Scalp Infection Cures Questions

Updated: 06/20/2009

*Ted, an independent contributor, offers information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by Ted or by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

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ON AND OFF HAIR LOSS FOR OVER 20 YEARS

SCALP WITH BAD SMELL FOR PAST 6-7 YEARS

ICHY PATCHES FOR OVER 13 YEARS, ANTI FUNGALS NOT WORKING

SMELLY SCALP PROBLEM AFTER WEARING A HOCKEY HELMET

SCALP PROBLEMS FOR 11 YEARS

ATHLETE'S FOOT INFECTION ON SCALP

TED'S RECIPE FOR SCALP INFECTIONS

EXACT MEASUREMENTS NEEDED FOR TED'S REMEDIES

CAN'T FIND BORAX IN INDONESIA

ITCHY SCALP WITH LARGE SCALES AROUND HAIR LINE

BORAX QUESTION

INFECTION OR DEFICIENCY?

INJURY ON HEAD THAT ISN'T HEALING

DIDN'T READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY, NOW WHAT!

NEPHEW WITH SCALP SORES THAT AREN'T HEALING

SCALP FOLLICULITIS

WHITE COATING, BURNING, AND CRAVINGS

BALDING REMEDY CAUSING INFECTION

ITCHY AND FLAKY SCALP, COULD IT BE MITES?

EXTREMELY ITCHY SCALP, NOW HAS SPREAD TO EYEBROWS

REMEDY QUESTION FOR DRY AND ITCHY SCALP, MASS HAIR LOSS REPORTED

FOLLICULITIS ON THE SCALP

NEEDS EXACT MEASUREMENTS FOR TED'S REMEDIES

SCALP INFECTION CAUSING DRY SCALP AND HAIR LOSS IN ONE SPOT

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REAPPLY TED'S REMEDIES?

SCALP COVERED IN THICK SCAR TISSUE AFTER YEARS OF SCALP INFECTIONS

BOIL LIKE SORE ON SCALP

WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO TO USE FOR SCALP INFECTIONS

BALD PATCH WITH TENDER REGIONS THAT OOZE FROM PORES

HARD BUMPS THAT BECAME SOFT AND TENDER CYSTS

BAD ODOR COMING FROM SCALP

HAIR HAS NOT GROWN BACK AFTER SCALP INFECTION

SD AND HYPERTHYROIDISM

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE SCALP

20 YEAR OLD WITH HAIR LOSS, EXPERIENCING TINGLING ON SCALP

HAIR CHANGED AFTER SEMI-PERMANNENT HAIR DYE

ON AND OFF HAIR LOSS FOR OVER 20 YEARS
06/20/2009: Ruth from Hong Kong writes: "To Ted.hi I've been a frequent visitor to EC since i stumbled on it last month. It's all very helpful some remedies I hv personally tried such as the ACV which I finally found in CitySuper grocery in HK. I hv particularly been reading your replies to visitors like mo on this website & I think they are mostly cheap but very helpful indeed.

I hv my own personal problem that have been bugging me all these years n this is my hair. I hv on & off hair loss. I started having this problem since 1988 when my husband died that year, so the doctor said it was stress. I went to the extent of going to SVENSON hair clinic for some diagnosis but didn't work at all just spent roughly 25,000 just for a simple scalp analysis & some topical capsules to apply but nothing worked. Some said it was witch craft so I did visit a quack to do some trick, but didn't work either. He gave me some oil(they say it's coconut oil prayed over by the quack DR., to keep the bad spirit at bay-am not a believer of such so maybe it didn't work, but i did just in case it would work. I applied the oil but my scalp gets painful on the surface and the more hair falling, so I stopped. I remember, how it all started, my hair just turned browned & dry as if dyed & thinning by the day, so I had to hv my haircut military style. so it did became thin that i lost the interest to take photos with others, as I didn't look good at all. Then i came over to HK found some chinese medicines tried some of the pills the shampoos, the vitamins for hair,the aloe vera & etc..could remeber which concoction did work, then all of a sudden it stopped, but the new hair gowth was white hair. am only in my early 30's at the time so I did't want the thought of sporting gray hair at my age. Then I started buying those commercial dyes, i found they were too strong but still applied it, no choice. then the falling hair has come back again. Altho I still hv a full head of hair but not as thick as I have to take hair supplements/vitamins maybe it's giving the control in some way but the hair falling is still alarming everytime I wash my hair. I wash my hair everyday coz my scalp is too oily. and if the hair get too thin when i happened to be under the aircon just over my head, doesnt feel good at all. FYI, i hv stopped using commercial dyes instead I use Henna powder which gives me just one color deep red bec my hair is now 98%gray.am only in my early 40's.n hv to do the application every month,bec by then the gray has growm too noticeable. One thing I hv noticed early on since my hairloss is that those hair falling on the floor are literally dead on the roots. 1cm from the root became very thin, dry & brittle that if I pluck between my thumb it just breaks! I HV NO IDEA what's going inside me so I've tried to surf the net for some cure and I came across this site, amazing! I found some natural remedies which I hv yet tried as I just finished coloring my hair with henna, so I wl try the sage, rosemary. I tried your ACV, no result yet but I wl keep u posted when I see some improvements., but I want to know some answers why this happens to hair very dry & thin at the roots then eventually fall off, no wonder. why do u think so., and what should I do. I hv low hemoglobin count, could it be one reason, I read about the BSM formula but couldnt find BSM here in HK. I want to know where the problem lies. BAck in 1988 i had seen an endocrinologist, but evrything was normal.so where could it be? I always hv this sweaty oily scalp.thanks for ur most awaited reply, u can pls reply me on my email if u don't mind. I don't mind if u publish my problem sorry for the long litany, but if u could CC your reply to my email add. thanks a lot.Ruth, HK."

SCALP WITH BAD SMELL FOR PAST 6-7 YEARS
03/22/2009: FM writes: "Hello Ted

I wandered if you could help. I'm trying to find a cure for this scalp odour i have had for about 6-7 years. My scalp has a horrid yeasty smell coming from it. I have tried everything, Nizoral shampoo, tea tree oil, virgin coconut oil, black soap, neem oil, sulfar soap. All these are anti-fungal and anti bacterial. I am using Jason Dandruff Shampoo at the moment. This has helped, however if i stop using this it comes back again! The Jason Dandruff contains neem oil, tea tree and sulfar. It isn't the best smelling thing in the world either.

I know there are lots of people with this condition and the Doctors dont seem to recognise this problem. My dermatologist thought i was paranoid and so i thought id deal with it through the internet.

Im hoping you have a cure for this and of any other people who have had the same condition and have been cured. It would be wonderful to know of people who have been cured!!!

Kindest Regards"

03/23/2009: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear FM:

Fungus are relatively resistant to most products you mentioned except for one: ammonium compounds. The fomulation I used is to prepare a 5% solution of milk of magnesia, with 10-15% ammonium chloride (or ammonium bicarbonate) with 5% xylitol. This is applied on the head a couple of times for a couple of days. Is applied like a lotion, but no rinsing. Only rinsing the next day, then dry the hair. The milk of magnesia makes the solution alkaline, causing the ammonium compound to dissociate into free ammonium so they can do the killing and xylitol is only optional to kill the bacteria or prevent them from forming colonies. If this solutions stings, it's a confirmation that there's fungus present. After the second or third application the stings will no longer be there and most should die almost all after the third or application. A tougher case may require it be applied twice a day without immediate rinse and for at least two weeks. Actually shampoo companies hold a trump card by avoiding the use of ammonium chloride, but they use instead sodium chloride as a thickening agent which if they had done so, millions wouldn't suffer from fungus issue of the head or hair loss from fungus. Unfortunately, ammonium chloride is not used because it simply don't smell nice. I believe a lot of hair loss problem is the fungus and I am currently investigating whether tin deficiency is the other one. What I can say is molybdenum (sodium molybdate) if added in a hair rinse may helped fungus too, but ammonium chloride or ammonium bicarbonate are much easier to find and a lot cheaper. The reason I mentioned molybdenum, or even tin is that if a person is deficient in them, they may make the scalp susceptible to fungus also.

Since I am only one posting this, it helps if more people post feedback for this remedy.

Ted"

ICHY PATCHES FOR OVER 13 YEARS, ANTI FUNGALS NOT WORKING
03/16/2009: Tom from Nairobi writes: "Hi Ted,

I have been suffering from whittish itching patches which come to my scalp whenever the hair grow for over 13 years. I have been to different dematologist prescribing different antifungal but nothing has worked. I have even taken strong antifungal tablets for 2 months but no change. Now the itching white patches come on the scalp when the hair grow i have to cut my hair weekly and apply antifungal cream to controll them and the circle continues. Any anti fungal lotion that you apply will make them disappear after 3 days but when the hair grow they come back. please may you help if i can cure them completely and what are they.

Kindly.
TOM"

03/16/2009: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Tom:

A whitish patch is a fairly resistant fungus. My recent experiments over a couple of weeks, a good antifungal lotions that's applied is a 10% ammonium chloride solution of the head applied a couple of times a day. It should sting temporarily which should go away in minutes is my inidicator that it's a fungus. The solution can be made stronger with some milk of magnesia added, but only if there was a bacteria or pus present. A hydrogen peroxide solution is harder to use on the scalp as its effect in killing fungus isn't as long lasting as a ammonium chloride solution. In recent research, it was found that the free ammonia that kills the fungus most effectively but most commercial product concentrate on quaternary ammonium and other complicated chemicals, which still have the same results because a simple ammonium chloride can't be patented. I make my own shampoo where the thickening agents in a a shampoo is ammonium chloride as opposed to sodium chloride (salt). Ammonium chloride might be available in some drug stores as a white powder form. Borax mixed with ammonium chorides helps a bit in killing off the fungus, although it's going to take awhile, such as a month at least to kill the fungus. And if its still tehre after two weeks (itchy), then a milk of magnesia (8% magnesium hydroxide, no aluminum) and pure xylitol powder added to the solution at 5-10% should further help kill the rest of the bacteria and fungus that's present in the scalp. It also helps that 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day may also help circulation of ths scalp and baking soda also have some weak antifungal properties when it's taken internally. There are other more effective remedies than this, I would try the simplest first.

Ted"

SMELLY SCALP PROBLEM AFTER WEARING A HOCKEY HELMET
03/03/2009: Anonymous writes: "Dear Ted, I've been suffering from a Smelly Scalp problem for about 1.5 years now. It started when I began playing hockey (with my helmet) and now, I have a stinky smell coming from my scalp every day, even after I take a shower. It smells like smelly hockey equipment, or really bad body odour. I've seen a few doctors about this but they haven't been able to help. They've prescribed tea tree oil shampoo, selsin blue, nizoral, head and shoulders shampoo but nothing has worked. The odd thing is that the scalp looks healthy, but it just smells, so this posting doesn't match what I'm looking for:

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/scalp_infections_questions.html#Question_1916

However, someone in this posting suggested virgin coconut oil. What do you recommend? I would welcome your help... I'm getting so desperate. And there's so many people out there looking for a cure as well, but can't find it:

http://www.hairsite.com/female-hair-loss/forum.php?category=18

Thanks"

03/04/2009: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Anonymous:

This depends on what kind of smell we're talking about. Certain bacteria and fungus has a distinct smell. For example a sulfur smells are sulfur producing bacteria. A green musky smell is a fungus. A really strange body odor of some sort is heavy metal which causes certain oils in the body to go bad. Certain bacteria can also produce different odor like a rotting flesh.

