Health & Fitness Articles

Herbal Treatment forr Faster Hair Growthr

Hair growth patterns in humans depend upon the interaction of natural cycles of hair growth and hair loss. Accumulation of dihydrotestosterone is the main cause of hair loss. Some of the herbal hair growth supplements that act as natural DHT blockers have been shown to induce faster hair growth.

Keywords:
faster hair growth, herbal hair growth, fast hair growth, quick hair growth, rapid hair growth

Hair growth patterns in humans depend upon the interaction of natural cycles of hair growth and hair loss. The hair growth cycles follow a structured process that has 3 phases. These 3 phases are – anagen (the growth phase), catagen (the transitional phase) and telogen (The resting Phase). The hair is actively growing only in the anagen phase where it increases in length by about 1 cm in every 28 days. Hair loss occurs when the hair is in the resting phase. Most hairs in the resting phase lie in the skin separated from the dermal papilla at its base. Since the hair is not held tightly at its root, it is prone to shedding at any point.

The entire hair growth cycle is under the influence of hormones and their metabolic products. Dihydrotestosterone is the most important metabolite that plays the major role in retarding the hair growth and affecting hair loss. Accumulation of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) within the hair follicle is considered to be the main cause of hair loss.

The DHT mediates the hair loss through its direct action on the androgenic receptors in human scalp tissue. It interrupts the normal physiologic environment and function of the hair follicles. Faster hair growth in both men and women is possible if action of DHT is blocked.

The organic extracts of some of the herbal formulations act at the level of the androgenic receptors of the scalp. These extracts contain substances which directly compete with DHT with its action. They act as a natural androgenic blocker by inhibiting the active binding of DHT to the hair follicle receptors. When this binding is inhibited the amount of follicle damage is automatically reverted and follicles respond by affecting quick hair growth.

There are many natural herbs which have known to act as DHT antagonists. The use of herbs and herbal products has become broadly accepted in the contemporary culture for their unique potential to induce rapid hair growth.

Women have increased hair loss after the menopause. That is also because of increased production of DHT. Herbal supplements and herbal formulas used in hair growth products induce a quick hair growth in women.

The herbal hair growth supplements have found widespread acceptance as remedies for inducing faster hair growth. There are many good reasons to consider herbal hair growth supplements as the best form of treatment for hair related problems. The best reason may be the fact that herbs and herbal products have shown to provide quick hair growth benefits while maintaining a remarkable safety profile.

Equal parts of wild yam root, licorice, motherwort, black cohosh, chamomile, valerian root and skullcap can be taken as safe herbal supplements for hair loss due to loss of estrogen production. Estrogen is known to offer protection over the deleterious affects of DHT. All these herbs are known to simulate estrogen in women to result in rapid hair growth.

Dong Quai with other herbs if taken as herbal tea can serve as a special medication for faster hair growth in females. The medication is quite effective for maintaining the hair growth potential by regulating female hormone and hair growth cycles in pre-menstrual women.

Information on Traction Alopecia

Hair loss can also be caused by some external factors like pulling of hair. The hair loss caused by pulling of hair too tightly is known by the name of Traction Alopecia. The article describes the disease and its acute and chronic form.

Keywords:
Traction Alopecia, Cicartricial Alopecia, Trichotillomania

Traction alopecia is caused by chronic traction (pulling) on the hair follicle. Traction alopecia mostly occurs in African-American women and men who braid their hair too tightly. It is also common in other ethnic groups known for traditional hair styles that involve pulling the hair.

There is also seen a pronounced traction alopecia in the beard area of this Sikh man. The Sikh men do not cut scalp or beard hair. The beard hairs are pulled straight and then twisted and tightly knotted. Daily knotting often results in this form of traction alopecia.
Men who attach hairpieces to their existing hair also suffer from this type of hair loss. The traction alopecia in such cases can also lead to permanent hair loss if the hairpiece is attached in the same location over a long period of time.

