Natural Solutions for Hair Loss: Effective Remedies for Regrowth

I had thinning hair because of a thyroid problem. If your doctor says there is nothing they can do if you have hormone imbalance, then he/she is wrong! Time to find a new doctor or - better yet - a naturopath.

My husband uses 8 ounces of aloe vera gel, 1 teaspoon of lavender essential oil and 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil (mixed in a glass bottle and kept in the fridge). Every day he massages about 2 teaspoons into his scalp. His hair loss has slowed down quite a bit. Everyone loses hair on a daily basis but his was clogging the shower drain. Now, it may be that it is the actual massage that slowed down his hair loss and not necessarily the ingredients but he's just happy that "something" is working.

Hi, I have found that Biotin (5000mcg) and Bamboo Extract (900mg) daily have helped a LOT with hair loss from hypothyroidism. I have been taking Biotin for years (when I started Synthroid) and Bamboo Extract for about 6 months. My hair looks so much better. I have also recently started drinking ACV 3x per day and I think that is helping too. Good Luck!

To Jackie ffrom Charlotte NC, Wondering how high TSH could be to have hair loss. Also, did you find a practitioner in Charlotte area that treats with natural replacement?

Hi Roberta -- sorry I haven't been on the site in a while. Use the Raspberry Leaf Tea as long as you feel you need it. It's pretty safe. Really tones the female organs. Be more careful with the Kelp. If you find yourself feeling a little wired or having trouble getting to sleep, try reducing the dose or taking it only in the morning. 1/4 - 1/2 tsp of Kelp in the morning and evening will usually stop hair fallout cold.

There are a couple of types of hair vitamins that really contribute to softness and texture, although I can't name brands on Earth Clinic. (I can tell you to check out the reviews on Swanson Vitamins and iHerb. ) Also, if you're looking to thicken the hair Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) really works and fast, but you have to take at least 500mg per day. B5 is also indicated for energy production in the adrenals.

As for me, hair growth is fine, but I've been experiencing a different set of hair problems since starting constitutional homeopathic treatment in late 2010. I've been on Naja (cobra venom) for 1-1/2 years now and there were problems with dosages in 2011 & 1st half of 2012. Homeopathy tends to push things out through the skin and hair, and I had an extreme reaction with both. (Hair formed huge knots, totally uncombable; I had to cut it off! I won't tell you what was going on with my skin and where. Wanted to murder my homeopath; got a second and third opinion instead. ) Things are much better now. When I comb my hair, I have no shedding whatsoever. All that's left of the damage are a couple of alopecia spots and a receding hairline in the front, which I am working on. I had to stop relaxing and coloring my hair -- it grew back in in big patches of black and white and looks really cool! People are always asking me, "how did you get your hair like that?"

Anyway, for growth I recommend:

1) Nettles, both drinking the tea and rubbing on the scalp. Make a strong infusion of Nettle Leaf; it'll keep in the fridge for about 48 hours. Longer than that, it's ineffective.

2) Get a big aloe leaf, rub some of the gel on the scalp. It seems to stimulate the hair follicles.

3) And, of course, Red Raspberry Leaf.

So there!

I just submitted a post yesterday which was titled "Questions about detoxing from heavy metals". My main question was about the bolts in my knee from a surgery in 1988, if it were possible that the metals could be leeching into my system. And whether doing detox methods might be worsening the problem because the bolts cannot be removed.

One of the symptoms is hair loss (I'm a woman, 43, of lower-than-average weight). I had also written this yesterday:

So I wonder if my hair-loss and other stuff has to do with my body attacking itself? Like if my hair is "toxic" because of constantly detoxing, that my body may be attacking it? The roots seem to be declining, fading away, and new hair comes in so baby-fine that it doesn't seem to stay in for long. I know the hair-loss isn't the main problem but a symptom, i'm just using it as an indicator. My thyroid hormone level is back within normal range (back down to 4.5 from 7.5), so I'm ruling that out as a possible cause. Another symptom is fibromyalgia-like, but with a hyperactive mind. So physically exhausted but amped-up at the same time. And Magnesium Chloride did not help with sleep. And there's other "this and that" inconsistant symptoms, not too drastic, but which could be attributed to so many other things too (like candida, deficiencies, ph balance, parasites, allergies, neurological restrictions, glandular, other toxins, altered immune system, IBS, etc etc).

