Losing hair can be a traumatic experience for a woman. There are many natural remedies, including changes in diet, vitamin supplementation or scalp massage to stop hair loss and help you regrow thick, healthy hair. The first step is determining the cause of your alopecia, the medical term for hair loss. Hormone changes, genetics, excessive styling, diet, medication or illness can all contribute to alopecia.
Causes of Hair Loss
Before you can treat hair loss, you must determine its cause. Androgenic alopecia is hair loss caused by aging or genetics. Postpartum alopecia is caused by the hormone changes associated with pregnancy, and it's common for women to lose up to 50 percent of their hair in the months following childbirth. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that may be triggered by a virus. Telogen effluvium is hair loss caused by a traumatic event or shock to your system. It could be emotional, such as a death in the family, or physical, such as a high fever or extreme weight loss. Typically with telogen effluvium, hair will grow back on its own in a few months.
Chemical Causes and Cures
Hair loss may be caused by shampoos, conditioners, hair dyes and styling products that contain harsh chemicals that strip and damage the hair. Wash your hair less often, using only organic or natural products, and stop using synthetic chemicals. Apple cider vinegar, baking soda, honey, avocado and mayonnaise can all be used to clean and condition your hair. A good rule of thumb for choosing beauty products is to ask yourself if you could eat the ingredients. If you wouldn't put it in your body, why would you put it on your body?
Herbal Remedies
Rosemary tea may improve circulation to the scalp and stimulate hair growth. Wild yam, dong quai and chaste tree berry are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to balance female hormones. Ayurvedic medicine uses Indian gooseberry supplements with a coconut or sesame oil scalp massage to grow thick luxurious hair.
Topical Treatments
Scalp massage can stimulate blood flow and help regrow hair. Massage daily with a few drops of essential oils such as jojoba or rosemary oil. Once a week, do a deep scalp massage with warm almond oil, wrap a towel around your hair and let it sit for up to two hours to allow the oil to penetrate the hair roots. In time, hair follicles will rejuvenate. Aloe vera gel, honey and egg yolk, coconut milk or a mixture of ground lime seeds and black pepper may be used on bald patches to prevent further hair loss.
Vitamin Supplements
B vitamins may be the best supplement for hair growth. B5, pantothenic acid and B3, niacin help you grow strong healthy hair. Take a B-complex supplement that contains at least 150mg B3 and 300mg B5. Try adding legumes, soy, eggs, nuts and nutritional yeast to your diet as whole food sources of B vitamins. Vitamin C improves scalp circulation by maintaining capillary health so blood can travel to the roots of your hair. Get at least 5,000mg vitamin C daily. Hair health is tied into immune system health, so vitamins that boost immunity also boost hair growth. Try 800mg vitamin E and 50mg to100mg zinc.
Diet Changes
A wholesome diet that includes dark leafy green vegetables and seaweed, which is high in trace minerals, promotes hair growth. Thinning hair in women is often caused by a protein deficiency or anemia, so eat foods rich in iron such as liver, eggs, dates, raisins and whole grains. Hair is mostly protein, so a protein-rich diet is the first step to re-growing hair. Soy protein may also stimulate hair growth. Other foods high in nutrients that encourage hair growth are salmon, nuts, eggs, kidney beans, whole grains, spinach, broccoli, carrots and oysters.
References
- Mayo Clinic.com: Hair Loss Causes
- Helium: Natural ways to stop hair loss
- Natural News: Natural Treatment Helps Hair Loss in Women
- All 4 Natural Health: How to Prevent Hair Loss and Balding - Home Remedies and Natural Treatments
- Holistic Online: Hair Loss, Baldness
- Holistic Online: Hair Loss, Baldness
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