If we put the examples from ethnic groups aside, traction alopecia occurs most often in pre-teenagers, teenagers, young adults then it does in older men and women.

It is a very unfortunate state that hair styles and fashions and hair styling methods are causing baldness and hair loss among today’s younger generations. The hair loss in all such cases is mostly due to Traction alopecia. The hair loss is caused by long term hair pulling and breakage due to very tight hair braiding, hair weaves and cornrows.

The over use of hair style aids such as sponge hair rollers or curling irons may also promote traction alopecia. Traction alopecia often shows as distinct patches of hair loss in those areas where the hair and hair follicles have been put under excessive strain. The hair loss may occur anywhere on the scalp depending on the nature of the hair style or process that is causing the traction alopecia. Prolonged traction alopecia can lead to cicatrization of the new hair follicle and permanent hair loss.

Traction alopecia is a very common cause of temporary hair loss. Typically, traction alopecia in the early stages involves affected hair follicles being pushed into the telogen resting state along with localized trauma to the hair follicles as a result of hair fibers being forcibly pulled out.

Traction alopecia is reversible if diagnosed in the early stages. Permanent hair loss can occur too slowly for immediate detection. Hair loss is often occurs in the front, and hair line but is also subject to the immediate adjacent area to where the hair is being pulled and damaged.

An effective treatment is to simply avoid hair styling that puts excessive strain on the hair. Even with removal of the cause of traction alopecia it may take up to three months for the hair to recover. Areas of scalp subjected to chronic traction alopecia may never fully recover.

Traction alopecia is generally a non-scarring, non-inflammatory form of hair loss although long term use of hair styles involving traction over 3 or more years may result in a mild immune cell infiltrate and irreversible scarring damage to some hair follicles. Any form of chronic traction alopecia will eventually lead to fibrosis around hair follicles and total destruction of some hair follicles. Once destroyed the hair follicles will not re-grow under any circumstances hence chronic traction alopecia can be described as a scarring cicatricial alopecia.

Permanent traction alopecia does not respond to medical treatment such as minoxidil or finasteride due to non-genetic nature of hair loss. The only way one can treat traction alopecia is with hair transplants. Follicular unit hair grafting has been identified as the only practical solution to treating traction alopecia. Number of patients with traction alopecia coming to hair transplant clinics is generally increasing and the treatment is providing them good response.

New Revivogen independent test reveal it blocks DHT by 90%

An independent review conducted by BioAlternatives Laboratories on Revivogen solution concluded a 90% DHT inhibition, which is quite amazing considering that only Dutasteride came close to that mark under other laboratory tests, and were talking about an oral drug whether Revivigen is a topical product.

Keywords:
hair loss, revivogen, hair loss products, hair loss treatments

An independent review conducted by BioAlternatives Laboratories on Revivogen solution concluded a 90% DHT inhibition, which is quite amazing considering that only Dutasteride came close to that mark under other laboratory tests, and were talking about an oral drug whether Revivigen is a topical product. The study was commissioned by Advanced Skin and Hair and conducted by an independent laboratory,

BIOalternatives (http://www.bioalternatives.com) that specializes on tests for pharmaceutical, nutracutical and cosmecuitcal products. “BIOalternatives is a service company offering cell-based assays to support drug and healthcare product development. With more than 10 years of experience, BIOalternatives provides customized informative biological solutions to >200 companies through 16 countries all over the world.

For this test BIOalternatives has developed a novel test to quantify the effects of any compound on Testosterone metabolism in living human skin tissue (reconstructed human epidermis) . The living skin tissues are given equal doses of Testosterone which under common metabolism is converted to DHT and other androgens. The quantity of DHT produced by the test tissue is measured for the control and all compounds being tested for correlation. Each compound is tested on three dissociate tissues to ensure the tests validity.

revivogen hair loss Resuming, Finasteride, when applied topically to an figurative human scalp (scientifically accepted equivilent) which had been infused in Testosterode and 5-alpha reductase, and had been allowed to eventually produce DHT …. was applied topically Finasteride, Dutasteride, and Revivogen.

