Baldness and Hair Loss
Most of us would privately agree that hair loss affects our
psyche and self esteem intensely. The hair we have on our scalp
- our crowning glory - is one of the most important features of
our appearance and affects our overall 'attractiveness
quotient'. It is absolutely devastating to our ego and
self-worth when hair loss results in thinning or partial or even
total baldness.
Hair loss can become an obsession with anyone who suffers from
the condition. These patterns have been identified on the The
"Norwood scale" which classifies different types of hair loss. A
research study recently found that most people showed extreme
loss of self-esteem, ranging from vulnerability to jealousy.
A number of factors could lead to hair loss.
Diet: Eat right. A healthy diet can only improve your overall
health. Include plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and
small amounts of lean protein. A paramount cause of hair loss
for women is hypochlorhydria. So, ask your doctor to test you
for inadequate protein digestion brought on by low stomach acid.
Lack of Vitamins: Excessive hair loss can also be caused by
deficiencies in folic acid and vitamin B12.
Iron Deficiency: Another common, but generally unrecognized,
cause of hair loss is an iron deficiency, especially in pre-
menopausal women. Dr. Wright, who publishes an excellent ezine,
stresses that you can increase iron intake by adding dried
fruits, fish, legumes, meat, molasses, potatoes, dark green
leafy vegetables, wheat germ, and whole-grain products to your
diet. (Unfortunately, iron does not help with male pattern
baldness.)
DHEA: Many women past 50 find that when they raise their levels
of DHEA back up to the range for a normal 30- or 40- year-old
woman, it not only slows or stops hair loss, but it can actually
help re-grow new hair. Noticeable diffuse thinning in women
usually starts after menopause, when the production of the
female hormone, estrogen, slows down dramatically or stops
altogether.
Sunlight: Get out of the house! Sunlight provides you with
vitamin D which the body greatly needs. So spend some time
outdoors and reap the benefits of fresh air and sunshine. Your
beautiful hair will soon mirror your health.
Dandruff: Among the more common factors concerning hairloss,
there is the dreaded subject of dandruff. If you have an oily
scalp, which is the real culprit behind most dandruff (not a dry
scalp), a daily shampoo will help prevent dandruff. It should be
a gentle, preferably herbal, shampoo. No strong chemicals.
Stress: Stress aggravates dandruff. It can either trigger it or
exacerbate an already bad condition. A 5 minute daily meditation
will do wonders for your overall health and hair.
Asian Formula for beautiful hair: Here is a routine used by many
Indian women for glossy healthy hair. Mix 25% castor oil with
75% almond oil and gently massage for 10 minutes into your scalp
weekly. It should first be warmed (place the container in hot
water for 5 minutes), so that it is readily absorbed into the
scalp. Leave on your scalp for 15 minutes to 30 minutes before
shampooing out with a gentle natural shampoo. Follow with a
final rinse with a vinegar and warm water solution (5% vinegar,
95% water), and then seal the hair, and remove the vinegar
odour, with a cold rinse. Towel dry. Look in the mirror. You
will love your beautiful shiny manageable hair.
Remember, natural remedies are always better than harsh
chemicals, especially for your hair!
Visit
http://www.youngagainforever.com/hairloss.html for
information on natural remedies for hair loss, with different
formulae for men and women.
About the author:
Jay Chatterjee, a Chartered Accountant and ex-Corporate Banker,
lives in Canada. Roshmi Raychaudhuri is a businesswoman residing
in India. Their website
http://www.youngagainforever.com
contains important information on natural remedies for a wide
range of different ailments, including over-weight, hair loss,
vision improvement, arthritis, heart disease,
