The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Walker (Huntsville, Alabama) on 12/14/2011
My sister has alopecia, and I was wondering will using Apple Cider Vinegar directly on the bald area will it remove the DHT that is around the follicle that is keeping the hair from growing?
Filter, DHT, Grow, Massage Protocol
Posted by Anon (Los Angeles, California) on 09/11/2016
★★★★★
I have been losing my hair since my teens, and that's about 20 years ago. Instead of doing one remedy, you really need a 4 step synergistic approach. For reference, I am 36, have a great head of hair, normal to oily skin and scalp. Here is the synergistic combination that worked for me. No one thing is going to work for you 100%, you have to use a combination to fight all the toxins you are facing daily.
I call this the 4 step FILTER - DHT - GROW - MASSAGE method.
1.) First you need to get rid of toxins that's inhibiting your hair follicles and hair growth. Surprise...where does that come from? Your daily shower water. Chlorine and lead pipes both kills follicles. I lived in a place with lead pipes and my hair loss went 50% worse. Once I moved out, and installed a shower filter that gets rid of chlorine (plus some other substances), my hair loss significantly decreased. I bet a whole house system that gets rid of fluoride would be even better, but I can't afford that, so a shower filter does the job.
2.) The second step is killing the DHT hormone on your scalp and your body. DHT is the primary hormone responsible for hair shredding. You do this by supplementing with Saw Palmetto Extract. This is a naturally safe method. The one side effect is that it makes you gain 5 lbs. So you need to clean up your diet and exercise routine to make up for that, in order to look the same weight. If I ever get off the Saw Palmetto, my hair loss increases. Once I get on again, it remains stable.
3.) Next you need to focus on growth. To do so, you need a high quality hair supplement. Do your research there, there are tons on the market. Make sure it has Biotin, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Silica, etc. Your body needs all the help it can get to regrow hair.
4.) The fourth step is primary for oily scalps. Although it may also help a dry scalp with a different solution. The reason you need to brush your scalp is because for most women, shampoo isn't helping your scalp. You are just washing hair strands. Its your scalp that needs help. I make a solution of caster oil, a bit of alcohol and some castile soap in one of those tooth shaped plastic bottles used for dying hair (you can get them at a beauty supply store). Apply the solution into my scalp, then brush my scalp with a medium to hard hair brush. Preferably one with hard, pointy plastic bristles, the real hair bristles wont get to your scalp. Important you are cleaning and exfoliating your scalp. There will be a lot of oily substances on the hair brush and you. What comes out of it is a cleaner scalp with less oil, allowing hair to grow stronger. I do this for about 15 - 20 minutes, sometimes, 30 minutes. Do this massage once a week to keep your scalp in optimum condition.
If you apply the synergistic approach of Filter - DHT - Grow - Massage, your hair loss will significantly decrease. This approach was much better than any rogaine or prescription product I have ever found. I am still doing it 10 years later.
Iodine
Posted by Rob (Hawthorn Woods, IL) on 01/01/2008
★★★★★
Since I posted my comments several months ago regarding the use of Iodine for my wife's allopecia, I've had several inquiries about the particulars of my wife's treatment. I believe the majority of allopecia problems are internal, not external, so I would highly recommend an Iodine deficiency test if you indeed suffer from this. Many doctors are familiar with this test, but if you go to Dr. Mercola's website at Mercola.com and type "iodine deficiency" in the search box, he will give directions on how to easily and inexpensively do the test yourself. Please post your feedback here at Earth Clinic so that we can help everyone....Thanks
Coconut Oil
Posted by Priyanka (Mumbai, India) on 12/30/2013
★★★★★
I use coconut oil once a week as an overnight treatment. Earlier I was facing a hair loss problem. Since applying coconut oil to hair is a common pratice in south India where most people have very thick and long hair and is highly demanded internationally for real hair extensions, I decided to give it a try.
I take half cup of coconut oil and WARM it in the microwave/stove. (It should not be too hot, just warm. Heating oil too much destroys its nutrients, but warming it slightly will help it to penetrate the scalp better. If it is fuming when heated, then it means it has been heated too much.) Massage it to the SCALP in circular motions for 5-10 mins. Then apply it to the length of the hair and tips. The really effective method is to SOAK your hair in the oil as it is done in south India. This gets very messy but is extremely helpful. Tie the hair tightly into a ponytail, cover your pillows and sleep. Do this at night and wash it off next morning. You might have to shampoo 2 times to get the oil out.