The remedy for each of the smell is somewhat different.

For example if it's a rotting flesh. I will use milk of magnesia applied to the scalp for a couple of minutes then rinse. The solution may cause the scalp to dry more quickly so a coconut oil might be used to help protect against drying.

A green musky odor can be helped with a saturated borax in 0.5% hydrogen peroxide solution to apply for the head for a couple of minutes.

A sulfur smell may require a weak potassium permanganate solution such as 1: 10000 dilutions. For application.

A coconut is used in cases of a viral kind which is how it works and by preventing drying. Certain kinds of pathogens causes drying (as in fungus) and coconut oil seem to disourage that.

In certain woman with hormonal problems the smell of the scalp come from that sort of imbalance so either a neem oil and/or borax solution may help that, to an extent.

A person with a deficiency in copper may have a characteristic fungus green smell as lack of copper encourages fungus growth

A really bad body odor could cause really bad smell from free heavy metals. So a chlorella supplements such as 250 mg twice to three times a day will remove them slowly over a course of a month.

It should be noted that most shampoos uses sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate and other similar surfactants. Those tend to encourage fungal growth and hence may not help with the smell. Most shampoo uses salt or sodium chloride as a thickening agents, but ideally they should have used ammonium chloride as they have antifungal properties. The reason why they don't have it is because it has a weak ammonia smells which most consumers do not like. People tend to buy on look and feel as opposed to functionality and ingredient and it's causing problems with hair loss too. To reduce fungus, I think if there is a copper deficiency (from hair mineral analysis) for example supplementing them may slowly removed them.

In another instances a deficiency of minerals and acidity of the scalp can also cause a smell too. Getting hair mineral analysis to find the deficiency and excess heavy metals is another way to do it also.

There are stronger solutions I used, that works, such as ammonium chloride solutions, copper peptide, very weak copper chloride solutions apply directly to scalp, etc. But those require much longer detailed posting then time would have allowed me to do so.

In any event bacteria or a fungus cannot survive two extremes of the pH, namely alkaline or acidity. Since acidity were assumed to be tried with the vinegar, a more alkaline solutions using magnesium hydroxide solution as a hair rinse ia nother possibility to get rid of it, only that it needs to stay a couple of minutes to do the killing or a bit longer. In another case, i had a friend with other conditions of the scalp where tea tree oil was applied overnight to kill a sort of nasty infection where the longer the tea tree oil stayed the more it killed, but only slowly. Bacteria, fungus sometimes do not kill the instant the contact. In microbiology a simple tissue culture can require at least between 30 minutes to 2 hours time to kill almost the entire colonies of bacteria.

Ted"

03/09/2009: Anonymous replies, "Hi Ted,

Thank you so much for responding back. I really appreciate your help!

As for the smell, it's more like a really strange body odor or a musky smell.... it's definitely not rotting flesh yet.

As for your recommendations:
A green musky odor can be helped with a saturated borax in 0.5% hydrogen
peroxide solution to apply for the head for a couple of minutes.

So you're saying to saturate borax powder with .5% hydrogen peroxide so it becomes sort of like a paste? How long should I do this for?

As for the Chlorella supplements, I will try that immediately.

Lastly, how do you get a hair mineral analysis?

Regards and thanks once again"

03/09/2009: Ted replies, "If it is a musky kind. I would try a 10-30% ammonium chloride solution and apply on the scalp, for a 10 minutes then rinse. Or a weaker solution amminium chloride 10 % apply thinly on the scap then leave it on, but still applied twice a day. If it stings, then it is a confirmed fungus. The problems should be gone within a couple of days of minimum two times a day application.

A more agressive solution where there is some bacteria and fungus would require some milk of magnesia solution, say a tablepoon per glass with 10% ammonium chloride solution plus 2 tablespoon of pure xylitol powder then use that to apply twice a day thinkly on the area. Again it takes a couple of days to get that gone away if it was a correct assessment.

It's a matter of trial and error, as to which is which.

Ted"

SCALP PROBLEMS FOR 11 YEARS
03/02/2009: Anonymous writes: "Hey Ted, I started having scalp problems when I was 15 years old. I had nasty pustules on my scalp along with a itchy and flaky beard by the time I hit 18. Even my eyebrows were itchy with dandruff. The doctors didn't do much but give me pills that didnt work. I am 26 years old now. I read a few of your posts on Earth Clinic several months ago and tried the ACV & H202 and I also tried the tea tree oil and lavendar oil recipe. I haven't seen my hair look this good since it started thinning and falling out. My scalp looks 60% better now. I seen hair growing in places where it use to be really thin. Now it seems like my hair is at a stand still. Sometimes it looks a tad bit worst. Maybe it is something that I am eating, something extra I need to take, or both. I know it wants to keep growing I just need to figure out what's keeping it from getting over the hump. By the way, the skin on the side of my nose gets dry and cracky sometimes and that's when i notice my hair getting a little worst. Maybe the two are linked??? I have had people make fun of my hair and point it out in public hundreds of times. It really hurted my feelings but it made me become a stronger and more considerate person towards other people's flaws. But you know how the saying goes... we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. I just want to say thanks. Thank you for your advice. You really don't know how much it has helped me. You are the hope that I was looking for. Can't wait to hear from you!"

03/16/2009: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Most scalp and dandruff issue is often a fungus problem. Different remedies will act on different kinds of fungus, therein lies one problem. The other problem is nutrition and that's a challenge. Most shampoo companies, in attempt to make them smell nice, look nice, feel right resort to some tactic that can result in hair loss, even if they ARE very expensive shampoo. One key thickening agent used by shampoo companies is Sodium Chloride, which is actually salt. That's why shampoo stings the eyes and not the laundry detergent! Salt is not a very good agent in killing off fungus and caused itchy scalped. Another thickening agent not populariy used as a thickening but have powerful fungicide properties, but smells bad (weak ammonia smells) is the ammonium chloride to be used instead. Since I make my own shampoo, for obvious reasons, I used ammonium chloride as a thickening agent instead. Now there is one more very powerful antifungal agent which is a 10% ammonium chloride solution applied to the scalp without rinsing but applied lightly. One rough way to determine whether fungus is presence is whenever this is applied to a fungal infested scalp, there is a stinging sensation, in most cases anyway, with exception of skin discolaration, which may ore may not sting. If ammonium chloride could not be located there is another one, ammonium bicarbonate, although the ammonia smell is much more stronger.

As to what is preventing the growth, well if there is still a presence of pustules, a well shaken solution of Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide 8% without the aluminum) is applied to the area of pustules, if any and then covered up with light vaseline to help healing.

In any event, I would try to improve my scalp condition further with drinking twice a day 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda plus (if possible) 1/4 teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate in 1/2 glass of water twice a day. The more alkalize body will cause the body to expell out more carbon dioxide, but also helped increase the body's oxygen. A dilated capillaries of the scalped is influenced by the degree of alkalization. The more alkalized will dilate them, helping circulation of the scalped and hydration, which should support hair growth from improved circulation. But improved circulation and oxygenation is nothing without proper nutrients. Certain nutrients such as vitamin B complex once a week, usually B50, but a biotin such as 100 mcg and eating liquid egg yolks also help hair growth as egg yoks has both lecithin and biothin, but without any white eggs, which is an antinutrients. Some oatmeal taken now and then can also increase silicon levels. Inositol B8 and pantothenic acid vitamin B5 500 mg each also help support hair growth. Some copper and vitamin C sodium ascorbate also further help hair growth, and chromium also lower blood sugar ad will support hair growth further. Two things that seem to influence hair growth is sleep and stress. Getting good sleep and reducing stress is one say and magnesium may help reduce stress in a way as is providing the nutrients. It's is also common in Western countries that tin is low in diets which also influences hair loss. Asians don't have predominantly hair loss because of tin is high in their diets. Usually eating foods high in tin may also help. One common food is beef liver, partially cooked, may have most of the nutrients required. A black strap mollasses has high copper and manganese is also beneficial to hair growth too. Oatmeal and horsetails are high in silicon which is essential for hair growth too. That I noticed within two weeks my hair grew faster from silicon rich supplements. With more plastic pipes being used, I found I ended up taking copper supplement whereas before I had not problem as the bad faucent provided plenty of copper, but it also added heavy metals, which is not healthy either. Boron supplements sometime help through normalizing body's hormones. The reason why chemotherapy caused hair loss is it suppreses the body's growth hormone resulting in hair loss. It is also true with stress and lack of sleep. So hence, melatonin to help sleep, and citrulline to help nitric oxide production which occurs during sleep may restore some of the things missing from lost sleep and may help increase growth hormone with the addtion of other amino acid, such as arginine, ornithine, and niacinamide, taken during the night.

The most important remedies appear to be alkalization, plenty of rest, redued stress, and perhaps applying ammonium chloride solution to kill the remaining fungus. Blood sugar control may enable the hair to growh where pathogens aren't fueled by excess growth from high blood sugar, through addition of lecithin, chromium, and manganese.

Ted"

ATHLETE'S FOOT INFECTION ON SCALP
11/15/2008: Arsalan from Karachi, Pakistan writes: "This is Arsalan from Karachi Pakistan i m suffering from athlete foor on my scalp since one year and seems it has gone very acute itchy and painfull scaling, dead skin coming out of scalp when i comb tryied diffrent medicine but it dont seems like working so what shall i do for it? i have already lost plenty of hairs and dont wanna loose more please post me the remedy for hair regrowing as wel along with the athlete foot one i dont have tea tree available here pakistan got plenty of garlic and vinegar but vinegar is very powerful to be used on scalp so want any other remedy oregano oil is not here as well please write me the right one to use thanks a lot M arsala n karachi"

TED'S RECIPE FOR SCALP INFECTIONS
05/24/2008: Gene from Gatineau, QC, Canada writes: "Hi, I've been plagued by scalp infections for years (itchy, scales, redness, etc.) and tried Ted's recipe:

Recipe using Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide:
Dilute them by 1:10:
1 part ACV,
1 part Hydrogen Peroxide
with 10 parts water.

Being that I keep my hair is very short (1/4 to 1/2 inch), I find that this solution too watery and it has a tendency to run down my face and neck.

I was wondering if the water could be substituted for Baby shampoo, being that it's ph is neutral and this would make it more like a "conventional" shampoo. Also, I wonder if Sodium Bicarb could be added to help get rid of the yeast-like infection.

Thanks, Gene."

EXACT MEASUREMENTS NEEDED FOR TED'S REMEDIES
05/14/2008: Shonda from Fort Worth, Texas writes: "Scalp Infections: Ted, I wanted to know exactly how much of the acv & hydrogen peroxide to use? Also, in your response to Lisa on how to treat the infection so that it does not come back, you mentioned several things to take..How often should someone take these and how much? Please assist..I have some major scalp issues similar to the one that Lisa posted and I need to get this treated ASAP. Thanks a million!"

