I remember the day I got my first grey hair. Fortunately Dr. Lad was close by, and I appealed to him with frantic worry. He reminded me that traditionally in India, women condition their hair with bhringraj oil to keep their beautiful, long hair lustrous, dark, and shiny. Twenty years later, I can attest that the benefits of bhringaraj oil are so great, you'll want oily hair on a weekly basis.

Bhringaraj is an Ayurvedic herb that promotes hair growth, adds shine and luster, inhibits greying, and deeply conditions dry hair. Bhringaraj oil is made with sesame oil, and contains only these two ingredients. The best way to benefit from it is to apply it before bed and then sleep with a towel on your pillow. In the morning, you simply shampoo as usual to remove the oil. Sometimes it may require two shampooings to full remove the oil, but it's ok to leave some in for extra conditioning. For maximum effect, if you're not planning on going anywhere important, you can leave the bhringaraj oil on your hair for the whole weekend.

According to Ayurveda, applying oil externally is balancing for Vata and calms the nervous system. Bhringaraj oil, in particular, when applied to the scalp, helps to calm the mind and promote sleep. Even plain sesame oil, when applied to the scalp and the soles of the feet, encourages peaceful sleep.

Regular application of bhringaraj oil is an ayurvedic tradition in India because it really works. Bhringaraj is an incredible ayurvedic herb with beneficial properties for the body and mind. The ingredients are pure and simple. Like most things in ayurveda, the mental and spiritual benefits of bhringaraj oil are as great as the physical effect on the hair.