Finasteride, after a period of time inhibited the presence of DHT by 67%.
Dutasteride, after a period of time inhibited the presence of DHT by 80% and 86% depending on dose.
The compounds in Revivogen inhibited the presence of DHT by 90%.

90% DHT blocking is great news for hair loss sufferers worldwide, Revivogen passed the studies now it has to pass the public test and that’s where things get tougher.

James Mild
hair loss articles and reviews

Hair Loss Solutions…Bonafide Cures or Bald Face Lies?

Although hair loss may not seem as important a health concern as cancer or heart disease, it can be very traumatic for those persons who experience it. By becoming knowledgeable about hair loss and its causes, and by seeking the services of a qualified professional, hair loss can many times be remedied, or at least controlled. This article explores the world of hair loss.

Keywords:
unique content,free content,hair loss,hair loss solutions,Rogaine

PART 1

Very much a highlighted news topic, the stem cell research controversy continues. Reasons for the “need” of research include possible help for persons with terminal cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury…and hair loss.

Hair loss is an important subject for the many men and women who experience it. The careless remarks and gratuitous jokes about baldness made by people with full heads of hair only add to their humiliation. Some people even experience anger that their hairline threatens to become as receded as the waters of the Red Sea for the Hebrews so many years ago.

Countless people wonder whether or not there really exists a cure for hair loss. Before we answer that question, we should first answer the questions, “What is hair loss?” and “What causes it?”

What is Hair Loss?

The term “Alopecia,” more commonly known as “baldness,” includes various disorders that involve the lack of hair where it would normally grow; especially when it involves the head. The most common form of baldness is a progressive hair-thinning condition that occurs in some adults.

Each piece of hair has a follicle located at the end of the hair shaft. Follicles act as the hair’s incubator;” it is where the hair is produced. Each strand of hair has a matrix, located at the base of the follicle. Cells in this area produce keratin, a tough protein that makes up the hair shaft, and melanin. Melanin stains the keratin, giving hair its color.

The activity of each follicle is dependant on surrounding follicles. Healthy hair follicles continuously grow. About 85% of the hair follicles on a healthy scalp are actively growing at the same time, and hair loss is not a problem.

Each strand of hair continues to grow for about 4 years, before going into a dormant period of about 4 months. On an average, only about 15% of the total amount of hair follicles on a healthy scalp is dormant at any one time. It is when a higher percentage of hair follicles stop growing at one time that hair loss becomes a problem.

What Happens During Hair Loss

Follicles are nourished by a network of capillaries, bringing nutrients to the base of the follicle. The amount of blood available to the scalp and to the follicles is determined by the health of the capillaries in the scalp, as well as the arteries in the neck and temple.

Problems develop when hair follicles do not receive proper nourishment. For instance, some women experience noticeable hair thinning after menopause, after the production of estrogen slows down or stops. Hair loss in women is usually more diffuse then in men. Women seldom have bold spots; a large area of the head may show sparse hair growth instead. Only about 15% of women are afflicted by such a high degree of hair loss that it becomes obvious.

In men the hormone DHT can harm hair follicles, making them shrink, or cause them to prematurely enter into the resting stage of the hair cycle. When this happens the result is often the characteristic U-shaped pattern of hair loss at the top of the head.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Predisposition can be one factor as to why one person begins losing their hair as they age, while another person does not. Various other disorders, such as obesity, allergies, and diabetes can also be attributed to predisposition. Sometimes hair loss can be the result of side effects caused by certain prescription drugs. Of course, these factors can often be countered.

Where you may not be able to reverse predisposition, you can sometimes contain it. By changing lifestyle, maintaining a customized healthcare regimen, and eating a well-balanced diet, many such factors can be alleviated or turned around.

More about Hair Loss

When it comes counteracting or slowing down the process of hair loss, products such as Rogaine, Dutasteride, and Propecia can help. Scalp exercises and massages using special preparations can also help.