CAN'T FIND BORAX IN INDONESIA
05/04/2008: C. D. from Indonesia writes: "Ted, I read yr beautiful insights @ the earthclinic.com. Right now im suffering from scalp problems. I used to have beautiful hair, but right now i got quite hair loss, dandruff, itchy scalp, and smelly odor, plus i got pimples sort of. Ive been trying diff shampoos and everythin. but nothin seems to help me. ive been wasting lot of money on this. i even tried baking soda for washing hair, but it didnt help me much also. right now im trying to find borax powder on the net, since i live in indonesia and i couldnt find any here (since borax is know as a food preservative and banned from indonesia). and ive already checked some site like mountainroseherbs and some more, but the shipping costs is just killing me. Can you recommend some sites where im able to buy it with reasonable shipping costs? or should i buy it from you? thx a lot. im so desperate and hoping that you could help me..thx"

01/06/2009: CN from Albuquerque, NM replies: "This is for C.D. in Indonesia. Silversmiths in Bali use pure Borax crystals for flux when they solder. It is usually in a crystalline form, sometimes in powder. You can buy it inexpensively at a jeweler supply store in Celuk in Bali, or Kota Gede in Yogyakarta. I don't know Jakarta, but there must be somewhere there. Sorry, I cannot remember the exact name in Indonesian. Hope this helps."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "The food you are eating might be acid forming. I would try avoiding acid forming foods, such as tomatoes, white flour, white bread, aspartame, sugar free foods, sugar, glucose, corn syrup, all fruits, mushrooms, cheese, milk, and peppermint found in toothpaste.

Secondly I would try to take baking soda such as 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water three times a day, whey protein 4 tablespoon once in the morning, and drink some soy milk since it is rich in manganese.

People with low protein intake, high fat, high sugar, high vegetable oils may have scalp problems. The blood urea are anti-fungal, but they are low and cannot properly utilize the proteins if the bicarbonate level in the body is low and protein levels are also low, and it doesn't help if sugar intake are high. Some once a week evening primrose oil, and fish oil would increase the immune system.

A simple solution that might be easier to find that is anti-fungal substitute for borax might be a 2-5% solution of ammonium chloride, or ammonium bicarbonate that might be available in a drug store or shops that sells plant. Those are use as an external solution. If mixed with 5% milk of magnesia it works better, may cause some stinging but it kills the fungus relatively quickly.

I believe that avoiding certain foods and baking soda, plus a substitute of borax using an ammonium compound might be a more practical solution for you and you save money too. Taking daily multivitamins and minerals are also helpful, but the most important remedy appears to be whey protein taken in the morning plus baking soda. 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in one liter of drinking water should be drank instead of sea salt free water, which lowers the body's immune system from lack of trace micro-minerals and key electrolytes."

ITCHY SCALP WITH LARGE SCALES AROUND HAIR LINE
04/10/2008: Annie writes: "I have read most of your Q&A, however not real clear, let me tell you about me and perhaps you will suggest a few things My scalp is itchy sometimes, but really large scales especially around the hair line, it is really thick or plentiful in the front. I can shampoo my hair and two days later the scales are thick to notice. I would like to heal from the inside out rather than just bandaid the outside. I wash my hair every three days sometimes more often, I am african american Looking forward to your answer."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Annie: Most of the itching is very much due to a fungus issue. Very often, at least for me, supplements are not available and avoiding certain foods that should be avoided are: acid forming food (read meats, soda, aspartame), fluoridated and chlorinated water, peanuts, cheese, white bread, mushrooms, potatoes, peppermint (found in chewing gum and toothpaste), wheat products and fruits. The grain that is best replaced is instead of white bread, brown rice is substituted instead. Sugar spikes after eating are quite common which after eating itching increases.

To prevent sugar spikes after eating, drinking double the amount of water for example will decrease the sugar spike in half and reduce the itchiness since water will dilute the effect of sugar spikes. A couple of anti fungal supplements I have found are three things, baking soda, borax, and molybdenum. The baking soda is the simplest ways to alkalize the body which is usually 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day.

A borax remedy can be taken once or twice a week at 1/8 teaspoon of borax in a one liter drinking water. The sodium molybdate are generally difficult to find at the dose I prefer, which is generally a low dose of 25 mg. But most commercial molybdenum is often mcg. So whatever is available I might take a couple of times a day.

A more effective alkalizing remedy is 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/4 teaspoon of sodium carbonate (washing soda) is called by scientists as a carbicarb remedy, which reduces CO2 pressure in hard to reach areas such as the scalp. Hence alkalizing is a more thorough with this remedy. Vitamin C sodium ascorbate, 1000 mg and manganese sulfate 25 mg also help reduce the itchiness. However, my experience in reducing most of the itchiness appears to be the borax, baking soda and sodum molybdate (molybdenum). Magnesium gluconate at 500 mg also help in reducing negative effects of excess calcium."

BORAX QUESTION
03/14/2008: JT writes: "Hi Ted, I have been reading some of your cures for fungus of the scalp. My scalp is sore, itcy, smelly, hair loss, and red pimples.' You reccommed borax, how do i take it, eat it or apply it to my scalp and in what quantities? I have never heard of anything called borax, where can i get it from?"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Borax is 20 mule team borax. About 2 tablespoons of borax dissolved in a 1 liter of water and unrinsed and left overnight. Borax is antifungal. Staying away from sugar and white bread are the major issues, and also cola which seems to support fungus growth. Aspartame and diet colas make the condition much worse.
If taken internally its done only a couple of days a week such as 3 to 5 days of 1/8 (woman's dose) borax in one liter of drinking water.

Alkalizing the body is critical and there's two remedies I used, one a simple one the other is a more effective one:

1. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day

But a more effective on is this one

2. 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/4 teaspoon of sodium carbonate (washing soda) in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day.

Most 20 mule team borax are sold in supermarkets as are Arm and Hammer's baking soda and washing soda.

A vitamin C sodium ascorbate 1000 mg a day is also anti fungal too, but to a lesser extent than a borax remedy."

INFECTION OR DEFICIENCY?
12/24/2007: M writes: "Hi Ted Back in the summer I begin to notice that the top of my head looked like it was sun burned. It felt sore and sensitive. I frequently had small blisters to come up. So I tried to start wearing a hat anytime I was going to be in the sun. Well, I noticed that even though I would protect my scalp from the sun it still would be really red and sore. I also could tell that I was losing hair. I have tried different medicated shampoos that didn't help. So I got really worried about it and went to the Dr. He didn't seem to be concerned about it. Needless to say, six months later I am still having the same problem. I read all the letters on the website and I think maybe that I have Folliculitus. I will try the Borax, Hydrogen Peroxide and vinegar solution to see if it helps. Where do I get the Borax? At a drug store, or can I get it at Wal-Mart? Do I need to stop using hair spray until I get this under control? Should I use the tea tree oil and lavender combination? Thank you, I was so relieved to find the website. I was really getting worried about this problem. Something like this can affect you health in other ways to. It has made me be very anxious because it hurts and you are just aware that something is not right. I am eager to try these remedies. Thanks again"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "
Dear Marlene:' If I were in the States, I will probably obtained a 20 Mule Team Borax used a saturated dissolved in 1% hydrogen peroxide first to be used as shampoo. It is to be shampooed everyday, at least for the first 5 days, thereafter it can be spaced out.

While I don't have the necessary proper diagnostic medical equipment to look at individual cases, it is tough answering these email. However, there are certain patterns that can help the condition, which quite often is a deficiency:

1. Manganese sulfate or manganese gluconate between 25-50 mg for 5 days out of a week, on an empty stomach. If it is in tablet form, needs to be chewed or grounded otherwise it won't reach into the system. Manganese is frequent problem with people with hair loss.

2. Zinc gluconate, 50 mg twice a week, such as Mondays and Thursdays. Again the tablet form should be chewed or grounded, mixed in water. Zinc is frequently deficient in people with hair loss.

3. 2 tablespoon of lemon juice plus 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water twice a day. By alkalizing it helps a lot. But in more severe form I have found using 2 tablespoon of lemon juice plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water to be more effective, if the condition present itself as a lupus, where it spreads to the face. The alkaline remedy is to help the microcirculation allowing hair to grow.

4. Vitamin D2 or D3, 20,000 i.u. if possible is what I take for about 5 days out of a week, for only about a month or two. Vitamin D is needed to raise the immune system. If vitamin D is not obtainable, cod liver will do, but it requires many softgels to get sufficient vitamin D.

5. Magnesium citrate 500 mg/day I find it important to take it 4 or 5 days out of a week for about two months. The magnesium is needed to detox the body, but also control that the blood serum does not have excessive calcium since for the body to properly utilize the calcium, you need twice more magnesium, otherwise the calcium clogs up the microcirculation.

6. Iodine supplements. I have some reported hair growth as a result of using iodine foot painting three days out of a week, that means more like every two days, or just use the kelp supplements taken about in the same interval of every other two days. A colorless iodine applied to the scalp may help some.

Not every case of hair loss can be resolved but in event of an inflammation, or a minor condition application of either lavender oil or tea tree oil might help kill the microbes, but I prefer to use this later, assuming the sore is not open, and the successes of the mentioned remedy were not working that well.

An important tip that may help the scalp condition rather quickly from at least an inflammed scalp that I have found to work miracles, but magnesium supplements is STILL needed along with basic ALKALINE remedy, is the use of a well shaken bottle of milk of magnesia (without aluminum!) applied to the scalp overnight, then wash. This simpler remedy doesn't require the elaborate borax and peroxide mixture and if it works, after about a 5 days, that might do the job too."

INJURY ON HEAD THAT ISN'T HEALING
11/11/2007: Jennifer from Wittmann, Arizona writes: "Hi, I'm 24 years old and I don't quite uderstand if my question has already been answered. I'm sure what I have is what everyone has mentioned. For almost three years I lived in Minnesota and recently moved back to my home town in Arizona. End of March begining of April of 2007, before i moved home. I was working in a restaurant and went back to help get caught up on the dishes. Well, I hit my head on the rack above a couple times. The spot where I bumped my head started to build up a scab. I did pick off the scab. Two weeks later I then moved to Arizona and now I still keep getting a reacurring scab and still wanting to pick it off. At one point it was very red and sore and smelled. I quit using hairspray for a while, but couldn't deal with my hair not staying in it's place. Started using gel instead. Still having the sore scab over. I try to keep my hair done as much as possible, but when I'm at work, I need to have it up. I also quit using a shampoo for color treated or permed hair and now using a head and shoulders for dermatitis. Doesn't seem to be helping. I have used peroxide and all that does is dry out the scab and make it very itchy. Then i have put a triple anti-biotic ointment and that just stays in my hair and doesn't wash out easy. Also, this head and shoulders shampoo doesn't smell very nice and I would like to go back to using Ganier Fruitise. I have never had dandruff or dermatitis before in my life. I am at wits end. Please can you help me. Thank-you Jennifer"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Some people who have skin peeling, drying and scabs being formed was due to a skin condition that cannot properly heal itself from certain lack of supplements.

One thing that has helped me was to use natural vitamin E plus, some aloe vera oil and some vitamin A applied thinly to the area, and also take it internally some daily vitamin A and vitamin E dose. I would also take some fish oil, cod liver oil, omega 3 and especially evening primrose oil, which can be taken about twice or three times a week, where these supplements are often between 1000-3000 mg. I might also take some vitamin C sodium ascorbate 500-1000 mg a day for only 5 days out of a week.

Usually it is the vitamin E and some aloe vera oil mixed togher with some vitamin E that seems to helped. However, this should be applied ONLY once every three days, and not every day, otherwise it may cause a skin breakout, if they are applied too much.