I know that nuclear fallout from Japan could be a factor, being downwind from the jetstream here, but I would think there would be a mass epidemic of hair loss here if that were the only factor. (maybe there is but nobody is speaking about it?)

I stated in the other post a few of the methods (like oil pulling) and supplements i'd been doing. I've also tried the (expensive! ) hair product brand advertised all over the radio as being a sure thing for hair growth, guaranteed. It didn't help at all. Now I mostly use diluted baking soda, ACV, and aloe juice, instead of shampoo, and had done a bit of the Borax rinse. I'd tried oils like olive oil and VCO, but that only causes more hair to fall out from the extra rubbing and rinsing. What's left of the roots is so miniscule and weak.

I just started taking Lugol's too. But now it seems I'm losing hairs more constantly. Not in chunks (I don't have enough hair to call "chunks" anyways) but single strands. Often, a strand falling out catches on my arm and it feels like a spider web, it's so fine!

Could my immune system really be attacking my hair because of the metals and such collecting in it, from cleansing it out of my body?? So detoxing may also shed off my "toxic" hair? If that's the case, I guess I have to just let it all fall out until it's done??? That would suck, but if there's no other way...

Any suggestions, info, or comments are much appreciated! Thanks

Thank You to Noelle from Minneapolis for the advice on Red Raspberry Tea and Kelp. Just started them last week and wanted to know how long to use them. Also menopausal, and adrenals. So far the Red Raspberry seems to calm them down, more so than anything that I have tried. How is your hair growth coming along?

Googling around again and one site said to no longer use soap or shampoo on hair but 1/2 cup soda in 1 1/2 cups water and massage in scalp and then rinse with cold water as little as needed and don't mess with hair much, combing , curling , styling , but massage head once in a while until improvement shows.... Hope this helps.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I took 900mcg of biotin for about three weeks recently for eyebrow growth. Although I got new eyebrow hair growth, I also developed itchy bumps along my jawline that started to spread to other areas of my face. Not pleasant! I have reduced the dosage to 300-600mcg a day (which I've been doing for a couple weeks) and I have experienced a few bumps here and there but no real itching. No obvious hair growth yet either.

I don't have any hair loss , but I read a lot and in the book by John Lee, What your doctor may not tell you about menopause, he writes that some people get estrogen dominant from our food, water, plastics and fertilizers, anyway, he says many people who get their homones back into balance can reverse their hair loss.

There is hairloss with thyroid imbalance and you can have an imbalance even if your tests come back normal , read the book by Mary Shomon, the thyroid diet revolution. It's not a Diet Book, but reviews of what helps to heal the thyroid .

Frequently a progesterone deficiency/imbalance due to estrogen dominance in men and women. Hope this helps someone.... Sometimes you just have to try a little dab and see if it helps

I can't seem to find Ted or Bill's remedies, when I click on a ailment at the top it says Teds remedies but when I click on that it takes me to a list of peoples post. How do I get to the actual remedy?

I just recently went through this. The loss was all over my scalp, not just in one area. It stopped once I started drinking Chai tea using coconut milk. I was also taking coconut oil internally as well (1-3 Tbs. A day). I now have little two inch growths all over my head, so it wasn't just breakage. When I discussed this with my hairdresser, she told me that stress will do this, and that it takes three months for it to happen after a stressful event. I did have something very stressful happen three months before I started losing my hair. It could also be the result of hormone imbalance, or a shedding cycle.

Hi, I think it could be the lysine. Try taking b50 or b100 and eat eggs.

Can't figure out what supplements are causing my hairloss. In the past I took an SSRI and it induced a significant amount of hairloss. I stopped the drug and regrew almost everything that I had lost. Since then, I have been on a routine to try and regrow my hair. I have been trying to replace the SSRI with some natural medicine to help my anxiety and all of a sudden my hairloss returned.

My supplements were:

3g Glycine, 3g Lysine, 1100mg of St Johns Wort and 200mg Curcumin

I have stopped everything because of the extreme hairloss. The Glycine seemed to help me the most, but I have heard that glycine can deplete taurine. Is this true and can that cuase my sudden onset of hairloss?

If not, do you see anything out of the ordinary that can be causing these issues for me?

