Alternative Natural Herbal
Hair Loss Remedies
Oil, herbs and extracts
to treat hair loss
Human kind have been
attempting to treat hair loss as far back as civilization
histroy can take us. Ancient Egyptians applied and consumed
concoctions to treat hair loss. Hippocrates, the ancient
Greek physician applied bird droppings on his head to
attempt to regrow hair.
These remedies are not
scientifically proven. Some of these are reviewed below.
Oils for hair health
Over centuries, the popular
method to stimulate hair growth seems to be to use oils.
The Egyptians applied castor oil directly to the scalp
with the hope of stimulating hair growth. To enhance
the smell, they sometimes mixed it with sweet almond
oil. Ancient Indians and Polynesians applied coconut
oil directly to the scalp. Ancient Africans used olive
oil.
Based on a study, it
appears that certain plant-based oils have a positive
impact on hair loss treatment. In 1998, researchers
from Scotland published the results of a randomized,
double-blind controlled study investigating aromatherapy
in patients with alopecia areata, a condition in which
the body's immune cells start attacking hair-producing
cells.
In this study, 86 patients
were placed into 2 different groups. The active group
massaged their scalps daily with 4 essential oils (thyme,
rosemary, lavender, and cedar wood) in a mixture of
jojoba and grape seed oils into their scalps. The control
group massaged only jojoba and grape seed oils. This
exeercise was carried over a period of seven months.
The study reported that
19 out of the 43 patients (44 percent) in the active
group showed improvement compared to 6 out of 41 (15
percent) in the control group. The conclusion was that
aromatherapy with these essential oils may be a safe
and effective treatment for alopecia areata.
Using herbs to help
with hair growth
Pharmaceutical products
and conventional medicines often have side effects.
Both FDA-approved finesteride
and minoxidil
for hair loss have side effects. This has created increasing
interest alternative herbal remedies.
It is incorrect to assume
that "natural" remedies are harmless. The
amount of ingredients often vary from what is stated
on the labels since they are unregulated. Furthermore,
few herbal remedies have been studied in a controlled
fashion for hair loss. Many claim miraculous results
that are largely unsubstantiated with scientific evidence.
Yet safety remains unassured.
The following herbal
rememdies are popularly associated with treating hair
loss.
Saw palmetto
Saw palmetto is popular
in the US because it is widely available in the country,
especially in the southeastern parts of the country.
It is believed that the medicinal properties of the
plant come from the brown-black berries.
This herb was commonly
used to relieve urinary symptoms in older men who had
difficulty urinating. Over the years, several studies
have documented the effectiveness of saw palmetto in
the treatment of benign prostate gland enlargement (BPH).
Saw palmetto also became
popular as an herbal remedy for androgenic alopecia
(male pattern baldness). However, there is little scientific
evidence to support this efficacy. The assumption that
saw palmetto works to treat hair loss is that several
basic research studies have demonstrated that it blocks
the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which functions
to convert testosterone to DHT, the male hormone responsible
for male pattern baldness.
There is only one published
study that examined saw palmetto being used to treat
male pattern baldness. In this small study, 6 out of
10 subjects with androgenic alopecia who received saw
palmetto benefitted from the treatment. This is too
small a study to draw any confidence that saw palmetto
is effective in treating hair loss.
The most common potential
side effects of saw palmetto are mild forms of diarrhea,
abdominal pain, nausea and vomitting, and constipation.
Some men reported erectile dysfunction, breast tenderness
or enlargment and diminished libido.
Saw palmetto should not
be taken with male hormone medications for hair loss
such as finesteride (Propecia) as they work in almost
the same way. It should also not be taken without supervision
if you are on blood thinners. There has been no testing
on pregnant or nusing women, so these subjects should
avoid saw palmetto.
Traditional chinese
medicine
Chinese diets usually
contain more vegetables than the western diets. What
this does is that their amino acids inhibit the enzyme
5-alpha-reductase Type 2, which converts testosterone
to DHT, the malehormone for male pattern baldness. This
could be a reason for fewer balding men amongst the
Chinese.
Two Chinese herbal remedies
have histories associated with hair loss.
He Shou Wu
He Shou Wu, also known
as polygoni multiflori or Fo Ti, stimulates hair growth
and also converts fine fine vellus hair to thicker terminal
hair.
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He Shou Wu |
This
herb may also delay natural graying. Chinese herbalists
also use He Shou Wu for strengthening weak bones, reducing
high blood prressure, and treating constipation. It
is also believed to have anti-aging properties.
Known
side effects of He Shou Wu include headaches and diarrhea.
The Medicines and Health Care Product Regulatory Agency
(MHRA) in the UK released a warning about potential
liver damage from its use. MHRA advises anyone with
elevated levels of liver enzyme or liver disease to
consult his doctor before consuming it.
A
controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2002, using
a combination of oral tablets and lotion containing
He Shou Wu. The results favored the group that received
the active herbal ingredients, However the study was
too small to be given unconditional endorsement.
Dabao
Researchers
from the Netherlands studied the effectiveness of the
Chinese herb extract Dabao for the treatment of male
pattern baldness in 1991. In thi study, 373 people with
androgenic alopecia completed the full 6 month trial.
At the end of the period, the researchers concluded
that Dabao has a cosmetic (although modest) effect superior
to placebo.
Ayurdevic
practices
Ayurvedic
medicine is a 5,000 year old traditional medical practice
of India. The word Ayurveda is derived from the combination
of two Sanskrit terms: ayu meaning "life",
and veda meaning "knowledge" or "science".
It uses a number if herbs to prevent hair loss. These
herbs include:
- Bhringaraj
(eclipta alba), which is believed to promote
new hair to grow, and reverse graying.
- Gotu kola (Centella asiatica), commonly
used to treat hair loss as well as to stimulate brain
cells - to improve memory and longevity.
- Tridax procumbens, amalaki, sandalwood (Santalum),
and licorice (Hlycyrrhiza glabra), all of which
may stimulate hair growth.
Tridax procumbens
Other
Herbal Remedies
Herbal
tea: Popular combinations comprise nettle tea,
sage and rosemarry. They are thought to improve blood
flow to the scalp.
Procyanidin
B-2: This is an extract of apple and has shown
in a laboratory study to promote hair growth.
Procyanidolic
oligomers (PCOs): This contained in extracts
from the French maritime pine bark and grape seeds.
One study show PCOs to have the effect of stimulating
hair growth.
Horsetail
extract: This herb is a natural source of cysteine,
selenium and silica, described on a separate web page.
Continue with
the following links for more detailed information on
nutrition, natural and alternative remedies to treat
hair loss.
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