In general, there is no sure-fire way to prevent all hair loss; however, there are some methods that have been used that work on most people. In addition to the dietary improvements and suggestions already mentioned in another post, there are some naturopathic remedy suggestions that work wonders on your hair.
Massage and Aromatherapy Therapy to Treat Hair Loss
Massage and aromatherapy have been used with some success. In minor cases of temporary hair loss, hair growth can be stimulated by massage, since blood and oxygen flow to the scalp must be healthy in order for hair to grow.
How to massage hair by yourself?
Massaging the scalp in general for a couple of minutes a day can stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles and in mild cases stimulate some hair growth. There are several options to massage yourself.
- flat-handed massage
- finger massage
- electric massagers
- Qi Gong
Flat handed and finger massage
One must be careful to be gentle when massaging and not tug at the hair or use the fingernails when massaging the scalp. If one is concerned about fingernails getting in the way due to extra long fingernails, there are several options which should be opted.
One is a flat-handed massage, which while not as effective as the finger massage can provide some circulatory benefits and results.
Electric massagers
There are several electric massagers on the market that have an attachment for scalp massaging as well. They come with multiple heads and suitable for usage on waist, neck, shoulder, arm, hips, thighs, buttocks, calf and feet.
Qi Gong massaging technique
An oriental method called Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Kung) has been used to increase circulation to the scalp and face also. The fingers should be placed at the center of the skull base and then begin to tap approximately 30 times. Work
your way outward toward the ears continuing to tap gently. After reaching the ears go back to the center of the skull a little higher up and work your way around to the ear region.
Keep going up about eight levels, each time repeating the process.
Homemade natural oil for hair massage
A blend of six drops each of lavender and bay essential oils in a base of four ounces of either almond, soybean
or sesame oil massaged into the scalp and allowed to sit for 20 minutes has been used by aroma therapists to stimulate the scalp.
Once the mixture is in the scalp for 20 minutes, wash your hair and scalp with your normal shampoo mixed with three drops of bay essential oil.
Use of Saw Palmetto to Control Hair Loss
As mentioned earlier, there is a definite connection between the prostate and hair loss for men, and therefore a connection between breakthroughs in BPH treatments developed and their effectiveness in restoring hair growth.
There have been some herbalists that have experimented with the herb Saw Palmetto in order to block the production of DHT in treating BPH. Although most studies of Saw Palmetto have been for the treatment of prostatic disease, more recent studies have been conducted on its effectiveness in treating loss.
The herb has been found to work in fighting benign prostatic disease by lowering levels of DHT, which is a known cause of androgenetic alopecia. Studies have shown Saw Palmetto extract is an effective anti-androgen and therefore there is promise for its effectiveness as an effective treatment for hair loss prevention.
Women who take Saw Palmetto should cease doing so when taking oral contraceptives or hormone therapy.
Nettle root extract for hair loss treatment
Nettles are rich in vitamins A and C, several key minerals and lipids that can be beneficial to the hair.
Nettle Root Extract has been used successfully in Europe as an inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase in treating BPH. As mentioned earlier, 5-alpha reductase is a key component in turning testosterone into DHT, the substance that causes the atrophy of hair follicles. Therefore there is great promise in its use as a component in natural hair loss treatments.
Nettle Root Extract is available at health food stores over the counter, and has few side effects.
Rosemary and sage for hair loss treatment
Rosemary and sage are two herbs that have shown benefit traditionally when used externally. You can follow below steps to use this herb for maximum benefit.
- It is suggested that to promote a clean scalp, stimulation of the hair root, and thickening hair one should boil together in water rosemary, sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock.
- Then strain the loose herbs from the liquid and use the liquid to wash the hair daily.
Natural Hair lotion by using rosemary and nettles
Also recommended is steeping one ounce of ground rosemary, two ounces of ground sage, and a half ounce of ground nettles in one pint of ethyl alcohol for a week, straining the solution and adding one ounce of castor oil and one ounce of water to the liquid.
This is said to make a great hair lotion to apply at night before bed or just before shampooing.
Jojoba oil to remove dandruff
If one is predisposed to seborrhea, eczema, psoriasis, or dandruff, one might consider the use of jojoba (pronounced ho-ho-ba) oil. Mexicans and southwestern Native American nations have used jojoba oil traditionally for centuries to promote hair growth and the control of dandruff.
Jojoba oil is great for hypoallergenic skin by being a great moisturizer and mimicking the scalp’s own sebum. It absorbs readily into the scalp and helps remove deposits of sebum from the hair follicles, neutralizes acidity, and nourishes the scalp with all the B vitamins, vitamin E, silicon, copper, zinc, chromium, and iodine.
Aloe Vera for hair loss treatment
Aloe Vera has been used by Native Americans, Indians and many in the Caribbean to promote healthy hair and prevent hair loss. Aloe’s positive effects on the skin are well known, and likewise it can help the scalp by healing it and balancing the pH level of the scalp while cleansing the pores.
Preparation of aloe-vera gel/shampoo
A common preparation of Aloe Vera gel with a small amount of wheat germ oil and coconut milk is used as a shampoo and has traditionally shown great benefit. Of course, if you do not want to go through the trouble of concocting your own formulas, similar products or products containing these ingredients may be found in the health food store if one does some searching.
