Hair loss herbs and supplements

Hair loss herbs and supplements - Alternative Hair growth treatments, do they work?

Hair originates in the dermis, the skin layer just below the surface layer (epidermis).

Baldness (alopecia), or severe hair loss, is much more common in men than in women. It can result from genetic factors, aging, local skin conditions, and diseases that affect the body generally (systemic diseases). Some medications, such as those used to treat cancer, also cause hair loss. For more information on hair.

Male-pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss affecting men. It's rare in women and children because it depends on the presence of the male hormones (androgens), and levels of these hormones are high in males after puberty. Baldness runs in families. The hair loss usually begins on the sides, near the front, or on the top of the head toward the back. The hair loss can begin at any age, even in the middle teen years. Some people lose only some hair and develop a bald spot in the back or a receding hairline; others, especially people whose hair loss begins at a young age, may go completely bald.

Female-pattern baldness is less common than male-pattern baldness. Usually, this condition causes the hair to thin in the front, on the sides, or on the crown. It rarely progresses to total hair loss.

Most types of baldness have no cure. A person with male-pattern or female-pattern baldness may undergo hair transplantation, in which hair follicles are removed from one part of the body and transplanted. Some medications, such as topical minoxidil, may promote hair growth in a small percentage of people. The oral drug finasteride may also promote hair growth. Finsateride is available as Propecia 1 mg, or as Proscar 5 mg (used for enlarged prostate). It is cheaper to buy Proscar 5 mg and bite off about a fifth a day instead of buying Propecia since Proscar is only slightly more expensive than Propecia but it has 5 times as much finasteride.
Minoxidil may also be helpful at 2% for women and 5% for men, used topically.

Natural Therapies that may be helpful for healthy hair growth
A molecule produced in the intestine when soy is digested stops a hormone which can fuel prostate growth or cause baldness. Writing in the journal Biology of Reproduction, they said the finding could explain why Japanese men, who eat more soy, rarely have prostate cancer. They said the molecule could be used as a treatment for cancer and baldness. The team found that the molecule, equol, "handcuffs" the male hormone DHT - a by-product of testosterone. The researchers say this could be particularly important for men who have been diagnosed with either an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), or cancer of the prostate. DHT has also been implicated in research into the causes of male pattern baldness.
Saw palmetto not appear to be effective to stop hair loss when used by itself. Beta-Sitosterol has been studied but more research is needed. For more beta sitosterol information.

Gray hair cause
Hair turns gray when there is a dip in levels of an enzyme called catalase. That catalase shortfall means that the hydrogen peroxide that naturally occurs in hair can't be broken down. So hydrogen peroxide builds up in the hair, and because other enzymes that would repair hydrogen peroxide's damage are also in short supply, the hair goes gray. FASEB Journal Feb 2009; the FASEB is the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Causes of hair loss
1. Genetic cause of hair loss is the most common reason. Androgenetic alopecia is a common cause of hair loss.

2. Hormonal abnormalities are a possible cause of hair loss. Too much testosterone is a cause for hair losss. Too much or too little thyroid hormone can cause hair loss. High levels of insulin which occur in those with diabetes, can also cause hair loss.

3. Inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema, seborrhea, and psoriasis, cause patches of hair loss with red and scaly skin underneath. Fungal scalp infections (also called ringworm) and bacterial infections of the hair roots (folliculitis) can also cause similar problems. Patches of hair loss without underlying redness may be due to an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata. Insects that attack the hair (like lice or scabies) can cause hair loss either by directly breaking the hair or by causing the person to scratch, which in turn damages the hair.

4. Drugs and Medications can cause hair loss. Steroids and chemotherapy are among the most common medications that cause hair loss. Some diuretics (like sprinolactone) cause thinning of the hair by increasing levels of testosterone.

