Herbal Remedies for Preventing Female Hair Loss

While many men approach baldness as part of the aging process, women tend to be less accepting of hair loss. There is no sure-fire medical cure for baldness so many women turn to herbal remedies. There are several kinds of herbs that when taken orally or applied topically may slow down or prevent hair loss in women.

Herbs That Balance Hormones

• Many women experience hair loss as the result of a hormonal imbalance. For this reason the same herbs used to treat menstrual problems and menopause can be used to curb female hair loss. To balance out female hormones women can take a combination of chaste tree berry, dong quai and wild yam. These herbs can be taken orally, and since they are commonly used to battle the symptoms of menopause all three are available from most alternative health practitioners.

Saw Palmetto

• The imbalance of male hormones is another culprit behind hair loss in men and women. Some female hair loss is caused by an excess of dihydrotestosterone or DHT. Saw palmetto is a herb commonly used to treat men with prostate problems and is also affective in treating male pattern baldness. Saw palmetto can also be an effective treatment for female hair loss, but not all practitioners advise women to take it. New York University Medical Center nutritionist Samantha Heller warns that the herb can disrupt a woman's natural hormone balance and should be only taken under a doctor's supervision.

Other Herbs Taken Orally

• There are other herbs that are used to combat hair loss. Green tea is a safe herb that can help prevent hair loss by keeping DHT levels low without negatively affecting a woman's hormone balance. Other herbs that perform a similar function include stinging nettle and pygeum. Other herbs used to combat hair loss include sage, licorice, rosemary, ginger, ginko biloba and he shou wu.

Herbs Applied Topically

• Herbs can also help with hair loss when applied directly to your scalp and hair, either as an oil massage or mixed with your shampoo. Some herbs that can be taken orally like licorice, rosemary and sage can be beneficial when added to regular shampoo. Massaging coconut oil or safflower oil directly into the scalp can also slow hair loss. Henna and arnica are also used topically to treat hair loss in women.