Henna for hair maintenance
While Henna will not promote hair growth, henna is excellent for the maintenance of healthy hair. Henna is a natural clay conditioner that can help heal the hair shaft by repairing and sealing the cuticle, protecting hair against breakage and loss of shine.
Henna comes in a variety of colors to safely color or highlight the hair temporarily, or one can obtain neutral henna if one does not desire color changes to the hair.
Use of Polysorbate-80 on the scalp
Polysorbate-80 is an FDA approved surfactant that is also approved as a food additive. It causes water and oils or fats to mix, and according to research, is of very little toxicity. Although it is not proven, Polysorbate-80 is said to remove deposits of DHT and cholesterol from the scalp.
Polysorbate-80 is a common additive in shampoo and is also available in its stand-alone form inn health food stores. It is being recommended by some naturopathic practitioners as an application for the scalp approximately 15 minutes prior to shampooing.
Body Cleansing and Detoxification to Treat Hair Loss
Cleansing should be a major part of your regimen to maintain and grow hair.
Many scalp related diseases are directly the result of toxemia, while toxins in the body adversely affecting the body’s systems indirectly affect other conditions. Cleansing should be performed through oral means regularly and occasionally by enema or colonic irrigation; and the colon is the key to health and the root of nearly all of the body’s
illnesses.
A clogged colon blocks the ability of the body to absorb nutrients from foods you consume, therefore causing possible malnutrition of the hair. When the colon is clogged, toxins are harbored that harm the body. Excess toxins send the body into a panic and overwork other organs of the body when the colon cannot eliminate them.
Commonly overworked organs are the liver and the kidneys, however the trickle-down effect actually causes the adrenal glands to overproduce testosterone, leading to increased levels of DHT.
Psyllium husk for body cleansing
Fiber is vital to cleansing, and most North American diets are deficient in natural fiber. Psyllium husk is a bulking laxative agent that can be used to safely move waste through the colon.
Psyllium is a very good substance as it gently scrubs the walls of the colon to remove waste that is stuck to the walls. Activating agents such as the herbs cascara sagrada, senna and cayenne help activate the peristaltic waves of the intestines to push clogged waste through the colon and out. It would be best to consult an herbalist, naturopath or purchase a prepared herbal tea containing the aforementioned herbs.
However, the psyllium can be obtained from any health food store and mixed with water. Be sure to drink the psyllium as soon as you mix it as it will begin to turn into a gel-like substance that will be harder to swallow. Psyllium has no taste, and although many do not like its gritty feeling, the benefits far outweigh the unpleasantness.
Colonic irrigation to remove toxins
Occasionally, a full colonic irrigation should be sought from a licensed professional. Colonic irrigations clean the colon through the gentle application of water into the colon by a colonic irrigation machine. Licensed practitioners who perform this function are available in most states and the benefits are unequalled. Commonly called a colonic for short, this process can remove far more waste than cleansing by taking herbs orally.
With a proper diet, one should only need to have a colonic seasonally or even as little as bi-annually, for those who are maintaining a high-fiber diet. For the first treatment however, one should go through a series of colonic irrigation cleansings, since waste is impacted in the colon and must be gradually loosened.
Detoxifying herbal teas
Once one has cleansed internally, cleanliness must be maintained to avoid the buildup of toxins reoccurring. Detoxifying herbal teas such as saffron are gentle and can be drunk to remove toxins from the body.
Saffron has the effect of carrying toxins from inside the body out through the pores of the skin. Chamomile, mullein or watermelon seed tea can be substituted for saffron tea for this purpose.
Steam bath cleansing the toxins
Steam bath is beneficial to open the pores to allow toxins to come out easier.
Be sure to consume plenty of fluids such as water and sports drinks that contain salts your body may lose before entering a steam bath. Steam baths are extremely beneficial, yet your body will lose a large amount of water and salt, so you want to be sure to consume extra amounts of water and salt before going into the steam bath, and keep some sports drinks on hand in case you feel depleted.
Of course if you have any medical conditions that affect your stamina, endurance, blood pressure, or breathing, consult your physician before engaging in steam baths.
Exercise Regimen to Avoid Hair Loss
Although exercise does absolutely nothing directly to grow hair, most holistic practitioners when questioned about hair loss recommend it. The reason was stated earlier, that being the fact that the body is a complete system, and neglect of the system can cause chain reactions of which one result may be hair loss.
Take some time to exercise daily if only for a few minutes. This will improve blood flow, the delivery of oxygen to the cells of the body, and help the digestion of foods, all things that aid the health of hair follicles.
Swimming as a complete exercise
If you have access to seawater, swimming is one of the most complete exercises available. It exercises the entire body with little stress on the joints, and the seawater helps wash away toxins.
However, beware of swimming in chlorinated water such as found in most pools, as chlorine can have negative effects on the hair.
Bicycling regularly as an exercise
Bicycling is also another low-impact beneficial exercise that can be done in one’s neighborhood or on a stationary bicycle, as is walking.