5. Natural supplements that cause hair loss include pregnenolone hormone and DHEA hormone.

6. Stress, anxiety, and depression are common causes of thinning scalp hair

Minoxidil for hair loss
Q. I am a 20 year old male student from IIT Kharagpur, India. I have found your contact in a blog regarding help on hairloss. I believe that my question regarding the use of Minoxidil topical solution. Recently I have been experiencing noticeable hair fall and I have consulted a dermatologist to be safe. The doctor had prescribed the use of Minoxidil 2% solution in my treatment. I have been suffering from dandruff lately. I went on a crash diet for a few weeks and 1-2 months later I have noticed the above mentioned hairfall. I have gone through some research journals and a couple of releases by the FDA and found that the use of Minoxidil is effective only for the first 48 weeks of usage and the vasodilator effect is not seen after that period. Also mentioned in one of the documents by the FDA was that a gap of a few months in the use of the topical solution could result in aggravated hair loss. Kindly inform me if after a few months of the first 48 weeks of the use of Minoxidil, the hairloss will relapse because the effect is not seen after the first 48 weeks. Though I am presently experiencing a noticeable hairloss, I am beginning to think about the use of Minoxidil in my treatment because of the problem I have indicate above. Is there an alternative treatment that does not have these problems of Minoxidil. Also please let me know if the use of Mill Creek Biotin products could help strengthen the hair follicles.
A. We have not studied the long term use of Minoxidil hair solution to a great extent so we don't know what the long term benefits would be but it appears that the benefits are temporary. We are not familiar with Mill Creek Biotin products.

Hair loss herb emails

I was visiting physician formulas website, unfortunately, the category of 'HAIR' is neglected from the body system/parts page listing: http://www.physicianformulas.com/store/scripts/prodList.asp

as this is profoundly important part of the male/female body both physically/mentally, has untold 'profit' ramifications (we do live in a capitalist society still)....it's 'omission' from the CATEGORIES SECTION bears 'mention / inquiry' Pls elaborate on this, it is utterly amazing. No I'm not trying to be 'cute' or 'flip', I legitamately just discovered Dr Sahelian, was enthralled by his candor / honesty, came to the site to check it out, have thinning hair, and discovered to my 'chagrin', no CATEGORY....'stupefying'.
A. By the Physician Formulas staff: Thank you for your good email. There is a reason for this. Dr. Sahelian has not found any supplements that he feels have been proven to work for hair growth. We try to be as honest as we can, we could sell hair growth product like other vitamin companies do, but it is in our nature to have integrity, and that is worth more to us than a few extra dollars.. If we ever come across a product that works, we will add the 'hair' category.

Q. I'm currently getting a slightly thin hair line at the front. I have a quick question that I hope you could answer. If I was to use Rogaine, and I was castrated. Would I still need to use Rogaine ever again once the Hair has grown back? Surely after castration, DHT would no longer be a problem. So the Hair that Rogaine has helpd get back, should surely stay ? I know these questions are a bit hypothetical, but just curious.
A. Rogaine may not be necessary after castration but we can't be sure. DHT is mostly involved in hair loss but there are other factors involved in hair growth and hair loss beside dht.

Q. Will you send me some advice on hair growth supplements. Trying to lengthen hair.
A. We are not aware of any supplements that work well for hair loss.

Q. I want to have my hair analyzed for mineral content. Are all labs "created equal".
A. It is well documented that different labs sent the same hair sample will come up with different results.

Q. I would like to know if either of Mind Power Rx or Passion Rx will reverse hair loss.
A. We don't know but we doubt these formulas will influence hair growth or loss in any significant manner.

Q. I am 52 years old, in perfect health, exercise, vitamins, healthy diet. Have probably already gone through changes - no period in a year. However since January when i wash my hair (only when it is wet) it falls out. Not extraordinary degree but a fair amount of hair. Alternative physician that i did see in January prescribed DHEA 25 miligrams -- my blood level was 35. Stopped taking it about a month ago, as I was afraid this might be the cause. However hair is still falling out when i wash it. Plus my hair has also been very thin. Is there anything I can take (stop taking) to prevent this from happening. I currently take, multiple vitamin, grape see extract, primrose oil, milk thistle, biotin, oat straw, glutamine, accidophilis, goji berry juice.
A. We are not aware at this time of any natural supplement that can stop hair loss. Finasteride, a prescription medicine, does work and may be used temporarily. Avoiding androgenic hormones is a must.

