Herbs That Promote Hair Growth

Hair loss plagues both men and women and can cause low self-esteem and embarrassment. While most consider it a cosmetic condition, it is often a sign of another health issue or a malfunction in the adrenal system. While there are over-the-counter treatments and prescription drugs that promote hair growth, many individuals find them ineffective and instead turn to herbal remedies.

Milk Thistle

• Milk thistle has been used for centuries in the treatment of liver disorders, and it is believed to help detoxify the body. This effect is why it is sometimes used to treat hair loss, in the belief that it promotes a more balanced and healthy body.

Ginkgo

• Ginko is one of the oldest trees on the planet, and the study of the medical use of its leaves is among the most widespread. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginkgo leaves contain two types of chemicals, flavonoids and terpenoids, which are believed to have antioxidant qualities. It is used to treat circulatory disorders and enhance blood flow to the brain, both of which may help promote the growth of healthy hair and follicles.

Relora

• Relora consists of two plant extracts from the magnolia officinalis and phellodendron amurense and helps control cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the adrenal system, both of which are hormones related to stress and anxiety that can cause hair loss and obesity. Relora has also been shown to control the appetite and reduce stress-related obesity.

Saw Palmetto

• Saw palmetto is a small plant that can be found in the southeastern United States. It contains permixon, the liposterolic extract of the plant, which treats hair loss by giving hair follicles long exposure to testosterone. A 1988 study by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, showed that the extract reduced the absorption of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in tissues by more than 40 percent. (See References)

Treatment

• The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that milk thistle be taken in the standardized seed extract of 60 to 80 milligrams two to three times a day for proper detoxification in the prevention of hair loss. When using ginkgo it suggests that 40 to 80 milligrams be taken three times daily for antioxidant support and improved blood flow to the hair follicles. It also recommends that the supplement relora be taken in 250-milligram doses one to three times daily to support the adrenal system and reduce stress.