Natural cures for hair loss?

[Corny]

I've read that increasing Selenium intake and getting enough iron is supposed to help. But I'm wondering what about Saw Palmetto? Does that stuff really work? I've tried it for a few weeks, and haven't noticed anything aside from some tingling on my scalp. Other than that, it seems like I may be even losing more hair than before!

Could saw palmetto actually *cause* hair loss?

[shelley]

First you have to determine if this is progressive hair loss, OR instead a temporary hair shedding due to a sudden change in your metabolism. If you've been cleansing, particularly the liver, then you can experience some hair loss that is entirely normal and the hair does come back.

Either way these are the most common nutritional issues: High/low protein, high/low zinc, high/low sodium, low iron, low Iodine, low EFAs,
high Vitamin A, heavy metal toxicity.

Other issues are poor circulation, which is what most herbs address. And having a lot of build-up around the hair follicles can cause progressive hair loss; for that just add some ACV to cold water and rinse thoroughly.

Hope that helps!

[Corny]

I'd assume it's a mixture of both. I've been slowly losing hair ever since I graduated college 10 years ago, and joined the work force!

I did notice that in early 2006, I'd shed quite a bit of hair after doing some amazing liver cleanses. Ever since then, it's been progressing in that direction with a few changes in course since then.

I'll try the ACV+water. I run now, and have incorporating more crunches/push-ups to help with the blood flow. That coupled with saw palmetto, which I'd read was supposed to help prevent DHT for taking hold. I've only been using it for about a month, and I can't really tell what's going on with that.

[shelley]

Hah! maybe you need a different career??? Plus I bet you started drinking a lot more coffee when you started working? That will cause vasoconstriction issues and mineral depletion something fierce.

If it is a circulation issue, the Chinese have this awful-looking metal brush thing that really helps. You can get it off of an acu-puncture site, alternative health site, any site that sells cupping stuff will usually have it. It looks like a steel toothbrush? and you use it to actually prick your scalp and increase blood flow. OR lie on a slant board, or get gravity boots and hang upside down after applying some rosemary, peppermint and other scalp aids.

The liver cleanses must have been really great to cause such a sudden shift in your metablism! way to go!

[Corny]

Maybe! That's actually been coming up quite a bit lately. And yes, I totally started my coffee drinking when I began that job. I was just 23 years old as well! I remember large amounts falling out after I continued drinking coffee at the ages of 24 and 25.

I go through phases of starting and stopping it, of course due to work!

I also forgot to mention---I've had for as long as I can remember, flaky scalp. It itches sometimes, while other times when I brush there are all these pearly white flakes everywhere. Even if I use tea tree oil shampoo, it doesn't help. I even had dandruff and such BEFORE I was on coffee and the hair loss began.

There's even been times in recent years where I'd cut my hair really low, and it looked like I had a rash or ring-worm type stuff on my scalp! It always goes away, so long as I keep my hair low. Weird, yeah?

I'll look into that scary-sounding brush!

[shelley]

that makes a lot of sense. So you had a problem with digesting fats and getting enough EFAs (dandruff) which allowed for a buildup which cuts off circulation too.

See, guys need more linoleic acid than women do. This is why men are more prone to heart attack and dandruff than women are. If you start eating lecithin regularly you'll do a lot better. And the B vits, preferably as nutritional yeast flakes. Just put it in the protein shake with the lecithin and you'll have great skin and hair.

Treat your scalp with a solution of vinegar and cold water (about 10% vinegar) whenever it looks like there's buildup or fungal infection. Just rinse thoroughly before washing as usual.

[Corny]

Shelley,

You mention my having a problem digesting fats. What do you think could be the cause of this? Would that have been liver health?

I was taking flaxseed oil for some time, but have since stopped. Did I read someplace that it was basically a form of estrogen? Maybe I over-reacted?

I'll look into getting the lecithin granules today. I have a ton of Brewer's Yeast in my house, as the store didn't have Nutritional Yeast flakes at the time.

I tried the vinegar and water treatment for two days now--the immediate results are incredible, but the flaking starts up again later that night. The good thing is, it sort of prolongs the flaking!