Q. I've read that if you stop taking Propecia, the hair loss could worsen is that true or not necessarily? I am a woman and my dr prescribed this as i have had a hysterectomy but i dont see any improvement so i stopped it, yet i worry what i've read that if you stop Propecia, the hair loss make get worse am i better off to just keep taking it and how long? Can you tell me if the anti cancer drugs tamoxifen and arimidex can trigger or mimic a female pattern type loss?
A. These are good questions but our expertise is not in pharmaceutical drugs. We don't know for sure if hair loss becomes worse after stopping Propecia but it is likely that certain hairs that were just hanging on due to the effect of Propecia may now fall out easier and shedding may continue at a faster rate initially. Tamoxifen may cause hair loss, and it appears that arimidex could cause hair loss, too.

Q. I am being treated by a well known dermatologist for the past few years. He put me on spironolactone and rogaine and am still experiencing hair loss. I requested Propecia and the birth control pill. I recently went on a very low dosage of Synthroid (25 micrograms) for a multi-nodular goiter. I was told that Synthroid may make me lose even more hair. I am not thinning very noticeably in the front of my head. I am embarrassed to leave my house. I have to work under bright lights in a workstation during the week and people have noticed. I am obsessed about my problem. Is there any way that I can have Propecia prescribed to me with a birth control pill. Will it help even though I have gone through menopause? I need help very badly and am very depressed. No one in my family has lost this amount of hair. My father is bald in the middle and my older brother is thinning there also, but I feel as though I am going to thin more than they are.
A. Propecia may be effective in some users.

Q. Hello can you suggest the best course of action for premature grey hair for my daughter who is not even 4 years old?
A. We are not aware of any supplements that influence premature grey hair.

Q. I have searched your site for a hair loss formula, that is that will help with thinning hair. Are there certain nutrients that you would advise might help with that? There are many hair formulas available through the internet, but it is hard to sort through them all. My hair loss is from taking DHEA hormone.
A. The reason we don't have a hair formula is because we have not come across one that we believe works. We don't want to sell a hair supplement product that does not work.

Q. In the past year I have been working with a doctor to balance my hormones. I have started and estrogen cream with testosterone and also progesterone tabs. I believe I am genetically predisposed to female hair loss � my mother�s is quite thin. I am not sure however, if it is because of low estrogen levels or an overall imbalance of hormones levels or if it is androgenic alopecia. Regardless, I am wondering if getting my hormones balanced will stop my hair loss or if I should stop the addition of testosterone in my estrogen cream. Any thoughts, suggestions would be great. I do use Revivogen products (shampoo, conditioner and night treatment) and light therapy comb at this time. If my hair loss is due to testosterone and dht, why did my hair start thinning in my 40�s when testosterone was declining? I am 49 now.
A. Sometimes it is difficult to determine the cause of hair loss, many times it is due to genetics. Testosterone hormone use, or androgen hormone use, can lead to hair loss.

Q. Do you have any suggestion for thinning hair? I have always had thin blonde hair but since I turned 50, and perhaps it was due to menopause, my hair has been falling out so much more. I am now 58 and I think I've finished menopause but the top of my head especially is so very thin. My local alternative medicine doctor has suggested PABA and that actually seems to have helped the volume of hair that comes out. I've just been on it for a little over a month. Perhaps I will start to see some new growth before long.

I am a woman 60 years old and look great for my age, but now my problem is I'm starting to see thinning in my hair and quite a bit. I am on bio identical hormones and my chart says I'm on the high range of DHEAS (6.9) and I'm told this could be a contributor to hair loss. Is there anything I can do to reverse the DHEAS?
Certain hormones can convert into DHEA and DHT which can cause hair thinning. You may wish to discuss this with your doctor.

Herbs traditionally used for hair growth
Cuscuta reflexa (Roxb.), Citrullus colocynthis (Schrad.), and Eclipta alba (Hassk.) are traditionally used herbs for their hair growth-promoting potential. We have not seen human research that these herbs work for hair loss in men or women.

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