Q. Dear Natalie, my hair is starting to
thin and I am only 26 years old. Can you recommend any dietary options
or herbs that I can use to help make my hair thick again?
A.
Herbal remedies can offer a wonderful natural solution to help you
gradually restore thick healthy hair. The sage herb is a miracle worker
for counteracting hair loss due to aging. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal
Plants suggests applying sage directly to your scalp to stimulate hair
growth or you can drink a cup of sage tea. Sage is also often prescribed
in ayurvedic medicine in order to clean the mind from over thinking.
My
favorite herb to use when working to stimulate growth of thick hair is
Fenugreek. You can either massage your scalp with infused oil of
fenugreek or as "The Yoga of Herbs" recommends one teaspoon of fenugreek
powder in a cup of warm milk daily. This will serve as a nutritious and
easy-to-digest rejuvenator that assists hair growth.
Hair loss
can also be caused by certain nutritional deficiencies; a person's hair
is often a direct reflection of their nutrition. Drinking nettle tea as a
herbal mineral supplement can be very effective since it has high
levels of trace mineral. Vitamins A, B and C are all essential vitamins
that help hair to become stronger and thicker. B complex helps hair to
sustain its thickness. I suggest 50 mg of Vitamin B-6 and 50 mg of a
Vitamin B complex daily. I recommend between 65 and 90 mg of Vitamin C
are needed to also support the development of sebum in your hair.
If
you would rather not take supplements, make sure you add the following
foods rich in Vitamin C to your diet: Oranges or orange juice, red or
green pepper, and kiwi fruit.
Lastly, I have seen for many years
in my clinic the powerful effect that aromatic herbs can have when
massaged onto the head, thereby encouraging hair growth. Try mixing
lavender, rosemary or cedar wood essential oils (15 drops) into a
carrier oil (almond) and massage into your scalp.
Q. Dear Natalie, can you recommend any natural remedies for split ends. I heard that avocado is supposed to help?
A. Despite
what many people think, there are a few fantastic natural remedies that
work wonders at repairing split ends. Your first port of call should be
honey. Search for a honey conditioning treatment since it will be
naturally packed with vitamins for enriching the quality of your hair.
Honey has the ability to allow the hair to retain its moisture. This
will improve the overall health of your hair making it less likely for
further split ends to develop.
You are quite right about
avocado. Avocado has high quantities of fatty acids that will make dry
split ends hair feel softer. Look for conditioning treatment with
avocado as the key ingredient or you can make up your own home remedy
for split ends. Take one avocado and mash up with one egg and two
tablespoons of olive oil. Apply to your hair and leave for 20 minutes to
allow the nutrients to absorb. Rinse your hair as normal and then apply
your regular shampoo.
Finally, you can also try mixing a mashed
ripe papaya and mixing it with half a cup of plain yogurt. Apply the
mix all over your hair and leave it for 20 minutes before rinsing off.
Since papaya contains amino acids and proteins it helps make hair much
stronger and therefore unlikely to split and break.
Many
hairdressers suggest trimming off the ends of your hair, however that
will not help those split ends which have occurred further up the hair
shaft. Be careful when brushing your hair after shampooing. It can be
damaging and help split those ends of your hair. Instead use one of the
conditioners recommended above and a wide tooth comb.
Q. Dear Natalie, are there any homeopathic remedies for dry scalp?A.
As a Homeopathic practitioner I believe that the best way to treat any
skin problem is from the inside out, including dietary changes and
simple homeopathic remedies to infuse moisture back into the scalp.
Homeopathic treatments work by stimulating the body's natural ability to
bring balance back into the skin in a non-toxic way thereby enhancing
healthy skin for a dry free scalp.
Make sure your diet is rich
with mega-3 fatty acids. Combine this dietary change with the
homeopathic remedy arnica in a 30 c dose twice daily. Arnica is usually
prescribed when the scalp is dry resulting from stressful conditions.
The
homeopathic remedies graphites and calendula when blended into a cream
provide the skin with a rich emollient excellent for soothing dry,
cracked skin on the scalp. The cream should be massaged into the scalp.
The
most effective homeopathic remedy used for a dry scalp when there is
intense itching and burning is urtica cream. Massage homeopathic urtica
cream into the scalp, once you have finished, apply a few drops of olive
oil to a brush and work your way through the hair to increase levels of
moisture to the scalp. Try looking for a natural shampoo and
conditioner containing tea tree or lavender. Both these ingredients are
well known for their antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. They are
very effective at healing. They both work well for healing issues
associated with imbalanced skin on the scalp. Both essential oils work
well in conjunction with homeopathic therapy.
This
column is brought to you as general information only and unless stated
otherwise is not medical advice nor is it based on medical experiments.
This column is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for
specific medical conditions. For more information about specific
problems, please contact a doctor.
For a reasonably-priced professional hairdresser, contact Avi Sakorka on 052-650-0005.
Natalie runs a clinic
both in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem offering a wide range of natural
treatment, including a women’s clinic every Wednesday. To make an
appointment please email nateopath@gmail.com.
Ask Natalie: If you have a health query and would like an alternative answer, email Natalie with your question at nateopath@gmail.com
Someone Once Said:
'All that man needs for health and healing has been provided by God in
nature. Challenge of science is to find it.' - Paracelsus (1493-1541)