Arizona has a lot of sun, the last time I visited and the body seems to need more vitamin E, aloe vera and C than usual, otherwise the skin just keeps drying or scabs somtime form and this is why an antioxidant is needed so the skin cells don't get killed easily, if the body has sufficient antioxidant, while aloe helps some skin regeneration."

DIDN'T READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY, NOW WHAT!
11/11/2007: Sunny from Houston, Texas writes: "Dear Ted, I sent you an e-mail a while ago, and you answered, thank you. Regarding putting acv and hydrogen peroxide on my head and not following your recipe, but impulsively, putting 1 part h20 to 1 part hydrogen peroxide, and 1 part acv to 1 part h20. I saturated my head completely with this stuff and left it there for 24 hours. I think I gave myself a very good scalp burn. It has been almost 8 weeks, and I have lost about 3/4 of my hair! Is there any way to remedy the damage I have caused? I am thinking I am going to lose all of my hair since most of it is already gone. Will it grow back? And do you have any ideas to help heal the scalp? "

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "To help regeneration of the scalp, some commercial aloe vera oil added in the topical gel applied to the head may help, at least for the burns, and aid healing. Certain supplements that I knew to help with hair growth includes biotin, sodium ascorbate vitamin C 1000 mg, weekly or twice weekly dose of evening primrose oil, and vitamin A and perhaps some gingko supplements for the microcirculation. A scalp massage to help with circulation is helpful. Asiatic pennywort (Thai is called bua bok) is a herbal drink that may aid some regeneration of damaged skin, but I don't know if that's available in U.S.

A lemon juice 2 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day would help the body normalize some excess acidity issues and should further help with the microcirculation."

DIDN'T READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY, NOW WHAT!
11/06/2007: Sunny from Houston, Texas writes: "Dear Ted, I was reading Earth Clinic about 6 weeks ago. I had an itchy scalp, and a little hair loss. I read about your h2o/acv cure and did not read the exact instructions. I did not take the time to find them. I mixed 1/2 acv and 1/2 water, and put it on my head (saturated) then I mixed 1/2 h2o and 1/2 water and put that on my head. I left it in for 24 hours without rinsing it. then I realized I made a big mistake. My scalp got really tight,and my scalp has been really hurting me. I am loosing so much hair, about 1/2 or more of my hair has fallen out. I just rub my fingers through it and tons fall out. My part is getting bigger and bigger. Very, thinning hair. Now I have a red cut, or lesion on my head. I Am afraid it will turn to folliculitus,and do not how to treat it without causing more damage. What can I do? I can't beleive I did this without reading the instructions. I am very ADD, and just jumped without thinking. Please help!"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Try a much gentler remedy of saturated solution of borax and leave it overnight. Some supplements of manganese sulfate taken daily may help with the hair loss. Zinc gluconate may be important, so I think 50 mg taken for a couple days out of a week may help. In the meantime, capillary circulation is important, in which 2 tablespoon of lemon juice or lime juice plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water is taken twice a day. This should help increase capillary circulation. A vitamin C sodium ascorbate 1000 mg x 2 times a day is another one. The most important point here is to stop the hair loss first."

NEPHEW WITH SCALP SORES THAT AREN'T HEALING
10/30/2007: NN from Sacramento,Ca writes: "Dear Ted, First, I would like to say thank you for your insight when even doctors here in the US either don't accuratelyhelp or choose to be part of the percentage that rather you spend money you don't have for so many medications that don't seem to work for an issue that so many people are fighting to get rid of. The doctors aren't for sure what it is. Second, my 6 year old nephew, whom is African American, has been dealing with a scalp infection for at least 5 months now. We noticed a rash type something on the scalp after receiving a routine hair cut. The problem is that he gets these open blisters/sores all over his scalp that don't seem to want to heal, they would bleed and drain, even with medication prescribed by his doctor. (The medicine is E.E.S 200mg/5ml Susp. for Erythromycin Es) it didn't heal. Also, the areas are red and then would form bumps/knots on the scalp that become tender-these leave and resurface. The areas also began losing hair in round patches. The infection is very itchy and painful to the touch.

After finding Earthclinic site and immediately went to go buy the items at the VitaminShoppe, I gave my sister your ACV/Peroxide and TeaTree/Lavender Oil Recipes and told her to trust in me as well as my believing in you and the responders use/testimonies. We had to do something to help my nephew because he was in pain. Oh my God, we saw within the first treatment a positive change...The sores/blisters closed and my nephew stated his head felt better and it didn't sting. I'm writing because we have been giving him the treatments now for almost a month and a half and the infection is still present. The areas form dry/crusty patches that still itch alittle. The dry patches don't completely heal to healthy skin. Also, I noticed new blisters forming again, before compete recover of the old blister/sores that turned into the dry crusty patches and he still gets bumps on the scalp that hurt. Is there anything else you can recommend to help heal his condition? How can we heal the blisters that form into dry patches? What are the bumps/knots that appear? Please...I'm scare my nephew will be dealing with this for the rest of his young childhood and into adulthood. Please, I hope you can answer my email as soon as possible. We are at a loss and the doctors are no help what so ever. "

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear NN: I am happy to hear of your appreciation for my work! Not many where I live do!

The doctors are baffled because they are not trained to deal with treating the cause. I have read many of their medical books, it is basically all about antibiotic without any respect to nutritional and abnormal body chemistry that lowers the body's immune system. An experienced naturopath might think those medical books looked more like sales literature for big pharma drugs.

The skin cannot heal for a couple of reasons. One is the acidosis condition. Second is certain essential oils are imbalanced and third immunity is suppressed leading to the mentioned condition. At least those are the common reason I have experienced and the remedy that has worked well for me.

My initial posting of ACV and peroxide and other local and topical treatment was basically a quick and easy remedy where the conditions are NOT chronic.

A chronic condition such as your I would require deeper changes in the body's system to fight off the problem. The remedy to allow healing, is to first take some remedy, that will help the body alkalize to reduce the pus, at the very least, and raise the body's immune system.

Assuming a child of 1/2 weight of a small adult of 100 pounds, the dose of a lemon and baking soda is only 1/2 half of the dose on a per weight basis.

In which case I would assume just one tablespoon of lemon plus 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water. Since the condition appears to be chronic, I might consider three times a day, preferably on an empty stomach or one hour or more before meal. This should be sufficient to raise the alkalinity. After the first bowel movement, the pus should stop. That's how the body works. The toxins of the intestines needs to be rid of so that the body could further detoxify. Some laxative now and then works too but should be done sometime(such as milk of magnesia) and some turmeric applied topically is a possibility if it is not healing properly.

The second requires balancing of essential oils, in particular evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, omega 3 oils, and plenty of cod liver oil. Most dark skinned people living in colder climates need more vitamin D, from cod liver oil or direct vitamin D3 supplements. Although a vitamin K2 or Natto (Japanese fermentation product of soy) can be quite synergistic to the healing of the condition. Those I might take around 250-500 mg every two or three days. I try to avoid everyday since the body needs a phase where it needs to sort things out for many reasons. Finally some vitamin C sodium ascorbate can further help too, taking at 250 mg is what I would probably take if I'm 1/2 the weight of an adult! It is also important that 200 i.u. of vitamin is needed perhaps every other day for the body to have some antioxidant so the body can heal better.

Finally certain foods may aid in healing, especially the aloe vera drinks, preferably without sugar if at all possible. Otherwise you are going to have to dilute them with 5 times the amount of water, so that the sugar, white bread, and fried foods won't suppress his system. Certain long term antibiotics, which means taken longer than a week, causes the body to accumulate heavy metals, in which case eating some coriander, just a small amount, L-Carnosine may help too.

It takes about two weeks to notice the reduction, but the effect of alkalization is most critical towards the recovery, especially if the urinary pH is below 5.5. The preferred urinary pH with sufficient alkalization should be 7.0 for the body to heal. However, in condition where the pus and the skin bleeds, quite often the urinary pH is between 5.0 to 5.5, which is quite acid, causing the body to be a fertile grounds for bacteria to take residence on the body. In the case of an acidosis, getting rid of the problem is useless with an antibiotic - at least that's my experience.

If all doesn't go as well as it should, considering using some borax as a milder soap for taking a bath. It helps reduce some fungus that might be the other cause. "

SCALP FOLLICULITIS
09/19/2007: B writes: "Hello Ted,I have tried everything to rid my scalp condition and now am looking for a natural way to cure myself. I was diagnosed with scalp folliculitis when i was18 (now 23). I get painful pustular lumps up to a cm in diameter that crust over on my scalp and only on my scalp. I have been to every dermatologist and an allergist to try and rid this. I have taken every antibiotic and am on clindamycin now. The thing is that it subsides when on antibiotics and returns as soon as i complete them. I am to the point to where i think it is something internally wrong with me that is causing this reaction. Could it be cancer? Could it be another disease that is using this as a warning sign? I have tried going all natural food for a month and nothing really changed. I know this is hard for you to diagnose but i dont know where else to turn. I will try anything because the docs just say more antibiotics and it just feels like the are poisoning me! Have you heard of anything like this before? I have included a picture even though it is not very good. You will have to zoom in greatly. If you would like any additional information please just email me back but any advice you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Brad:Whenever a pus exists, it is often a bacteria, and Ihave found the pus to reduce rather quickly ifsufficient baking soda was taken to get urinary pH of7. Most men's dose I have seen to work fairly well is1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water onan empty stomach, taken twice a day. If effectivelygetting a laxative, the pus would reduce quite quicklyonly after going to the toilet. I appears to be thatthe body's microbial overload is high, causing such aproblem. There was one case of a man that had pusstreaming from the head, literally in streams. As anemergency, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoonof sea salt in 1/2 glass of water were used to inducea laxative effect to reduce the toxemia buildup andthe pus was reduced almost instantly within minutesafter going to the bathroom. The pus or damaged causeby the bacteria, I have seen were a condition due toboth acidosis, lack of zinc and lack of magnesium. A zinc gluconate, 50 mg, preferably chewed and drinkwith 1/2 glass of water taken only twice a week, and250 mg of magnesium citrate in 1/2 glass of waterdissolved taken 5 days out of a week were of mosthelp. However, there was an interesting segment forthat man with a streaming pus, he also had amycobacterium problems in his blood, and he had totake 1/4 teaspoon of borax dissolved in one liter ofdrinking water taken only a couple of days out of aweek to reduce the mycobacterium which initiated a socalled autoimmunity problem, which actually is amisnomer, but that's what they call it anyway. Bykeeping the urinary pH near 7, have some zinc,magnesium and boron (from the borax), the condition ofsimilar to yours disappeared on the second or thethird week. However, as I noted, it is still importantto keep getting a alkaline urinary pH as a mostimportant point. Good breathing exercise can lead tosome alkalinity as does, getting plenty of rest.However, those take a little more time, and henceshould be done together. One other interesting fact Ifound about the autoimmunity for that case was thewater he drank was so polluted, if the water he drankwas kept overnight, it would have a slight spoilingthe day after. Hence, he had to drink bottled waterfrom a better source during his term of recovery. Inthe meantime a borax saturated in a water can be usedas a shampoo, and plenty of Milk of magnesia can beadded (about 20%-50%) into the solution to use to washand at least get rid of the problems of the pus andperhaps the hair growth. This should at least killsome local infection of the scalp through theantibiotic effects of alkalinity and the magnesium, aswell as the antifungal properties of borax to be usedas a shampoo. If some is kept overnight, withoutrinsing, it should help, but still getting the urinarypH as measured by a cheap pocket pH meter to normalstill the goal."

