Medications for Hair Loss
★★★☆☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
(North Hollywood, California)
03/05/2012
Hello all, It saddens me to read about the problems some of you are having with hair loss. I too have suffered with hair loss (not really sure of the reasons). 12 years ago my hair was barely ear length due to massive breakage, neglect etc. Due to a job layoff and depression, I ceased to comb my hair and kept it under a scarf. 5 months later, to my suprise my hair was healthy and at least 3 inches longer.
Since then, I've kept my hair "UP" in protective styles with very low malipulation.
My diet was balance.
Through research, I've leaned how to take care of my hair. There are sooooo many things one can do to ensure long, healthy, strong, thick hair. My hair is now 28 inches (mid back length) and ultra thick. (I'm 56 years old). The methods below worked for me:
1. Massage scalp with pure aloe vera gel.
2. Co-wash often (clean scalp and hair with conditioner only.)
3. Massage scalp with one or all of the following:
-extra virgin coconut oil
-extra virgin olive oil
-Emu oil
-Argan oil
-Tea tree oil
-Castor oil
-Onion juice topical
-Garlic juice topical
-Jamician Black Castor oil
-Seal ends with shea butter
-Vegetable Glyercine
-Black tea hair rinses
-Weekly hot oil treatments
-Jojoba oil...... And so on. These methonds worked for me to achieve and maintain healthy, strong hair.
They worked for me but may not be for everyone. Do your research and as always.... Consult your M. D. Before beginning any new regimen. Good luck.
Melatonin, Topical
★★★★★
Here is a relevant quote from the article :
' Eleven studies which detailed evidence of melatonin use in patients with alopecia were included. Overall, data for 2,267 patients — including 1,140 men — made the final analysis.
Results showed that eight studies demonstrated positive outcomes for patients with androgenetic alopecia who were treated with topical melatonin.In addition, eight studies also showed an improvement in scalp hair growth with melatonin treatment, whereas four studies demonstrated that melatonin improved scalp hair density compared with controls. An additional two studies showed that melatonin bested controls in terms of hair shaft thickness.
The range for an optimal melatonin dose may be 0.0033% or 0.1% applied as a once-daily regimen for a duration of 90 to 180 days. Additionally, optimizing the vehicle for topical melatonin — for example, with nanostructured lipid carriers — may further improve the hormone's impact on hair growth. '
Art
Mexican Missionary Remedy
★★★★★
At age 24, he still has a tendency to bad acne BUT ONLY IF he doesn't keep up this regime. It isn't as bad as when he was 16 but still there. Especially on his back. We have the best healthy diet of anyone I know, so it is not junk food either. Maybe gluten, but haven't noticed a big difference when he gets off it. Anyway, just saying to you all... if you are taking the Acutane for acne..Why? There are natural ways to deal with this that don't involve such an aggressive dangerous drug.
Mold Caused
(High Point, Nc/usa)
11/27/2011
Please see an eye doctor immediately, the dimming like a curtain falling is a symptom of detached retina, it can result in blindness, but if caught in time and repaired can save your sight.
MSM
★★★★★
- lengthens growth cycle.
- hair stops falling out, due to need for sulfur...very common
- no side effects, no limit on the dose
mix powder w/water, take as much as you can afford..
1-10 grams a day
Swish in mouth while taking it.
Prevents plaque on teeth, heals gums.
MSM did all of the above for me.
Also can add to pets' water... It rejuvenated my 15 year old cat.
MSM
★★★★★
MSM
★★★★★
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
This is what worked:
1. stopped using commercial shampoo.
2. only wash with a natural shampoo with low alcohol content once a week (I started doing this after a trip to Italy, when I got some advise from a lady with enviable curly hair to her hips. She says shampoo is the worst enemy of hair; it strips it of nutrients, opens the fibers and makes it vulnerable to break off).
3. wash everyday (if needed) with a natural, low alcohol content conditioner, or even better; an olive oil based cleaner like available in Italy (not available were I live, so I realized I could use a lightweight conditioner). The reason the conditioner cleanses is that if you think about it; oils cut (mix with) oils. What we want to cleanse is the amount of oils in our hair, right? We don't want to strip out all the good oils from the hair, that makes it break... (commersial or harsh shampoos)
4.Rinse with COLD water when finished, to close the fibers in the hair.
