Herbs For Hair Stimulation

Although there may be no sure-fire "cure" for actual baldness, there are several herbal remedies that can stimulate hair growth. So if you're looking to grow your hair more rapidly, or to promote thickness and reduce patchy growth, you may find help with herbal treatments. Always check with your doctor before attempting herbal self-treatment, as both topical and oral use of herbs may cause side effects or negative drug interactions.

Essential Oil Massage

The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, recommends essential oil massage to counteract the effects of alopecia areata, a condition that attacks hair follicles. To stimulate hair growth, use one or more of these essential oils: rosemary, lavender, cedarwood and thyme. Add up to 6 drops of the oils to 1 tbsp. jojoba or grapeseed oil. Firmly massage the scalp. Use this massage technique daily. It is helpful to use a carrier oil such as grapeseed or jojoba to prevent skin irritation from the highly concentrated essential oils, notes the UMMC.

Saw Palmetto Supplement

A second kind of alopecia, known as male pattern baldness in men and diffuse hair loss in women, is believed to be an inherited condition, notes the UMMC, which also cites studies that found some improvement in patients taking saw palmetto supplements. The UMMC recommends two doses of 200 mg of saw palmetto a day, ideally in combination with the plant-based supplement beta-sitosterol, at a rate of 50 mg twice a day.

Nettle Formula

Kathi Keville's book "Herbs for Health and Healing" recommends using a topical nettle formula daily to stimulate hair growth. If harvesting your own nettles, be sure to wear gloves and long sleeves when gathering the herb, which sports tiny stinging herbs on its leaves. The stingers come off when boiled briefly in plain water or vinegar for a nettle hair rinse. You can also buy or make nettle tincture. Prepare nettle tincture by filling a clean jar with nettles, covering the nettles with 80 to 100 proof brandy or vodka, and steeping the nettles for three to six weeks. Keville includes a recipe for a hair formula to deal with hair loss that combines 1 tbsp. nettle tincture, 4 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 1 cup aloe vera gel and ½ tsp. each rosemary essential oil and vitamin E oil. Process the ingredients in a blender, refrigerate and work a small amount into your scalp after shampooing. Rinse and gently towel-dry the hair.

Herbal Scalp "Spa"

To stimulate hair growth while fighting problems such as dandruff and brittle texture, herbalist Jeanne Rose suggests a multi-part herbal scalp treatment similar to a spa treatment for your complexion. Begin by massaging your scalp with a few drops of rose or jasmine oil essential oil in a base of 1 tbsp. olive oil. Brush your hair and work in an herbal "tea" of infused herbs such as rose petals, nettles, rosemary, fennel and comfrey. Wrap your wet hair in a shower cap or plastic wrap. Leave this treatment penetrate your hair for at least an hour. Follow by shampooing with an herbal shampoo and herbal vinegar rinse containing some of the hair-stimulating herbs mentioned above.