12/29/2009: Marc from Jersey City, New Jersey, USA replies: "Hello Ted! I came across this website in hopes to find a cure for what doctors have a diagnosed me with, Folliculits Decalvans of the scalp. It started as a small area in the center or top of my scalp when I was about 13 years of age. I had recently cut my hair from having braides and started getting S-Curls. I stopped getting S-Curls and decided to wear my hair short like my friends and thats when my problems started. My scalp beginned turnning bright red, it became swollen and bumps formed. My scalp was very dry, flaky and itchy. I scratched my scalp so bad, the bumps would burst and bleed and pus would come out all at the same time. While in the midst of me scratching my scalp with my fingernails, I continuously pulled my hair out along with the scabs that had formed from the blood and pus. Doctors have put me on tons and tons of medication that never seem to fully cure the Folliculitis Decalvans, only surpresses it for a little while, and immediately after finishing medication, the disease comes back 7 times stronger. Now, I am a 22 year old Black African American man who has a bald spot about the size of 3 by 3 inches in a circular diameter in the middle of my scalp. My scalp has formed a layer of skin that looks silver, shiny, transparent almost. I just want all this to be over with. I want my hair to grow back the way it was before Folliculitis Decalvans violated my scalp. Ted, is it possible that there are still hair folicules resting underneath the surface of my skin that are trying to break through but can't because of my condition? What can I do to attack the cause of the redness, the inflammation, the soreness, the bumps and the itching. I wanna be able to use something that will make my hair look like something instead of it being just a big dry bush that looks ashy all the time because I've refrained from using hair grease. There's got to be a way to break through that top layer of skin and rejuvenate my hair folicules. When I look in the mirror at that spot, it looks like the hair is still trying to grow; there are still few hair strands that have penetrated through and I'm not willing to let go of them just yet. Only if there is no hope. Ted, Thank you so much for your time! I didn't mean to write so much, this pain has got me passionate about a cure for Folliculitis Decalvans. Somehow, all of my dermatologists think I'm crazy, because as they tell me there is no cure, my hair will never grow back, I might as well go bald and give up hope...I say, "Yes, there is a cure, Yes all of my hair will grow back, No I will not go bald and because my hope and faith is not in you!" And I leave on a wild quest for antibiotics that do me no justice. Ted, can you please help me?"

12/30/2009: Merryanne from Orange City, Florida, USA replies: "Hello Marc, this is Merryane in FL,,I also have a bad area on my head, it is across the lower back of my scalp,,,I went to the treatment listings and read want is being done for fungus infections,,it is most likley ringworm gone infectious,,I am taking 3000mg of vit C each day, 6000mg MSM each day, you can divided that into 3 doses a day,,then a very painful apple cider vinegar washes to the area 2 times a day, it really burns on raw skin, but it really does kill the fungus, I let mine get bad, I have had a boil behimd my left ear, it is heald now, I had a boil on the area on the back of my head, it is heald now, I got my right hand infected from scratching the head, it is still in the healing stage,,so I do under stand,,then some times I apply fungal creams when I am going out and do not want to smell like a salad. I probly have a general body fungi load, but it started from a 2 inch spot on the back of my head in 2005,,and I did not go to the doctor about it,,I just thought it was dry scalp,,,well vingar on raw skin is a hard price to pay,,Merryanne in FL"

01/04/2010: Merryanne from Orange City, Florida, USA replies: "This is Merryanne in FL, I would like to give an update to my treatment of fungus on and in my body,,,I have changed treatment some,,When on my days off work I have taken 1 Tablespoon neem oil and 1 tablespoon cator oil and put on my head and right hand, this has really been helpfull for my skin,,Now I have cut the dosage of MSM to only 2000mg per day(1000mg in the mouring and 1000mg about 1PM, do not tke MSM 4 hours befor bedtime or you want sleep good) Now I have added Neem bark capsules, 6 per day divide up either in 2 doeses or 3 doeses. I have been on this for 3 days and it is doing good. Skin is looking better, and the itching is less, it its still a work in progress."

01/08/2010: Marc from Jersey City, New Jersey, Usa replies: "Hello Merryanne, thank you so much for your advice. I'm glad that I finally found someone who understands what I've been experiencing. It's been about two weeks and I've started taking supplements like horsetail, MSM, Vitamin C, Flaxseed Oil, Zinc and Magnesium. I'm hoping to see a bit of improvement within the next month. I've started using a Zinc shampoo called Head & Shoulder's which seems to be good, it's just my scalp is left feeling dry. I would love to use teatree oil or regular hair products, but they irritate my scalp. Don't know why! I really don't want to use ACV because it is such a harsh treatment...hopefully this will go away soon. I've considered growing an afro to get my hair as long as possible to cover the patch of hair and scalp that looks a little strange."

01/09/2010: Merryanne from Orange City, Florida, Usa replies: "Hello Marc..Merryanne in FL,,I am still working with my fungi,,one area gets better then another starts up again,,I had to stop the MSM for a few days,,there are sideffects with MSM some times,,espically taking large doses,,I was getting very depressed and crying-alot. But, I am still doing some vinegar washes(not on raw skin, now) somtimes the neem oil(when at home) I don't see any real success on my hands, but my scalp is 75% better. I am continuing to work on the problem. Merryanne"

01/23/2010: Dbennett24 from Myrtle Beach, Sc replies: "i have tried everything and for 3 yrs nothing works. i wanted to ask merryanne what worked on her scalp what is msm. i have folliculitis and i think the decalvanes too == it is very painful ithy and red any suggestions. i am using nizoral and head and shoulders intensive which is like selsun blue and something vinegar wash afterwards

i am looking for something to soothe it at night"

WHITE COATING, BURNING, AND CRAVINGS
06/07/2007: M writes: "Dear Ted, I came across the earth clinic web site, that I have read with great Gusto!! Your replies have got me started in a healing Journey that NO AMOUNT of medical doctors could do. I recently had a baby who will be 5 months soon. During my pregnancy I started having this awful strong metallic taste ( with a thick white coating ) on my tongue. This taste eventually turned into what I was told is now called Burning Tongue syndrome. My sodium is border line low, and crave SALT and beer a lot.. I am not a drinker, so I found this beer craving very ODD for me. My calcium is also border line low, and looks like I may have low B6, but every thing else looks ok. Anyway after many docs I found a pretty OK ENT who actually listened too me, and he told me I had Acid reflux, even though I did even feel like I had this issue. He prescribed pepcid for me.. the nice thing was after 13 months of not being able too scrape off this white coating, I was finally able too scrape it off ( after only one day of using pepcid ), and my tongue is now 90% pink again. How ever this darn burning is still there. I do have Hashimoto Thyroiditis, and a compromised immune system. I found your ACV recipe and I have too say.. OMG..this is awesome. I do the 2tblsp of ACV, ? tsp of baking soda, and 8 ounces of water.( twice daily ).this totally takes away the burning I have been feeling in my tounge. However if I stop taking it, the burning returns along with the white coating. I have only been doing this 1.5 wks, but I was wondering.. does this sound Fungal too you? I love the results I get from the ACV recipe you speak about, but not too sure how long I should do this. I really do not believe that I have too LIVE with this issue. Can you please help educate me further on this issue.. Many, Many Thanks,..."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "This appears to be a fungus condition or sometimes a staph problem if there is some wounds being opened up.

Most present medicine merely coverup the underlying body chemistry which protects the body against such microbial attacks.

Hence, as an emergency, I would likely take 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda three times a day, or perhaps 1 tablespoon lemon juice with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda three times a day in 1/3 glass of water. It takes about 2 weeks for the body to get enough alkalinity. This should at least help with some healing problem.

The other emergency measures might that has helped me is a thin solution of milk of magnesia applied to the scalp, without rinsing. That should at least contain the problem from further spread, at least for certain bacterial and fungus problem. In the long run, I prefer to use a 1% hydrogen peroxide with sufficient borax to wash daily, with little rinsing and kept overnight, to further discourage the growth. However, this merely avoids the underlying cause that the body's immune system may be a problem. Hence, some twice weekly 25 mg zinc gluconate supplements, selenium yeast supplements, and avoiding all grains, milk and sugar. The supplements most helpful to the scalp is some omega 3, vitamin A, fish oil, and evening primrose oil taken twice weekly, and to contain hair loss some manganese sulfate supplements at 25 mg twice a week on an empty stomach.

Stopping the agressive ringworn is difficult, but generally speaking borax in 1% hydrogen peroxide, and some milk of magnesia should at least contain the problem. Some supplements of borax, which can be taken as 1/16 teaspoon in a liter of water twice a week I might consider, as it has some antifungal properties. However, since a ringworm are most sensitive to borax, a daily application of borax solution or sometimes in a 1% hydrogen peroxide may be helpful. It should be noticed that, you cannot 1% hydrogen peroxide concentration as it is too drying to the skin. A lavender oil are generally helpful with ringworm if applied to the scalp, although, it should be applied thinly and it usually helps reduce the itch.

Again, grains, fructose, sugar, fruit juice, sour foods of any kind, white bread and milk should be avoided. A good subsitute for milk maybe unsugared soy milk, as it is high in manganese and helpful with hair condition. Most blacks and non-whites are generally lactose intolerant and milk is something I would avoid if scalp and hair is a problem. In some cases of ringworm, sometimes kelp and iodine foot painting, or perhaps small application of iodine may be helpful. Some of my own friends sometimes used preferably 100% alcohol to apply to at least reduce some itching, although alcohol 100% of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol are generally hard to get, and hence sometimes a 90% isopropyl alcohol sold in drug store might be of some help too. At least it is a good antiseptic solution. Generally speaking borax is best antifungal medicine that is relatively easiest to use, but frequency of application is needed, usually once a day, and left overnight unrinsed, and rinsed the next day.

I hope this helps!"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "If at all possible, some magnesium citrate 100-250 mg/day taken for 5 days out of a week may also help raise the body's immunity, along with zinc gluconate twice weekly.

Ringworm grows because the body's biochemical components supports their growth usually from sugar, acidosis (lack of alkalinity) and certan supplements that protects against fungus, such as boron (which is found in borax). There may be others, such as manganese, chromium, iodine, copper (from unsugared cocoa), as well as immunity suppression from lactose intolerance, vitamin A, omega 3, fish oil, and evening primrose oil, vitamin E, but those seem to aid healing and some eventual scarring.

Most help I think is just avoiding certain foods that are grain, milk, sugar, vegetable oils while trying to take more lemon and baking soda for akalizing, eat more vegetables, and some fishes, for example."

