5 Natural Remedies for Hair Loss
There can be numerous causes for hair loss, including hormonal imbalances and fluctuations, illnesses and toxicities, fluoridated water, vitamin deficiencies and skin conditions. It is always best to address the *causes* of the hair loss before looking to remedies. But, if you've addressed the causes and are looking for something more to help, here are some natural remedies that have been backed with studies.
Procyandins
Procyandins are a type of flavonoid found in apples, grape seeds, red wine and cinnamon. This study found that "Topical application of 1% procyanidin oligomers on shaven C3H mice in the telogen phase led to significant hair regeneration." Procyandins appear to be able to activate hair follicles in to growth-stage instead of dormancy. Getting enough flavonoids in your diet is a healthy thing to do anyway, and grapeseed extract (not to be confused with grapefruit seed extract) can be taken as a supplement and applied topically. (Source)(Source)(Source)
Onion Juice
Your head might end up smelling "interesting" for a while, but the topical application of raw onion juice has been found to help re-grow hair in patients suffering from alopecia areata. (Source)
Thuja Extract
While the essential oil of thuja is toxic, a water-based extract of the herb thuja has been found to help regrow hair when applied topically. Studies have found that it is able to activate hair follicles from resting phase in to growth phase. (Source)(Source)
Polygonum multiflorum
This Chinese herb also known as He Shou Wu, or Fo-Ti can be a liver toxin, so don't take it as a supplement or use when pregnant or breastfeeding. However, topically-applied liquid extract has been found to work as well as minoxidil in stimulating hair growth in some studies. (Source)(Source)(Source)
Brazil Nuts
A 2010 studied found that exposure to high levels of sodium fluoride caused hair follicles to stop growing and to actually kill hair follicles due to the oxidative stress that the chemical creates in the body. The good news, though, is that in the same study, selenium was found to be able to counteract some of the damaging effects of the fluoride. Eating one brazil nut a day will provide 100% of your daily RDA of selenium (and in the form that the body can utilize.) (Source)
