(Extracted from the book "Hair Power" by S. Sarup Singh Alag)

Unani System of Medical Science and Hair

Most of ancient indigenous science  of medicine reveal that one of the causes of chronic bad cold is trimming of hair. This has been found in many chronicles during the past century or so that long untrimmed hair provide much relief to one suffering from this kind of disease. Moreover people with hair are less prone to this malady. Modern scientific research can easily throw light on this point. Research in medical science has proved that the relationship between healthy hair and thyroid glands is rather intimate and if we protect our throat from getting sore, our hair will remain black, strong and healthy for a long time. Thus they will also be able to perform their duties more actively and effectively. There are several such references in the Yajur Veda and the Atherva Veda. These references suggests that maintenance of untrimmed hair is absolutely necessary for a healthy body, physical strength and hair glow. We do not sow the hair; thus plucking or trimming of them is not natural. They are an integral part of human body, a manifestation of strength and chivalry, symbolic of social respect and reflection of mental equipoise. They are also an example of   India's cultural richness. A religion, which aims at providing Saint-Soldiers, knows the true worth of hair. Their true worth has been realized By Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa Panth, created by him. Having received the gift of Amrit (Sikh Baptism) and of hair, the name Khalsa Panth became synonymous with the protectors of not only the country but the entire mankind. These hair became a symbol of their recognition. For the Sikhs hair became their flying masts. A true Sikh a Khalsa could be easily recognized even among the multitude. He became to be called an inheritor of India and fought against the invading hordes-one equaling one-and-a-quarter lakhs. After wearing the hair, he gave evidence of the power of his bhakti and shakti far and wide. The entire world felt amazed at his achievements and also chroniclers - willingly or unwillingly - eulogized the Khalsa. Hai became the symbol of respect and dignity for the Sikhs. Now everybody has learned that the strength of the Sikhs as a community is merged in the hair. So long as hair are intact, community is strong and respected. By bestowing upon them the gift of hair, the Guru have made the Sikhs firm from within and dauntlessly determined from without.

It is assumed that the central point of the solar energy is considered the top of head and the central point of lunar energy is the chin. As the hair on the head receive energy from sun and transfer it to human body, the hair on the chin (beard) receive lunar energy for onward transfer to human body. Another peculiar characteristic of the hair is that they hinder the harmful waves prevalent in the atmosphere from affecting the brain and mind as a result of which mind does not suffer from despondency, excessive emotionalism, pessimism and mental confusion and instead virtues like courage, warmth of heart, optimism and enthusiasm are infused. Since the hair on the head, on chin and above the upper lip have different functions to perform, their constitution is also different. Everybody can easily differentiate between the hair of the head, and those of the beard and moustaches. Mr. Malgarini, a professor of psychology of the San Jose State university in America has done a commendable research on the effects of beard. He concludes that beard on a man's face makes his personal look more manly and impressive. Another Western thinker, Calimash, even goes to the extent of saying that beard forbids man from committing sin and thus saves him. It attracts him towards the path of righteousness. Thus to maintain beard is symbolic of one's good fortune. Beard is also the manifestation of one's good, ethical life. As against men, women do not have beard. So the question arises the equipoise and righteousness which beard amasses in men is why denied to women because women do not have beards. Is it not an injustice unto them? No, may be God did so keeping in view their softness and beau ideal. If female beauty comprises in her chin being devoid of hair, male beauty and bravery depend on the hair (beard) on his chin. To compensate women for denying her beard which is an important source of bringing energy to body, the Divine One strengthened her nervous system sixteen times more than that of man. It is possible that because of this very reason qualities of softness, tolerance, humility and sweetness in temper are much stronger in women than in men: In fact, these are some of the most attractive qualities in women. In sum, it can be said that man must make the maximum possible use of the hair given by God because they are capable of taking the solar energy, after purifying it, direct to human body. This energy helps keep body healthy as it is a very fine antibiotic capable of destroying germs of many diseases. It is nearly true that the more we keep our hair in contact with solar energy the more useful they would be for the human body. No doubt, pores of shaven hair also keep performing the same function, but untrimmed hair can do so in a much more effective and powerful manner. Keeping in view the fast polluting atmosphere, we must seriously consider maintaining long, untrimmed hair, otherwise it will be too late for us.