5. Supplements; I started taking selenium, blue-green algae and alpha-lipoic-acid together (to control blood-sugar spikes). It seems the side effect of perhaps Selenium is to support hair-growth. I also took multi mineral or coral calcium and Sublingual Vit-B multi-vitamin in the evening from time to time.
6. Stopped blow-drying. Let air-dry, massage scalp with towel while drying (for blood-sirculation) and only brush hair AFTER its dry. With a natural brush, llike boar, or wood-comb (not plastic or metal - again these will tear and break the hair if it is fine like mine).
This is what I was doing, and it's so nice to have my hair back almost like from my childhood, too bad I didn't know to do this in my twenties! ;-) Good Luck!
(Ny, On-canada)
11/30/2012
What is natural shampoo?
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
Unfortunately in my case, one crisis led to another, and I went through a period of about 15 months of a rollercoaster of stress. I had had stresses before in my life, but never had I lost hair over them.
I also want to add that I am currently 50 years old, female, caucasion, have not yet gone through menopause, have always had a very thick head of healthy, coarse/wavy hair. During this episode, I lost about 1/3 of my former volume. I have been alarmed to see a lot more of my scalp along my "part. " I think it is unattractive. It has made me sad.
But my dad is bald, and I'd always "heard" that as women age, we might inherit some of the hair loss from our father's side (who knows). I hoped not! But I thought my hair loss, so sudden, might be from stress, rather than genetics. It occurred mainly on the top/front of my head (which is where my dad's is).
I am writing to let all of you know that I have tried many things and made many changes in order to hope to help my hair loss. I do think that some of them have worked, but I don't know which ones. The hair "falling" slowed down and then stopped. I am not sure, though, if I am experiencing significant regrowth or restoration, though I think so.
Here are the things I have done: I went "no-poo" -- in other words, I stopped using ALL commercial shampoos, even organic ones. I went through an adjustment period, but now my hair is much healthier. I clean it with rinsing with water most days, and baking soda or borax and ACV about once a week. My hair is long. I do not brush my hair except in the evening before bed. I don't use a hair dryer on it. I let it dry in the air. I detangle it and separate the waves with my fingers. I do not use any commercial products, conditioners, gels, etc. on my hair. For gel, I use aloe. For conditioner, I use coconut oil (a little goes a long way). For scent, I use a few drops of essential oil in a water rinse. My hair is soft and looks healthy.
I also worked hard to clean up my diet. I eat more vegetables and fruits and stay away from processed foods. I cook most of my meals from scratch (at home). I use organic foods as much as possible.
I started sunbathing (I am fair, so I do this only for about 10-20 minutes at a time).
I also supplement with biotin, vitamin D, B-complex, vitamin E. About 4 days a week.
I have worked on de-stressing using Bach Flower remedies and other energy therapies including massage and self reflexology.
I have worked very hard to help stop hair loss and hopefully restore my hair... So far, I think something is working. I am happy with my hair, though it is not (yet?) as thick as it used to be. It no longer falls out, and it feels "tight" in my scalp. It doesn't break off, either. I hope some of this can give some of you who are suffering with this problem, some helpful ideas to try.
(Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa)
10/24/2012
Hi Gloria, I also went through radical hair loss but mine was from hair dye. I would always have the worst reaction but I was too proud to let myself go gray. The reaction was so bad my husband would get upset that I would continue this procedure. Well, I went to Aveda because that was supposed to be "natural" and it worked for a time but then, I began reacting again. So, I changed to "natural" hair dyes from the health food store. Again, they worked for awhile and then I began to react once more! It was bad but the last straw for me was I began to lose hair in clumps. That's when I thought, perhaps gray would be better than bald... I stopped using shampoos with anything other than the mildest herbs and cleaners in them. I massaged my scalp, I used borax when washing my hair. Then I learned about hair oiling here on EC and began that practice about a year and a half ago. I take Chinese herbs and do fresh green juices every morning and follow much of Weston Price's ideas on diet.