Telogen Effluvium (TE) is a type of hair loss more common in women then men. It is characterized by high numbers of hairs that enter into the resting stage of the hair cycle, all at one time. This usually causes profuse shedding, as opposed to bald patches. This can be an overwhelming experience for women, especially those who once had luxuriant hair.

TE can be brought on by prolonged emotional or physical stress, severe illness, post-pregnancy hormone changes, or crash dieting. Once the triggering factor has been removed, TE hair loss usually stops. Hair can grow back in even without treatment, usually in 6 months to a year.

With proper treatment, hair growth can be accelerated. Some professionals recommend bringing the level of iron stored in the body up to 70 or 80 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter). The range of iron normally stored in a woman’s body might be between 12 – 50; the lower end not high enough to speed hair growth.

Rogaine can also be used for a few months to start the TE recovery process; once hair does begin to grow back in, Rogaine use can stop.

As mentioned earlier, crash dieting can trigger TE in both men and women. As a matter of fact, diets of less than 1,200 calories a day can trigger sudden hair loss. This is especially true of diets low in protein. When the body lacks proper protein it “borrows” by shifting healthy hairs into dormancy to conserve protein.

Although hair loss resulting from inadequate diets is most often temporary, it can result in permanent loss of hair in persons genetically predetermined towards hair loss. Also, extreme weight loss in men can increase the production of androgens – male sex hormones that kill hair follicles. Once hair follicles are destroyed, there can be no re-growth of hair.

In part-2 we of this article we discuss effective treatments for hair loss and where to go for help. Visit Writers Write Now for part 2, “What can be done about Hair Loss.”

©2006 Lori S. Anton
Writers Write Now

Shampoo Killed My Beautiful Hair

We buy these hair products. We try these salon treatments. But of course, none that is similar to those shampoo commercials ever happens to us. None ever will. But then we keep buying these products. We keep trying more salon treatments. Until we fail again.

Keywords:
hair care,shampoo,hair,beauty,health

Hair is everybody’s crowning glory.

The previous paragraph is the sole reason as to why beauty salons and shampoo companies have become the “in thing” in the business world. They earn money by caressing vanity, the very grain that is inherent in human nature. They awe us by parading beautiful girls with long, shiny hair. They instill in us the drama, the magic, the beautiful-girl-stories of finding fame and romance by sporting soft and shiny locks.

We buy these hair products. We try these salon treatments. But of course, none that is similar to those shampoo commercials ever happens to us. None ever will. But then we keep buying these products. We keep trying more salon treatments. Until we fail again.

It is sad that we end up forever victims of what we believe as the “great solution.” We don’t know that what we religiously follow at the back of shampoo bottles is not really a beauty secret, but actually a deceitful commercial script to bring more business for shampoo companies. In reality, constant usage of shampoo actually diminishes the strength and the shine of the hair. But because we have so much faith, we never put the blame on these products. Instead, we use more, buy more, hope even firmer that in the long run, we still will achieve the shampoo-model-type-hair.

The rationale for this is simple. Overwashing the hair rids the natural oil from the scalp, therepy prodding the latter to produce more oil to compensate. This results dandruff and grease. Also there are residues from hair creams and shampoos that accumulates in the hair, making it more difficult to wash.

In an article by Natalie in stretcher. com, she gave tips on how to maintain a less-costly but healthy hair:

1. When you wash your hair, lather once, not twice (like all shampoo instructions suggest!). Wash your hair and scalp thoroughly, and then rinse.. Your hair might not feel “squeaky clean,” but it will be as clean as with two lathers.
2. When possible, leave your hair without washing an extra day. Try not to wash your hair every day. Your hair will become less oily over time.
3.Brush your hair and scalp every day (your grandmother was right). This will stimulate your scalp, distribute protective oils throughout your hair, and combat dandruff.
4. Unless you’ve had your hair colored or permed in the last month, do not condition the hair at your scalp. This will discourage greasiness, and it will also save you money!
5. If you want a fresh feeling but don’t want to shampoo, just run hot water over your hair in the shower. This will rinse away some of the dirt and even out your hair, so that it will look clean without having to shampoo.

