Traditional medicinal knowledge about Bal (human hair) in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

The natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh burn the hairs of horse to repel away the mosquitoes and flies. They keep the hairs of Lion to protect themselves from evil spirits. The most surprising information for me was the medicinal uses of human hair in Chhattisgarh. I got this information incidentally. Few months back when I was discussing the use of Bhengra (Eclipta alba) with my barber Shri Lakhan Kumar, he informed that like Bhengra, a common weed, human hair also possess valuable medicinal properties and he supplies pure hair to many traditional healers for preparation of different formulations. I would like to define the pure hair. The pure hair is the hair that possess valuable medicinal properties. According to Shri Lakhan Kumar, now a days the use of chemical based shampoo, soap, and dyes are becoming common. The use of chemicals are making the medicinally important hair less potential. The natives using mud or soil for washing hair, common in rural areas, are considered suitable for the collection of pure hair. Shri Lakhan Kumar further informed me that many organic manure manufactures also collect the cut hairs from his shop. The manufacturers informed that they use it as base material in organic formulations commonly used for organic cultivation of agricultural crops.

In past few months I met many traditional healers of Chhattisgarh aware of traditional medicinal uses of human hair. In general, it is used externally only. Its internal use cause many side effects. In general, it is used alone, not in combination with herbs. The traditional healer of Mudpar village informed me that the ash of human hair is promising remedy for healing the open wounds. It is applied externally till complete cure. Its application reduces the pain immediately. In case of mouth ulcers, the healers suggests the patients to boil the hair in water and gargle with the decoction. The gargle with aqueous solution containing ash is also recommended. The traditional healers of Keshkal valley use the ash with Charota (Cassia tora) seed powder in treatment of ringworm externally. Charota is well known herb used in treatment of ringworm. Hair is added with it to make the formulation more stronger. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains mix the ash in Til (Sesame) oil and apply it externally to avoid blister formulation due to burns.

As other promising home remedies are available, the healers use it less frequently, but from documentation point of view, it is important information. Although human hair is not used internally as medicine but according to the traditional healers, its nature is dry and cool. Its intake produces vomiting. Out of red, white, brown and black hair, black hair is preferred for preparation of medicine. From the traditional healers of Bilaspur region, I got important information. According to these healers, regular intake of a pinch of ash from childhood prevents the problem of piles, life long. I am thankful to the Mother Nature for giving me opportunity to document the valuable traditional medicinal knowledge about human hairs. The above mentioned traditional uses have not been reported in available literatures. According to the healers, they are aware of its uses since time immemorial. Generation by generation this valuable knowledge has reached to present generations. I am proud to write that the healers are still using this knowledge in their routine practice.

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