Herbs for Thinning Hair

From pretty pink primroses to stinging nettles, nature offers numerous herbal solutions to thinning hair. Steep herbs in water for teas, simmer for hair rinses and add extracts to mild shampoos. Many applications exist for applying or ingesting these natural remedies. Whether you raid your own garden or visit a health food store, there are many natural alternatives to prescriptions.

Nettle

• Nettle leaves can be brewed with equal amounts of water and white wine vinegar for two hours. Strain out the leaves and pour into a tight sealing container. Shake well before applying to your scalp three nights a week. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.

Primrose

• Primrose oil contains vitamin E. Most studies involving vitamin E and hair loss were conducted on chemotherapy patients and showed that the vitamin demonstrated effectiveness in restoring hair health. Lack of vitamin E causes hair to become brittle and dry. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends taking 15 milligrams of vitamin E daily. Use primrose oil directly on your scalp or add to shampoos and conditioners.

Nasturtiums

• Nasturtium hair rinses and shampoos may help offset thinning hair. Simmer leaves and let cool to create a rinse or simmer and allow to evaporate most of the water before adding to a mild shampoo base. Either way, the pretty colored nasturtiums have been linked under old pagan and Wiccan beliefs with hair growth.

Milk Thistle

• The Univeristy of Maryland lists milk thistle seed extract as an herbal complementary medicine to help with thinning hair because of its detoxifying properties. They recommend taking 80 to 160 milligrams two or three times daily to get the best results.

Ginkgo

• Ginkgo, which is said to be good for the memory, also has antioxidant support and increases blood flow to the brain and scalp. This natural circulation stimulator can help prevent and reverse hair loss due to damaged hair follicles.

Saw Palmetto

• If you're a woman, try taking a saw palmetto standardized extract of 160 milligrams twice a day. Saw palmetto helps regulate hormones which are attributed to female hair loss.

Herb Cocktail

• Add three to four drops of peppermint, rosemary and sage to a tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil. This creates a sweet smelling scalp rub purported to fight surface skin infections and encourage hair growth.

Herbal Cautions

• Be sure to inform your doctor of any and all herb supplements if you take prescription medication. Consult with your physician prior to adding any herbs to your hair, including those used in rinses and scalp applications. The potency of herbs often matches that of prescription medication. Alert your doctor to avoid interactions.