I am now quite salt and pepper but my hair is nice and thick and healthy once more. I won't lie though, it took a long time though to restore it! As a matter of fact, just about a month ago I was going to a wedding and my oldest daughter said she wanted to blow dry my hair for it. She couldn't believe how thick it was and healthy and just kept commenting about it! It's probably been a couple of years since she last did that for me and she said it never felt like that before. So friends, take heart, our hair can be restored but you must be steadfast at working at that and be patient! Lisa
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
here is my formula: firstly i tried all of Ted's hair bath's, cider vinegar, tea tree oil etc. I found the one that truly removed the dissolved minerals(feels sticky and block's pore's on hair follicles) on my scalp was 1 teaspoon of borax in a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution. So add 1 big teaspoon of borax to a big salad bowl. then add 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide(this is the only concentration i can get here in canada) and then add 2 cups of normal water to dilute the solution down to 1%-like Ted says. mix the contents and soak your scalp in it while pouring a cup of it over you head and making sure in flows back into the salad bowl. do this for three minutes. and make sure to not get this mixture in your eyes, as it will sting.
Now put a teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water and mix and pour over hair to rinse the borax/peroxide solution. Then i like to wash hair with Dr. Bronner magic soap with tea tree oil or any other good quality health food store shampoo with tea tree oil.
O.K now we have cleared the pores, time to build the bodies supply of protein and minerals.
Firstly hair is mostly protein(then minerals) by dry weight, so eat adequate protein. Free range eggs, free range lean meats and poultry, only wild seafood(i.e. not farmed such as tilipai, basa, atlantic salmon etc.) it is full of pesticides which i am sure erode health. Actually do not eat to much sea life in general, it has good nutrition but lots of toxins. many people are allergic to dairy so organic is better for most and consider goat and sheep milk products too. also a pure whey protein isolate can build hair too.
Now onto minerals. The first source of minerals is sea salt, any good sea salt contains most trace minerals that build hair-put it on food and in soups. also my favorite product in the world is Bioforce(A. Vogel) Herbamare. it is a blend of sea salt and herbs and kelp and contains all minerals needed by the human body. Season all foods with it and especially soups and rice dishes and stocks and liquids so it dissolves and releases the nutrition.
Now also maple syrup in teas. Maple trees roots dig deep into the ground and pull up minerals in the sap of the trees and are reduced to make the syrup. They are powerful mineral concentrates. use in teas such as stinging nettle combined with rosemary and mint. etc. put in all teas and even coffee. Now here is a big one. Most alternative physicians will talk of an algae product called spirulina (and others like chlorella) and will recommend high doses of it. THEY ARE WRONG. Because it is a superfood and one of the most concentrated sources of nutrition on the planet it will mess up your hormones at medium to high doses. TAKE ONE OR TWO PILLS EVERY ONE OR TWO DAYS - NOT MORE. You are using it as a homeopathic mineralizer, not a food.
lots of stews, stocks, teas, and water based liquids with herbs, veggies, sea salt, herbamare, to build up minerals.
Drink tap water filtered with brita and changed every two weeks to a month, unless you are in a farming area and your tap is full of nitrates, then find another source.
Do not drink distilled water as it has no minerals.
i also like Ted's vitamin C water with 1/8teaspoon of baking soda to balance PH.
also waking in nature, such as a side street or park or forest to oxygenate the body and scalp. One of the causes of hair loss is a lack of oxygen i.e. when people were baseball caps. i had the thickest hair on the planet and i thinned it by wearing a ball cap when i was in my teens -stupid me.
Also stretching and yoga will oxygenate the body.
So i believe the causes of hair loss are:
fungus/minerals in hair follicles/hats or low oxygen
lack of quality protein
lack of minerals
low scalp oxygen
unbalanced hormones.
low fatty acids (eat cold water fish oils, flax oil, olive oil, cold filtered raw oils , not cheap processed oils.)
Now this is just a start and there much more i could write but the most important point to consider is all body types are unique so take this info with a grain of salt and experiment with what works for you.
good luck and god bless
(Bethnal Green, UK)
06/04/2008
(Lancaster, PA)
04/09/2009
I'm responding to Joe Merrit's comment on misc. remedies for hair loss. He says that he likes Ted's vitamin C water remedy. Where can I find the recipe for this. Thank you very much.
