Re: More on hair loss

October 21, 2003

I found this list of ingredients for herbal shampoo for hair loss: It may be worth it to try to make your own(?).

Lemongrass: This herb helps to remove scalp build up and normalizes oil product in the scalp. It also increases fullness and body to the hair.

Horsetail: This herb is excellent for the hair. It's valued for its high levels of amino acids, phytosterols, and silica and strengthens, conditions, and makes the hair more resilient, and normalizes oil production of skin and hair so hair follicles won't get clogged by oil and sebum. It also is a natural source of vegetal silica will help with split ends. Helps to add sheen and elasticity.

Sage: Sage is a purifying, antimicrobial, antiseptic and astringent botanical that is a tremendous conditioner for the hair. It not only has an active agent to eliminate hair loss but it strengthens and thickens the current hair shaft as well.

Rosemary: This herb is a purifying and antiseptic agent that cleanses the hair follicles of any build up and stimulates the hair root to grow hair. It also adds sheen to the hair.

Aloe Vera: The gel found within the leaves of this plant has remarkable properties, including healing, soothing, antibacterial, antiseptic, emollient, and moisturizing qualities. Studies have shown Aloe Vera enhances cellular regeneration and has remarkable results for both the hair and the scalp.

Alpha Hydroxy: Removes dead skin cells, scalp oil, and hair product residue that combine to form deposits that clog hair follicles. Bacteria thrive under such conditions compromising the scalp's health and ability to produce hair. Our Alpha Hydroxy is natural and made from honey so it is gentle to the scalp.

Green Tea: This tea leaf has wonderful properties that make it antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-dandruff. It is a good hair conditioner. It helps to add sheen and elasticity to the hair. Likewise it is rich in minerals and nutrients to nourish the hair follicles.

Nettles: Nettles does more than just reduce DHT. It is rich in vitamins A and C, and a wide range of minerals including Iodine, Silicon, and Sulfur, all especially good for the hair. It is a profound source for mucilage and amino acids that the hair follicle requires for proper growth. It's stimulating qualities also help increase the circulation to the scalp. Dr. A Vogel, a Swiss herbalist know throughout the world, advocates Nettle for stimulating hair growth.

Ingredients that Stimulate the Hair Follicles:

Capsicum: Brings good blood flow to the scalp and causes histamine release which stimulates cell division, encouraging new hair growth. It also is a strong circulatory stimulant for the hair follicles.

Ginger: Ginger is a circulatory stimulant for the hair follicles and a stimulant for hair growth. It is also high in fatty acids. Fatty acids are recommended for hair loss, stunted growth and thinning of hair.

Ingredients that Condition the Hair:

Hops: Hops contains volatile oil that works as both a highly effective hair conditioner and gives body to the hair.

Wild Cherry Bark: Wild Cherry Bark has properties that makes the hair smooth, silky, and adds body to the hair.

From: " *~Patty~* " <fdp@...>

Reply-

Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2003 06:58:10 -0700

< >

Subject: More on hair loss

This was linked in Shomon's thyroid newsletter. Thought it was worth sharing--note the comments on the heart issues as well:

http://thyroid.about.com/library/derry/bl4.htm

A Reader Writes:

I have severe patchy hair loss that has lowered my self esteem. I resemble a cancer victim. I have hypothyroidism, this causes my scalp to itch & burn, it also feels like a severe case of head lice. The Doctor placed me on 50 mcg of Synthroid along with 2% Nizoral shampoo & 2.5% hydrocortisone lotion for my scalp, which has somewhat given me some comfort, but I still suffer the symptoms help me. Is there anything out there that I can try, that won't break the bank? I was diagnosed 4 months ago.

Derry Responds:

Dear Patient,

The most common cause of hair loss in women is low circulating thyroid hormone or hypothyroidism.(1) Occasionally iron will contribute to the cause but most times the hair loss will respond to treatment with thyroid hormone and so will the iron problem. Itchiness also is relieved with adequate thyroid hormone. These are not common presenting symptoms of low thyroid but they are well known in the literature. In one of my patients only the eyebrows were falling out and in another patient just the eyelashes, both responded to thyroid therapy. In addition by careful questioning you can pick up patient's other symptoms of low thyroid. However hair loss for a women is devastating and preoccupies most normal women constantly.

The real problem of why you are not responding is related to the dosage of thyroid you are taking. This dosage will not help your hair or you at all. In the 1960s it was textbook material after 70 years of experience using thyroid that a dose below 180 mg of desiccated thyroid could not be measured clinically or in the laboratory. In other words it was without effect.(2) The approximate equivalent dose of synthroid or thyroxine (T4) would be about 180 micrograms.(3)

So unless your dose is above 180 there is little chance of regaining your hair back and the problem likely continue and get worse. You can tell when you are approaching the right dose personally when the itching starts to go away permanently. Depending on how old you are and other medical history it is likely though you would get complete relief with a dosage up around 200 micrograms of Synthroid or higher. We know that there are no side effects at those dosages. Dosages of thyroxine (Synthroid, T4) of up to 300 micrograms are without morbidity or mortality. (no sickness or deaths) (4)

Often the new hair growth takes months before it really gets going. But the important first part is for the hair to stop falling out and the itching to stop. Once that is accomplished then usually the hair starts to grow in again normally. I have seen it take up to six months for the hair to be growing at a normal pace again.

One patient started losing her hair at age 26, had lost it all at 35 and still didn't have any at 46 when I first met her. All of that time her TSH values were normal so she went untreated. At 46 her TSH which had been normal suddenly went to values in the hundreds. Because of her thyroid failure she was having cardiac problems which are a common side effect of low thyroid.(7) All cardiac problems disappeared with thyroid therapy. Even though she was returned to normal health with thyroid hormone and replacement estrogens her hair did not grow back. It was recognized in the 1930s that some low thyroid problems are difficult to reverse if they have been present for a long period.(5-6) However I feel from your story you can get your hair growth back with adequate treatment. As iodine is also intimately involved in skin as well it would be wise while you take the thyroid to take one drop of Lugol's daily.

