Herbs for hair

Hail loss, also known as alopecia, can be very traumatic for people, especially if it happens premature or the hair loss becomes excessive. Cosmetic industry uses this common problem and earns billions of dollars every year, developing new tonics, shampoos and supplements for hair loss. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved only two drugs so far for the treatment of alopecia. Men could use Propecia and Minoxidil, while women have Minoxidil as option to treat male pattern baldness. Both of these medications have been proven to produce positive results in people suffering from hair loss. Although these drugs do work for most people, no one can actually tell what happens if a person uses them for a long time and what side effects they could provoke.

For these reasons, many people avoid medications and turn to natural treatments for hair loss. These herbal remedies usually contain: algae, Aloe vera, Gingko biloba, green tea, ginseng and some other herbs used to treat alopecia for centuries.

Algae for Hair Loss

Extracts made of different algae like Atlantic Kelp and Himanthalia Elongata are used as hair remedies. Algae contain plenty of minerals, vitamins and essential amino acids and antioxidants and as such, they are able to heal the scalp, aid hair growth and make the hair shinier.

Alopecia and Aloe Vera

Fresh juice or gel of Aloe vera also possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which is why many products for hair loss contain this herb. People who used Aloe vera gel also claim that this is one of the best hair conditioners they have tried.

Ginkgo, Ginseng and Green Tea

Ginkgo biloba is a herbal remedy used for many medical problems and conditions, including hair loss, because it can improve circulation in the skin and in the brain. Both of these properties are supposed to be good for the hair and make it grow again.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) also positively affects circulation and metabolism of human cells, nourishing and strengthening the hair.

Green tea of Camellia sinensis in Latin is often recommended as preventive measure for hair loss. Some herbalists even claim that drinking few cups of green tea or taking green tea supplements every day can prevent alopecia.

Other Herbs for Hair Loss

Besides herbal remedies already mentioned, there are other plants with potential ability to prevent or reverse hair loss. Herbal specialist may recommend using: channeled wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) extract, Chinese angelica (Dong quai), Fo-ti (also known as He Shou Wu or Polygonum multiflorum), horsetail, pygeum (Pygeum africanum), saw palmetto (Seranoa repens) or Stinging nettle (Urtica Dioica).