EC: You might find it on at the top of this page: https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/pH.html
(Toronto, Canada)
04/09/2009
thanks Joe for your detailed remedy... I would like to add that of course heredity plays a big factor in hair loss.though by follow much advice from EC one can perhaps minimize it.....Also about Spirulina, or blue green algae, people should take caution since these have neurotoxins which can damage health..Chlorella is a better choice though still in some doctors minds (Andrew Weil) a waste of money.
(Phila, PA)
07/23/2009
I saw Jack from the UK asked this question so I never bother askintg the same.That was over a year ago and Joe never answered.So now it's my turn.Maybe since it was actually one of Ted's treatments then Ted might respond for us.How often should you use the Peroxide/borax solution ? Is it something you just do once and done or is it weekly,monthly,daily ???? Thanks-Dave
(Apache Junction, Arizona, Usa)
09/27/2010
I would like to try the hair loss remedy of using borax and peroxide on my scalp, but was wondering if 1% peroxide would bleach out my hair - it's already blonde, and I don't want to go from pitbullblonde to pitbullplatinum overnight and have to explain my hair issues to my coworkers. Any and all information greatly appreciated, as I had always heard that peroxide would bleach out ones hair.
Nettles
★★★★★
(Bucharest, Romania)
11/24/2009
★★★★★
Yes, this is a well-known remedy for hair-loss in Romania - boil a handful of nettles for a few minutes and use that water (while still warm) to wash your hair. You may want to keep the mixture in your hair for a few minutes, then wash it out. Do this at least twice a week.
(Montreal, Canada)
12/08/2010
★★★★★
Yes, nettle tea is a well known tonic against hair loss in eastern europe. It is great for everything hair-wise, and drinking a cup a day is a great prevention against hair loss, as is rinsing the hair with nettle, after shampooing. The herb also ads shine to your hair. However, you need patience, chronic hair loss doesn't stop overnight, a couple of months is usually needed to see results.
(Praha, Czech Republic)
11/01/2012
★★★★★
Yes nettles work very well.
Niacin
★★★★★
While searching for hair loss treatment shampoos I found many pleased with Argan oil, but that seems to be a fad now and the $30.00+ price tag, to me, supports that. I kept searching and discovered Niacin and caffeine shampoo by OGX (sold online and at Ulta Beauty stores) for $7.00. They also carry a conditioner with same active ingredients plus I found a $3.50 off coupon if I spent $10.00.
I thought, why don't I just take some niacin (not niacinamide)? There was a partial bottle of 250 mg niacin with 125 mg calcium I had for lowering cholesterol, I believe. After taking one per day for just 2 days my hair loss stopped. This is what I am taking same brand/dosage but mine is not the prolonged release just plain old niacin and calcium: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/21st-century-niacin-250-mg-110-tabs (and NOT the advanced formula either. they sure like to mess with stuff).
I didn't buy online, but from the corner pharmacy.
Previously, after running my hand through my hair I would find 5 or more hairs in my hand every time and all day finding hair fallout on the clothes I was wearing, in the sink etc. and a massive amount after washing my hair.
I have a disclaimer. I was taking Armour Thyroid and thought that was the hair loss culprit so I switched to Nutri-Pak Thyroid (get online) which has the same exact active ingredients and dosage per 130 mg pill as the armour 120 mg pill. I switched only 2 days before taking the niacin. (I phoned my doctor's office and told them I'm doing it so they would have on record.) I could not determine if that made a difference and I have often read that the thyroid med stays in one's system for days or longer.
I believe the niacin is what helped and am interested in knowing if taking niacin to reverse hair loss will help others. My Google searches support the benefits of niacin for hair, skin and circulation.
Oiling the Hair
★★★★★
I do believe that baldness/hair loss (for most people who arent ill) is half your genetics and half of what you put in and on your body. I have completely stopped using chemical based products on my skin or hair and will hopefully cut them out of my diet one day as well (and I mean ANY sort of chemical, don't use anything thats not EARTH GROWN on your hair and skin) I don't use those fake 'organic" ones you find at health food markets. I'm telling you ladies and men that have a history of hair loss without physical illness, to take up AYURVEDIC remedies. A nice Indian lady once told me "These Americans don't put oils on their hair that's why when they're old they are all balding!" And I swear to you it's the truth.... I dont care if you "think" you're not losing hair and you "think" your hair is lush... But compared to Eastern folk, Latin folk, and Island folk, all of us Americans look "bald". Our hair lacks lustre body and youth. YOU HAVE TO OIL UP YOUR HAIR!
