Many of us are turning to natural means of living—from our clothing to our personal hygiene. In this way, we believe we can stay healthy while being close to nature.
Natural always sounds better than artificial regardless of anything. The problem with natural methods, however, is that they rarely receive the proper attention they deserve from mainstream science.
In the cases of hair loss treatments particularly, rare is the case wherein the Food and Drug Administration was enthusiastic about approving natural hair loss treatments. In fact, the agency never did approve anything natural-based.
Despite the fact, however, people with hair loss still prefer an all-natural or at least anything natural-based. In fact, some products for hair loss utilize natural essences from both herbs and animals, as their active ingredients.
What are the most common ingredients used in natural hair loss treatments and the most effective hair growth products? Find out below.
1. Saw Palmetto. Popularly known as the men’s herb, saw palmetto has always been compared with finasteride, the infamous hair loss drug for men with pattern baldness.
Both saw palmetto and finasteride inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha reductase from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the key to pattern baldness.
However, saw palmetto differs from finasteride in terms of producing side effects. Finasteride has been linked to a number of potentially permanent side effects in the sexual function, fertility, and prostate glands whereas these side effects were rarely linked to saw palmetto.
Saw palmetto can come in liquid extracts, tablets, capsules, and in shampoos or topical hair regrowth products (i.e., Leimo).
2. Rosemary Extracts. In aromatherapy, rosemary oil is popularly used as one of the natural hair loss treatments. Even general practitioners would recommend the use of rosemary extracts to stimulate hair regrowth.
Rosemary extracts are high in antioxidants (rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, rosmanol, epirosmanol, carnosol) and makes an excellent vasodilator, which means that it can help improve nutrient flow en route to the hair follicles in the scalp. Besides that, it also helps treat dandruff and regulate oil production.
3. Nettles. While there is little literature suggesting that stinging nettles can promote hair growth, many patients can attest the efficacy of nettle extracts in treating hair loss.
Like saw palmetto, nettles have been used to relieve the symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia. For this reason, it has been assumed to be an effective hair loss treatment as well. It is rich in beta-sitosterols that reduce the production of DHT.
4. Grape Seed Extracts. When it comes to health and cosmetic benefits, grape seeds are better than the grape itself. Grape seed extracts contain procyanidin oligomers that have been found effective in inhibiting DHT production in significant levels.
Grape seed extracts also have powerful antioxidants, thus keeping the hair follicle cells from free radical damage.
5. Camellia Oil. Camellia oil is derived from camellia seeds, which contain powerful moisturizers, antioxidants, proteins, and essential fatty acids (e.g., linoleic acid and oleic acid).
Camellia oil stimulates hair regrowth, as it is a good vasodilator. It also keeps hair from damage by the sun’s UV rays.
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