Natural Hair Loss Remedies

There is again no sure-fire way to prevent all hair loss; however, there are some methods that have been used that work on some people.

Massage and aromatherapy have been used with some success. In minor cases of temporary hair loss, hair growth can be stimulated by massage, since blood and oxygen flow to the scalp must be healthy in order for hair to grow.

A blend of six drops each of lavender and bay essential oils in a base of fourounces of either almond, soybean or sesame oil massaged into the scalp and allowed to sit for 20 minutes has been used by aroma therapists to stimulate the scalp.

Once the mixture is in the scalp for 20 minutes, wash your hair and scalp with your normal shampoo mixed with three drops of bay essential oil. Massaging the scalp in general for a couple of minutes a day can stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles and in mild cases stimulate some hair growth.

Studies have shown Saw Palmetto extract is an effective anti-androgen and therefore there is promise for its effectiveness as an effective treatment for hair loss prevention. Women who take Saw Palmetto should cease doing so when taking oral contraceptives or hormone therapy.

Nettles are rich in vitamins A and C, several key minerals and lipids that can be beneficial to the hair. Nettle Root Extract has been used successfully in Europe as an inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase in treating BPH. As mentioned earlier, 5-alpha reductase is a key component in turning testosterone into DHT, the substance that causes the atrophy of hair follicles. Therefore there is great promise in its use as a component in natural hair loss treatments. Nettle Root Extract is available at health food stores over the counter, and has few side effects.

Rosemary and sage are two herbs that have shown benefit traditionally when used externally. It is suggested that to promote a clean scalp, stimulation of the hair root, and thickening hair one should boil together in water rosemary, sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock. Then strain the loose herbs from the liquid and use the liquid to wash the hair daily.

Aloe Vera has been used by Native Americans, Indians and many in the Caribbean to promote healthy hair and prevent hair loss. Aloe’s positive effects on the skin are well known, and likewise it can help the scalp by healing it and balancing the pH level of the scalp while cleansing the pores. A common preparation of Aloe Vera gel with a small amount of wheat germ oil and coconut milk is used as a shampoo and has traditionally shown great benefit.

Of course, if you do not want to go through the trouble of concocting your own formulas, similar products, or products containing these ingredients, may be found in the health food store if one does some searching.

by: Ken Shorey

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Understanding Thyroid Hair Loss

Most people who are suffering from hair loss should make sure that they are not suffering from thyroid hair loss. Whenever your body requires extra energy, which might be due to stress or other illness, the hair cells get shut down automatically to redirect the energy elsewhere. The common condition where hair loss can occur are poor diet and nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, surgery, and many medications, but noticeably, thyroid hair loss.

Before starting the treatment plan for your thyroid hair loss, the following key points should be taken into consideration such as evaluation by a dermatologist, to find out if there is are nutritional deficiencies, making sure that it may not be of the side effect of the thyroid drug, adherent to alternative therapies and last but not least rule out the possibility of thyroid rug side effect.

Although there are three types of hair loss such as thyroid hair loss, autoimmune alopecia, and male pattern hair loss. Thyroid hair loss can occur both in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. When suffering from thyroid hair loss, you’ll often find more hair in the shower, in drains and in hairbrushes with absence of specific hair less patches. Thyroid hair loss is noticeable among some people even after starting the treatment especially in Synthroid medication.

Synthroid is useful in hypothyroidism but it produces thyroid hair loss as its side effect for some people and this is not known by some of the medical professionals also. So make sure that hair falling is not due to Synthroid.

Thyroid hair loss can also occur if your condition is under treated. TSH of around 1-2 is optimal for a large number of people who are suffering from hypothyroidism with no hair falling.

Alternative therapy such as evening primrose oil is found to be highly useful in correcting thyroid hair loss. Aromatherapy is also found to be extremely effective. Essential oils of thyme, cedar wood oil, lavender, and rosemary mixed altogether and applied on the hair will help to stimulate hair growth.

The thyroid hair loss can also be corrected by using Ayurveda medicines such as Bhingaraj oil or brahmi oil. Both oils should be applied to the scalp without disruption for at least 3 months for hair growth stimulation. In addition to this the ayurvedic herbs amla and ashwagandha will also help stimulating hair growth.