Hi everyone. Thanks for sharing your great information. My hair started falling extremely fast when I started a new physical training program 10 years ago. I thought the hair loss was due to the new exercise stress on my body, but it turned out to be the supplements I was taking. It contained Creatine which was supposed to help with muscle recovery. Once I stopped taking creatine, my hair stopped falling out. I read that Creatine increases testosterone in women which can cause hair loss. Since I haven't taken the supplement in 10 years, I think there has to be a different issue now. Now, my hair goes through severe cycles of loss and growth. I was on progesterone replacement for a while which increased my hair growth, once I was "level" and stopped the supplement, growth stopped. I do think taking creatine was the initial cause and perhaps whatever change in my body for the hairloss to continue. I am taking the ACV and baking soda for Barretts esophagus and GERD. I am hoping the hair growth will be a pleasant side effect. My best wishes for you all to find your cure. :)

Hair Loss:

I had the same symptoms. I remembered then that hot water is for cleaning but COLD water is for toning and healing for such things. Slowly turn the shower head to cold as you wet your hair (make sure you are not feeling chilled at the beginning) try cold water for about one to two minutes, then towel dry. Remain in temperate surroundings and repeat the towel drying process until you know you could not catch cold.

Repeat this procedure and you will feel the wonderful effects of natural treatment and increased blood circulation and a feeling of well being.

In addition I use urea with great benefit. This is, however not for those that do not know anything about it. I also use coconut oil, undiluted ACV, and colloidal silver in case there might be a parasite infestation. In addition I chew soaked fenugreek seeds, a good teasp. Daily for diabetes but it makes also the hair grow. This may take some months as the action is at first in the hair follicles. Good luck and patience. The itching and burning disappeared quickly at the outset. Om

K. from Maidenhead, did you notice any androgenic side effects from taking Saw Palmetto? like increased facial hair, sweating, or anything of the sort? or any other side effects? Saw palmetto is normally recommended for men, that is why I was curious.

Noelle from Minneopolis - Thank you very much for the advisement. You have saved my life. My hair loss has practically gone after taking the remedies for a week. My hair is glossy and no longer continues to fall out. I owe you a huge 'THANK YOU'.

Has anyone tried gelatin for the hair? If so, does the gelatin repair damaged hair or stimulate hair growth? A few sites say that it prevents breakage and adds body, but that evidence of hair growth is inconclusive. Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

What is natural shampoo?

Hi, I just thought I'd share my success with growing out my hair (even if not intentional). It used to be thin and stay shoulder length, it would break off, very fine and dry. This was when I was in my twenties and part thirties. Now, five years later, my hair is shiny, wavy and fairly thick, I cut it about a foot (12inches) every 9 months or so, it reaches my waist right now.

This is what worked:

1. stopped using commercial shampoo.

2. only wash with a natural shampoo with low alcohol content once a week (I started doing this after a trip to Italy, when I got some advise from a lady with enviable curly hair to her hips. She says shampoo is the worst enemy of hair; it strips it of nutrients, opens the fibers and makes it vulnerable to break off).

3. wash everyday (if needed) with a natural, low alcohol content conditioner, or even better; an olive oil based cleaner like available in Italy (not available were I live, so I realized I could use a lightweight conditioner). The reason the conditioner cleanses is that if you think about it; oils cut (mix with) oils. What we want to cleanse is the amount of oils in our hair, right? We don't want to strip out all the good oils from the hair, that makes it break... (commersial or harsh shampoos)

4.Rinse with COLD water when finished, to close the fibers in the hair.

5. Supplements; I started taking selenium, blue-green algae and alpha-lipoic-acid together (to control blood-sugar spikes). It seems the side effect of perhaps Selenium is to support hair-growth. I also took multi mineral or coral calcium and Sublingual Vit-B multi-vitamin in the evening from time to time.

6. Stopped blow-drying. Let air-dry, massage scalp with towel while drying (for blood-sirculation) and only brush hair AFTER its dry. With a natural brush, llike boar, or wood-comb (not plastic or metal - again these will tear and break the hair if it is fine like mine).

This is what I was doing, and it's so nice to have my hair back almost like from my childhood, too bad I didn't know to do this in my twenties! ;-) Good Luck!

My 11yr old son had an episode of alopecia areata for a short time earlier this year. I panicked as he is still a young boy so went straight to a homeopath who took him off his regular diet and straight onto what was missing in his body which was magnesium, B vitamins, possibly iron (not tested) and some others I cannot remember. One thing that she stressed was to eat BROWN rice and NOT WHITE RICE as white is virtually stripped of any nutrients altogether. This contains almost all the B vitamins your body requires and will take care of that - no need for supplements. Also no refined sugar. These were the main issues and the rest of the time he ate for the other areas in his body he was deficient.

