Natural Help for Hair Loss

by Karen Yale, D.C., C.C.N., D.A.C.B.N., F.I.A.M.A.

Whether it's due to heredity, medications, hormones, or stress, hair loss can affect men and women alike. And although it can be devastating for men to lose their hair, it's doubly so for women. Yet these men and women are hardly alone as recent estimates indicate hair loss affects more than 35 million men and 21 million women.

You have about 100,000 individual hairs on your head, so you normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day without noticing. It's when your hair loss exceeds the rate of regrowth, or when your hair comes out in patches, it can become troubling.

Causes of hair loss

• Hormonal changes. Pregnancy, birth control pills and menopause often cause hair thinning.
• Poor diet. A diet deficient of iron and protein with excessive sugars and simple carbs can lead to hair loss.
• Certain medications. Common medications, especially those used for joint problems, mood, or blood pressure, can thin your hair.
• Overprocessing. Chemicals used in hair color, permanents, or straightening can cause your hair to break. Overstyling, like "teasing," or overuse of hot rollers, curling irons, and blow dryers can damage the hair shaft.
• Underlying health problems. An unhealthy thyroid, blood pressure or blood sugar concerns can be at the "root" of hair loss. It's best to seek medical attention to rule out these underlying health issues.

Natural solutions for hair loss
Sadly, when it comes to hair loss, some experts may tell you that you just have to "live with it," but I disagree. Short of transplants and medications, there are solutions - natural solutions - that I recommend. Best of all, they don't involve scarves or comb-overs!

• Eat a healthy diet.  Made of whole, protein-rich foods and limit refined sugar. Eat as much organic as you can.
• Handle hair gently.  Avoid tight hairstyles like ponytails, barrettes and the like. If at all possible, avoid daily washing and try to let your hair air dry.
• Use a natural shampoo and conditioner.  The last thing you want to do is add more chemicals to your hair, so look for a natural shampoo, preferably one containing the hair-helping herbs of sage, rosemary, lemongrass or lemon oil, along with moisturizing Vitamin E.
• Try massaging your scalp.  This helps to gently stimulate hair and promote growth. Plus it feels really great!
• Nourish your hair from within.  Your hair is a reflection of your general health. That's why it's important to make sure your overall health is protected with a good multivitamin that includes plenty of Vitamins B, C and E, calcium, zinc, and iron.
• Consider an herbal hair supplement.  If your hair is dry or damaged, try Type II Collagen from Botanic Choice. It's made of the same type of Hydrolyzed Type II Collagen used by doctors, clinics and hospitals and helps reinforce the foundation of your hair follicles.

For all around hair health, I like Vitamins for Hair because it contains 16 premium-grade vitamins, minerals and herbs that moisturize, help build protein, and diminish breakage due to medications and chemical processing.

Your hair grows about a half inch a month, so whichever natural method you select, give it time to work. You should see a difference in eight to twelve weeks, and don't get discouraged by the slow pace. Under normal conditions, each hair you grow lasts one to six years, so there's a good long-term pay off that definitely makes the wait worthwhile.