Mesua (commonly Mesua ferrea, also known as Nagakesara or Ceylon ironwood) has a traditional history of use in Ayurvedic and other South Asian systems of medicine for a variety of dermatological conditions, including dandruff. In Ayurvedic texts, Mesua is noted for its kashaya (astringent) and tikta (bitter) properties, and it is considered to be krimighna (antiparasitic), which has led to its use in treating scalp conditions thought to be caused by microbial or fungal activity, such as dandruff. Oils and powders derived from its flowers or seeds are traditionally applied to the scalp to soothe irritation, reduce flakiness, and inhibit microbial growth.

However, scientific validation for Mesua's efficacy against dandruff is limited. Some preliminary studies have reported antimicrobial and antifungal properties in extracts of Mesua ferrea, but these have not been specifically tested against Malassezia species, the main fungus implicated in dandruff. The available laboratory and animal data suggest potential usefulness, but clinical studies in humans for dandruff treatment are lacking. Thus, its use is largely supported by ethnobotanical and traditional sources rather than robust scientific trials.