BALDING REMEDY CAUSING INFECTION
05/25/2007: FP from South Africa writes: "Hi Ted, I think your information on remedies for different scalp problems must be very helpful for people who cannot afford to go to dermatologists every time (long queues and more than normal charges). I also would like to benefit from your suggestions. I am using Dr. Reddy's Mintop forte (minoxidil 5%) for hair regrowth. It seems to be working for me. But, I am having trouble with scalp infection. My scalp has developed small infection with itching/irritation having small reddish spots. This has been suggested in the side effects of the medicine but there is no mention of the treatment for this side effects. I am loosing hair due this problem (itching/irritation). I don't want to stop the treatment so,please suggest me a home remedy for this so that I can cure this infection and continue the hair regrowth treatment"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Minoxidil side effects is red spots and scalp irritations. The additions I put in that helps reduce the irritation if I were to apply them is lavender oil applied overnight or at a suitable time. Most doctors would prescribe hydrocortisone to reduce the irritation. As to the issue of hair loss, I would usually take vitamin C and perhaps manganese gluconate, in case manganese sulfate supplement cannot be found. Manganese works best if taken on empty stomach and the tablet is powdered mixed in water."

ITCHY AND FLAKY SCALP, COULD IT BE MITES?
01/30/2007: Maxine from London, UK writes: "Hi Ted :) I have had an extreeeemely itchy & flaky scalp for over a year now, it gets so bad especially at night i have to keep cutting all my hair off (it was shedding anyway due to excessive scratching and i still get small bald patches). The problem has now spread to my eyebrows. I also get very itchy, tiny spots on my face, particularly my nose and body (resulting in horrible black marks from scratching) and i get flaky skin on my face that sheds . Could i be suffering from Demodex mites? If so how do i treat? I have had blood & urine tests and there are is no underlying disease. I have thought about trying the ACV/H202/BORAX treatment, but how do i measure it? We use ml or fluid ounces in the U.K mainly. Also what type of borax and hydrogen peroxide is safe to ingest? Where do i buy? I wouldn't mind buying from the internet or if you know any U.K based suppliers, that would be even better. Lastly, would you suggest taking any particular supplements/foods and if so, in what form (supplements)? I am a 24 year old female, of black origin if that info helps. Thanks and i look forward to your reply."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Maxine: When in doubt, use vinegar or apple cider vinegar to wash your head, but it is best to leave it overnight. If this is not gone, then it may likely be a demodex mites, which you need to obtain borax if you can find it. Borax are usually available in large drugstores, B.P. grade where you can mix this with a simple hydrogen peroxide. Since you will be doing this for external purposes only, try to get the hydrogen peroxide 3% and reduce this to 1% by adding 2 parts more of water, approximately. Then add baking soda until it can no longer dissolves itself. Apply this to the head for at least 15 minutes before rinsing. If you want it to go overnight to kill the demodex, I suggest using a more dilute hydrogen peroxide so it won't effect the hair such as below 1%, with the borax and keep that overnight, before rinsing in the morning. Usually my observation is anytime the concentration is below 1.5% it won't effect the skin and hair, but just to be on the safe side, make it below 1%, such as 0.75%.

If you have obtained a B.P. grade (medicine grade) borax, then a small pinch of borax (approximately 1/8 teaspoon of borax) taken only once a day on an empty stomach will do, but if only the above rinsing and other things are not working out as expected. This is done to prevent further problems of demodex."

EXTREMELY ITCHY SCALP, NOW HAS SPREAD TO EYEBROWS
01/30/2007: Maxine from London, UK writes: "Hi Ted :) I have had an extreeeemely itchy & flaky scalp for over a year now, it gets so bad especially at night i have to keep cutting all my hair off (it was shedding anyway due to excessive scratching and i still get small bald patches). The problem has now spread to my eyebrows. I also get very itchy, tiny spots on my face, particularly my nose and body (resulting in horrible black marks from scratching) and i get flaky skin on my face that sheds . Could i be suffering from Demodex mites? If so how do i treat? I have had blood & urine tests and there are is no underlying disease. I have thought about trying the ACV/H202/BORAX treatment, but how do i measure it? We use ml or fluid ounces in the U.K mainly. Also what type of borax and hydrogen peroxide is safe to ingest? Where do i buy? I wouldn't mind buying from the internet or if you know any U.K based suppliers, that would be even better. Lastly, would you suggest taking any particular supplements/foods and if so, in what form (supplements)? I am a 24 year old female, of black origin if that info helps. Thanks and i look forward to your reply. Maxine"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Maxine: When in doubt, use vinegar or apple cider vinegar to wash your head, but it is best to leave it overnight. If this is not gone, then it may likely be a demodex mites, which you need to obtain borax if you can find it. Borax are usually available in large drugstores, B.P. grade where you can mix this with a simple hydrogen peroxide. Since you will be doing this for external purposes only, try to get the hydrogen peroxide 3% and reduce this to 1% by adding 2 parts more of water, approximately. Then add baking soda until it can no longer dissolves itself. Apply this to the head for at least 15 minutes before rinsing. If you want it to go overnight to kill the demodex, I suggest using a more dilute hydrogen peroxide so it won't effect the hair such as below 1%, with the borax and keep that overnight, before rinsing in the morning. Usually my observation is anytime the concentration is below 1.5% it won't effect the skin and hair, but just to be on the safe side, make it below 1%, such as 0.75%.

If you have obtained a B.P. grade (medicine grade) borax, then a small pinch of borax (approximately 1/8 teaspoon of borax) taken only once a day on an empty stomach will do, but if only the above rinsing and other things are not working out as expected. This is done to prevent further problems of demodex. Ted"

REMEDY QUESTION FOR DRY AND ITCHY SCALP, MASS HAIR LOSS REPORTED
12/04/2006: Stacy from California writes: "I need Ted's help - please. I'm not happy with any over the counter shampoos, ointments etc that I've tried. The one thing that does work for me a little is an oil with a steriod in it i got from the dermatologist. My scalp is very dry and itchy and if untreated for a day or 2 will be very crusty - it's like a thin cap covering most of my head, it feels very tight. If i use the doctors oil over night, the crust will be loose enough to clean/comb off of my head - but it will start to dry/come back in less than 24 hours. I don't like the thought of using the steroid for long term, that's why I have found you. I've tried ACV, it feels good for a few hours, but the scalp soon dries out. My scalp problem started out behind my ears and now has completely spead over my head. I'm also having mass hair loss also which really stresses me out. Thanks for any advice"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "The crusty scalp is due to essential oil deficiency, also. Take some evening primrose oil, vitamin E, vitamin A 25,000 IU, fish oil 250 mg and some flaxseed oil should help. Cod liver oil are also helpful.

If fungus is the issue of the crustiness, apply tea tree oil overnight. The problems should mostly be gone the next day. Your body is possibly acid: so just take 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/2 glass of water and take it three times a day.

Avoid all white bread, and sweet drinks. Sodium ascorbate vitamin C 500 mg/day should further help alkalizing. Take manganese supplements only briefly about 1 week at 20 mg/day in form of manganese sulfate, from my own experience seems to work best. The hair loss should stop within a matter of days."

FOLLICULITIS ON THE SCALP
09/30/2006: Kathy from Rochester, NY writes: "My husband was diagnosed with folliculitis on the scalp. The doctor said it started out with a primary infection and then a secondary infection developed after my husband repeatedly scratched his scalp with his finger nails. It cause sores to form on his scalp, his scalp gets really hot and looks very red. After the Accutane treatment for 6 months, the condition started to come back after 2 months. He using Clobex a steriod shampoo just to keep things under control but now that is not working. I read the treatment for scalp infections and will try it but since his condition is severe is there anything else you can suggest besides the tea tree oil and lavender."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Kathy: Yes, a milder form of treatment is a saturated solution of borax, with some hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. Assuming that in one cup of saturated borax solution, I would add maybe 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Once added, you just stir the solution. It is a powerful antibiotic. This is my best guess. In a saturated borax solution I keep adding borax until it will no longer dissolved itself and settle on the bottom.

If this is too harsh for you then just use the borax alone. The funny thing is my own mother used a pure 100% alcohol solution (ethanol) and it does help a lot of infections. I never was lucky enough to have a chance to use antibiotics since the alternatives have worked so well. Unfortunately, pure 100% ethanol alcohol is a controlled substance as authorities are afraid of people drinking them as an alcoholic beverage. The main component of an alcoholic beverage that makes people drunk is in fact the ethanol. This is never ever to be confused with the poisonous methanol alcohol.

In case of accidental poisoning, or skin irritation my personal remedy or my antidote is unsurprisingly, vinegar. Perhaps we should rename this website, vinegar dot com, due to its ubiquitious use as a medicine! Even the father of medicine, Hippocrates used vinegar in a wide variety of cures. "

NEEDS EXACT MEASUREMENTS FOR TED'S REMEDIES
09/29/2006: Bea writes: "he recommends a shampoo made of tea tree oil and lavender, what are the measurements and how is it applied? He also talks about hydrogen peroxide and acv and adding chamomile, lavender and tea tree oil and making a shampoo out of that or applying it to the scalp. I was wondering how much of everything to mix in and how to apply it. My problem is with hair loss. The dermatologist first said it was from lichen planus and had me try different things. Another dermatologist said it was normal but it's not. My scalp is very sensitive sometimes with burning tingling sensations. It has at times developed red pimple like things on my scalp. My hair has really thinned out compared to the thick hair I used to have."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Lavender tree oil common concentrations in shampoo is about 3-5%. You apply it just like any other shampoo.

I was wondering how much of everything to mix in and how to apply it.

Depends on your condition. You apply the lavender tea tree liberally on your scalp overnight in the area of problem and beyond that area. It is done to kill the microbials.

My problem is with hair loss. The dermatologist first said it was from lichen planus and had me try different things

Hair loss is a straightforward matter. I have done studies after studies and people with hair loss have zinc, manganese, biotin, selenium, pantothenic acid, and inositol. A small change in diet can make a big difference. Eating only liquid egg yolk without white eggs is important. The white yolk will prevent the body from absorbing the nutrition from the yolk. Eggs are rich in biotin and lecithin, important for the hair growth on sulfur. Manganese is supplement in powder form in the form of manganese sulftate taken on an empty stomach. It is important to take at least 1,000 -2,000 mg per day of vitamin C (sodium ascorbate/ascorbic acid mix) to aid manganese absorption. Handling zinc is a bit tricky, it must be in the form of zinc acetate or zinc gluconate. You can only consume this in powder form. Zinc acetate in tablet from can be grinded and apply to head too, but it will cause dryness but you can use this to kill the microbial infection.

You will get the vitamin B5 and other Bs sources not available in most vitamin B complex sold in drug stores, such as Pangamic acid, inositol, that is found in abundance in brewer's yeast. So taking about 5-10 grams per day of brewer's yeast should handle the rare vitamin B complex not sold, plus the regular vitamin B complex you get at drug stores that have 100 mg. each of the major B1, B2, B3 (niacinamide), B6 for example, except for B12 which is best if it is 100 mcg. Taken at once per day.

Dermatologist are like sales representative for drug companies and they will always recommend the usual hydrocortisol, or some antibiotic drugs. I have had a chance to use them all and they simply don't work for me.. So you are going to go out of your way to try to use lavender and tea tree oil applied liberally on the scalp overnight for several days. It works quite well.

If you just follow my suggestion of manganese sulfate (about 50 mg/day) taken for only a couple of days (about 5-10 days) your hair will stop falling off.

If you can buy a product called Skinolen (an azelaic acid compound), it will reduce the formation of DHT (dehydrotestosterone) which causes the hair to fall off and the scalp often becomes oily. Stopping hair loss is straightforward: take the required nutrition and kill off the microbes. As for the pimple like rashes, lavender oil and tea tree oil applied liberally to the scalp should stop it. If not then apply vinegar. If STILL not working, then you may go to more drastic by applying a strong alkaline such as potassium carbonate mixed in water, a close substitute, is borax.

