Tag: Androgen Receptors

Natural Treatment of Hair Loss

The treatment for hair loss may be divided into two types. One type includes the artificial methods like hair transplantation, use of drugs, etc. The other type includes various ways of natural hair loss treatment.

The artificial hair loss treatment methods are undoubtedly effective. However, a natural hair loss treatment method is always a safer alternative.

Some tools for natural treatment for hair loss

The following herbal supplements play very effective roles in natural hair loss treatment

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) It is a palm-like plant of the North American origin. Extracts from saw palmetto berries contain fatty acids and sterols. The latter block 5-Alpha-Reductase and reduce DHT uptake by hair follicles. They also reduce the block binding of DHT to androgen receptors. The liposterolic extract of saw palmetto combined with beta-sitosterol (a phytosterol common to many plants and grains) has produced notable improvements in anti-androgen activity in several research studies.

Boarage oil Boarage oil is one of the proven hair loss treatments. It contains omega-3 fatty acids. Its presence in a diet may help to prevent hair loss. In fact, it may even help promote hair re-growth.

Boarage seeds also contain gamma linoleic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid. The latter – a good fat – may help prevent male pattern baldness.

Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) It has been used as a hair tonic for centuries. It supposedly stimulates new hair growth and revives hair color.

DHT is the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness and a nettle root extract reportedly prevents testosterone from being converted to DHT.

Green tea extract Green tea extracts also hamper the conversion of testosterone to DHT. The catechin concentration in green tea is higher than that in black tea. Unlike black tea, green tea is not allowed to dry and ferment. That helps to retain catechin integrity.

Grape seeds – Grape seeds contain OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins). They stimulate epithelial cell growth and check the growth-inhibiting effect of the molecule TGF-beta2 produced by androgen affected hair follicles.

Apple skin It is another effective natural hair loss treatment agent. Studies have established procyanidin therapy as a potential treatment for male pattern baldness. Apple procyanidins reportedly have high level hair-growth promoting capacity.

The skin of green apples is the richest known source of procyanidin.

Black cohosh It has the ability to regulate estrogen hormone levels. Therefore it is potentially helpful in hair loss prevention and restoration. It is a regular component of natural hair loss restoration formulas.

Licorice – This native European herb is famous as an excellent expectorant and is an effective hair loss treatment agent as well. As black cohosh, it can also regulate estrogen hormone level.

Ayurvedic antistress tea Consumption of a mixed drink of Nardostachys Jatamamsi and Bacopa Monnieri each day may prevent hair loss. Beside that, it also helps in relieving stress.

He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) – This Chinese herb is a common component of various natural hair loss treatment agents.

Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) It has two usability. One is treating male pattern baldness and the other is treating prostate related problems.

Cinnamon and Dragon Bone – It helps in solving round spots of alopecia.

Common Causes of Hair Loss

It is very natural for a person to loss 50 to 100 hairs each day under the bodys hair renewal process. But most of the people at least once in their lifetime suffer with heavy hair loss. There may be various reason behind this; like medication, chemotherapy, exposure to radiations and certain chemicals, nutritional and hormonal factors, thyroid disease, skin disease or stress, etc.

In most of the cases hair loss is temporary but in certain cases it may be permanent depending on the severity of disease. Some of the most common causes of hair loss are explained here.

Hormonal

Hormones are stimulant to hair growth and causes hair loss problems. Hormones affect heavily our hair growth. These affect both male as well as female hair health.

Hair thinning is one of the hormonal problems and affects both men and women. Hair thinning in male is specific and follows a pattern from the front through to the crown. Hair thinning in female does not follow any specific pattern.

Hair thinning is caused by androgen DHT or Dihydrotesterone. Everyone has DHT but only some suffers with hair problem, are you wandering, why? This owes to the hair follicles, which have a greater number of androgen receptors for the DHT to attach with. Till date the most effective treatment for the problems of hair thinning is; anti androgens. Anti androgens are preventive drugs that prevent the creation of DHT. In future we may get genes therapy for hair thinning problems.

Childbirth

Many of the females experience hair loss after labor. In such a situation many of the hair enters the telogen or resting phase. Some of the females experiences hair loss within two to three months after giving childbirth.

Hair problem due to pregnancy is temporary and in many of the cases eradicate within time, say 1 to 6 months. This occurs because of diverse hormonal changes that take place within the body during pregnancy.

Birth control pills

The females who are genetically programmed with Androgenic Alopecia, if takes birth control pills at much younger age encounters hair loss. Androgenic Alopecia is caused due to various hormonal changes.

The females who have history of hair loss in their family must consult doctor before taking any birth control pills. This type of hair loss is temporary and may stop in 1 to 6 months. But in some of the cases, it has been noticed that a female cannot regrow some of her hair that was lost due to Androgenic Alopecia.

Deficient diet

A good balanced diet rich in varied variety of nutrients is equally important to your hair health. The person who eats less of proteins or has irregular eating habits suffers with hair loss. Generally to save protein our body pushes growing hair into resting phase. If your hair can be pulled out by the root very easily, then this may be due to lack of a well balanced diet. This condition can be prevailed by eating a diet rich in proteins and other necessary nutrients.

Low serum iron

If some person either may not have access to iron rich food or his / her body may not absorb enough of iron then this may cause hair problems. Women during menstrual period are more prone to be iron deficient. Low iron in the body can be detected by laboratory test and can be corrected by taking a diet rich in iron and iron pills.

However, hair loss problems of any sort are generally temporary and can be solved by taking good nutritious diet and professional help.