5 Triphala Benefits for Hair

Many folks want to find that one magical solution for hair growth or to reduce hair loss. Whether it’s a food you can eat for improved hair health or herbs for hair loss, it’s common to search for herbal formulations that benefit your hair.

However, most research suggests that herbal treatments for hair loss aren’t very effective — at least not compared to modern hair loss medications such as minoxidil and finasteride.

But while scientific research isn’t there yet — and may never be — a few popular herbal ingredients have shown potential as supportive substances for promoting strong hair strands and a healthy scalp.

One of these natural remedies is Triphala, which has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic formulations.

But are there Triphala hair benefits? Maybe. 

We’ll go over what Triphala is and how this supplement can provide additional protection against male pattern baldness and other types of hair loss.

Triphala (also called Triphala churna) is an herbal remedy used in Indian Ayurvedic treatment. It consists of three medicinal plants: haritaki (Terminalia chebula), vibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica), and amla (Emblica officinalis).

While each of the three plants has various health benefits, it’s believed that combining the herbs makes them a more effective and powerful treatment than any one component taken alone.

Triphala is often used for cavities, stomach ailments, asthma, fever, chronic inflammation, and constipation, among other things. It also has antimicrobial properties.

This Ayurvedic medicine is available in many forms, including capsules, powder, and liquid, with Triphala powder being the most common. You can mix Triphala powder with warm water — or sometimes cold water — to create a beverage.

Ayurvedic practitioners traditionally use Triphala as a remedy for managing various health, skin, and hair conditions.

Keep reading to learn more about Triphala for hair and what research has been done on this Ayurvedic medicine.

Before we discuss Triphala hair benefits, it’s important to note that no medicinal herbs are currently considered a proven “treatment” or “cure” for male pattern baldness.

That’s because this type of hair loss — also referred to as androgenetic alopecia — occurs due to a mix of genetic and hormonal factors.

Still, some nutritional properties of Triphala churna may benefit hair health. Benefits of Triphala for hair include promoting scalp health, potentially increasing collagen, boosting volume, and helping with hair growth. 

Promotes Scalp Health

Consuming Triphala with warm water as a tea might increase blood circulation, potentially stimulating your hair follicles and treating scalp issues to encourage healthy hair growth.

One of the three plants in Triphala churna is vibhitaka, which has antifungal and antibacterial properties. These properties mean that Triphala may treat flaky skin caused by scalp infections or dandruff.

However, while Triphala has shown antimicrobial properties in vitro (test tube studies), there aren’t studies on the effects of Triphala churna in humans.

Increases Collagen

In vitro studies have also shown that Triphala may have anti-aging effects and improve skin texture by increasing collagen formation.

Collagen, the most abundant protein in your body, is essential for connective tissue and may also improve hair health.

Your body uses several amino acids to build keratin, the protein that makes up the hair shaft. When you consume collagen, your body breaks it down into amino acids and uses them to build new proteins and compounds.

Consuming Triphala churna may boost your collagen intake, enhancing skin texture and possibly improving dull hair.

However, human studies on the effects of collagen on hair are lacking, making it difficult to know if this protein promotes hair growth.

Boosts Hair Volume

Triphala's antifungal and antibacterial properties may help with scalp infections that inhibit hair growth. This could lead to healthier hair growth and a boost in hair volume, although more research is needed to confirm these effects.

Helps With Hair Growth

Haritaki, another herb that makes up Triphala churna, is a natural source of antioxidants that may help prevent hair breakage, dandruff, and lice, according to a 2017 study. Additionally, haritaki is a source of vitamin C, another powerful antioxidant.

As part of a balanced diet, antioxidant activity may reduce hair loss and prevent hindered growth. In other words, consuming a natural source of antioxidants like Triphala could encourage hair growth.

May Slow Down Hair Loss

Amla — the third plant used in Triphala and also known as Indian gooseberry —i s a traditional hair tonic often used to enrich hair and enhance its color.

Though research into the hair growth effects of Indian gooseberry is limited, a 2020 study found that people with thinning hair experienced reduced hair damage and loss after using a serum containing this active ingredient.

However, Indian gooseberry wasn’t the only ingredient used in the hair loss prevention serum in the study, meaning it may not be responsible for all of its positive effects.

Triphala is an ancient Ayurvedic treatment that’s become a popular herbal preparation for many ailments. It also has potential health benefits for hair.

In-vitro studies have found that Triphala contains several antioxidants, plus antifungal and antimicrobial properties, which can help keep hair healthy and provide many benefits for hair care.

While some possible Triphala hair benefits exist, more research on humans is needed to explore the full beauty benefits of Triphala churna.

But just because Triphala churna isn’t the one solution to your hair woes doesn’t mean there aren’t other tips for healthy hair growth.

Chronic health conditions and an unbalanced diet can also affect the normal hair growth cycle, so treating underlying conditions and eating a healthy diet can both help your hair. There are also medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat male pattern baldness.

Even if you don’t currently have a dermatologist or primary care doctor, talking to a healthcare provider about any hair loss you’re experiencing can help narrow down the possible causes. From there, they can help figure out a hair loss treatment plan for you. 

You can also learn more about what various supplements for hair loss can do for you.