Put the below list of ingredients into your hair 2-3 times a week, depending on how oily or dry your hair is (mine can get oily quick so I put it in twice a week for now)
Get Amla oil, Brahmi oil, Henna leaves or dried Henna, Coconut oil, Aloe Vera, Honey, Milk, Eggs, Some fresh cut red chillies, Castor Oil, Almond Oil, Mustard Oil. Mix it allllll up, rub it on your scalp and all through you hair *The trick is to massage it well into your scalp for 3 minutes. Wash it out in the morning with Shikakai powder (natural cleaner like baking soda) and some baking soda in water.
And try more ayurvedic recipes, many of which can be found online that are pure and organic. Take what you think would be best for you. Stop taking all the pills and chemicals, and use ONLY what you can eat. That's the trick. If you can't eat it dont put it on your body!
Once you start oiling your hair, try other remedies, like eggs and milk for a hair mask, and mix some good ayurvedic oils in the mask as well. Trust me a combination of oiling your hair and hair masks once or twice a month will do the trick and NOOOOO shampoo. Only shikakai and occasional baking soda or borax. After a while oiling you hair 2-3 times a week, your hair will being to balance between oily and dry and you can either oil your hair every night or once a week. :-) I'm telling u it works.
I have been doing this for over a year and my hair loss has been cut in half and my hair looks beautiful! My hair was always dull in color, easily tangled, and FLAT as hell.. But now its bouncy and pretty and I can even grow it long again (almost past my waist yayy! ) without having to worry about it being "too heavy" and falling out more cuz it's long (that's a buncha doodoo) :-). I'm telling you ladies, find the ayurvedic recipes that's the only way to go. I mean look at Indian ladies hair! They must be doing something right then!
Half is your genes and the other half is WHAT YOU DO! Your hair loss will be cut in half I promise that, and your hair will look more youthful which is also a plus. Hope this helps guys :-)
Olive Oil
★★★★★
The only product that has given me immediate relief is Olive Oil. Mind you , it should be Extra Virgin Olive Oil (First cold press). The other ones dont work so good.
I apply a tablespoon of olive oil all over the scalp and hair and leave it at night and shampoo the next morning with mild shampoo. (The shampoo should not be harsh or which causes hair falls).
Right after the first application, my hair loss the next day reduced and after a few days application it has reduced significantly.
Now I hope i get back all my hair...And hope this information helps those who are desperately in need of the same.
Regards
Faris Kadri
Onion Juice
★★★★★
(Kentucky)
02/13/2024
★★★★★
Onion juice (Allium cepa L.), a new topical treatment for alopecia areata
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12126069/
Abstract
Alopecia areata is a patchy, non-scarring hair loss condition. Any hair-bearing surface may be involved, and different modalities of treatment have been used to induce hair regrowth. This study was designed to test the effectiveness of topical crude onion juice in the treatment of patchy alopecia areata in comparison with tap water. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group [onion juice treated] consisted of 23 patients, 16 males (69.5%) and 7 females (30.5%). Their ages ranged between 5-42 years with a mean of 22.7 years. The second group [control; tap-water-treated] consisted of 15 patients, 8 males (53.3%) and 7 females (46.6%). Their ages ranged between 3-35 years with a mean of 18.3 years. The two groups were advised to apply the treatment twice daily for two months. Re-growth of terminal coarse hairs started after two weeks of treatment with crude onion juice. At four weeks, hair re-growth was seen in 17 patients (73.9%), and, at six weeks, the hair re-growth was observed in 20 patients (86.9%) and was significantly higher among males (93.7%) compared to females (71.4%) P<0.0001. In the tap-water treated-control group, hair re-growth was apparent in only 2 patients (13%) at 8 weeks of treatment with no sex difference. The present study showed that the use of crude onion juice gave significantly higher results with regard to hair re-growth than did tap water (P<0.0001), and that it can be an effective topical therapy for patchy alopecia areata.
(USA)
02/14/2024
(Summerville)
02/16/2024