Your hair thickness should return with taken vitamin B complex, brewer's yeast, and the application of azelaic acid applied in thin amounts necessary to suppress the formation of DHT which causes hair thining. Of course my opinion is not DHT, but fungus or lichens, and most hair loss formulation, if you are observant enough are actually not anti DHT, but anti fungal formulations. So my guess is to do both DHT and anti fungal if you want results. Ted"

SCALP INFECTION CAUSING DRY SCALP AND HAIR LOSS IN ONE SPOT
09/20/2006: T writes: "Hi I was reading the different cures you had for scalp infections, basically I belive I just had a case of dry scalp and I lost my hair in one spot, I have braids. I started usding apple cider vinegar every night, then I tried the aloe, lavender and teatree oil, but it burned my scalp. What can I do to restore my scalp and get my hair growing agin, you had such huge success with everyone that wrote to you, hoping you will help me, thanks, also, my hairline has been dormant since I was a child, how can I get my hairlline to grow back? it seems like the applecider vinager and the teatree oil helped a little, your help is greatly appreciated."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear T: It took quite a while to find out why people's hair won't grow and this answer will not cover every possibilities. Lack of hair growth, is due to manganese, zinc, and magnesium deficiency. Hair tends to get quite quickly if the body is low on manganese. Bald people it was found had high copper and low zinc, which is indirectly indicative of low molybdenum as it tends to remove excess copper also. Taking extra vitamin C will aid the body's absorption when you take a manganese supplements. Most hair growth supplements are never complete, but it is important that you take plenty of vitamins that relate to hair growth such as more than usual dose of B5, niacinamide and inositol.

Fungus could be a cause, so ACV, tea tree and lavender should handle that problem.

The last one is hormonal imbalance and excess DHT. Often excess DHT also cause excessive sebum and often can be controlled by zinc. Excess pseudoestrogens and dioxin can be resolved by taking extra fresh cabbage and brocolli or indole-3-carbinol supplements. If you are desperate, then just get a 5% Minoxidil sprays three times a day plus a 20% azelaic acid applied to hair. This should at least get something started. Ted"

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REAPPLY TED'S REMEDIES?
07/04/2006: Alissa from Lithia, FL writes: "Hi! I tried your scalp remedy and wondered how often to reapply? I have scalp issues due to years of hair coloring, so probably will need to do this regularly. I wondered what you found was most effective. Thanks!"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Alissa: Most scalp problems that I have found to be most successful in restoring to their former selves is tea tree oil, lavender, aloe vera oil, vitamin D (20,000 I.U. per day for a month), vitamin A, and vitamin C. Horsetails or high silicon diets is always needed too. The frequency of reapplication at least for a somewhat normal case of scalp problem is once a week for a period of a month. However, in practice I am generally happy with only just one overnight application once every two weeks.

For severe cases, three applications to five applications per week may be needed and you have to leave them overnight after the application. The next morning you can rinse with an unscented soap or baby soap. I don't recommend shampoo, they tend to cause drying of skin, regardless of the brand since the major ingredients is usually, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, or other similar family of chemicals that causes drying of scalp and cause dermal irritations. Unscented soap don't have this problem. Ted"

SCALP COVERED IN THICK SCAR TISSUE AFTER YEARS OF SCALP INFECTIONS
06/11/2006: Ray from Seattle writes: "Ted, I'm trying your scalp remedy (ACV and Peroxide; citric acid and baking soda, plus tea tree oil) It's working, so thanks, but much slower than for others. My problem is that after many years with this condition, parts of my scalp are covered in thick scar tissue. I'm sure that the infection is locked in the hair follicles beneath the scar tissue, wich is why it's so hard to get rid of. Any suggestions for my situation? Also, I read somewhere that some infections hide deep in the ear canal waiting to come back after treatment, what do you think of pouring peroxcide in the ear to help things along?"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Yes sometimes it is deep, but ear canal thing might not work as well as you would anticipate. You are free to try it but I would not think it will work! Of course some people with excessive ear wax are going to be in trouble as the liquid might be lodged there for a long time. I get complaints from people using this technique that I just don't recommend them do it because of the problems, even if it might not occur as often. I myself just use q tips soaked in peroxide as a more practical means, again I don't recommend that too often. I have seen an old lady who put q-tips and broke the ear drums and went deaf. So I don't like playing by the ears. If you want faster results try this: To get you to dissolve those scar, faster, adding a couple of tablets of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to the ACV or vinegar to your scar tissue would help. Aspirin tends to dissolve the scar tissue quite well if you leave it long enough. Take plenty of vitamin C and silicon rich foods, the hair and skin will regenerate faster. Try squeezing some lemon juice to it if you want it to work stronger. Lemon juice is an alpha hydroxylic acid and it is used as a skin exfoliant products to the mix also. I prefer that you make the dietary changes would be most helpful, such as taking more protein rich foods and less sugar and carbohydrate food. They will help the healing process a lot faster. Cigarettes and beer drinking is not helpful either avoiding them will help."

BOIL LIKE SORE ON SCALP
05/31/2006: Norma writes: "I get a boil like sore on my scalp once in a while, only one at a time. What is this, and what treatment is there? Could it be related to eczema or rosacea, which I have?""

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Ted responds. "I have one friend, who has boil at a time. After long discussion it turns out that the she tries to avoid her morning toilet duties by delaying it until way in the afternoon or early evening. Every time she does that, a boil comes out the next day as the intestines reabsorbed the waste product back into the body and ejects it out the skin. Often this leads to constipation, and a host of other problems. So do not avoid going or delay the morning ritual and the skin usually clears up. Also try to avoid all those high glycemic diets, they tend to cause skin problems from excess sugar buildup. Most offensive are ice cream, softdrinks and chocolate and other pastry products.

Most skin problems and boils can be lessened by applying lavender oil on the skin. Taking some zinc supplements especially zinc gluconate or zinc acetate is helpful in bacterial resistance, which often causes boils. High fiber foods and intestinal detox will help too.""

WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO TO USE FOR SCALP INFECTIONS
05/22/2006: Daniel from Brooklyn writes: "hi i read i read the article "The Best Home Remedies to Treat Scalp Infections", it says to use it like a shampoo but it does not say what i should use to make it foam like shampoo. please help. thanks."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "The last time I used a shampoo was 30 years ago and that was in my teens. I don't like shampoo because the chemical, sodium lauryl sulfate changes your skin structure and often brings additional problem of lost hair, fungus, and other things.

However, if you want a simple shampoo, I often use ordinary unscented soap or soaps with little scents. There is a good reason. Certain fragrances are pseudoestrogens, which in a pregnant woman can cause a child's sexual development to be impaired (such as lack of male hormones of a developing child). The other issue is these compounds tend to be quite disruptive of our own hormonal imbalances, which is as toxic as one get. Most foam can be created by simply boiling unscented soap with water to get a nice shampoo and is safe. Some people use a toilet soap which is a stronger form of soap for their skin condition.However, an unscented soap would be the best. Our environment is already full of pseudoestogens everywhere."

BALD PATCH WITH TENDER REGIONS THAT OOZE FROM PORES
03/11/2006: Kristina from San Jose, CA writes: "My sister recently found a bald patch on the back of her head roughly 2 sq.in. She has never had this before, and was quite shocked. The patch does have tiny sprouting hairs, and a few long hairs that have not fallen out. Now, nearly two weeks after, she has found tender, light pinkish regions on her scalp that seem to ooze a whitish substance/fluid from the pores. They are not bumps or boils that "popped", and the fluid is thick and secreted in a good amount, but not all at once (consistently)--it must be puss. Up until now she has had a history of dandruff, but this is unlike anything we've ever seen before. She's trying T-Gel, but I don't think that is what she needs, so I came to you. What is this? And what can be done? Please help, I only hope that this problem doesn't persist because she could go bald completely!"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "This problem is already worldwide, but I don't know why doctors are at a loss on this as it is a fungus like infection, or something resembling skin form of mycoplasma.

The simplest method that I can dream of that found to be of good use is the use of tea tree oil and lavender and applied continuously on the skin long enough so that it will be killed. There are variations of this method such as the use of acetone applied before the use of tea tree and lavender for example. For my mother, she uses a simple isopropyl alcohol before application. The alcohol will rid the body of bacteria while the tea tree and lavender are akin to antifungal and antiviral properties. Of course, it is the frequency of application which will work, such as at least 3 times a day for a month or so. The use of vinegar and ACV in conjunct with tea tree and lavender I have seen is also good, as well as hydrogen peroxide as well.

As you can see there are many ways in going about this treatment, but the foundation of treatment lies with tea tree and lavender. A pre-treatment of hydrogen peroxide, alcohol and apple cider vinegar is done for cleaning before the use of tea tree and lavender, I have found to be important.

Finally, alkalizing through the use of sodium bicarbonate plus citric acid at 1/4 teaspoon two times a day (morning and evening) mixed in 1/4 glass of water is important also to kill them from the inside out."

HARD BUMPS THAT BECAME SOFT AND TENDER CYSTS
02/17/2006: Beverly from Columbia, SC writes: "At age 17, my daughter developed several spots on her head that started out as a hard bump, it then became soft and tender and you could tell that some liquid was inside. It started in the top of her head and they began appearing in other parts of her head. The largest was in the top. The dermatologist said she had a cyst and needed to have surgery. She had surgery but the surgeon said it was a chronic infection and he just cleaned it out. Afterwards we had to pack it until it closed. Now she has a scar and the bumps have been coming back. She has had bumps coming back on top of the scar and all over her head. Once it drains, its ok. The doctors have not been able to diagnosed the problem. What do you think this is and what can we do?"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "It is a boil-like conditions that if you keep doing what already doing this condition will persist throughout her entire life. Yes, I have seen it and it gets a over the body eventually. In other words draining the thing will temporarily relieve the condition, but the cause is simply that she is carrying the germs beneath her skin.

There are several kinds of germs, but the germs that hospitals have trouble getting rid of is those germs that are acid resistant since nearly all hospital antiseptics are in fact acid and very likely to be the staphyloccocus bacteria. They have a tendency of showing up in what the hospitals call it as "bed sore" which is currently incurable and when a leg gets this, some hospitals do amputate them. However decades ago the cure was relatively easily until the hospitals decided change antiseptic procedures.

To treat the cause is really simple, just give her a bath with sodium carbonate or wash her hair or scalp using a relatively alkaline product. Borax might be helpful, but sodium carbonate mixed in water would be more effective.

Another way that hospitals do it to kill the staphyloccocus quite effectively decades ago is to make a weak potassium permanganate solution, where you mix it until you get a weak or mild purple solution with water and use that and apply on the area.

However these above will simply just treat the symptoms rather than the cause, a more effective way is to simply alkalize your blood and raise your pH to kill the staph. To do this a most effective way I have found out is to mix sodium bicarbonate citric acid potassium citrate magnesium chloride in the following ratios: 1: 2: 1: 1 This solution will alkalize both the BLOOD and the intracellular tissues as well. When you make this mix, put your dosage per day will be about 1 teaspoon twice per day. This is a relatively mild way to alkalize the blood, a more aggressive way is to take 250 mg of potassium carbonate per day PLUS citric acid and baking soda in a 2: 1 ratio at 1 teaspoon per day. Potassium carbonate is taken on once but only after you take the citric acid and baking soda. The baking soda and citric acid is taken twice a day once in morning and another before bed time.

