Headstands = Hair Growth, prevention of gray hair??

[AlexiaBlue]

Hello all --

I recently started practicing yoga and came across an article saying that yoga inversions (head-stands) can encourage hair growth and can also prevent hair from graying. Are there any yogi's out there who have any experience with this and who have noticed a difference in their hair from regular inversions?

Just curious :D

[knoxkatie]

I have never heard this but I hope it's true. Maybe it will encourage me to spend a little more time on inversions :D

[AlexiaBlue]

I hope it's true !! Apparently, there are a TON of good things that come from standing on your head! Who knew?

[AlexiaBlue]

FYI -- This is the article that I was referring to... Good stuff!

http://www.naturalnews.com/023880_health_blood_brain.html

[CurlAhead]

I thought it was dangerous standing on your head!! :O

[gthlvrmx]

So the massaging really does help! Any blood circulation can be good like that :)
I have heard of this massaging technique where you just let your head hang upside down and massage, it gets the blood flowing better and i do believe it works...i mean, logically, there will be more blood right?

[selderon]

I thought it was dangerous standing on your head!! :O

When done properly, not so much. Unless you have a medical condition that weakens the neck. Done improperly, it could be quite risky.

Fortunately, there are a variety of other inversions (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/finder/browse_categories/inversions). Also, the human circulatory system is designed to pump blood to regions above the heart as well as below it. Circulation can be increased by raising the heart rate.

[HoneyJubilee]

I also read something about this, but I don't remember where I read it. It said something about not enough blood/oxygen reaching the head and too much being in the legs when sitting/standing, and that it evens out some while sleeping/reclining. It suggested that even lying down for a while with your feet propped up can help. I'm not sure how much truth there is to it, but the lying down with feet up might work out better for those who can't or don't want to do headstands.

If I can find the link again I'll post it.

[jujube]

Logically if it increases the blood flow to the hair follicle, it's bound to help. I don't really see myself chillin' upside down daily, though.

[Aeowen]

When I was a kid I used to stand on my head constantly (in the "knees on elbows" position). Wonder if I can still do that? *wanders off to try and hopefully doesn't pull a muscle*

I can just see my poor DH coming home and saying, what in heavens name are you doing? As if taking vitamins, massaging my scalp with yeast infection cream and accumulating hair toys wasn't odd enough ;-)

[McFearless]

Increased blood circulation to the scalp is always a good thing for growth, but it can be done in many ways. The best way is through cardio exercise, rather than standing on your head alone. I don't think it will ward off graying either.

[bte]

I think the theory is that being upside down brings more blood to your head and thus promotes hair growth, hair health and thus promotes faster growth and delays greying. Unless you have a problem with blood supply tothe head, it probably doesn't make a lot of difference, but if you do have a blood supply problem, it might be literally a life saver.

[Anje]

Doesn't it seem like all the pressure on the top of the scalp might limit blood flow to it until you flip back upright?

[AlexiaBlue]

AEOwen -- LOL... Hilarious!!!

[Kathie]

I've been a regular yogi since November. I practice headstands, shoulder stands, handstands and forearm balances and unfortunately I cant say that I have noticed an increase in hair growth since I started. But there are so many other benefits!