Overview

Baheda is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for hair care & hair loss. Vibhitaka (Baheda) is the second ingredient of Triphala. The fruit pulp is used medicinally. The seed oil is useful in skin diseases and hair growth. The seed itself is avoided internally as it may cause nausea.

How Baheda Helps with Hair Care & Hair Loss

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Baheda has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing hair care & hair loss:

Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
Post-digestive (Vipaka): Madhura (sweet)
Taste (Rasa): Kashaya (astringent)
Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry)

Ayurvedic Properties

Taste (Rasa): Astringent (Kashaya)
Quality (Guna): Light (Laghu), Dry (Ruksha)
Potency (Virya): Hot (Ushna)
Post-digestive (Vipaka): Sweet (Madhura)
Also Known As: English: Beleric Myrobalans
Sanskrit: विभीतक, अक्ष, कर्षफल
Hindi: बहेड़ा, बहेरा

What the Classical Texts Say

Krimi (worms)
Kapha disorders
Hair diseases

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1

Aksha Taila – (oil of Vibhitaka) :आ ं वाद ु हमं के यं गु प ता नलापहम ् । Aksa Taila – oil obtained from seeds of Vibhitaka is sweet, cold in potency good for the hair, hard to digest, mitigates Pitta and Vata.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Vibhitaka Sura – त गुणा वा णी या लघु ती णा नहि त च शल ू कासव म वास वब धा मानपीनसान ् ६८ ना तती मदा ल वी प या वैभीतक सुरा णे पा वामये कु ठे न चा यथ व यते ६९ Sura prepared from Vibhitaka is not very intoxicating, is easy to digest, good for health; not so harmful, (as other wines) in wounds, anaemia, and leprosy and other skin diseases.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Aksha Taila – (oil of Vibhitaka) :आ ं वाद ु हमं के यं गु प ता नलापहम ् । Aksa Taila – oil obtained from seeds of Vibhitaka is sweet, cold in potency good for the hair, hard to digest, mitigates Pitta and Vata.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 5: Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

158 Triphala benefits: इयं रसायनवरा फला अ यामयापहा । रोपणी व गद लेदमेदोमे हकफा िजत ् ॥१५९॥ Thus, the Triphala (haritaki, amalaki and vibhitaki), together is a best rejuvenator of the body, cures diseases of the eyes, heals wounds and cures skin diseases, excess moisture of the tissues, obesity, diabetes, aggravation of kapha and Asra (blood) 159.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food

कटु पाके हमं के यम मीष च त गुणम ् Aksha (vibhitaka) is pungent at the end of digestion, cold in potency, good for hairs and possesses properties similar (to haritaki and amalaka) but slightly less (in degree).
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 6: Annaswaroopa Food

Kashaya Varga (Gana) – group of astringents: वगःकषायः प या ं शर षः ख दरो मधु कद बोद ु बरं मु ता वाला जनगै रकम ् बालं क प थं खजूरं वसप ो पला द च Group of astringents consists of Pathya – Chebuic Myrobalan (fruit rind) – Terminalia chebula, Aksha – Terminalia bellirica, Shireesa, Khadira – Black catechu (heart wood extract) – Acacia catechu, Madhu (honey), Kadamba, Udumbara, Mukta (Pearls), Pravala (Coral), Anjana – Aqueous extract of Berberis aristata (antimony), Gairika – Purified Red Ochre, B
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

Source: Astanga Hridaya, Ch. 5, Ch. 5, Ch. 5, Ch. 6, Ch. 6, Ch. 6, Ch. 10

Other Herbs for Hair Care & Hair Loss

⟶

Amla Phyllanthus emblica Linn.

⟶

Shukla Gunja Abrus precatorius Linn.

See all herbs for hair care & hair loss on the Hair Care & Hair Loss page.