Alopecia, or hair loss, is thought by medical researchers to be caused by a variety of factors. Some types of hair loss are caused by autoimmune disorders, while poor diet, genetics, poor circulation, alcohol use and major surgeries can contribute to other types of alopecia, according to Dr. James F. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." While there is no known cure for hair loss, herbalists and alternative medicine practitioners believe that using certain herbal supplements and vitamins may inhibit hair loss or encourage regrowth.
Herbal supplement and vitamin use should not replace traditional medical therapy. Check with your doctor before using any herb or vitamin to treat alopecia.
Purpose
The purpose of using vitamins and herbs for hair growth is typically to stimulate the follicles and protect them from damage, encouraging them to produce healthy hair strands, notes Dr. Balch. These follicles need nutrients to produce hair; without them, the follicles weaken. As a result, the quality of hair produced diminishes, and hair production eventually stops.
Types
According to Dr. Balch, vitamin E is essential for the production of strong, healthy hair. This vitamin is thought to increase oxygen uptake to the body's cells, including those that make up hair-producing follicles in the skin. The increased oxygen may stimulate new hair growth in balding areas, and may facilitate the production of thicker, stronger hair that resists breakage and other damage. Talk to your doctor before taking a vitamin E supplement for hair growth.
Horsetail is an herb that has been used by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for centuries to treat arthritis pain, wounds and dysentery, according to Michael Castleman, author of "The Healing Herbs." It has also been used as an abrasive agent to polish pewter and sand wood. Some herbalists believe that selenium and equisetonin, which are found in horsetail, may help stimulate hair growth. Talk to your doctor before taking horsetail to treat hair loss or any other condition.
Vitamin C may help nourish hair follicles by increasing the blood flow to the scalp, delivering nutrients needed for hair production, according to Dr. Balch. Vitamin C is also thought to be a powerful antioxidant that may help prevent toxins and free radical molecules from damaging follicular cells. Consult your physician if you plan to use vitamin C as a hair growth treatment.
Kelp is an algae that grows in coastal waters along Japan, England, France and North America, according to Castleman. This herb is rich in iodine, and was used by British physicians in the 18th century as a remedy for goiter, or enlargement of the thyroid. Kelp may help block absorption of Strontium-90, a radioactive substance emitted by nuclear power facilities. Strontium-90 is thought to contribute to leukemia and other cancers, as well as extensive hair loss. Kelp may also encourage hair growth by clearing cholesterol deposits in the arteries that impede proper blood circulation to the scalp.
Risks
The high level of selenium in horsetail may contribute to birth defects, notes Castleman. Also, equisetonin is considered a nerve poison. Any vitamin or herbal supplement may cause allergic reactions in rare cases.
Dosage
Dr. Balch recommends a dosage of between 400 IU and 1,000 IU of vitamin E daily, while a daily dose of 3,000mg to 10,000mg may help encourage new hair growth. Castleman recommends using no more than 3 tbsp. of kelp steeped in 3 cups of water per day. Because of the health risks of horsetail, there is no recommended dosage.
Misconceptions
Fueled by marketers promoting "fast hair growth" products, some people believe that it is possible to begin regrowing hair instantly. However, the hair has a natural growth rate that cannot be changed, according to the Dutasteride website. Because follicles have resting phases of a month or longer, it may take time to experience results.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; James F. Balch, M.D.; 1997
- "The Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 1991
- Dutasteride: Hair Growth Cycle
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