Homeopathic Remedies for Hair Loss in Women

The word homeopathy is derived from the Greek words "homeo," similar, and "pathos," or suffering.This system of healing diagnoses people based on symptoms, not diseases, and treats them with extremely diluted natural mixtures. Unfortunately, homeopathy has little scientific backing. This is not to say that homeopathy never works. Whether it's the placebo effect or an undiscovered scientific principle, homeopathy has proven effective for some. Here are the more common homeopathic treatments for female hair loss.

Lycopodium

• Lycopodium is a fungus, or clubmoss, that is diluted into a homeopathic remedy. The dilution is used for digestive problems such as nausea or bloating, fears, anxieties and chest infections. It is also thought to prevent or restore lost hair.

  Since homeopathy is based on the principle of similarities ("similar suffering"), this means that if lycopodium were taken in large amounts by a healthy person, it would ostensibly cause hair loss (among other things). Needless to say, stay far away from any undiluted formulas of clubmoss. Interestingly enough, lycopodium powder has also been used in fireworks and as a coating for pills.

Phosphorus

• For hair that's falling out in chunks, a homeopathic practitioner may prescribe a dilution of phosphorus. This substance exists in small amounts in your body, and the homeopathic remedies are made out of bone ash. Like lycopodium, it's used to treat digestive problems, and is also found in fireworks.

  Don't be fooled by the fact that phosphorus occurs naturally in the body. Phosphorus poisoning is a serious condition that can result in bone destruction and rapid death. Never take phosphorous without consulting a certified medical practitioner.

Fluoric Acid

• If your hair is not only falling out but dry and brittle, your practitioner may recommend some homeopathic doses of fluoric acid. Fluoric acid is also used to treat hair loss from certain conditions (fevers and syphilis, for example). The treatment is made from hydrofluoric acid, which has the ability to dissolve glass. However, homeopathic dilutions are typically so weak that no molecules of the original substance actually exist in the treatment.