Herbs for Post-Chemotherapy Hair Growth

Hair takes six months to a year to grow back after chemotherapy. Many herbs are recommended to treat alopecia, hair loss resulting from some strong drugs. Ask your doctor if it's OK to supplement with these herbs after chemo.

Cause

• Chemotherapy attacks rapidly growing cancer cells. Because chemo drugs also attack healthy cells in the hair's roots, it causes many reactions in the scalp.

Types

• According to HerbalRemediesSolution.com, herb hair remedies can be applied topically, but sometimes oral supplementation is best. Herbs can be ingested as tea infusions or in capsule or tablet forms. Some lotion, oil or alcohol forms might require a pharmacist to extract and compound the topical formula.

Biota

• Biota leaf is used externally on the scalp for the treatment, according to ChineseHerbs.org. It comes from the Chinese cedar and can be made into pills, granules, oils, ointments and liquid dilutions. It thickens existing hair and can prevent further balding or thinning.

Drynaria

• The drynaria herb comes from ferns. Fronds and stems are cut and made into pill and powder forms. According to HerbalRemediesInformation.com, drynaria stimulates growth on portions of the scalp affected by alopecia.

Rosemary

• Rosemary is known for stimulating blood circulation, preventing further hair loss and regrowing hair. Good circulation is necessary for supplying follicles with much-needed oxygen and nutrients from the blood. It's used as tea, oil and hair rinse.