Ever since I have been doing this (since 2 months) my hair fall has become very less and this treatment gives the hair an unbelievable shine and softness. People have also started noticing and asking me the secret! :) Many people who do this since childhood have very long and thick hair when they grow up, so better to do it for kids also.
If you feel that waiting the whole night is too long, applying the oil in a similar way 2 hours before shower might also help, but keeping it the whole night is actually great. Initially it feels messy but once you get used to it, it actually gives a deep and calm sleep and I feel very well rested when I get up in the morning.
Ayurvedic Navartna Oil
Posted by Leisa (Brisbane, Australia) on 12/29/2013
★★★★★
Hi. I would just like to share a most recent treatment for chronic hair fall. I am a 45 year old woman in good health at my ideal weight and with excellent fitness and never took any medications. I have always had (as most people do) hair falling during the summer months. This was never a problem as the hair fall seemed minimal and the hair seemed to thicken up again during the winter months and I always maintained a pretty good head of hair with lovely shine and lustre until the last 5 years or so. To my horror the hair fall seemed to increase at an alarming rate and volume - My summers turned into a hair shedding nightmare. Hair all over the house, clogging up the vacuum cleaner brush and shower drain and giving me absolute misery. By Autumn (Fall), thank God it would stop and I would hope and pray that the new hair growth would somehow catch up. Unfortunately, It never did and I am now left with very thin, embarrassing fine hair in which there are places where my scalp is clearly visible because of the sparseness. I tried a lot of different things - doctors, medications, diets, hair treatments, commercial and home remedies and supplements but nothing seemed to work. Until 2 weeks ago. We are currently in our hottest months here in the southern hemisphere and as usual my hair was dropping out all over the place. I tried a hair oil called Navratna Oil. It is an Ayurvedic scalp and hair oil treatment that I found in the Indian Grocery store. At first I was sceptical because I have tried oil treatments before (Coconut and Sesame) but they seemed to accelerate the hair fall. This treatment however, has, I can safely say, after 2 weeks, somehow almost completely stopped the hair fall! I am flabbergasted and cannot quite believe it as this will be the first time in a very long time when I have never had hair falling in summer. I believe it is the Oil as the effect was instantaneous - HAIR FALL STOPPED (well maybe a couple of hairs here and there) but not the excessive shedding that was happening. I am very happy with this result and wanted to share my experience here with other readers and perhaps it will help others with this very distressing disorder. The oil is a herbal treatment with about nine different Ayurvedic herbs including 'Kunch' and 'Amla'. It seems that it is most commonly used as a 'cooling oil' applied on the scalp and left for a couple of hours for relaxation, headache relief and dandruff and then you just shampoo it out like other hair oiling treatments. I really believe that one of ingredients has done something good to my hair follicles. I don't know what it is but it has a tingling cooling sensation on my scalp which is very pleasant. The smell is a bit earthy/herbally but it shampoos out well enough. I am just so happy with this treatment and I am going to continue using it. Perhaps others on this site can benefit from this information. I know what a frustrating and depressing experience it is to lose your hair. Namaste, Leisa
Amla, Ashwaganda
Posted by Commit2change (D, Usa) on 05/02/2011
★★★★★
Alopecia was stopped on my head with the use of Amla Juice and Ashwagandha. Amla juice is sold at some India stores but the Amla or Amla C and Ashwagandha can be bought at Sprouts, www.himalayausa.com and some online stores.
I was told by my doctor I had ZERO Vitamin D in my body and no protein uptake either as per my blood results. She even asked if I was vegeterian which I am not as my body was not uptaking protein which is what hair is made of and therefore I had Alopecia.
Googled what caused Vitamin D and protein to be blocked and found the sugar Splenda (yellow package of no calorie sugar) of which I consumed daily. People also wrote in that they had alot of itching on their head when they consumed Splenda. I stopped using Splenda.
I also used Hair, Skin & Nail Vitamins which can be bought at drug stores and vitamin stores. That helped my hair grow back in after about 6 months BUT it would NOT stay in as my hair fell out all over my head and my scalp was quite visible.
Then found AMLA and Ashwagandha and after 6 weeks of use it totally stopped my hair fallout.
Just google Amla or Amla C (it same product) and Ashwagandha and you will find lots of information on it. I also use NEEM which can be bought at same stores.
My hair has all grown back in and I continue to use Amla shampoo and hair products. You can also buy Amla Oil ( which has a very strong smell) and Amla powder. Just mix the powder with water and apply to hair/head. It will tighten the hair follicles. The Amla tablets and juice I consumed.
