Last Word

In Ayurveda, it is believed that the health of hair is co-related to the health of bone tissue (Asthi dhatu) as the hair is a derivative of bone tissue (bone marrow). By destabilizing the negative effects of free radicals (oxidative stress) on the bones, Vitamin E plays a crucial role in maintaining calcium levels and increasing bone density. In turn, this shows positive effects on your hair health.

Thanks to the divine wisdom of our ancient sages, the Ayurvedic herbal hair care regimen at Vedix not only bestows you with essential nutrients like vitamin E for healthy hair growth but also comes in balanced and personalized compositions based on the status of your doshas, thus, keeping side effects at bay.

Know Your Dosha Now