This document provides a review and analysis of the treatment of premature graying of hair (Palitya) in children according to Ayurveda. It discusses the etiology of Palitya, including dietary, environmental, psychological and unknown causes according to Ayurveda and contemporary science. It outlines the symptoms of Palitya attributed to the three doshas. The pathophysiology involves vitiation of the tridoshas affecting the rasa and asthi dhatus. Treatment discussed includes nasya karma with various herbal oils, shiroabhyanga, shirolepa, and oral medications like Amalaki rasayana. The conclusion is that panchakarma plays an important role in treatment by

1. Critical Analysis And Treatment Protocol for Management
of Childhood Premature Graying Hair (Canities) with
special reference to Palitya (A Review)
Dr. Shrinidhi K. Acharya
National Institute of Ayurveda , Jaipur

2. INTRODUCTION
 Skin and hair has got a lot of concern for interest of cosmetic purpose.
 Hair length, color, and style play an important role in physical appearance and
self-perception.
 The term premature graying is applied, when abnormal graying will be found in
young population and also in children.
 The color of human hair depends on melanogenesis, through a process of
synthesis of melanin and its subsequent distribution from the melanocyte to
keratinocyte.

3. Cont…
 The human hair follicles contain two types of melanin-
 The black-brown pigment eumelanins mainly present in black and brown
hair.
 The yellow or red pheomelanins in red and blonde hair.
 Ayurveda, the richest heritage of India long back highlighted this burning
problem and categorized the same under the heading of Palitya.
 The disease Palitya is mentioned under the heading of Kshudraroga and
Shirogataroga.
 The main etiology of Palitya is vitiation of Dehoshma and Ushna Guna of
Pitta which circulates to Romakoopa and causes Paka of hair.

4. AIMS AND OBJECTS
 Review and Critical analysis of premature graying of hair in children .
 To evaluate etiopathgenesis of Palitya in children
 To study treatment protocol for management of premature graying of hair
(Palitya) in childhood clinical practice.

5. MATERIAL AND METHODS
 Information on premature graying of hair (Palitya) is collected from
different -
 All available Ayurvedic literature
 Contemporary medical text books,
 Magazines,
 Journals, and
 e- References

6. ETIOLOGY ACC. TO AYURVEDA
 According to Ayurveda the disease of Palitya, specific Nidana are not
mentioned.
 But on basis of Samprapti, Pitta Prakopaka Nidana, Rasadushti and
Asthidushti Nidana can be considered.
 Nidanas of the Kshudra Roga and Shirro Rogas can be also applied to
understand Palitya.

7. Cont…
 For easy understanding Nidana of Palitya can be classified under
these headings-
 Dietary (Ahara),
 Environmental (Vihara),
 Psychological (Manasika),
 Unknown causes (Adibalapravrita).

8. Cont…
 The Dietary (Ahara) Nidana –
 Consumption of Ushna, Tikshna, Lavana, Amla, Vidahi,
Tilataila, Kulatha, Sarshapa, Dadhi, Kanji etc Pittavardhak
Aahara.
 Above all causes vitiate Pitta and affect Rasa Dhatu Poshana
Karma.
 Rasa Dhatu and Asthi Dhatu Dushti is the Nidana of Palitya.

9. Cont…
 Environmental (Vihara) Nidana –
 Like Ratrijagarana, Atapasevana, Dhumasevana,
Dushitavayusevana, SiroabyangaAyoga, Dushitajalasnana,
Ativyayama and Upavasa are important.
 Above all causes accounts for improper nourishment of scalp
and hair follicles leading to premature graying of hair.

10. Cont…
 Psychological (Manasika) Nidana – like Krodha, Sokha,
Adhikachinta and Manasikashrama are considered to be both
Pitta and Vata Prakopa Nidanas responsible for Akalajpalitya.
 Unknown causes (Adibalapravrita) Nidana - Development
of premature graying of hairs in Pitta Prakriti.

11. ETIOLOGY ACC. TO CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE
 Achromotrichia-
The change in hair colour occurs when melanin ceases to be
produced in the hair root and new hairs grow without
pigment.
 Stress-
Stress has been considered as major cause of the induce
achromotrichia.

12. Cont…
 Nutritional factor-
Nutritional deficiencies like vitamin B12 deficiency, severe
iron deficiency, chronic protein loss, copper deficiency, low
serum ferritin, and low serum calcium and vitamin D3 levels
are often found associated with premature graying of hairs.
 Environmental factors-
Smoking results in generation of huge amount of reactive
oxygen, species leading to increase oxidative stress
culminating into damage to melanin producing cells
melanocyte.

13. Cont…
 Medical conditions-
Albinism,
Vitiligo,
Pernicious anemia,
Thyroid diseases and
Werner’s syndrome.

14. Symptomatology of Palitya (Roopa)
 The symptomatolgy of Palitya has been attributed to Tridosha
pradhanta by Ashtang Hridayam.
 Vata pradhana Palitya-
 Sphutitam (cracked),
 Shyava (black in colour),
 Karksha (rough),
 Ruksha (dry),
 Jwalataprabham (watery) are commonly seen.

