Steroids Done Right

With the introduction of minoxidil in the early 80’s, men finally had hope they needn’t be doomed to a shiny crown the rest of their lives. The excitement wore off quickly for many, realizing they’d have to be applying this slimy stuff to their scalp day and night for the rest of their lives. And, for many, the results were less-than-spectacular. Then Proscar came along, and men could address hair regrowth both topically and internally. But is there anything really so special about these two simple drugs that their actions couldn’t be derived from natural sources? Not at all — here’s a review of the natural ways to go about stopping hair loss and stimulating growth for those managing baldness.

The primary cause for male pattern baldness is due to an overproduction of dihydrotestosterone, a metabolite of testosterone, and it’s affinity for certain receptor sites on the hair follicles. Production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, is mediated through an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. The action of this enzyme increases in many men over the course of their lives, which can lead to hair loss, and interestingly enough, benign prostate enlargement — also caused by the actions of DHT.

With regards to male pattern baldness, DHT binds to receptor sites on certain hair follicles. Though the exact means is not yet known, the hair follicle stops growing hair normally, shrinking and sometimes dying completely.

When using a natural regimen to re-grow hair, genetically-related hair loss should be addressed on two fronts: reducing the production and effects of DHT, and stimulating the hair follicles themselves back into action. This is best achieved by a combination of internally ingested supplements and topically applied formulas.

Combinations of natural herbal extracts have been studied extensively in Europe with these important effects: conversion of DHT to testosterone is lessened, as is binding of DHT to follicle receptor sites. The most well-known herbs and nutriceuticals are Saw Palmetto Berry extract, Pygeum Africanum bark extract, and Nettle Root extract. You’ll often see these herbs together in men’s health formulas. Look for high potency extracts of these herbs, along with other supportive nutrients designed to keep the prostate gland healthy — yes, these same nutrients are the one’s that will keep your hair from falling out. Also, it has recently been discovered that soy isoflavones can have a significant affect at balancing DHT levels as well. The are converted to another substance in the body which directly leads to a reduction of DHT production.

As for the growth stimulators, Japanese researchers have found that compounds known as polyphenols, found in grape seed extract, red wine and green tea were at least as effective at hair growth stimulation as Rogaine. Further, the most potent of these was found to be extracted from the skins of unripe green apples, high in a particular compound known as procyanidin b-2. Polyphenols have a positive effect on hair growth when consumed as supplements as well.

There are many other food products, nutrients and natural extracts shown in small-scale research to stimulate hair growth. Food products include coconut oil, essential fats (like hempseed oil or evening primrose oil) and flax seeds. Supplements include green tea extract, gingko, lysine, taurine, resveratrol, pomegranate extract, biotin, inositol, and MSM. These can all really be taken at the same time, if you’re able to figure out a way to keep them organized and keep using them! The amounts used in research were always in the range of regular “daily servings”; you’ll be able to find the amount to take just by researching each of these nutrients.

In addition to these polyphenols, certain essential oils have also been shown to significantly increase hair growth. A group of patients with alopecia areata were treated with a combination of lavender, rosemary, cedarwood and thyme essential oils diluted in jojoba and grapeseed oils. Their scalp was massaged with this combination for two minutes a day with the oil left in for some time. After seven months, the treatment group showed significant improvement over the controls. Sage essential oil is also highly valued for stimulating hair growth. There are many recipes on the internet for making your own oil treatment formula, and this may be an excellent choice for the “topical” aspect of your program.

With all these possibilities, how does one create their own program to grow a healthy head of hair? First and foremost, keep it simple and stick with it for several months. The more simple it is, the more likely you’ll stay with the program for the time it takes to get the follicles out of their dormant state. So, first find yourself good herbal supplements including aforementioned herbs and nutrients — many will be combined in a supplement labeled “Prostate Support” or something similar. Also, take a good multivitamin to give your hair all the nutrients it needs for healthy growth. The most important point is tto address each aspect of hair regrowth that’s been discussed.

So there it is, the roundup of the more well-known and tested natural remedies for male pattern baldness. While Rogaine for growth stimulation, and Finasteride or Dutasteride for DHT inhibition are completely reasonable ways to go, their costs are high and the effects of their long term use are not well known. And then there are some folks that would prefer to stay away from chemically manufactured medicines altogether - hopefully this bit of information will help. There is much more research available on the internet, though hopefully this is enough information to get you confidently started.

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