Alternative Remedy for Hair Loss

Many factors, such as genetics, stress, thyroid dysfunction or vitamin deficiencies, can cause hair loss. If you are experiencing hair loss or thinning, you can try one of the many available natural remedies. Before you spend a lot of money on expensive creams or medications, try herbal treatments coupled with a few dietary changes.

Diet and Vitamin Supplements

When experiencing hair loss you should first try and make some changes to your diet and increase your intake of certain vitamins and minerals. Strive for a diet rich in silica, iron and calcium. Try to incorporate foods such as oatmeal, cherries and seaweed to add these nutrients your diet. An abundance of leafy green vegetables is also important. Your diet should include meats that are low in fat but high in iron. The overall diet should be fairly low in fat with an emphasis on beans, root vegetables and whole grains. Also consider taking vitamin C and E supplements in addition to increasing your intake of foods that are naturally high in the vitamins. Vitamin C is contained in most fruits, and you can increase your vitamin E intake by adding avocado and olive oil to your diet. You should still take in vitamin A, but make sure that your intake is not excessive as high amounts of vitamin A have been linked to hair loss.

Herbal Remedies

Saw palmetto is a popular herbal remedy for hair loss. You can find saw palmetto extract in the form of a liquid or pill at your local health store. You can also try a topical method by purchasing saw palmetto shampoo or adding a few drops of the liquid extract to your scalp when showering in the mornings. Rub a few drops in your scalp and allow it to sit at for at least 3 minutes before rinsing. You should avoid ingesting saw palmetto if you are anemic or currently taking oral contraceptives or blood thinning medications. Aloe vera is a great scalp conditioner but does not necessarily promote hair growth. It is important to maintain a healthy scalp to encourage hair growth, so after shampooing massage a liberal amount of aloe vera gel directly onto your scalp and rinse. You can optimize the conditioning by using fresh aloe from a household plant, but prepackaged gel works if you do not have an aloe plant. The combination of rosemary and sage is also a great herbal mixture for your scalp. Mix one part rosemary and one part sage in a large pot of boiling water. If you can find a nettle plant, try to add a bit of nettle as well. Boil until the water becomes dark, and strain the liquid into a glass jar. Add a very small amount of castile soap to make a shampoo. Use this shampoo no more than twice a week. If you are experiencing hair loss, you should avoid washing your hair more than four times a week.