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Nature usually has
a solution for most health ailments and
the problem with hair loss in no exception.
As with all treatments that
you try, if you have a medical condition or are in doubt about your
reaction to anything always consult your doctor.
Normally natural treatments do
not have the side effects that certain drugs have.
These
treatments will not work for everyone, and no two people react the
same to certain treatments. Consult your doctor if in doubt about
trying anything.
Saw Palmetto
Propecia as Proscar was first
developed for treating prostate problems in males. Natures answer to
this treatment is Saw Palmetto. Serenoa repens is the medical name
for the herb saw palmetto.The deep red fruit of this small palm
grows wild in warm climates such as those found in the Southeastern
United States.
The liposerolic extract of the fruit of Saw Palmetto is the most
popular herbal supplement for the promotion of prostate health in
Europe.
Saw Palmetto is found as a
main ingredient in most of the commercial hair loss treatments such
as Revivoen.
Saw palmetto has been used in
Europe for generations, that its safety "has never been seriously
questioned," and with the exception of occasional stomach upset, no
side effects have been reported. "In particular, use of the extract
has not been associated with erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory
disturbance, or altered libido as you may get with Propecia.
Proanthocyanidins
Below is a quote from a
clinical trial on proanthocyanidins.
They also determined that
proanthocyanidins converted the telogen (non-growing) phase of hair
growth into the anagen (growing) phase of hair growth. In this
experiment, proanthocyanidins displayed hair-cycle-converting
activity which was similar to that of minoxidil.
The result being recorded with
proanthocyanidins on some treatments is amazing, however trials on
hair loss are still at early stages, but well worth checking out.
Although Cayenne Pepper and
Capsaicin are very similar I have put them under seperate headings
because there is a quite a bit of information about Cayenne which is
a very interesting plant.
Tea Tree Oil
The Tea Tree (melaleuca
alternifolia) is a member of the Myrtaceae family and is an
indigenous species to Northern New South Wales, Australia. The oil
is found within the cells of the leaves, and as the Tea Tree is
extremely fast-growing it is constantly renewable, ensuring that no
trees are harmed or destroyed.
Tea Tree Oil was used as a general antiseptic
by the aborigine tribes for thousands of years. Stories were told of
a magical lagoon into which tea tree leaves had fallen, where the
local tribe bathed in the naturally created bath.
Famous British explorer Captain Cook is held
as the man responsible for the name 'tea tree'. In 1770 when he and
his men landed at Botany Bay, Cook brewed the leaves of the tree for
his men to drink to prevent scurvy.
Tea tree oil can help with
deep hair cleansing and dandruff.
Dry hair requires a gentle, non-detergent
based product; a 2% solution of tea tree oil in a moisturizing
shampoo will help to unblock sebaceous glands and encourage the flow
of the body's own moisturizing oils, while clearing away unsightly
dead skin cells.
For oily skin, a gentle tea tree oil
moisturizing shampoo will help cleanse the scalp of bacterial and
fungal irritations and help to disperse dead skin cells.
Tea tree oil mixed with other essential oils
is especially good as a scalp treatment for relieving dandruff.
Medical professionals list infection, poor diet, blood circulation
and inadequate nerve stimulation as some of the causes of dandruff.
A yeast that lives on the scalp, Pityrosporum ovale, and a fungus
called trichoplyton spp also contributes to dandruff conditions.
While there are many anti-fungal and bacterial soaps and shampoos on
the market, tea tree oil offers a natural alternative. A recent
study indicates that a pharmaceutical grade of a tea tree oil in low
concentrations helps to eliminate bacteria and fungus on the scalp.
There have also been reports that by massaging
the oil into the scalp, new hair growth is promoted.
Honey
This is a recipe for hair loss
using honey and cinammon
Those
suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive
oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before
bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was
found to be effective even if kept on for 5 minutes.
Aromatherapy
Just a quick extract on
aromatherapy trials which produced interesting results.
A trial group massaged
essential oils (thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood) in a
mixture of carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed) into their scalp
daily.
The results show aromatherapy
to be a safe and effective alternative treatment for alopecia areata.
More Aromatherapy
Isabelle C. Hay and colleagues from the
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland saw several cases of alopecia
areata, a type of hair loss that causes patchy baldness, improve
after patients used herbal treatments. Unlike male pattern baldness
or hair brittleness, alopecia is a condition that affects men and
women of all ages, and is most likely caused by an immune system
inflammation that affects areas of the scalp. Stress often precedes
an alopecia outbreak. Standard medical therapies, including
corticosteroid injections, are only modestly helpful. Most, but not
all, patients eventually improve or recover.
External application of various herbal
essences is believed to benefit those who suffer hair loss due to
alopecia. Among these are cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica),
lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris), all of which
have been used to treat alopecia for more than a century. However,
no double-blind studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy
of these herbs until now.
Hay and researchers recruited 84 people with
diagnosed alopecia areata. During the seven-month trial,
participants suspended use of topical or oral alopecia medications.
Instead, half used a blend of cedarwood (2 drops, 94 mg), lavender
(3 drops, 108 mg), rosemary (3 drops, 114 mg) and thyme (2 drops, 88
mg) in a carrier oil mix of jojoba (3 mL) and grapeseed (20 mL). The
placebo group used just the carrier oils. Subjects were taught to
rub the oil into the bare areas of their scalp for two minutes each
evening and then to wrap a warm towel around their head to enhance
absorption.
Professional photographs of each patients'
scalp were taken at baseline, three and seven months. Changes as
seen in the photographs served as the primary outcome measure.
Outcomes were also measured by mapping bald patches and measuring
severity of alopecia with a four-point scale. Of the 84 patients who
entered the trial, only 63 completed it--35 from the active group
and 28 from the control group.
Of those receiving active treatment, 44
percent (16 of 35 patients) significantly improved, while 15 percent
(6 of 28 patients) using placebo improved. The essential oils had a
statistically significant advantage (P = 0.008). The average
area of hair regrowth with the essential oils was 104 square cm
compared with nearly zero for those using placebo.1
One male patient with alopecia areata as well
as severe male pattern hair loss saw improvement in both areas after
using the essential oil blend.
These results suggest that one or more of the
essential oils are biologically able to promote hair growth. While
promising, confirming studies are needed before we can be sure.
However, is a 44 percent response rate worth the effort? According
to the authors, this is about the same response rate dermatologists
expect with standard medical therapies. To the herbs' benefit,
however, they are less expensive, require fewer doctor visits and
have a low risk of side effects.
Future research must explore which of the four
herbs had the most effect or if they work in tandem. Also open for
exploration is whether increasing the concentration of the most
active constituents would increase response rates. Dose is also
worth researching. Perhaps twice daily treatment would be more
effective than once daily.
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