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Since the introduction of Rogaine in the early 1980's, androgenic
mediated hair loss, or 'male pattern baldness' has been considered a
treatable condition through the use of pharmaceutical preparations. The
perception that over-the-counter and prescription drugs are the only
means to successfully treat this type of hair loss is perpetuated by
the lack of well-funded and publicized studies on the efficacy of
natural treatments. However, as the understanding of the biological
mechanism of male pattern baldness has become clear through a great
body of research, the reality of an effective natural treatment regimen
is at hand. After a review of the available natural products, some
suggestions will be made for creating your own regimen for treating
hair loss naturally.
The overall cause of male pattern baldness is now well-known: this type
of hair loss seen in about a third of the male population is mediated
by the androgenic metabolite of testosterone known as
dihydrotestosterone or DHT. The production of this now-infamous hormone
increases later in life for many men, along with changes with the
receptors for this hormone at the hair follicles.
In general, the pertinent hair follicles shrink with continued exposure
to the androgenic hormone, some forming only small, villus hairs, while
others eventually die completely. Some sources claim these follicles
are still getting an adequate blood supply, while others note a waxy
buildup or scar-like tissue surrounding the follicles, preventing
adequate nutrient delivery. Thus, the localized cause of hair loss, at
the follicle level, is still being researched. This does not mean there
has been success in discovery of natural hair loss remedies!
Whether using a pharmaceutical, natural, or combination regimen to
re-grow hair, genetically-related hair loss should be addressed on two
fronts: reducing the production and effects of DHT, and stimulating the
hair follicles themselves back into action.
Prescription drugs such as Finasteride and Dutasteride are available
which lower blood levels of DHT, and have been used to improve hair
loss conditions. There are now several well-known natural, plant-based
products which either reduce testosterone's conversion to DHT (via the
5-alpha-reductase enzyme system), block the binding of DHT to receptor
sites, or both. Most common, and most important are Saw Palmetto Berry
extract and Stinging Nettle Root extract. These to herbs work in
combination to both block the conversion of testosterone to DHT and
prevent it's binding to receptor sites in the scalp. Other herbs
employed with similar functions include pygeum africanum and pumpkin
seed oil, both used to bring into balance the testosterone/DHT ratio;
lastly, the plant sterol Beta-Sitosterol is often used successfully to
treat prostate enlargement, which has similar causes to male pattern
baldness - whether it will support hair growth is not yet known, but it
likely won't hurt!. Finally, getting an adequate supply of Zinc is also
important in maintaining this hormonal balance. The entire androgen
hormone regulation system is fairly complex; just remember these items:
Saw Palmetto, Nettle Root (not leaf!), Pygeum, Zinc, and
Beta-Sitosterol. By the way, if using a prostate formula for these
nutrients, they should be taken in gel cap form - they are better
absorbed this way than in plain powder, and hence more effective.
In addition to these herbs, which are also commonly used around the
world for blocking the creation and effects of DHT, Procyanidins, or
Polyphenols, have been shown to inhibit DHT systemically, AND can
stimulate hair growth when applied topically. These anti-oxidant
compounds first became renown with the discovery of the amazing action
of grape seed extract and it's powerful ability as a free-radical
scavenger. More recently, Japanese researchers went through the effort
of testing HUNDREDS of compounds in the laboratory for their effect on
the stimulation of hair growth, and they found the compounds of grape
seed extract grew hair at a greater rate than the pharmaceutical
preparation Minixodil. With further testing, using variations of the
polyphenols, they discovered those found in apple skin polyphenols to
be even more effective, nearly twice effective as Rogaine. Further,
with the addition of Forskolin, another herbal extract, the effect was
even greater. Exciting news! The interesting thing is that these
compounds actually stimulated the hair follicles to become active,
whereas it seems Rogaine works by lowering blood pressure in the scalp,
thereby increasing blood flow to the follicles. And these compounds did
not produce an initial 'shedding' as Rogaine has been known to do.
In addition to the polyphenols, certain essential oils alone and in
combination can be effective at hair growth stimulation. In a Scottish
study on alopecia areata patients, a blend of Lavender, Thyme,
Cedarwood and Rosemary oils based in Jojoba and Grapeseed was found to
significantly enhance the regrowth of hair compared to an application
of just the base oils alone. Many essential oils, including lavender
and rosemary, contain 'ketones', molecules that have been found to
cause the skin to regenerate. Further, these oils could be enhanced
with the addition of Rosehip Seed oil, which contains compounds similar
to Retin-A, a pharmaceutical which has been used in combination with
Rogaine for faster effects.
Given all this wonderful information, how does one combine them into an
effective regimen? The best thing to do is keep it simple - the more
simple it is, the more likely it is you'll stay with it for the several
months it will take to see significant effects. So, for the systemic
DHT suppression and inhibition, look at formulas either designed
specifically for hair, or those for the support of the Prostate gland -
they will contain almost the exact same ingredients. Look for a
high-quality supplement, with standardized Saw Palmetto extract, Nettle
Root extract, and Pygeum extract. Do not take the un-extracted herbs,
they will not likely be strong enough in doses you are willing to
consume. Saw Palmetto can be consumed in doses between 160 and 320mg
daily, Nettle Root a bit more, and Pygeum significantly less. They
should be in a gel cap, preferably in Pumpkin seed oil. Take a separate
Beta Sitosterol supplement, around 400mg daily, if it is not included
already. This is typically found in dry capsules, and there have not
been reports of the importance of consuming this in an oil-based
capsule, though you can take it with fatty food if you want to be sure
(this may help the absorption). Add an oral supplement of Green Tea
extract, Grape Seed extract, or Apple Polyphenol extract if you like,
along with a good multivitamin.
For the topical application, one can find natural hair care products on
the internet using apple polyphenols, or you can make your own for less
cost. Apple polyphenols are just now becoming available in bulk and in
capsules. You can create your own topical blend by mixing these into
water or an alcohol/water solution at 1-3% by weight (1 ounce of water
weighs about 30 grams, so 1 gram of apple polyphenols in one ounce of
water will produce about a 3% solution - more is not better here, as
there was a drop-off in effectiveness with higher concentrations in the
laboratory). An herbal extract of Forskolin can also be added to
enhance the effects. Finally, this can all be made in Nettle Root tea
as the base, adding a DHT inhibitor to the blend. Try applying 2 - 3
times daily.
For the essential oils, the recipe used in the scientific study was as
follows: 3 drops of essential oil of thyme, 3 drops of essential oil of
lavender, 3 drops of essential oil of rosemary 3 drops of essential oil
of cedarwood based in 1/8 cup of grapeseed oil and 1/8 cup of jojoba
oil. Apply during the day some time, massaging into the scalp, and
leaving in for 20 minutes to an hour, then wash out, or apply before
going to bed. This will give enough time for the oils to penetrate the
skin and have their effect. If you wish to further enhance this blend,
you may squeeze some of the gel caps of Saw Palmetto et. al. into the
oil, which can reduce the effects of DHT topically, in addition to the
systemic effect of the oral supplements.
So there it is, the roundup of the more well-known and tested natural
remedies for male pattern baldness. While Rogaine for growth
stimulation, and Finasteride or Dutasteride for DHT inhibition are
completely reasonable ways to go, their costs are high and the effects
of their long term use are not well known. And then there are some
folks that would prefer to stay away from chemically manufactured
medicines altogether - hopefully this bit of information will help.
There is much more research available on the internet, though hopefully
this is enough information to get you confidently started.
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