Hope this helps others.
EB
Iodine
Posted by Sara (Ca) on 09/11/2020
★★★★★
I know this is an old post but I'm responding in case someone else comes here for information. I use 12.5 mg Iodoral and have had no problem whatsoever. I'm about 113 lbs.
Test the Thyroid
Posted by Iowama (Ny) on 08/31/2018
★★★★★
Hi, I just have an observation to add to the discussion of hair loss and thyroid. Years ago when we moved from the West coast to the Midwest, we couldn't help but notice it was quite common to see women who were at least partially bald. Iowa is one of those states that used to be referred to as "the goiter belt". Was there a connection?
As an aside, another thing we noticed was that several vegetables weren't popular there. How did we ascertain this? In the grocery store check-out line, we were always having to tell the cashier what the vegetables were called. It was a bit comical, and it has been explained to us that the families of the state share a very strong work ethic and value the ability to put a quick meal on the family table above fine tuning the ingredients.
In my case, probably because they were so well priced, I started cooking with a lot more cruciferous vegetables than we had been used to and I developed visible thyroid nodules. Tests indicated my condition required monitoring and no treatment. I'm glad of that because it caused me to go digging for my own thyroid answers here on EC. I took Bill Thompson's advice and began taking all of the recommended companion nutrients for iodine supplimentation and used Loguls iodine. I also cut way back on cruciferous vegetables. Alas, I never liked the way the iodine made me feel, so I tried cutting out the Loguls, but continuing the companion nutrients, with great success. I might add that I use iodized salt faithfully in the kitchen and pink Himalayan salt at table. For anyone with a thyroid issue, I would recommend those companion nutrients and salts. You may find, as I believe I have, that all the needed iodine can then be absorbed through a good diet without iodine supplementation. When I go a few weeks without taking those vitamins, I find a bit of anxiety creeps in and that if I go long enough, I see the familiar lump of an enlarged nodule. This episode took a few years of experimenting to play out, and today I am back to enjoying fresh cole slaw and making our own sauerkraut. My nodules appear to have resolved completely, and I owe it to the companion nutrients that are well discussed on this site.
Back to the original topic, my vote is that thyroid and hair loss are indeed related, even if testing indicates a level within a normal range. Best wishes to all in finding your answers.
Iodine
Posted by Rob (Hawthorn Woods, IL) on 08/16/2007
★★★★★
My wife unexpectedly had all the hairs in her eyebrows fall out over a period of several weeks. There was no apparent cause but we suspected stress had something to do with it. They did eventually grow back, but were very thin and the follicles were still weak. It wasn't until almost a year later that a wonderful holistic doctor tested her and found her iodine deficient. She was put on an iodine pill, her energy levels came way up, the her eyebrows are as thick as ever. Kelp tablets would probably do the trick too, as they are high in iodine.
EC: Please read the .pdf, Fluoride Poisoning Q&A by Jason Uttley.
Avoid Retinoid Skin Products
Posted by Jodi (Australia) on 06/05/2020
★★★★★
Around middle age my hairline started receding...A LOT! The entire shape of my face seemed to change since my forehead looked a lot bigger. It was disturbing and made me feel bad about my appearance--especially since I used to have quite a lot of hair. In recent years I developed many health problems, notably chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia (one or the other). So I have focused a lot on my health over the years. I gave up alcohol, started drinking lemon water every morning, etc. But still, there was the hair loss (which I have read can be associated with fibromyalgia) and hairline recession.
Then I read a little tidbit on some random website. EUREKA! It said RETINOIDS can be associated with hair loss. This was a light-bulb moment, because it coincided exactly with when I started losing so much hair. Right then and there I stopped using the topical retinoid that I had started years earlier (Differin). After several months my hair loss stopped and my hairline has filled back in. In the interest of full disclosure,
I also use a number of hair oils on my scalp that are supposed to be good for hair growth (I "oil my hair" before washing using oil blends like black seed oil, castor oil, argan oil, curry leaf infusions, etc.).
These are very good for your hair and can help reverse gray hair. There are lots of videos and diys about this online. I do recommend scalp and hair oiling for the health and appearance of your hair. But it was stopping the retinoid product that made ALL the difference for me!