People doing research on hair have accepted the fact that the hair are made of such substances, which protect body from cold as well as heat. That is why they are called good conductors of heat and cold to the body. When the weather is cold, that substance in the hair gets activated which has to provide heat to body and especially to mind. Interestingly, this mechanism works the other way round during the hot summers. We generally find that as we walk in the sun in extreme hot season a kind of sweaty condition is created in the hair. This sweat mixes with the hair, thereby the latter do not get much hot up. This also saves a person from direct heat and sunstroke. That is why people maintaining long hair are much less susceptible to sunstroke or exposure to the sun. On the contrary, where it is very cold the hair keep the temperature in the zone of head warm by preserving the heat received from Sun. Consequently, one does not feel much cold. When we put ourselves in shivering conditions, our hair stand on end. At that time each hair of our body tries to take-in maximum energy from the atmosphere. This mechanism also enables us to face situations of danger more courageously. This entire automatic activity should be considered as the wondrous miracle of Nature. We can also say that by providing hair, Nature has put humanity under its heavy debt.

The hair which perform astonishing but precious job are made up of the following substances:

      1.Oxygen             28%

      2. Carbon            50%

      3. Hydrogen        06%

      4. Nitrogen         11%

       5. Sulphur            05%

Besides the above given substances, the hair also contain heat and oil, and the grey hair contain a small amount of lime also. These three elements also cause a little change in the above proportion.

As a result of trimming the hair, we not only deny ourselves the use of certain minerals, but also waste these elements. According to an American doctor, Robert Del Girni, the loss suffered in consequence of trimming hair is manifested as lack of bravery, self-confidence, determination and labor in such people as compared with those who maintain the sanctity of hair. If the above statement is applied to European or Western people everybody will vouchsafe for bravery and hard working nature even though they trim their heads and shave off there beards. In answer to this, it can only be said that if these people are so brave and intelligent even after trimming and shaving off their hair they could certainly have added immensely to their present bravery and intelligence level by keeping the hair. Even today many great philosophers, scientists, researchers and litterateurs have long hair and beards.

Recently some of the Western doctors and scientists have after deep researches, brought out important facts about the hair. A brief appraisal of that research can easily inform us of the great valuable service being rendered to our body by the hair on different parts of body. According to a laboratory estimate, if we trim away or shave off 50 grams of human hair, we loose one gram of trace metal, which has immense potency to ward off the dangerous disease of diabetes and also to soothe the most severe burning sensation. Those who trim their hair waste much of these valuable metals and elements in the re-growth of their hair and thus weaken themselves and become susceptible to various diseases. Prof. Prasad's reports (1966) in this behalf are highly informative, educative and eye-opener for those who trim hair mindlessly under the fun and fury of fashion. Sikhs are the luckiest lot who are directed by their Gurus to shun the harmful practice of sacrificing an important organ of their body (hair) at the alter of fashion. A Sikh looks smart, masculine with unshorn hair which are part and parcel of his stout personality.

According to another Indian scientist Dr. A.S. Prasher, during the summer zinc value increases in the body because of the hair. As a result of this, one remains protected against maladies such as infection of fingers. dr. R.O. Phil also agrees that the hair function as natural banks as regards the trace metals. It is, therefore, in the interest of mankind to properly look after the hair because they perform rare service to humans. Besides the above mentioned importance of trace metals, it has also been proved that lack of these metals not only results in human body falling victim to the disease already referred to but also adversely affects the digestive system of children resulting in loss of appetite and taste. Consequently they do not get full nourishment and therefore remain short statured. In this way, hair are also useful for a child to help him get tall statured and healthy body, The diminutive midget person lacks zinc which one gets through his body through the medium of hair.

A sufficiently deep research has also taken place to prove that the presence of an adequate quantity of the trace metals in the body of a woman favorably affect the body of the new born baby. Nature has gifted the hair with the quality of collecting these rare minerals in human body so that these could be used whenever the need be. Because a woman has to give birth to a child, the Lord has made her hair, stronger, thicker and longer than those of man so that such minerals could be collected and preserved in the body. It has also been observed that during pregnancy the hair of a woman gets thicker. May be, Nature does so to help woman to get additional quantity of minerals required for the development of the embryo. This is how nature takes care of mankind and alas, human beings turn a blind eye to such gestures. It seems they will they will realize their folly only after having suffred the maximum.

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