On a side note, I also made up a tea of rosemary, sage and thyme and put it into a spray bottle and sprayed this on his hair after each wash as all these herbs have a hair growing effect. Secondly, I rubbed castor oil into his scalp as castor oil is a well known hair grower. I've also read (but not used) that when you have boiled your potatoes for dinner, save the water and when it cools, use it on your hair and rub into the scalp for a few minutes. Potato water is very good for growing hair.

My son's hair did grow back very quickly as it was completely bald in a patch about 4" by 2" wide so very noticeable. He is now ok but we continue the brown rice on a regular basis to keep up the B vitamins. Good luck with whatever you may use.

What are the ingredients of the supplement you use? (I know we are not supposed to list brand names)? I have tested low HGH and cannot afford the $$$ injections, though my Dr.says not much in the way of supplements can help increase.... but am looking to try anyways. Thnx

I have been suffering with hypothyroidism for 20 years. One year ago I started using Lugol's iodine. 3 drops in about a cup of water or juice everyday. After about 3 months, I thought I was cured and therefore quit using my thyroid medication (Naturethroid). I was so wrong and so discouraged that I almost quit using the Lugol's. However, I decided to just keep using it anyway, it was helping my symptoms: hairloss, being extremely tired, can't think, feeling bad all over, etc. As a bonus, it cured my fibrocytic breast (they hurt really bad for a while while using it, but then they got better, then well).

Anyhow, one month ago, to my suprise, my pharmacy informed me that my nurse practicioner reduced my medication from taking 5 pills a day to 3. I had given up hope that it was going to work because I'd had this problem for so long (my thyroid felt like a rock). I'm not cured yet, but I have renewed hope that I possibly could be someday. I do know this: anytime you begin a thyroid Rx medication, change a medication, or stop a medication, one of the side effects is hair loss for up to 3 months! The Lugol's has given me my hair back - Thank God. Chances are, if you tell your doc that you're going to try this, they will probably not approve. So, I didn't tell mine, but whenever I felt like my thyroid was off, I would get them to check it. If someone begins the iodine therapy, just have your doctor monitor your thyroid profile as closely as possible because it can cause you to become hyperthyroid because of too much Rx medication. However, needing to reduce or eleminate the Rx medication eventually is a good thing. I'm really hoping FDA doesn't interfere any further with this wonderful healing elixer. I will try to keep everyone updated with any progress. Good luck. God bless.

Can someone look at this link and tell me if this is the tin TED meant in his posts for hair loss?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stannous-Chloride-Tin-II-Chloride-SnCl2-100g-/281012643754?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item416da8a7aa

I got this now, and it says its dangerous, irritant to the skin etc. So I got scared. Please, let me know?

Yes nettles work very well.

Hi Gloria, I also went through radical hair loss but mine was from hair dye. I would always have the worst reaction but I was too proud to let myself go gray. The reaction was so bad my husband would get upset that I would continue this procedure. Well, I went to Aveda because that was supposed to be "natural" and it worked for a time but then, I began reacting again. So, I changed to "natural" hair dyes from the health food store. Again, they worked for awhile and then I began to react once more! It was bad but the last straw for me was I began to lose hair in clumps. That's when I thought, perhaps gray would be better than bald... I stopped using shampoos with anything other than the mildest herbs and cleaners in them. I massaged my scalp, I used borax when washing my hair. Then I learned about hair oiling here on EC and began that practice about a year and a half ago. I take Chinese herbs and do fresh green juices every morning and follow much of Weston Price's ideas on diet.

I am now quite salt and pepper but my hair is nice and thick and healthy once more. I won't lie though, it took a long time though to restore it! As a matter of fact, just about a month ago I was going to a wedding and my oldest daughter said she wanted to blow dry my hair for it. She couldn't believe how thick it was and healthy and just kept commenting about it! It's probably been a couple of years since she last did that for me and she said it never felt like that before. So friends, take heart, our hair can be restored but you must be steadfast at working at that and be patient! Lisa

I suffered sudden hair loss about two years ago; hair was falling out of my head, it didn't seem to be held in there tightly. It would come out in the shower and also during the day. I didn't know the reason, but I figured it was stress, since I'd experienced a very stressful emotional crisis (involving harm to a loved one and worries about her) about 6 months previously, and I had heard that it can take 6 months for hair loss to occur following stress, OR the reverse; that it could take 6 months following "healing" to see results and hair restoration.