There we go. There are actually more less-costly but more effective fixes that we can think of than depending on instant treatments. It is never wrong to look for easier alternatives, but hey, a beautiful mane is a treasure unworthy of being gambled. Let’s play it slow and sure. Beauty, after all, is not an overnight thing.

Other articles from the same author:
A-Z Guide for a Healthy Beauty

How to Braid Hair?

Hair braiding is an old method of maintaining hair used by women. There are many hair braiding styles used in various countries. You need some necessary things before going for braiding hair. The things needed include a wide-tooth comb and a rubber band or ponytail holder. In the beginning of braiding, hair should be divided among three sections.

Keywords:
Hair braiding styles, Braiding hair

Hair braiding is an old method of maintaining hair used by women. There are many hair braiding styles used in various countries. English braid, French braid, Dutch braid and fishtail styles are some of the hair braiding styles. These styles can be used on formal occasions like wedding or on casual occasions. With little practice one can become quite good at braiding hair.

You need some necessary things before going for braiding hair. The things needed include a wide-tooth comb and a rubber band or ponytail holder. If you feel that braiding should be done on damp hair then you should have a bottle spray of water.
In the case of dry or fine hair it is better to use some kind of gel or spray on hair before braiding hair as it would be convenient then. The following are the steps to braid hair of a person:

• Braiding hair should start with the use of hair gel or spray on the hair to help it become smooth. The hair should be dried then.

• In the beginning of braiding, hair should be divided among three sections. You should place the the left section between the left index finger and the thumb. The middle finger should be let free and the right section of hair should be placed between the right index finger and the thumb. This will create a braiding pattern.

• The middle section of the right middle finger should be grabbed. The right thumb and the index fingers should be extended so that that portion of hair becomes the middle section.

• You should use the left finger to pull the middle section of hair behind the left section.

• You should extend the left index finger and the thumb to make the left section of hair become the middle section.

• You should shift the portion of hair hooked in the right middle finger so that it sits between the right index finger and the thumb. This process should be repeated and then you should shift the portion of the hair hooked in the left middle finger so it sits between the left index finger and the thumb.

• The process should be continued untill you get the hair braiding of your desire.

To get a tight braiding the middle section of the braid should be pulled along the horizontal lines. The tip of the hair should be tied using a ruber band.
Braiding hair needs patience and practice to learn. It takes some time to become good at it. Pulling of hair too harsh should be avoided during braiding as it can result in hair fallout.

Regrow Hair For Men

Procerin is a natural regrow hair treatment for men which actually inhibits 5-alpha reductase production and encourages hair regrowth. It is also safe to use without any side effects and is available in both pill and topical solution form without prescription.

Keywords:
Procerin, Hair Loss, Male Hair Loss, Male Hair Loss Treatmen, Regrow Hair, Regrow Hair Products, Treatment, DHT Blockers, Vitamins, Hair Regrowth.

Treatments to regrow hair in men are sought after by almost every individual suffering from hair loss. Men generally in the age group 18 to 35. It is in this period that men start losing hair and putting on widows’ peaks’ and receding hairlines! (Not that they have a choice!) Regrow Hair treatments for men are thus much prized and secretly guarded by the seekers.

There are a lot of hair loss treatments for men – available by prescription and over the counter. It is also true that most of these synthetic formulations have their own peculiar side effects and are not totally safe.

The causes for male hair loss range from diet and nutrition, drug usage to genetics. The most common cause of hair thinning and loss is attributed to Androgenetic Alopecia.

Androgenetic Alopecia is characterized by high levels of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the scalp. DHT is responsible for slowing down and eventually halting hair growth. It also ends up making hair brittle, lighter in color, and fall out at a much faster rate than normal.

