Natural Hair Loss Remedies

Many natural remedies for hair loss are quirky at best. Here we list only those natural hair loss remedies that have some scientific basis and proof behind them.

Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh (the most popular non-synthetic treatment in women for menopause in the world) has also been patented by the Germans as one of the natural remedies for hair loss. Its mechanism of action is not fully understood but it is known to cause oestrogen/progesterone receptors to bias in favour of oestrogen, thus increasing the amounts present in the male user. Oestrogen has a limited effect as an anti-androgen, but it is also responsible for the production of a soft layer of fat and thus a softening of the scalp. This may counteract the tightening effect of DHT thus allowing blood and nutrients to flow to the hair follicles more easily.

Green Tea

Green Tea as a natural hair loss remedy has been shown to reduce DHT levels by up to 50% as either a capsule or a beverage. Information about the amount of active ingredient in tea bags relative to capsules is hard to find but 3-5 cups a day is estimated to be the equivalent of 100% RDA of the capsules.

Caffeine

Caffeine has been identified as a stimulator of human hair growth in vitro, and reduced testosterone-induced follicle growth suppression. It has been demonstrated that the addition of caffeine to a shampoo-formulation is effective in administering caffeine to the hair follicles in the scalp. Further research must be done to evaluate the efficacy and adequate dosage of caffeine as a natural remedy for hair loss. A spray made with coffee beans is claimed to prevent age-related hair loss in women.

Diet and Lifestyle

Daily, vigorous aerobic exercise (as opposed to short workout periods designed to raise androgen levels and build muscle, or more sporadic exercise) and a diet which is adequate yet more moderate in terms of fat and total calorie intake have been shown to reduce baseline insulin levels as well as baseline total and free testosterone. Lower insulin levels and reduced stress both result in raised levels of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin which binds to testosterone, and prevents it from circulating free in the blood. Only free testosterone is converted to DHT. However, exercise has not been shown to statistically prevent hair loss.
There is little doubt however, that overall fitness contributes to healthy hair growth, except where Testosterone increasing exercises are in excess of the threshold for DHT antagonism of the hair folicles. Stress reduction can be helpful in slowing hair loss.

Scalp Massage

Another of the natural hair loss remedies is massage. A randomized clinical trial of patients with bald patches on their scalp or skin showed a daily scalp massage with essential oils to be a safe and effective treatment for hair loss resulting from alopecia areata, a condition in which damage to hair follicles is caused by the patient's own immune system.

Unsaturated fatty acids

Particular unsaturated fatty acids such as gamma linolenic acid are 5 alpha reductase inhibitors if taken internally. Consult your doctor before undertaking any of these natural hair loss remedies.

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