Your hair is one of the first areas, along with skin and nails, to show signs of poor nutrition, hormonal imbalance, or illness. Excessive hair loss and the thinning of your hair can indicate something amiss.
Keep in mind some hair loss is quite normal, so do not be alarmed by normal hair loss. Many women experience hair loss, to some degree, no matter what their age. Healthy hair goes through two stages with 90% of the hair being in the growth stage and 10% of it being in the resting stage, which means 10% of your hair is in the process of falling out.
Human beings lose hair every day, typically 50–100 strands a day. You can test hair loss with the “pull test.” Take about 50 hairs between your fingers and pull gently but firmly. Normally, 5-8 hairs will come out — reflecting the average 10% of hair follicles that are transitioning towards the resting phase at any one time. More than 15 hairs may indicate a more unusual period of hair loss.
If you have large amounts of hair falling out you should be concerned. This is a good time to take in to consideration your overall health and begin to first of all take a closer look at your nutrition regiment. Once you have determined you are providing your body with the proper nutrition, then it’s time to look into other factors which may be responsible for your hair loss. Some of the major contributors to women’s hair loss are hormonal imbalances, stress, yeast overgrowth and thyroid imbalances.
The key to healthy hair is to make sure your diet is rich in raw living foods that provide the nutrients your body needs. If you are eating a balanced diet consisting of a wide array of foods that have all their live enzymes intact, you can pretty much be assured that you are getting the vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients your body needs to keep your body and hair in a healthy state. If you have your diet under control and you are still experiencing above-normal hair loss it’s time to consider other factors which may be contributing to the loss and possibly using herbs and supplements to help stop the loss.
Herbal Remedies
Horsetail
Also known as shave-grass, this herb looks like a horse’s tail, with its rough edges and spiky protuberances at the end of each sprig. Horsetail helps to repair tissues and improve circulation by stimulating blood flow. Hair follicles as well as nails are encouraged to grow. With its high silica content, Horsetail is an essential for forming collagen, maintaining tissue moisture, and assisting in maintaining a healthy immune system. As with most herbs, horsetail can be taken as a tea, a tincture, or in capsules.
Nettles
Hippocrates considered nettles a cure for almost all ailments. Also called stinging nettle, or urtica dioica, this herb has been used for thousands of years for its myriad healing properties. Using nettles as a medicinal can yield potent results as the herb is rich in vitamins A, B complex, C, D, beta carotene, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and protein. Nettles contain an abundance of silica for hair and nail strength and health. Nettles ability to promote circulation, assists in reducing hair loss and cleansing the skin.
Flax Oil
Consider taking a tablespoon of flax oil on a daily basis as it has been shown to help raise your immunity, soothe inflammation and strengthen hair follicles.
Maca, Dong Quai, Chaste Tree Berry, Wild Yam
The four most powerful herbs for balancing female hormones are maca, dong quai, chaste tree berry, and wild yam.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
Zinc
Zinc can boost thyroid function and reduce hair loss that comes from an under active thyroid. Zinc must be taken with its companion Copper (2 mg a day) in order to maintain proper mineral balance in the body. Copper also contains melanin, the pigment that colors hair and skin and can help reverse or delay premature graying. Zinc can also affect the levels of androgens, the hormones involved in some form of genetic hair loss.
Raw Multivitamin
Make sure it includes hair-healthy vitamins such as B, C, D and E. Other important nutrients are calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Massage
Scalp massage and can be helpful in stimulating blood flow to the scalp and supporting normal follicle function. You may also want to make sure that you get
Should your hair loss become unmanageable it is best to consult with a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Wishing all of our friends and family the best holiday season ever!
Love and blessings,
Bobby
Robert Morgan is a certified naturalpath and is the director of health and education at Creative Health Institute in Union City, Michigan.
Robert Morgan, Naturopath 