The presence of DHT can be traced to 5 Alpha Reductase, which is an enzyme produced naturally in the body. This enzyme converts male hormone testosterone into the hormone known as Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase presence within the body is thus the safest way to preventing hair loss and male pattern balding, another name for Androgenetic Alopecia.

Procerin is a natural regrow hair treatment for men which actually inhibits 5-alpha reductase production and encourages hair regrowth. It is also safe to use without any side effects and is available in both pill and topical solution form without prescription.

Procerin is made from Saw Palmetto, Magnesium, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin B-6, Pyroxidine 5mg, CJ-11 Factor, CJ-9 Factor, and a proprietary blend of Gotu Kola, Nettles, Pumpkin seed meal, Siberian Ginseng, Yohimbe, Muira Puma Root, Uwa Ursi and more. The active ingredients in Procerin stop the transformation of testosterone into DHT, and reduce levels of DHT present in the scalp.

Procerin has also been seen to work well with other formulations like Rogaine and Propecia which address different phases of DHT production.

New Research Links Causes Of Hair Loss To Nutritional Deficiency

Learn about the causes of hair loss, and what you can do to prevent hair loss. Plus an interesting new piece of research that holds promise for both men and women concerned with hair loss.

Keywords:
causes of hair loss, hair loss

Whilst it may be comforting to know that humans are not alone in suffering hair loss (primates such as monkeys also experience thinning on their head) – understanding the causes of hair loss means we can take proactive action. Even though genetics does play a part, new research has uncovered a nutritional deficiency link in both men and women. And other factors, such as stress, and poor hair care, are well within our capacity to change.

The genetic link in hair loss has been well studied. It is associated with male and female pattern hair loss, or alopecia. In these individuals there is an increased sensitivity to the sex hormone, DHT. DHT stands for dihydrotestosterone, and is a powerful metabolite of testosterone. It contributes to men’s unique gender characteristics, as well as facial and body hair, and the deepening of men’s voices at puberty.

DHT causes the growth cycle of hair follicles to shorten, which in turn reduces the size of the hair shaft. Increasingly narrower hair is grown, sometimes as fine as fluff, and in more extreme cases, there is complete hair loss in that area.

In women, estrogen usually counteracts the effects of testosterone. But when women go through menopause, or suffer hormonal imbalances, the reduction in estrogen can lead to female pattern baldness. Fortunately, this is not as drastic in its hair loss effects as male pattern baldness. Instead the hair tends to thin, and the crown parting becomes wider.

But a very interesting study by L’Oreal has linked an iron deficiency to hair loss, in both men and women. This was a placebo controlled, double blind study in which 13,000 healthy men and women took a supplement, and had the ferritin (iron) levels in their blood measured and cross referenced with information on their hair loss.

The results showed not only a link between hair loss and iron deficiency, but they were able to estimate the risk of hair loss in a certain level of iron deficiency. For example, women whose blood ferritin levels dropped from a normal 70µg/l to 40µg/l, had a 28% higher chance of severe hair loss. The post menopausal women in the study who had severe hair loss all had much lower levels of iron than the women who didn’t have severe hair loss.

The problem with iron supplementation, however, is that excess iron builds up in the body’s tissues and becomes toxic. It has been associated with an increased risk of developing chronic illnesses. Iron levels can be tested by a doctor, so if hair loss is a concern, its best to get your iron levels tested first before taking iron supplements.

Other potential causes of hair loss – or at least, contributing factors are stress and poor hair care practices. Not brushing hair regularly, or washing it regularly, can affect the normal hair growth cycle.

When hair that is naturally at the end of its life cycle is removed through brushing, it allows another hair to grow underneath it. Regular brushing naturally removes dead hair that is ready to fall out. Not removing that hair means new growth cannot occur, as the old hair smothers the new growth. Dirt and oil build up can have a similar effect, so its important to wash hair regularly.

