Bhringaraja

 Bhringaraja Or Kesharaja

Bhringaraja or Keshraja is a commonly found small herb in watery places through out India. In monsoon it is available easily.  Most of the people know this plant due to TV advertisement for Bhringaraja Hair oil. When i was talking about hair oils with my colleagues, one of them asked whether we get Bhringaraja in India. Surprised!!! why is the doubt? He told that in one of the TV advertisements, it has told that Bhringaraja brought from mountains of China is used in this Hair oil. Funny right? Then i told him we too prepared Bhringaraja Hair oil during lock-down last year.  

There was no absolute necessity to prepare the hair oil, it was readily available at medical stores.  I will explain the reason with one more example other than above. In one of the TV advertisement on face cream or face wash, they show the product contain multi-vitamins which is good for skin. But the way they visualize is interesting. They show some capsules named different vitamins entering skin. Is it not possible that the young generation think that the vitamin come through tablets and capsules? Same is with hair oil. My son surprisingly asked me, is it possible to prepare Hair oil.     

This is used in our home to prepare Tambli and hair oil since my childhood. I didn't knew Ayurvedic use of this plant in detail.  

Even though Bhringaraja is found in many places of our garden we were not using except monsoon. Reason is frequent use of pesticide in gardens. When we shifted to individual house, we started using it again. Use of pesticide is banned in our garden. Only thing is to tell gardener not to remove these medicinal plants.

   

Very detailed use of Bhringaraja is mentioned in "The Ayurveda encyclopedia" by Sri Swami Sadashiva Thirtha. 

Uses: This is the main herb for the hair and cirrhosis. It prevents aging, maintains and rejuvenates hair, teeth, bones, memory, sight, and hearing. It is a rejuvenative for Pitta, kidneys, and liver. As an oil, it removes graying, balding, makes the hair darker, and promotes deep sleep. Externally, it draws out poisons and reduces inflammations and swollen glands. It also improves complexion. The root powder is used for hepatitis, enlarged spleen, and skin disorders. Leaf juice boiled in coconut oil makes a hair oil to re-move gray hair and balding.

Nagaraja  Adiga, 

Kaiga.