Nīlībhṛṅgādi Kerā Taila · नीलीभृङ्गादि केरा तैल
premature greying; hair-blackening.
Bhringaraja-Mahabhringa Taila (Anti-hair-fall master oil)
Mahābhṛṅgarāja Taila महाभृङ्गराज तैल
Also known as: Maha-Bhringraj Tailam · Bhringraj oil (compound)
taila scalphair vatapitta Tier A · multi-source
Indications
Khalitya (hair fall)Indra-lupta (alopecia)scalp drynesspremature greying (mild)
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Modern | Classical |
|---|---|---|
Base (Sneha) | ||
| Sesame oil (Tila Taila) · Tila Cold-pressed unrefined sesame oil | 600 ml | — |
| Coconut oil (Narikela) · Nārikela Coconut oil for spread | 150 ml | — |
Hero actives | ||
| Bhringaraja (False Daisy) · Bhṛṅgarāja Dried herb powder; OR 200 ml fresh leaf juice | 30 g | — |
Kalka — paste herbs | ||
| Malati (Spanish Jasmine) · Mālatī | 12 g | 1 Karsha |
| Karanja (Indian Beech) · Karañja Seed and bark | 12 g | 1 Karsha |
| Citraka (White-Flowered Leadwort) · Citraka Limit ≤ 1% for irritant safety | 6 g | 0.5 Karsha |
| Brahmi (Water Hyssop) · Brāhmī | 12 g | — |
| Mandukaparni (Gotu Kola) · Maṇḍūkaparṇī | 12 g | — |
| Bibhitaki (Beleric Myrobalan) · Bibhītakī | 12 g | — |
| Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry) · Āmalakī | 24 g | — |
| Jatamansi (Indian Spikenard) · Jaṭāmāṃsī CITES — cultivated only | 6 g | — |
| Ashwagandha (Winter Cherry) · Aśvagandhā | 12 g | — |
| Licorice (Yashtimadhu) · Yaṣṭimadhu / Madhuka | 12 g | — |
| Black sesame (Krishna Tila) · Kṛṣṇa Tila Powdered black sesame for colour depth | 18 g | — |
Drava — liquid medium | ||
| Bhringaraja (False Daisy) · Bhṛṅgarāja Fresh leaf juice (Svarasa) | 750 ml | — |
| Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry) · Āmalakī Fresh fruit juice | 750 ml | — |
| Cow milk (Goksheera) · Gokṣīra Cow milk | 1500 ml | — |
Source
Sushruta Cikitsa 20.15: “In a case of Indra-lupta (baldness or Alopecia), the bald part or seat should be anointed and fomented, and then bleeding (by venesection) should be resorted to, after which a plaster composed of Manah-shila, Kasisa, Tuttha and Marica, or of Kutannata and Deva-daru pasted together, should be applied to it. … An oil cooked with Malati, Karavira, Citraka and Naktamala is highly efficacious in curing a case of Alopecia, if used as an unguent.”
Modern cosmetic adaptation
The classical Sushruta recipe contains Karavira (Nerium indicum) — cardiotoxic if absorbed. The cosmetic-acceptable adaptation omits Karavira and substitutes with the broader Vayasthapana herb panel (Bhringaraja, Brahmi, Mandukaparni, Amalaki, Bibhitaki, Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Jatamansi).
This adaptation is what every modern commercial “Mahabhringaraj Taila” formula is based on (Yogaratnakara also gives a version with these same expansions).
The classical core (Sushruta verbatim)
If you want the strict Sushruta version: replace the Vayasthapana herbs above with Karavira root 6 g (external use, intact skin only — vaidya supervision). We have left that out from the default recipe for cosmetic-license compliance.
Preparation
Standard sneha-paka with multiple Drava cycles:
- Day 1: cook oils + Kalka with 750 ml Bhringaraja juice; reduce to ~oil weight
- Day 2: re-cook with 750 ml Amalaki juice
- Day 3: re-cook with 1.5 L cow milk; final cook to Madhyama paka
Optionally: Shata-paka (100 cycles) for premium formulation — major time / cost commitment.
For commercial-grade Mahabhringaraj Tailam, 3-7 cycles is sufficient.
How to apply Massage 5-10 ml into scalp + roots, 30 min before bath. For bald patches, apply with cotton swab and leave overnight. · 3-4× per week.
Safety flags
- Citraka topical limit ≤ 1 % to avoid irritation
Vaidya review required
This formulation requires verification by a qualified vaidya before clinical or commercial use — for botanical-identity confirmation, dose calibration, and patient-population safety.
Related recipes
Bhṛṅgarāja Taila · भृङ्गराज तैल
daily scalp tonic; mild hair fall prevention.
Aṇu Taila · अणु तैल
daily nasya; headache prevention.
Bhṛṅgarāja Taila · भृङ्गराज तैल
daily scalp tonic; mild hair fall prevention.
Brāhmī Taila · ब्राह्मी तैल
stress-related hair fall; scalp tension.
Nīlībhṛṅgādi Kerā Taila · नीलीभृङ्गादि केरा तैल
premature greying; hair-blackening.
Śmaśru-vardhana Taila · श्मश्रु-वर्धन तैल
beard growth; beard softening.