To kill this boil like condition it is necessary that you use tea tree plus lavender oil and apply it onto the skin at least twice a day for an entire month, as this too will kill it. My close friend has this similar conditions during her studies in India and I used this method and it somewhat takes long, it does kill the germs under the skin. YOu need to apply the oil to the entire general area to prevent further spread. This will dry up the bumps and will form a slight brown scaring when they do die off. These days, I have seen all kinds of conditions that hospitals don't care in curing and I have no choice but to conduct my own experiments.

So far this is the best treatment I have seen. Following the above procedures you should see some improvements within days, but noticeable improvement should take a month and a cure could take several months to completely rid of them. You need to get a pH meter to measure the urinary pH and try to get it exceeding pH of 6.5 and ideally at 7.0 pH to rid of the germs. Please see an article I have written on pH here at earthclinic."

BAD ODOR COMING FROM SCALP
02/15/2006: Anonymous from Las Vegas, NV writes: "I have bad odor coming from the scalp. I also have body odor. It's been in me for more than 10 years now. I always keep a distance because others might smell my bad odor. I am hygenic and take a bath everyday. Deodorants dont work either. What should I use to completely remove the scalp and body odor?"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Take baths using borax, and take 1 teaspoon internally baking soda mixed with water everyday, or try 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, as this seems to detoxify better. Also take zinc acetate or chelated zinc regularly. These will help remove the bacteria causing the odor. It is important also to get some magnesium, especially magnesium chloride of 250-500 mg everyday so that the body will reduce the bacteria causing the odor naturally. Avoid drinking milk, milk seems to increase body odor."

HAIR HAS NOT GROWN BACK AFTER SCALP INFECTION
Monica writes: "My daughter has a scalp infection and it pulled a lot of her hair back. It has been four months now and has not grown back yet. The big lump has gone down and all of the puss drained out of it. Now I am trying to get her hair to grow back. She still has a little bit of infection in her head. I have some apple cider vinegar and hygrogen peroxide but I'm just not understanding the mixing part as far a 1:10 part and 10 parts is that measured off in tablespoons or teaspoons. Please let me know."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Monica:
1:10 means Try 1 tablespoon of 3% H2o2 plus 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to 10 parts water. For serious scalp infections, I would suggest 1 tablespoon H2O2 plus 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar straight (do not dilute in water).

Your daughter has a severe scalp infection. If you can find tea tree oil, apply the tea tree oil to her scalp before sleep. Leave it on for the whole night. Most of the scalp infection should be gone in three days. Application period is about 3-7 days. The hair should begin growing back in about a month.

Have her eat partially boiled eggs regularly during infection. It contains sulfur compounds and will help restore the scalp conditions also. Eating horsetail will help hair grow faster as it contains silicon. Horsetail is available at your local health food store. If you can't find it try, silicic acid (a soluble form of silicon supplementation), this will also encourage hair and nail growth. You will notice faster hair growth within 2 weeks"

HAIR CHANGED AFTER SEMI-PERMANNENT HAIR DYE
Anonymous writes: "Hi, my hair dresser dyed my hair with a semi-permanenet hair dye and put me under the dryer for about 20 to 30 minutes and ever since my hair texture has changed drastically. My hair is normally curly but soft, and now it is hard with a texture that feels like thread and the strands themselves are like thick and thin at the same time. I tried plucking each strand out thinking it was in some state of shock and I was almost sure that new healthy hair would grow in ,but the hair is growing with the same hard texture, someone told me that my hair follicles might be clogged, I also noticed that the root where the hair blulb is, is very black. can you please let me know what kind of remedy I need to use to clean out the hair follicels/pores. Thanx."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Yes, there is a cure. The scalp has a long term scorching very similar to that of a mild burn. As a result the hair follicles become damaged.

You will solve this issue like it is a skin burn issue. Therefore use 10% lavender plus 90 aloe vera oil. Apply it once every 4-5 days. The scalp should heal. During between that time, wash with plain vinegar, or apple cider vinegar to dissolve any toxins caused by the dye.

Take vitamin C, sodium ascorbate 1000 mg. everyday for a month. Take gingko and bee pollen everyday to allow the rebuilding of tiny capillaries in the scalp. This might reverse some effect of mild long term scorch and chemical dyes.

Try to locate a soluble form of silica, either from foods rich with it such as horsetails, oat, and take them on an empty stomach. Or you can buy orthosilicic acid and take them regularly. Silica or silicon supplement will quickly aid hair growth. Take 200 mg.-250 mg of magnesium to allow the follicle and collagen development, and finally take some collagen supplements if you can. If you are low on budget, avoid scorching of scalp, and just use the lavender aloe vera oil, plus vinegar, should be more than enough. If you can't afford vitamin C just eat fresh whole oranges. Try to space out seeing the hair dresser 1/2 less often. This will allow time for the scalp to heal."

20 YEAR OLD WITH HAIR LOSS, EXPERIENCING TINGLING ON SCALP
Kate from San Jose, CA writes: "I have a question regarding scalp infections. For around the past year now I have suffered a lot of hair loss. I am only 20 and I have no genetic background for this. I have had all the tests done to conclude that I don't have any medical problems that could create this. I have had scalp tingling and itching, along with some sore feeling spots, it seemed to get better for awhile, but now it seems to be coming back again, with more loss. I am wondering if this is some kind of infection. you cannot see any sores or anything on my scalp that would look like something was there, but there is a definite weird sensation on my head along with considerable loss. I do see a lot of new little baby hairs growing in, but i also see a lot of those ones falling out as well. Please help!!! I will try your remedies for this in the mean time"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "You seem to have a mycoplasma in the blood type of infection. Roughly it is more like a fungus infection which occurs near the base of a skin with low blood flow. To increase blood flow, obviously is to take gingko and hot fresh cayenne peppers to your food somehow. Yes fresh hot cayenne peppers are anti-fungal.

To solve the cause of the problem, is to deal with your condition by removing the said infection fromyour blood and follow the scalp treatment I have mentioned.

So briefly, you have to do some effort in avoiding certain foods, in particular clams, oysters, and other seabottom dwellers. Sugar, ice cream, sundae, chocolates (sometimes it is good, but not this), fruit juices, soda pop, pastries, bread, cookies, and fried foods. Sweets and more bacteria are food for fungus.

Now for the warnings that may or may not be related to your conditions that you be careful and think about it. I have seen many friends going bald (for a women!) after taking those vaccination such as yearly flu vaccination or vaccinations in general. Vaccination do have the fungus and other nasty live viruses and heavy metals and they don't do you help if you do it because it takes about a year to remove that. The body doesn't respond well.

The other problem is to stop drinking those distilled water. For some reason drinking distilled water causes the body to be acid because distilled water lacks the bicarbonate buffers necessary to stabilize your body's pH. Therefore, you need to take 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid to 1/3 or 1/4 glass of water. It will fizz. Allow fizz to stop and drink everyday. Your hair should start growing quickly after the second or the third week because of that. If you DON'T drink distilled water you STILL have to alkalize your blood by taking citric acid AND baking soda. There is no getting around buffering your pH! Try drinking or eating foods rich in silica, e.g. horsetail, oatmeals on an empty stomach to allow better absorption and not interfere with mineral absorption.

Take at least 1-3 grams of vitamin C (use the sodium ascorbate plus ascorbic acid mix is the best). The second best is to just take sodium ascorbate. Sodium ascorbate is an alkaline form of vitamin C. Larger dose is o.k. just don't take too much that it cause a loose stools. This is very helpful in killing off the remaining fungus in the blood that is causing the lost of hair. And may I repeat my experience again with this? My mother, who is 76 years old solved her loss of hair - and it can really be nasty at times, just by taking at least 1 grams of vitamin C. You may need to take a larger dose than the 1-3 grams however, but as always start with the lower dose and slowly work yourself up to ideally 4 grams. Once you no longer loosing hair, you can tail off your dosages.

Taking some additional selenium yeasts helps as it is also antifungal.

The last one is to general vitamin and mineral supplements. However you need to cover all bases by taking a general vitamin and mineral supplements. The best kinds of vitamins I have found are liquid form, which is taken directly or in soft gel capsules. The worse kinds of vitamins are in tablet forms. The reason is the fillers, in particular, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphates prevents the body from absorbing the micronutrients.

Now one note, I did not mentioned my protocol of external hair treatment for stopping loss of hair here, but that hair treatment was designed to get rid of parasites and external fungus which causes the loss of hair"

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE SCALP
Peter from Orlando, Florida writes: "I have this condition that the doctors call chronic inflammation of the scalp. I recieved shots, pills, and antibiotics nothing has changed. It looks like alot of bumps that at times puss and bleed. In the effected area i lose hair and am only 21 years old. it only affected the center of my scalp but is slowly spreading.. Can you please give me some remedies to help?"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Peter:You appear to have an unusual autoimmune/mycoplasma type of condition. I have seen some people respond well to shampooing the scalp and leaving some of them overnight (not a lot) or not at all, it's up to you using sodium perborate (a type of bleach detergent). Usually what you do is mix this with 1 tablespoon of it in 1 liter of water and wait for 30 minutes before use. You will get some precipitate, which you will probably throw it away anyway.

What it does is it kills a certain specific type of fungus or certain nanobacteria. You should feel better or notice improvement within an hour of using it, if of course I am right with the my guesses.

The other appears to be a lupus like condition, just take RNA/DNA tablet (a cheaper from of DNA/RNA cellfoods), or if you can't find or can't afford it, like me, then just take an extra large dose of brewer's yeast. Something like 10 or 20 per day. Also take some kyolic garlic, twice a day, some yeast selenium, and magnesium citrate.

Taking 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid a day might be helpful. This is alkalize the body and allow the body to heal itself.

If the above doesn't work then just try tea tree and lavender mix in 3: 1 ratio and soaking them overnight or about at least 3 nights in a row. You will need to shampoo it out every morning of course, oily hair.

Yes, antibiotics has no effect, I know, even sea salts works a lot better than antibiotics nowadays, something like 1 teaspoon of sea salt is for me 10 times better than taking antibiotics in general! Just a commentary!"

SD AND HYPERTHYROIDISM
Anonymous from Queens, NY writes: "I have sebhorreic dermatitis on my scalp. I have hyperthyroidism (an overative thyroid). Will peroxide and apple cider vinegar work for me. My PCP once told me that my condition may be why I have sebhorreic dermatitis. Have you ever heard of this? Thanks for your time!"

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "The effect of a cure can be noticed an improvement after one application whether it works for you or not. If it doesn't work the issue is hormonal rather than fungal/parasite issue. The remedy was designed to deal wtih fungal/parasite cause to the seborrheic dermatitis. However, I have one reader in England, that was cured of it using tea tree oil, vitamin A, lavender and apple cider vinegar. He told me he spend over a thousand Pounds (British currency) trying to get a cure and but one did the trick. A vitamin deficiency can also trigger the condition as well as a mineral deficiency. So taking up vitamin and mineral supplements of a softgel kinds is recommended. If your hormones are the issue, then I suggest to wash or skin of the said condition with borax mixed with water, as this will help the balance the hormones."

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