Iodine
Posted by Lj (Fort Edward, Ny) on 12/01/2018
★★★★★
For women, sometimes, the hair loss has pattern most noticeable at the temple area at the beginning and moving towards the top of the head. Often this is resolved by iodine and addressing the thyroid. Determining if this is an underlying issue is important
Rubbing a small amount of iodine ( I used nascent as it's less drying) into the scalp at night. I would wait about 20 min and then add a very small amount of shark liver oils- squaleen. It's an oil easily absorbed into the skin. I tried coconut oil but it was messy.
As I also had fibroid breasts. Painting iodine reversed this. However I also took a 3mg Supplement oral, iodoral. Split into quarters.
Within a month peach fuzz new growth appeared.
Amla, Ashwaganda
Posted by Vicky (New South Wales) on 02/13/2024
Use Xylitol----- Tastes like sugar but is GOOD for you and for teeth as well. Speaking to all people here: I can't believe people EVER thought that white CHEMICAL powders (sweeteners) could ever be better for you than sugar. Sugar is bad yes- but at least its natural...NOTHING is as bad as pure chemicals. People are having seizures because of these chemical sweeteners and pilots aren't ALLOWED to use them because their planes are expensive and they don't want pilots crashing them when they have a seizure! It's a known thing! Now we find that these sweeteners are making peoples hair fall out? Geez people- The point is to stay AWAY from chemicals, not use them to replace natural products which we are told is fattening. Don't you know that EVERY "non-fat" "low-fat" "sugar-free" thing you eat, puts ON weight? Also cri--s--co is the most weight gaining worse poison you could put in your body...and every restaurant uses it amnd almost every home SMH. I'll tell you something you may not know but FAT...makes you THIN. Yep. The right kind of healthy fats like avocado, nuts and coconut oil have c--ured diabetes and made people lose weight. Also know that we are flooded with omega 6's... Omega 6's turn ON the fat gene and omega 3's turn the fat making gene off. We NEED omega 6's but certainly not in the ratio thaty we're getting them... Whatever 'They' want you eating, they put in everything--- (because they are in the SICKNE$$ business" not the health industry).
Iodine
Posted by Grizz (Jackson, Tn) on 04/23/2012
The problem was NOT the iodine. It was detox symptoms from taking too much iodine too soon. Iodine detoxes the body of bromides, fluorides & chlorine, as well as heavy metals. You must start iodine small3 months. You MUST also take companion supplements selenium, magnesium, vitamin C to avoid detox symptoms.
Grizz
Iodine
Posted by J0hnn (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 03/28/2010
To stop hair loss and start regrowth follow the following protocol:
3 times a day with meals for the first 2 weeks:
Biotin 10,000 mcg(this is a "megadose" level -comes in 5,000 mcg caps)
vegital silica(this is the organic variety(not inorganic silica) 9.4 mg(comes in 4.7 mg caps)
chelated zinc(must be chelated form)100 mg(comes in 50 mg tabs).
After first 2 weeks, continue same dosage twice a day until satisfied with hair growth and optimal health/nutrition is being met.(Biotin is a B vitamin and as such, continuing high stress can increase your regular B vitamin requirements substantially)
Any hair loss will stop immediately and growth with start. Top of head hair grows an average of 1/2 inch per month so you will not see any "fuzz" until about 3 weeks from start.
This is what worked for me as a 64 yr old male that had sudden hair loss last fall where hair was coming out by the handfull for a couple of weeks.
By adding the zinc to the other 2 items, my hair came back in with my natural hair colour rather than the grey/white mix that had been falling out.
You can do further research and will see both the biotin and vegital silica as very well regarded for their benificial properties for hair.
Collagen
Posted by Anagra (New York) on 07/09/2021
★★★★★
I have been taking collagen for several months now on a daily basis. It has definitely helped with the hair loss I had been having. I take approximately 2 tablespoons daily. My daughter recently commented that my hair looks like it has filled in considerably, so I think I'm on the right track.
Fix Hormonal Imbalances
Posted by Joy (Battleground, Wash) on 07/29/2013
★★★★★
Re Alopecia Totalis and Severe Night Sweats
You might try some magnesium- slow, low dose and work your way up.... Are you low on D vitamin ? If these are out of balance they throw other hormones out of balance. After a certain age a woman no longer produces progesterone and her body gets estrogen dominant. Your thyroid tests and hormone test can be normal and be inaccurate for you. Dr. John Lee wrote a nice book on how to help yourself figure out what is out of balance and how to fix it.... Best book I've read on hormones and imbalances. Electrolytes affect the hormones, read the watercure site for help.
Iodine
Posted by Alya (UAE) on 09/26/2018
Be VERY wary of Kelp! It is usually very heavily contaminated with heavy metals, even some organic brands! I would go for Lugol's iodine, or something similar.