The final treatment for thyroid hair loss is hair transplantation if there is serious illness. Small plugs of hair are removed from the back or side of the scalp and implanted to areas of the scalp with little or no hair. The effect can be seen after several months. Tissue expansion is another procedure that helps to treat thyroid hair loss. In this type, a small empty sac is slot into the skin. The sac is filled up with saline water for a course of time. Automatically, the skin begins to rejuvenate to give bulging appearance. This new skin with hair follicles is placed over the adjacent bald patches.

by: Carlo Morelli

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Is there a role for nutrition in treating hair loss?

Could something as basic as inadequate nutrition really contribute to excessive shedding of hair?

Does sensible nutrition have a role to play in helping hair to regrow?

The answer to both questions is yes! There is no doubt that poor nutrition and hectic lifestyles can contribute to hair loss. Modern diets can be associated with a number of nutritional deficiencies that are thought to contribute to hair loss:

1. The refining of whole grains reduces the B vitamin content.

2. Over cooking of vegetables destroys B vitamins.

3. Raw leafy greens are absent in most diets.

4. The vitamins that have been ingested are often re-directed to facilitate the digestion of nutritionally sterile carbohydrates like sugar and white flour.

5. Stimulants like caffeine, nicotene and alcohol rob the body of vital nutrients.

6. Excessive salt intake can encourage hair loss because of its tendency to accumulate in tissue.

7. Low fiber intake inhibits digestion thus reducing the body's ability to deliver nutrients to the blood stream.

Clearly poor nutrition can cause hair loss because the body will ration nutrients in a hierarchy of vital organs first and hair last. It is unlikely that improved nutrition alone will result in new hair growth but it will minimize shedding and support other treatments that encourage regrowth.

by: Richard Mitchell

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MORE CARE HAIR MYTHS - THE TRUTH AND THE LIES

We all have a favourite myth about hair care – some of them are as old as the hills! In this second in a series of 3 articles, we examine some of the most widely known myths - and seek out the reality…


1. Dry hair is damaged by too-frequent washing
FALSE: Hair is more likely to be damaged if it's left too long between washes. Not washing can cause the scalp's natural oil to be blocked, and unable to lubricate the hair shaft. As a result, hair can become dry and brittle. Things that damage hair include bleaching, coloring, styling and brushing when wet.

2. To stop the frizzies, use shampoo only twice a month. The rest of the time, rinse daily with conditioner
FALSE: Oil becomes rancid when it stays on the surface of the scalp, so regular shampooing is required to keep hair and scalp clean and healthy. Avoid frizzies by conditioning after every shampoo and try a leave-in conditioner, too.

3. A rinse out conditioner does not provide benefits because it is rinsed out
FALSE: Rinse out conditioners applied to your hair after washing will leave a deposit of moisturizing proteins and other ingredients on the hair shaft giving hair that is softer, shinier and better conditioned.

4. Blow-drying hair can cause it to smoke
FALSE: This strange myth has circulated in different variations for many years. On the rare occasion that hair “smokes” it is due to the evaporation of condensation on the hair from styling gels or similar hair care products.

5. Brushing thinning hair makes it fall out faster
FALSE: Although, brushing can damage hair (see above), as long as you use a good brush, normal daily brushing will not accelerate the normal loss of hair from the scalp. If your hair is suffering from a hair loss condition like alopecia brushing will only cause you to lose hair that is already ready to fall. Excessive brushing is always discouraged under any circumstances.

6. Shaving a baby’s scalp will alter their natural hair texture
FALSE: The hair that a baby is born with may or may not be the hair that they grow up with. Shaving a baby’s head will not alter the texture of their ultimate hair nor will it cause their hair to grow faster or thicker.


7. Gray hair can only be covered with permanent color
FALSE: Depending on the percentage of gray hair that you have, you may be able to blend or cover the budding gray with a semi-permanent or demi-permanent blend that does not contain harsh chemicals.

8. Excessive use of hair products causes hair loss
FALSE: There are no known, (professionally produced) hair care products that cause hair loss. You may sculpt your locks with as much gel, mousse or spray as you desire. However, be careful of home-made remedies, or any product that you don’t know the contents of.