15. Cont…
 Pitta pradhana Palitya-
 Dahayukta (burning sensation),
 Pita (yellow colour) will be evidenced.
 Kapha pradhana Palitya-
 Snigdha (smooth),
 Vivradhi (growing),
 Sthula (thick),
 Shukla (white) will be seen.

16. Cont…
 Tridoshaja Palitya-
 Sarva Dosha Lakshana Yukta (Mixed features of all the dosas) will be
seen.
 Acharya Yogaratnakara also mentioned the same.
 Madhava Nidana explains-
 Kalaj Palitya in which graying of hair occurs after certain age due to
vitiation of Tridosha.
 Akalaj Palitya occurring due to vitiation of Shariroushma and Pitta
Dosha in an early age.

17. SAMPRAPTI GHATAKA
Dosha Tridosha
{Pitta (Bhrajaka pitta) pradhana }
Dushya Rasa dhatu, Asthi dhatu
Agni Jatharagni, Dhatwagni
Srotas Rasavaha, Asthivaha
Srotodusti Sanga, Vimarggamana
Udbhava Sthana Aamashaya
Vyadhi Adhishthana Keshabhumi
Roga Marga Bahya Roga Marga
Sadhya Asadhyata Ekdoshaj Sadhya,
Sannipataj Asadhya

18. CURRENT TREATMENT TRENDS
 Topical antiaging compounds
 Oral supplementation with l-cystine and l-methionine, and
topical melatonin
 Large doses of P-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
 Prostaglandins (stimulators of melanocyte growth and
melanogenesis)
 Temporary hair colorants are used worldwide

19. Cont….
 The basic treatment principle of Palitya -
 Avoidance of causative factors like Pittavardhak Ahara and
Vihara.
 Purification therapies (Samshodhana Chikitsa)
 Nasal medication (Nasya Karma)
 Anointing the face and head (Vaktra-siro Abhyanga)
 Application of pastes (Lepa) and
 Oral medications.

20. Nasya Karma
 In Akalaj-Palitya the Navana and Pratimarsha Nasya is mentioned.
 Yogas for Nasya Karma- These Yogas for Nasya karma mentioned in
different classics have been given below.
 Bhringaraja Taila
 Bhringaraja Ghrita
 Chandanadya Taila
 Prapoudarikadi Taila
 Nimba beejadi Taila
 Yashtimadhuka Taila

21. Shiroabhyanga
 Nilikadi Taila
 Bhringaraja Taila
 Maha neela Taila
 Sarayakadi Taila

22. Shiro Lepa
1. Lohachurna + Bhringaraja + Haritaki + Vibhitaki + Amalaki + black
soil are taken in equal quantity powdered and mixed with sugar
cane juice. This mixture is kept for 1month and that juice is applied
over hair.
2. Two Amalaki fruits, two Haritaki and two Vibhitaki, 5 karsha Amra
majja; 1 karsha lohachurna are mixed well and kept in Iron jar. This
is kept for whole night and applied.
3. Triphala + Loha churna + Bhringaraja swaras - Kept in matured
coconut for month. This is applied over scalp.
4. Kashmaryadi Taila.

23. Oral medication
 Amalaki rasayana
 Bhringaraja rasayana
 Saptamrita loha
 Loha churna
 Bhringaraja churna
 Guduchi churna

24. DISCUSSION
 Palitya is a disease which does not have satisfactory treatment till date.
The reason behind that may be improper execution of treatment.
 In Ayurveda the first line of treatment seems Shodhana.
 Shodhana expels vitiated Doshas from body.
 Basic pathogenesis of Palitya is based on either Margavarodha or Dhatu
Kshaya/Dushti or sometimes both.

25. Cont…
 After proper Shodhana any treatment works better as clean
cloth can be coloured better than a dirty cloth.
 Amongst Shodhana, though Vamana and Virechana are best
but Nasya seems treatment of choice in Palitya because of
its action on Uttamanga and it can act as both Shodhana
and Shaman.

26. Cont…
 If we go through the mechanism of Nasya the drug absorbed
by three process in nasal mucosa.
1. The olfactory neurons
2. second by supporting cells and surrounding capillaries.
3. The third way by cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF).

27. Cont…
 Shiroabhyanga, Sirodhara, Sirolepa are other external
treatments which can be used simultaneously.
 Many oils and Lepas are only Krishnikarna in nature act as a
stimulant or nutrient for the hair follicles like-
 Nimba Beeja Taila
 Bhringaraja
 Nirgundi
 Lepa of Karveer Moola Swarasa and Dugdhika Swaras

28. CONCLUSION
 After reviewing the literature we can conclude that Palitya is a disease
which has Srotorodha along with Dosha Prakopa.
 From the above discussion we can say that the Panchkarma plays
important role in Chikitsa of Palitya.
 Acharya Charaka and Vagbhatta mentioned Samshodhana therapy causes
expulsion of vitiated Dosha and thus breaks the Samprapti of Palitya.

29. Cont…
 Vamana expels Apakva Pitta and Kapha Dosha from
Urdhavamarga.
 Virechana expels Pitta Dosha from Adhomarga.
 After the Samshodhana karma, if we use Samana Chikitsa with
yukti Praman, we can find better results in premature graying
of hair.

30. THANK YOU