[shelley]

FAke fats like margarine and non-dairy creamers are hard to digest and they clog up the liver and bile so that afterwards we can't even digest good fats right. It's like build-up in a fuel injection system. We get clogged up. Add to that a diet high in sugars and flours and then we get a B vit and enzyme deficiency that further messes up our fats and cells.

Flaxseed oil is one of those things you have to find out for yourself whether it's good for you. The caveats are: best to get Udo's Choice oil and use that in the Protein Shake and cottage cheese and avoid those oil pills at all costs becuz they are rancid and thus carcinogenic. IF and only if you have estrogen issues then you have to avoid it totally, or only occasionally use Udo's Choice as it's a blend.

People who are prone to pollen/plant allergies should probably avoid it, as it's a weed.

[Corny]

That totally makes sense. In my time, I've definitely consumed margarine and non-dairy creamers. I assume liver flushing and cleansing will bring our livers back to normal?

I've used Flaxseed Oil in the past, and it seemed to be OK. I don't know if I have estrogen issues or not---what would the symptoms of that be? I do have a bit of fear mixing that with this Saw Palmetto, which, by the way, doesn't seem to be doing anything at all for me!

(this leads me to believe my hair loss is not due to DHT, but to something like a fungus or deficiency)

[shelley]

When men have high estrogen they gain weight more easily, but lose muscle mass, a thinner beard... etc.

Did you ever get that physical for the kidneys and foamy urine? Might want to check the thyroid and parathyroid too.

Yep, comprehensive liver cleansing will take care of the fake fats problem. It has to be comprehensive, not just flushing. Lecithin and carrot juice and digestive enzymes along with a high-fiber diet will cleanse the bile of bad fats.

[Corny]

Ah...well, then I can safely say I do NOT have high estrogen. I gain muscle incredibly easily, and get immediate definition when I start working out. In fact, I'm constantly battling "getting too big" from doing weights.

I did get a physical for gall bladder/liver, and they also gave me an ultrasound. I had a few tiny polyps in my gall bladder, but they said my kidneys were totally clear. I haven't had foamy urine in a really long time, and whenever something does show up, it's usually the first urination of the morning---which I figure is kinda normal?

But something is telling me to maybe go back in and get my thyroid checked out.


BTW, picked up some lecithin granules this weekend. This is my 2nd day using them, but I can tell an immediate difference in terms of a sort of "greasy" (for lack of a better term) feeling to my face and hair. A natural feeling "sheen." I dig it! Thanks for the recommendation!

[shelley]

oh that's great!

Yep, if you eat too much protein for your body's needs, you will get foamy urine, usually the first one of the morning. If it stops after that then you're okay; you just maybe ought to rethink your portion sizes of protein or give yourself a vegetarian day at least 2x a week.

Eating ginger and drinking ginger tea, in addition to liver cleansing, will take care of gallbladder polyps. I've known people to completely restore their gallbladders.

[Corny]

Shelley--

Here's something I remembered to ask you---I notice that for a few weeks a month, the level of oils in my scalp/hair and my face is higher than at a different part of the month. It's usually 2 weeks of good skin, and about a week or so of dry scalp and less "radiance."

Have you ever heard of something like this?

[shelley]

The body has lots of cycles for many different reasons, hormonal, moon phases, circadian rhythms, and our personal habits, etc.

Oh I meant to mention that whenever there's a problem with follicles that you should analyze your Biotin needs and perhaps supplement just Biotin, rather than all the B's, once or twice a week.

[Corny]

I'd pretty much tied it to the moon, yeah. My mom thought I was ought of my mind when I said that, but what can ya do.

This has been a great discussion for me, shelley! Now that we are into this discussion about fat absorption, I wanted to share a bit more information with you, and see if it sheds any light.

About 4 months ago, I got sick after a road trip. I had pretty bad burning diarrhea for about 2 days straight. I don't mean to get too graphic here, but one thing I noticed after my symptoms cleared was that I no longer had any "floaters," if you know what I mean. I also had dramatically decreased gas, and if I had any gas at all, there wasn't any smell.

This is in sharp contrast to before the trip, where it was the exact opposite.

It's not that I'm complaining at all, but I do remember reading somewhere that if you get lots of "floaters," you are having trouble absorbing fats? Is that true, or is it due to excess air? I figure since we were on the topic of fat absorption, I'd bring this up!