Baldness and Hair Loss (Alopecia)

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SYMPTOMS—It is hair on the head that we are concerned with here. There are several types of hair loss: baldness or loss of hair (alopecia). Loss of all scalp hair (alopecia totalis). Hair falling out in patches (alopecia areata). Another type of hair loss is localized and is due to scarring. Alopecia most frequently occurs in men, but occasionally in women. Most common of all is the standard male pattern of baldness and the female pattern of baldness.

A single hair generally lasts 2-6 years, and is then replaced by a new hair. When baldness begins, there is an excess of shorter, thinner hair—the kind babies have on their head.

Remember that it is normal to lose as much as 100 hairs a day. Once the hair follicle dies, it never again produces hair. But there are instances in which the follicle has not died, but only has stopped producing hair. Careful treatment restores hair growth.

CAUSES—Heredity (especially in men), hormonal factors, aging, or local or systemic disease. Localized hair loss could also be caused by scarring following a wound or an operation.

Other factors include poor circulation, high fever or other acute illness, surgery, radiation (X-ray therapy), medicinal drugs, anesthesia, drastic reducing diets, stress (depletes B vitamins), poor diet, skin disease, sudden weight loss, iron deficiency, thyroid disease, obesity, birth control pills, diabetes, or vitamin deficiency. A nourishing diet should be eaten daily.

A significant cause of baldness is the use of hair dyes. Another is using hot air dryers.

Hair loss in women most often occurs after menopause. Some women lose some hair 2-3 months after childbirth because hormonal changes, during late term, tended to block normal hair loss; this is reversed within 6 months.

Hypothyroidism can cause hair loss. Too little vitamin A can cause hair loss, and too much can do it also.

TREATMENT—

• The circulation in the scalp (which is poorer in men than in women) needs to be improved. Massaging the scalp daily helps. Keep the scalp and hair clean; however, do not wash the hair too frequently. Avoid excess shampooing.

• There should be adequate protein in the diet (especially vegetable seeds, such as sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, almonds), brewer's yeast and fresh brewer's yeast; but, as with everything, do not go overboard. (People in the U.S. eat more protein than anyone else, yet they have the greatest hair loss.)

• A variety of factors affect hair loss. Minerals and vitamins are also important for hair growth. Take a good supplement at least twice a day. Drink fresh vegetable juice at least once a day. Take vitamin A (50,000 units daily). Several B vitamins especially affect hair growth and color. Eat sea kelp or dulse. biotin, inositol, niacin, vitamin E, and PABA are also important.

• Oatstraw and horsetail tea are rich in silicon and trace minerals. Rosemary helps prevent premature baldness and stimulate head circulation. Sage is an astringent, and helps stimulate growth. Yarrow helps liver activity.

• Avoid salt, sugar, tobacco, and alcohol. Overconsumption of salt and sugar increases dandruff and hair loss. Avoid large amounts of vitamin A (100,000 units daily over long periods).

• Beware of the drug, minoxidil. Although given to restore scalp hair, it is high-priced and may cause heart damage. The hair it produces is of a poor quality, and tends to fall out when the drug is terminated.

• Some people put a little cayenne pepper on their scalp. It surely will bring the blood, and might even produce some hair! But it may get in the eyes! Most people are not prepared to deal with this extreme method.

• There are others who stand on their head to bring the blood there! It is reported that this also helps. Do not do it at work, or folks will think you are crazy. (And, of course, too much of this would not be good for the brain.) Others lie on slant boards for a time each day.
Here are more suggestions:

• Try rubbing the juice of a quince on the bald area every day. Eat flaxseed and drink sage tea. Iodine (in Norwegian kelp or Nova Scotia dulse) in your diet may help. Rub bald spots with kerosene once a day. For falling hair, try wetting the scalp daily with strong rosemary, sage or white oak bark tea.

• But, first and foremost, you need to go on a cleansing juice program for a couple days, and clean the bowels. Then only eat nourishing food, and no more processed junk.

• It is said that you must faithfully do your selected hair treatment for two months before you will see results.

• Never use strong soaps or hair sprays. Only use mild castile soaps.

• Hats and wigs are apt to cause hair to fall out faster, since they limit the air to the scalp.

• One natural remedies expert gives this advice: "Eat all raw food, massage your scalp often in the sun, wiggle your ears a lot, and stand on your head or lie on a slant board."