Whatever method of exercising you choose, simply exercise to improve overall health. In combination with the other
methods presented here, exercise will only help your condition.
Effective Hair Care and Hair Grooming Methods
Hair is fairly strong and can generally withstand normal grooming techniques. However, there can be thinning or breakage of hair due to poor grooming habits, and following several tips can prevent these bouts of thinning and breakage.
1. Avoid combing wet hair
Avoid combing hair with fine-toothed combs when wet, as this is a common cause of breakage. Although
this is a tempting practice because hair straightens and detangles much better if combed when wet, the stress on the hair shaft is immense when the hair is wet because it is weakened.
2. Avoid brushing wt hair
This goes for brushing the hair when wet also. Brushing the hair in general can be stimulating to the scalp, encouraging blood flow to the hair follicles and maintaining their health. Brushing the hair before washing it can loosen up flakes of sebum and dead skin buildup and make it easier to thoroughly clean the scalp during shampooing.
Remember, over combing or over brushing generally will cause damage to the hair, which is quite contrary to the old 100-stroke brushing rule.
3. Avoid excessive shampooing
Although clean hair is desirable and even necessary for the maintenance of healthy hair, excessive shampooing can strip vital minerals like calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen and iron from the hair. This is particularly true when using commercial shampoos.
Most commercial shampoos contain formaldehyde as a preservative. To disguise the presence of formaldehyde it is listed in the ingredients as Quanternium-15. This substance can be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and poisonous to the entire system.
Unfortunately for those who suffer with dandruff, anti-dandruff shampoos are some of the most dangerous shampoos on the market. Selenium sulfide is the main ingredient in most dandruff shampoos, a substance that has shown to cause degeneration of the liver. Other toxic chemicals such as polyvinyl pyrrlidone plastic (PVP), which is a
proven carcinogenic, and creosol which has been proven to be highly toxic are commonly found in dandruff shampoos.
This is why it is very important to correct this condition as quickly as possible through natural means.
4. Make use of natural shampoos
Natural shampoos normally found in health food stores are a much better choice. Even with natural shampoos, be careful of the ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can strip away too much oil from the hair, causing shampoo residue to be left behind.
Ingredients that have proven useful in shampoos are cocamides, Panthenol Pro-B, of course the previously discussed vitamins, aloe vera, sage, nettle, burdock, chamomile, chaparral, horsetail and rosemary. Also look for shampoos that contain keratin, the protein substance that hair is made of, or amino acids. This will help seal breakages in the cuticle.
Choose a shampoo with a proper pH balance; a level of 5.5 is ideal. The pH scale runs from 0 to 6.9 for acids and 7.1 to 14 for alkaline, with 7 being neutral.
5. Word of caution for using conditioners
Although generally conditioners are good for hair provided that they do not contain the previously mentioned harmful chemicals. Shampooing and conditioning serve two different functions and the effectiveness of both are diminished by combining the process.
Shampoos with conditioners included should be avoided.
6. How to apply shampoo in a correct way?
7. Avoid excessive hair coloring and heat treatments
Be sure to follow directions on all perms and relaxers, as misuse can cause serious damage to the hair shaft. Excessive coloring, styling or heat treatments, and chemical treatments can damage hair and cause breakage even when directions are followed.
Always keep in mind that these perms and relaxers have harsh chemicals in them that chemically alter hair, and long-term use of these chemicals can cause harm to hair shafts and follicles causing some hair loss. If you can avoid the use of these chemicals, by all means do. The result could be the increased life of your hair.
Difference between perms and relaxers
| Permenant weave | Relaxer |
|---|---|
| A permenant weave is often times referred to as a perm. Perms are used to add curl to hair that is naturally straight. This is done by using a liquid that is applied to the hair along with rods or rollers. The hair then takes the shape of the rods or rollers and is neutralized. A perm usually lasts until it grows out or cut. | A relaxer is a permenant straightner for hair that is tightly coiled. This works when at least 60% of the coils are straightened. Like a perm, a relaxer lasts until the hair grows out or until it is cut. |
If you decide to use perms or relaxers to process hair, be sure to use semi- permanent hair color or henna. This will avoid harsh reactions between the relaxer or perm and the ammonia and peroxide amounts in permanent dyes. It is always best to allow the hair to rest untreated as much as possible, and avoid mixing chemical processes.
8. Avoid traction alopecia with over-styling
Another styling caution is against the overuse of hairstyles that pull the hair too tight, such as ponytails and braids, which will cause hair loss especially along the sides of the scalp. This syndrome is called traction alopecia.
Keep in mind when styling hair that hair is living and growing, and is susceptible to the stress of constant pulling continuous abuse causes scarring, which will lead to permanent hair loss in the areas affected. Along with leaving the hair chemically untreated for a time, leaving it in a loose style without over-manipulation for as long as possible will ensure optimum results.
Conclusion
It is most advisable to make use of natural hair loss remedies for treating hair problems. This has to be complement with good nutrition and exercise routine. There are alternatives such as surgery, transplantation etc which is best avoided. Additionally, it is important to maintain your hair by following effective grooming and hair care techniques. Make use of tips mentioned in this post and be healthy!
