Bhringraj and Other Herbs for Hair in Ayurveda
Bhringraj (Eclipta alba) and other herbs in Ayurvedic hair oils: what a small 2026 trial and reviews show, how weak the evidence is, and what to do about hair loss.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What bhringraj is
Bhringraj is the Ayurvedic name for Eclipta alba, a small herb used in hair oils and tonics. Hair loss is called Khalitya and early graying Palitya in Ayurvedic writing, and a recent trial paper describes these as linked, in the tradition, to Vata-Pitta imbalance and poor nourishment of hair follicles. [1] That is a traditional explanation, not a measured cause of hair loss.What the research measured
Evidence label for hair growth in people: insufficient evidence. Lab and animal findings are preclinical.| Question | What was found | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Does bhringraj grow hair in lab or animal tests? | A 2026 review lists Eclipta alba among plants with anti-alopecia activity in lab and animal work, such as effects on 5-alpha reductase, signaling and hair cell growth. It calls for clinical trials and standardization. [2] | Preclinical |
| Has a trial of a bhringraj hair oil in people been done? | A 2026 randomized double-blind study of 78 adults over 120 days compared a classical polyherbal oil (Neeli Bhringadi), the oil plus 5% minoxidil, and 5% minoxidil alone. All groups improved from baseline. [1] | Limited |
| Do herbal remedies for hair loss work in general? | A 2025 systematic review of 16 randomized trials named rosemary, green tea, ginseng, aloe vera, olive and saw palmetto as promising, and said design limits and varied outcomes call for better research. Its summary does not name bhringraj. [3] | Mixed |
How to read the oil trial: it tested a mixture of herbs, not bhringraj alone, so any effect cannot be pinned on one plant. The summary did not describe a placebo-oil group; every arm was a treatment, one of them an established medicine, and "improved from baseline" cannot show the oil beat doing nothing. It was a small, short, single report. [1]
For alopecia areata, a patchy autoimmune hair loss, a systematic review of complementary approaches named aromatherapy, topical garlic and peony glucosides with compound glycyrrhizin as having the best evidence and its summary did not mention bhringraj; it also said study methods were poorly reported. [4]
Marketing claims
Claims that bhringraj oil "regrows hair", "reverses graying" or "treats the root cause" go beyond the evidence we read. Treat them as marketing claims unless a product has its own randomized trial against a placebo.Frequently asked questions
Does bhringraj oil regrow hair?
Evidence in people is insufficient. Lab and animal results exist, and one small 2026 trial tested a mixed-herb oil. [2][1]
Is Eclipta alba the same as bhringraj?
Bhringraj is the name commonly given to Eclipta alba in Ayurvedic hair care. A 2026 review lists Eclipta alba among plants traditionally used for hair loss. [2]
Can bhringraj stop graying?
One small trial of a polyherbal oil reported lower graying scores, but it was not designed to isolate bhringraj. [1]
Which herbs have the best hair-loss trial evidence?
A 2025 review of 16 randomized trials named rosemary, green tea, ginseng, aloe vera, olive and saw palmetto as promising. [3]
When should I see a doctor?
For sudden, patchy or scarring hair loss, or loss with other symptoms. Medical causes can be treated.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Hair oils are applied to skin. Stop and seek advice if you get a rash, swelling or scalp burning.
- We found no source reporting serious harm from topical bhringraj, but oral herbs from Ayurvedic sources have caused liver injury and metal contamination. [5][6] See Ayurvedic skin and hair products.
- Sudden patchy loss, scarring, pain, or hair loss with other symptoms deserves a doctor's visit. Medical causes include thyroid, iron and medicine effects; see hair shedding and thinning and pattern hair loss.
This page is information only and not medical advice. See also Ayurveda for hair loss.
References
- Patel MN et al., Neeli Bhringraj polyherbal hair oil in androgenetic alopecia and premature graying: a randomized, double-blind clinical study, Cureus 2026. Read 2026-10-22.
- Sadhu P et al., Pharmacological insights into medicinal plants and phytomolecules for the management of alopecia, Curr Pharm Des 2026. Read 2026-10-22.
- Allam AT et al., Pathophysiology, conventional treatments, and evidence-based herbal remedies of hair loss with a systematic review of controlled clinical trials, Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- Tkachenko E et al., Complementary and alternative medicine for alopecia areata: a systematic review, J Am Acad Dermatol 2023. Read 2026-10-22.
- Philips CA, Theruvath AH, A comprehensive review on the hepatotoxicity of herbs used in the Indian (Ayush) systems of alternative medicine, Medicine (Baltimore) 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
- Saper RB et al., Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet, JAMA 2008. Read 2026-10-22.