Good luck with your hair. I hope this helps.

October 21, 2003

I agree Colleen! I'm all for homemade, natural personal care products. I think an herbal conditioner would be a great product--do you have any ideas on how to make easy home conditioners? I have a great book called "Earthly Bodies and Heavenly Hair" by Dina Falconi, and it's got quite a few good recipes, but they are a little involved, with having to steep the dried herbs in oil for a period of 3 to 6 weeks. Otherwise, the recipes are fantastic!

Thanks for sharing...if you come up with a good recipe, please share!

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: Colleen

Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 2:00 PM

Subject: Re: More on hair loss

I found this list of ingredients for herbal shampoo for hair loss: It may be worth it to try to make your own(?).Lemongrass: This herb helps to remove scalp build up and normalizes oil product in the scalp. It also increases fullness and body to the hair.Horsetail: This herb is excellent for the hair. It's valued for its high levels of amino acids, phytosterols, and silica and strengthens, conditions, and makes the hair more resilient, and normalizes oil production of skin and hair so hair follicles won't get clogged by oil and sebum. It also is a natural source of vegetal silica will help with split ends. Helps to add sheen and elasticity. Sage: Sage is a purifying, antimicrobial, antiseptic and astringent botanical that is a tremendous conditioner for the hair. It not only has an active agent to eliminate hair loss but it strengthens and thickens the current hair shaft as well. Rosemary: This herb is a purifying and antiseptic agent that cleanses the hair follicles of any build up and stimulates the hair root to grow hair. It also adds sheen to the hair.Aloe Vera: The gel found within the leaves of this plant has remarkable properties, including healing, soothing, antibacterial, antiseptic, emollient, and moisturizing qualities. Studies have shown Aloe Vera enhances cellular regeneration and has remarkable results for both the hair and the scalp.Alpha Hydroxy: Removes dead skin cells, scalp oil, and hair product residue that combine to form deposits that clog hair follicles. Bacteria thrive under such conditions compromising the scalp's health and ability to produce hair. Our Alpha Hydroxy is natural and made from honey so it is gentle to the scalp. Green Tea: This tea leaf has wonderful properties that make it antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-dandruff. It is a good hair conditioner. It helps to add sheen and elasticity to the hair. Likewise it is rich in minerals and nutrients to nourish the hair follicles.Nettles: Nettles does more than just reduce DHT. It is rich in vitamins A and C, and a wide range of minerals including Iodine, Silicon, and Sulfur, all especially good for the hair. It is a profound source for mucilage and amino acids that the hair follicle requires for proper growth. It's stimulating qualities also help increase the circulation to the scalp. Dr. A Vogel, a Swiss herbalist know throughout the world, advocates Nettle for stimulating hair growth.Ingredients that Stimulate the Hair Follicles: Capsicum: Brings good blood flow to the scalp and causes histamine release which stimulates cell division, encouraging new hair growth. It also is a strong circulatory stimulant for the hair follicles.Ginger: Ginger is a circulatory stimulant for the hair follicles and a stimulant for hair growth. It is also high in fatty acids. Fatty acids are recommended for hair loss, stunted growth and thinning of hair. Ingredients that Condition the Hair: Hops: Hops contains volatile oil that works as both a highly effective hair conditioner and gives body to the hair. Wild Cherry Bark: Wild Cherry Bark has properties that makes the hair smooth, silky, and adds body to the hair.

October 21, 2003

Here's a recipe for herbal shampoo I've used before. You can use whatever herbs you want...for hair loss remedy, you can use some from that list I posted before.

This makes enough for 4 washes (you usually have to use more than with normal shampoo):

* 2 tablespoons dried peppermint

* 2 tablespoons dried spearmint

* 1 tablespoon dried sage

* 8 floz purified water

* 21Ž2 floz baby shampoo

Place the herbs in a small saucepan, add the water, and bring to a full boil. Remove the pan from the heat and steep the herbs for 20 minutes. Strain the liquid and discard the herbs. In a jar, mix the baby shampoo with 2 floz of the water. Shampoo as usual. The basic mixture will keep for 6 months.

Variation for dry hair: Substitute1 tablespoon each of dried comfrey root, rosemary and chamomile for the peppermint, spearmint and sage.

If you don't want to use baby shampoo as the base and you want it to be completely home made, you can use soapwort root.

* Crush or grind soapwort root.

* Place ground root in a glass bowl.

* Bring water to a boil.

* Once boiling, poor over ground root at let steep an hour and a half.

* Once cooled completely, filter through a coffee filter or cheese cloth into a clean glass bottle or jar.

* Add your choice of essential oils.

* If using herbs, add them to the bowl and steep with the soapwort.

You'll have to let me know if you try either of these!

Colleen

From: " *~Patty~* " <fdp@...>

Reply-

Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2003 14:12:12 -0700

< >

Subject: Re: More on hair loss

I agree Colleen! I'm all for homemade, natural personal care products. I think an herbal conditioner would be a great product--do you have any ideas on how to make easy home conditioners? I have a great book called " Earthly Bodies and Heavenly Hair " by Dina Falconi, and it's got quite a few good recipes, but they are a little involved, with having to steep the dried herbs in oil for a period of 3 to 6 weeks. Otherwise, the recipes are fantastic!

Thanks for sharing...if you come up with a good recipe, please share!

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: Colleen <mailto:cfortner@...>