Amla, Ashwaganda
Posted by Renee (Houston, Tx, US) on 10/30/2014
Don't recommend vitamins from drug stores PLEASE. Many vitamins are irridated. I've been a "holistic" person since 13 and have never had health issues I am visit this website for pet and conditions others I know have and it's a great resource. God Bless this web site :-)) "Doctors" have had one hour of nutritional training throughout their medical training and education and I love how they always say YOU NEED MORE PROTEIN. Hogwash.
Amla, Ashwaganda
Posted by GertJr (Madison) on 07/30/2022
I dealt with Karen Hurd about 30 years ago or so. Be careful. Every bit of advice she gave me was exactly wrong. I have ibs-d and she pushed raw and fiber, which about killed me. I tried hard to follow her protocol, costing me a fortune I didn't have, and got sicker and sicker. I finally said this isn't working and stopped. Best move I could have made. Not saying she isn't good at what she does but, for me, she was a disaster. (This could have been when she was just starting out and hadn't learned about ibs-d yet, so not totally against her. Just be careful.)
Iodine
Posted by Carol (Chicago, IL) on 07/12/2008
★★★★★
I purchased the clear iodine, known as liquid kelp from Whole Foods. I applied a drop or two a day on my scalp every other day for about 2 months. many strands of hair did grow on my scalp but the hair is in the form of white fuzz. The article you about wrote about clear iodine causing fuzz to grow on scalp, worked as you said it would. A bald spot on my scalp still remains along with many stunted growth of white fuzzy hair.
Test the Thyroid
Posted by Vicki (Napa, Ca) on 04/05/2016
★★★★★
Hi, I want to talk about hair loss... Please don't just take your doctor's word that your thyroid is normal!!!! Most doctors are old school & don't want to do all the right testing for the thyroid!!! or, they don't know how!! Have them test your t4, t3, reverse t3, antibodies, among others, especially the thr!!! This will definitely show what's wrong!!!
Test the Thyroid
Posted by Rsw (Oh) on 04/05/2016
★★★★★
Hi Liz,
After reading "Stop the Thyroid Madness" by Janie Bowthorpe (sp?), I realized my doctor was not ordering the proper tests, either. I found this site:
http://www.lifeextension.com/Vitamins-Supplements/Blood-Tests/Blood-Tests
and order my own tests. There is a Lab Corp in town that draws the blood, and the results are sent to me. I mail a copy to my doctor, and she is OK with this. You can join for $50, but you get a $50 credit towards any supplement or blood test, but I don't think they take insurance. If you want to see all the thyroid numbers, you could order it only once to show your doctor and see how it compares to the numbers in Janie's book. The TSH number alone is not a good indication of how your thyroid is functioning. If you show antibodies as in Hashimoto's, or Free T4 or Free T3 numbers that are outside the suggested values, it may be a way to justify having your doctor order the tests herself next time. It's nice to know you can take charge of your own health with this alternative. Best wishes.
Anti-Fungal Treatment
Posted by Cat (Bop, Nz) on 07/09/2012
07/09/2012: Pamela from Beverly Hills, Ca Usa: Sadly Pamela, it amounts to $$$. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies can't make money out of anything that's not a prescription drug, so you don't expect them to tell you. Not only that, but I believe that in their medical school training, they aren't told ANYTHING about how the right food can help your illnesss, let alone a natural remedy such as coconut oil. My 11yr old son recently experienced alopecia areata and after going straight to a naturopath and feeding him up on the essential minerals, oils etc that he was missing, his hair is now growing back at a steady rate. A doctor would never have told me this stuff. I would have been given a cream to rub on!
Iodine
Posted by Miriam (Farmington Hills, Mi) on 08/08/2010
Warning: Be very careful how much iodine you take and that you do not have thyroid issues!!! I was put on 100 mg. of Iodorol and I had a toxic reaction and all of my hair fell out in a five month period! It has taken almost 2 years to get it back with the help of a very dedicated Dermatologist. Beware.
Vitamin D
Posted by Yaya (Portland, Or) on 11/01/2014
★★★★★
I had serious hair loss for several years. I lost hair everywhere. My beautiful Native hair became very thin with some bald spots. Turned out my vitamin d levels were down to 13. Now after a prescription of 50,000 units of d2 weekly for 10 weeks, then 6000 units a day of d3 for a year. I have hair again. I was prescribed 4000 units a day for the rest of my life by our doctor.