Stress can affect the circulation of nutrients and oxygen to the scalp, by causing the muscles in the scalp to tighten. If this happens over a long period of time, premature hair loss can occur. This cause of hair loss is distinct from male pattern baldness (which is hormonal), but it can certainly exacerbate the condition. And stress reduction techniques are simple things that can be added to a daily routine, to prevent hair loss, and improve the overall quality of life.

References:
1. Nutraingredients
2. Wikipedia Health

Propecia (Finasteride) – Hair loss medication

Propecia is a pill used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area (middle front of head). There is not sufficient evidence that Propecia works for receding hairlines at the temples. Propecia is for use by MEN ONLY and should NOT be used by women or children.

Keywords:
propecia, hair loss, pharmacy, healthcare

Drug Uses

Propecia is a pill used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area (middle front of head). There is not sufficient evidence that Propecia works for receding hairlines at the temples. Propecia is for use by MEN ONLY and should NOT be used by women or children.

How Taken

Propecia comes as a tablet. Propecia usually is taken once a day. It may be taken with or without food. Take Propecia exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take Propecia even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Propecia without talking to your doctor.

Warnings/Precautions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease. You may not be able to take Propecia, or you may need a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment. Propecia is intended for men use only. Propecia is not indicated for women use. Do not take or handle this medication if you are pregnant or are could become pregnant during treatment. Propecia is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that it is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Women who are or who may become pregnant must not handle crushed or broken Propecia tablets. The medication could be absorbed through the skin. Propecia is known to cause birth defects in a developing male baby. Exposure to whole tablets should be avoided whenever possible however exposure to whole tablets is not expected to be harmful as long as the tablets are not swallowed. It is not known whether Propecia passes into breast milk. Propecia is not intended for women use. Do not take this medication if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Propecia and you remember the same day, take it as soon as possible. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Possible Side Effects

Stop taking Propecia and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
Other, less serious side effects have been reported but usually resolve with continued treatment. Continue to take Propecia and notify your doctor if you experience:
-decreased libido (sex drive);
-decreased volume of ejaculate;
-impotence (trouble getting or keeping an erection); or
-breast tenderness or enlargement.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Storage

Store Propecia at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) in a tightly closed container, away from moisture.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. Symptoms of a Propecia overdose are not known.

Herbal Hair Loss Remedies That Offer Hope

This article looks at some of the most promising herbal remedies currently being used to tackle premature hair loss.

Keywords:
hair loss, alopecia, baldness, herbal cures

Herbs hold an obvious appeal for many people because they support the body’s natural healing mechanisms to target the cause of the problem, as opposed to merely tackling the symptoms. It would be wrong to present herbal hair loss remedies as a miracle solution for all sufferers – there is however growing evidence to support the view that some herbal remedies offer real hope to many people.

Let’s examine the case for some of the more popular remedies to determine if they’re worth trying.

Ginkyo biloba – this popular herb is thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. Herbalists believe that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to the hair follicle thus promoting hair regrowth. The recommended dose is 120-160mg of dry extract each day spread over three doses.

Green tea (Camellia sinesis) – it is thought that catechins found in green tea may inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into hair-unfriendly DHT. It is therefore believed to be effective in preventing and treating male pattern type baldness. You should drink several cups of green tea each day or take it in capsule form as instructed by the manufacturer.

He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) – also known as Fo-Ti, this Chinese herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss. It is found in many commercial preparations, or in tea and capsule form.

Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) – derived from the bark of an evergreen, it works in a similar way to green tea. It is widely used to treat prostate problems and male pattern baldness. Users should take 60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.

Saw palmetto (Seranoa repens) – this is the current treatment of choice for many men due to its ability to protect the prostate, slow hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. It forms the core element of many commercially prepared hair loss treatments but can easily be obtained in its pure form. The recommended dose is a 160mg capsule twice each day, but make sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.

Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) – this has long been favored as a means of preventing hair loss due to its ability to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT. It can be taken in pill or capsule form with an optimum dose of 50-100mg per day. It is particularly effective when combined with pygeum and saw palmetto.