9. Hair care products advertised as natural are chemical-free
FALSE: Not all hair care products sold in health food establishments, etc are completely natural; some may contain chemicals like SLS. When in doubt read the label.

10. Eating Jell-O will make your hair grow faster
FALSE: According to dermatologists, there is no evidence that Jell-O will do anything for hair growth. Syncronized swimmers use Gelatin on their hair to protect against chlorine damage), but there's no evidence that it will stimulate growth.

11. Stress causes your hair to thin
FALSE: Everyday stress won't cause your hair to thin. The problem may be hormonal or nutritional in nature.

12. Steroids have no side effects on hair
FALSE: Bodybuilders beware! Anabolic steroids are very potent chemicals that have some treacherous side effects including acceleration of hair loss. The problem is that these side effects are usually delayed by several years.

13. Standing on your head cures hair loss
FALSE: Hair follicles need more than blood flow to grow hair. Standing on your head to increase blood flow to your scalp, may be great for your gymnastic skills, but will have no effect on your hair.

14. Split ends will travel
TRUE: Uncut split ends can travel up the hair shaft towards the roots. Hair that is not tended to, over time, may develop splits that migrate and split all or part of the entire hair. Some ends can actually tear multiple times so that your split ends have splits.

15. Hair will always remain the same texture
FALSE: Although you may be born with straight, curly or wavy locks, there are many circumstances under which your hair’s ultimate texture can be permanently altered. Pregnancy, medication, chemotherapy, age and other variables can cause your texture to be temporarily or permanently altered.


SUMMARY

Heard another myth about hair? Do your research – ask an expert! This doesn’t include your grandmother, best friend or local barmaid. Instead, talk to an experienced hairdresser or a trichologist. Always get the real facts before you act on any hair myths – you owe it to your hair.

by: Michael Barrows

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Are all hair loss treatments just one big scam?

by: Richard Mitchell

The hair loss industry is not one that inspires great confidence in most people. I have to admit this is perfectly understandable given the damage caused by the many rogues and charlatans who have abused the trust of far too many vulnerable people - people who have received worthless and even dangerous products or advice in exchange for their hard earned cash. The end result is the prevalance of a stigma that the industry is hard pressed to shake off.

But is this perception really justified nowadays? Are there no genuine treatments that sufferers can turn to in a bid to treat the ravages of premature hair loss? The simple answer is YES, there are several safe, affordable, accessible and effective hair loss treatments currently available. Some have even been approved by FDA for the treatment of hair loss conditions while others draw on natural remedies as the basis for commercially available products. Whether or not any of them are suitable for a given individual depends on a number of important factors.

First and foremost, every individual must determine the exact cause or causes of his or her hair loss. This may appear to be an over-simplistic statement but the truth is, most people undergoing a course of treatment for hair loss have proceeded on the basis of self-diagnosis. Given the fact that premature or excessive hair loss is often associated with underlying medical conditions, this is perhaps not the most sensible course of action.

My advice in all cases is to seek the guidance of a qualified medical practitioner because the consequences of not doing so may be serious in a small number of cases. Even where all the evidence points to the onset of hereditary male pattern baldness it would probably be best to seek advice, if only to rule out other factors.

Once the cause of hair loss has been properly diagnosed you will be in a position to choose a suitable form of treatment. This may range from the prescription of drugs aimed at balancing disrupted hormone levels to the topical application of minoxidil to reduce the symptoms of male pattern baldness.

Hair loss may be caused by many factors including changing hormone levels, illness, stress, overuse of strong chemicals, excessive traction, poor grooming practices, side effects of medical treatment, poor nutrition, weak immune system and the effects of aging. The good news is, all of these can be tackled with reasonable hope of success but only if you choose the right treatment.

The next article in this series will look closely at the various causes of excessive hair loss and outline suggested treatments that are both affordable and accessible. If you take only two things from this article, please take these suggestions on board:

1. Always seek the advice of your physician before undergoing a hair loss treatment regime.

2. Don't despair, there's often a simple explanation for excessive hair loss and even hereditary loss or male pattern-type baldness can be treated successfully for most people nowadays.

About the author:
The author is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com website where you can find out more about all aspects of treating premature hair loss.

READ MORE - Are all hair loss treatments just one big scam?