A nutritious diet and good hair care routine are important for healthy hair. Hair growth for those suffering from hormonal hair loss can also be encouraged with natural herbal remedies in the home.
How to Have Healthy Hair
As well as eating a nutritious diet it is important to eliminate or cut down on smoking and avoid excessive caffeine and carbonated drinks. Get plenty of rest and sleep to allow the body to carry out necessary functions including growing hair. Read Hair Loss Solutions – A Diet for Healthy Locks for detailed information about dietary advice to boost hair growth.
Be gentle with hair and avoid any unnecessary brushing, combing (especially backcombing) or handling. A regular scalp massage helps provide stimulation to the hair follicles and hot oil treatments protect the hair shaft. Regular trims allow the hair to stay healthy looking by eliminating split ends. Try to avoid chemical treatments such as bleaching and relaxing and avoid using heated hair styling tools such as blow dryers and straighteners as they can cause damage to hair.
DHT in Hormonal Hair Loss
Male baldness is often inherited and loss of hair happens because of an excess of the chemical dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. Androgen is a hormone that plays a key role in both hair loss and hair growth. The metabolism of androgen involves an enzyme, the 5-alpha reductase and combines with testosterone to give DHT. People who lose more hair are genetically predisposed in producing more DHT than others. DHT causes the hair follicles to make weaker hair until they eventually stop completely. DHT is produced by both men and women but is more of a factor for hair loss in men as both androgen and testosterone are male hormones.
Benefits of Herbal Remedies
Herbal remedies can balance hormones, improve scalp health and aid hair regrowth by stimulating hair follicles. Before taking any herbal treatment for hair loss, seek advice from a medical professional especially when taking other medication because they can interfere with treatments and cause side effects. Here are some commonly used herbal remedies for hair growth:
Saw Palmetto to Treat Male Hair Loss
Saw palmetto is native to North America and where it is considered a natural herbal remedy for Benign prostatic hyperplasia. Saw palmetto is also used to treat androgenic alopecia, or male- and female-pattern baldness. Research is ongoing as to exactly how saw palmetto works though it's regarded that it may block an enzyme (5-alpha-reductase) from allowing the hormone testosterone from being converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is believed to be a factor in certain types of hair loss.
Saw Palmetto is an effective anti-androgen and could be an effective treatment for hair loss prevention, though women taking hormone therapy or oral contraceptives should not take Saw Palmetto. There have also been links between saw palmetto and severe bleeding so the herb should be avoided by anyone with bleeding disorders or taking medications such as aspirin or warfarin.
Stinging Nettle for Hair Growth
Stinging Nettle has long been used as a hair tonic to stimulate new hair growth and regain natural hair colour. Research indicates that nettle can prevent testosterone from converting to DHT (hormone responsible for male-pattern baldness). Nettle root extract contains chemicals that block the conversion of free testosterone into DHT and can be used as long as needed. A daily cup nettle tea may help reduce or prevent baldness.
Research suggests nettle root extract may work more effectively when combined with other herbs such as saw palmetto. Side effects of nettle include stomach irritation, difficult urination and bloating. Because nettle can alter the menstrual cycle, pregnant women should not use nettle. The herb should also not be used by anyone with kidney problems, due to nettles fluid retention properties.
Gotu Kola to Aid Healthy Hair
Gotu kola can support hair growth by increasing circulation and blood flow to the scalp. With adequate blood reaching the follicles, they are less likely to be killed by the effects of DHT. A study on alopecic rats showed that administration of gotu kola thickened the epidermis and restored thick hair growth.
The herb may be capable of healing baldness by stimulating hair follicles and also purifies the blood improving the growth and health of hair. Gotu kola should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Diabetics or anyone with high cholesterol should also avoid the herb as it can raise cholesterol levels.
Dong Quai for Female Hair Loss
Dong quai also blocks DHT and has phytoestrogens that prevent conversion of testosterone to DHT. Dong quai can be combined with agnus castus or nettle to create a natural formula to balance female hormone levels. The root of Dong quai has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, emollient, hepatic, laxative and sedative properties.
Dong quai has anticoagulant and anti-platelet effects and those with bleeding disorders or taking drugs that may increase the risk of bleeding should speak to a doctor before using dong quai. It is also advisable to not use Dong quai before any type of surgical procedure. Increased sun sensitivity may occur while using Dong quai, the risk can be minimised by avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Herbal remedies may help to balance hormones that can cause hair loss with fewer side effects compared to other treatments. Supplements promoting hair growth stimulate and nourish hair follicles and may contain saw palmetto, gotu kola, nettles as well as other vitamins, minerals and herbs. Read Natural Hair Loss Treatments and Prevention for natural topical remedies to aid hair growth.
Sources:
MedicalNewsToday.com. What is DHT? What is its role in Hair Loss? (accessed May 28, 2010).
Vukovic, Laurel, 1001 Natural Remedies, Dorling Kindersley, 2003
Priya Chauhan - A designer, topic editor and feature writer (for Hinduism) and all round experimenter of healthy living; Priya enjoys being creative, and ...
Join the Conversation