Unfortunately in my case, one crisis led to another, and I went through a period of about 15 months of a rollercoaster of stress. I had had stresses before in my life, but never had I lost hair over them.

I also want to add that I am currently 50 years old, female, caucasion, have not yet gone through menopause, have always had a very thick head of healthy, coarse/wavy hair. During this episode, I lost about 1/3 of my former volume. I have been alarmed to see a lot more of my scalp along my "part. " I think it is unattractive. It has made me sad.

But my dad is bald, and I'd always "heard" that as women age, we might inherit some of the hair loss from our father's side (who knows). I hoped not! But I thought my hair loss, so sudden, might be from stress, rather than genetics. It occurred mainly on the top/front of my head (which is where my dad's is).

I am writing to let all of you know that I have tried many things and made many changes in order to hope to help my hair loss. I do think that some of them have worked, but I don't know which ones. The hair "falling" slowed down and then stopped. I am not sure, though, if I am experiencing significant regrowth or restoration, though I think so.

Here are the things I have done: I went "no-poo" -- in other words, I stopped using ALL commercial shampoos, even organic ones. I went through an adjustment period, but now my hair is much healthier. I clean it with rinsing with water most days, and baking soda or borax and ACV about once a week. My hair is long. I do not brush my hair except in the evening before bed. I don't use a hair dryer on it. I let it dry in the air. I detangle it and separate the waves with my fingers. I do not use any commercial products, conditioners, gels, etc. on my hair. For gel, I use aloe. For conditioner, I use coconut oil (a little goes a long way). For scent, I use a few drops of essential oil in a water rinse. My hair is soft and looks healthy.

I also worked hard to clean up my diet. I eat more vegetables and fruits and stay away from processed foods. I cook most of my meals from scratch (at home). I use organic foods as much as possible.

I started sunbathing (I am fair, so I do this only for about 10-20 minutes at a time).

I also supplement with biotin, vitamin D, B-complex, vitamin E. About 4 days a week.

I have worked on de-stressing using Bach Flower remedies and other energy therapies including massage and self reflexology.

I have worked very hard to help stop hair loss and hopefully restore my hair... So far, I think something is working. I am happy with my hair, though it is not (yet?) as thick as it used to be. It no longer falls out, and it feels "tight" in my scalp. It doesn't break off, either. I hope some of this can give some of you who are suffering with this problem, some helpful ideas to try.

I had severe dandruff for about 5 years, saw a dermatologist, use tar shampoos, etc. One day I read severe dandruff was a sign of sulfur deficiency, and several good sources of sulfur listed was onions and garlic. Just so happened, I had followed a way of eating for years that excluded onions and garlic.

I didn't really believe it applied to me, I thought surely I consumed enough other sulfur foods to not have a deficiency. I immediately prepared a salad with raw onions, and within a day my dandruff was completely gone. That was several years ago, I have continued eating foods with onions regularly and it still works for me. The connection was amazing, and I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen it myself.

Actually my diet is pretty good and I get a sufficinet amount of protein for my size (small). I've tried hair vitamins to no avail. If it helps the texture has changed as well to coarser and brittle-- it's like wire now, before it was soft thread. I'm wondering if its some sort of toxic buildup that my body is getting rid of by dropping the hair that contains it? Maybe its not a deficiency at all but a toxcity?

Eggs are also good for your face. Whites are good for oily skin and yoks are good for dry skin.

I just wanted to know whether there is any further news on corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) theory. I am keen to know as I am losing a lot of hair and I am old female. Someone pl. help.

I am 59 years of female. Lost almost 70%. I am on medication for hypothyroidism for about 10 years. I want to know more about iodine solution and how it is applied. Also where I can buy it from in Delhi (India). I also heard about Zinc supplements and magneseum. I am very worried. Someone pl. help

Hi Z_girl, You don't say much about your diet other than eggs help with your hair and also nails. They're rich in protein, lecithin and sulfur among other things. I'm thinking it may be the protein. I say this because, when I was a vegetarian in my 20's my hair started falling out and my nails would peel. I had always had very thick hair and good nails up to then. When I finally started adding in eggs and meat my hair was eventually restored and my nails got a lot stronger. Anyway, that would be my guess. Since you're concerned about eating too many eggs, get protein through many different sources. Hope this helps, Lisa