Treatment of baldness with folk remedies: oils, ointments, herbs

Although today medicine tries to help with partial or complete absence of hair growth on the head, various folk remedies for baldness are more often used.

However, not all the recipes for hair loss distributed on the Internet are capable of providing real help to 70% of men and 25% of women who have this problem. Therefore, “folk” advice should be treated more carefully, with a dose of reasonable skepticism, since there are many dubious ones among them. But first, let's try to answer the question: why is there no cure for baldness?

Why do people go bald and can it be avoided?

We will not explain in detail the causes of baldness: more detailed information about this in the material - Normal hair loss or baldness

Let us just recall that most relatively healthy people are characterized by androgenic alopecia or baldness caused by genetic predisposition and damage to the hair follicles by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a much more active derivative of testosterone and is formed as a result of the action of the enzyme 5α-reductase.

This polypeptide compound in the form of two isoenzymes (5α-R1 and 5α-R2) takes part in the production of steroid hormones and is present in the cells of the scalp, and the degree of its activity is determined at the gene level, i.e. it is individual for each person and is inherited. And then, penetrating into the cells of the follicles, DHT acts on androgen receptors, as a result of which the follicles undergo dystrophic changes against the background of increased secretion of sebum. Gradually, the hair on the head becomes thinner and shorter, and eventually stops growing altogether.

In addition, both men and women have genetically programmed features of the hair follicle cycle: its growing phase (anagen), a short period of apoptosis-induced involution (catagen), a phase of loss (exogen) and rest (telogen). In addition to androgen hormones, follicles can shrink due to a shortening of the anagen phase. Read more in the publication - Telogen and Anagen Hair Loss

So why is there no cure for baldness?

All of the above can partly explain why there is no cure for baldness. In addition, it is not a fatal disease, and the search for remedies for hair loss is not as relevant as, for example, the development of drugs that can defeat oncology.

By the way, the well-known anti-hair loss remedy Minoxidil was actually developed by pharmacologists to treat arterial hypertension, and slowing hair loss and stimulating new growth is an unexpectedly discovered side effect.

The drug Dutasteride (Finasteride, Avodart, Duodart), which blocks the action of the enzyme 5α-reductase, was also created not to combat baldness, but to treat hyperplastic prostate in men. And its effect on hair growth ceases as soon as a man stops taking the drug, which has side effects in the form of erectile dysfunction.

A lot of cosmetic products are produced and advertised – shampoos and soaps against hair loss, lotions and mousses, masks-balms and serums against baldness, but their effectiveness has not been clinically proven.

Natural components are often introduced into the composition of such products. For example, the Indola Innova Root Activating shampoo contains aloe vera extract; Weleda hair balms are based on burdock and rosemary oils; Floresan serum (RF) - leave-in serum "Burdock" for baldness, in addition to burdock oil, contains extracts of hot pepper and nettle; the Creasoin Trinity tonic lotion uses zinc and coffee for baldness, or more precisely, the alkaloid caffeine contained in it. At the same time, according to foreign experts, caffeine in constantly consumed natural coffee (three cups a day) significantly increases the synthesis of DHT.

Vitamins for baldness

Doctors recommend taking mineral-vitamin complexes and vitamins for hair loss, containing vitamin B7 (H or biotin) and zinc, which are important for hair growth. More details – Hair and microelements

All of this is included in the Centrum vitamins after 50 years from baldness - Multivitamin complex from A to Zn: for men - CENTRUM ON 50+, and for women - CENTRUM ONA 50+. A balanced composition of vitamins, macro- and microelements also contains VITRUM Century. Keep in mind that the amount of vitamins such as thiamine and niacin (B1 and B3) should be minimal, since they activate 5α-reductase. But there should be enough vitamins A and D, since with their deficiency the body does not receive enough zinc, and it helps maintain a balanced level of testosterone.

According to one theory, zinc deficiency causes changes in the structure of hair follicle proteins and weakens their cell membranes. This means that newly grown hair will fall out faster than expected. Therefore, you should eat foods rich in Zn (red meat, liver, egg yolks, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, etc.).

Read - Vitamins for men against baldness

And to strengthen the immune system, you can take adaptogens of natural origin, for example, eleutherococcus or ginseng for baldness in the form of a tincture (15-20 drops once a day - before meals).

Effective folk remedies for baldness

What folk remedies for baldness are offered, and how can they make hair follicles “work”?

Experts note that 99% of folk remedies for baldness in women are aimed at strengthening existing hair, as well as controlling and regulating the production of sebum by sebocytes. And every second folk remedy for baldness for men is based on improving the blood supply to the scalp and increasing the nutrition of the hair roots.

In theory, the best folk remedies for baldness should act on the enzyme 5α-reductase, that is, suppress or at least weaken its function. As it turns out, this property is inherent in some monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids: oleic, linoleic, α- and γ-linolenic, palmitoleic, eicosanoic (arachidonic) and docosahexaenoic (related to ω-3 acids).

And medicinal plants, that is, herbs for baldness, should have among their bioactive components: polyphenols with antioxidant effect, flavonoids, cystine), stilbene derivatives, phytohormones, essential fatty and dicarboxylic acids, biotin, zinc, selenium, silicon. In herbs for hair loss in women during the postmenopausal period, it is necessary to have isoflavone phytoestrogens, β-sitosterol, diosgenin, etc. But the question is, is all this taken into account in folk recipes for baldness?

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Oils for baldness

A traditional remedy, which is usually rubbed into the scalp and hair roots once or twice a week (and left for two to three hours, wrapping the hair with a towel and covering it with a polyethylene film on top), is considered to be oil from the roots of large burdock (Arctium lappa) - burdock oil for baldness. Its benefits are provided by a complex of amino acids, glycosides, aliphatic carboxylic and fatty acids, steroid alcohols (sitosterol and stigmasterol).

Along with this oil, you can use liquid natural honey for baldness, adding it in a ratio of 1:3. Some advise adding ground red pepper for baldness - to improve microcirculation in the scalp. There are also recipes in which cognac or vodka for baldness is added for the same purposes.

For better hair growth, nutrition and moisturizing of dry skin, castor oil (Ricinus communis) is used - castor oil (containing ricinoleic, oleic and linoleic fatty acids). The oil is quite viscous, so it is better to dilute it a little with almond oil or grape seed oil and add essential oils (we will talk about them later).

There is every reason to classify olive oil, half of which consists of oleic monounsaturated fatty acid (classified as omega-9), as a means of helping to prevent hair loss and improve its condition, eliminating excessive dryness and flaking. It is used in a similar way to the method already described, but this oil can be too heavy for fine hair.

More useful will be masks against baldness based on olive oil, for example, with the addition of raw egg yolk. Although eggs themselves will not save from baldness, but lecithin, which is present in their yolks, promotes deep cleansing of the scalp.

In the same way, you can use the oil of the woad (Isatis tinctoria), a practically weedy plant of the cruciferous family. In Chinese traditional medicine, the oil from its roots is taken internally for inflammatory diseases as an antipyretic and antibacterial agent, and is used externally for erysipelas and lichen. It is known that this plant (leaves and roots) contains the isoflavone genistein, which is a phytosterol.

Maryin thistle or spotted milk thistle against baldness is used in the form of oil, which is rich in fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, eicosanoic) and selenium. This oil can be mixed with burdock, almond or olive oils.

The seeds of another variety of thistle, Carthamus tinctorius, or safflower, yield safflower oil (called kusum in Ayurveda), which is easily absorbed and contains 78% unsaturated fatty acids. This oil is considered a natural vasodilator that improves blood circulation in the scalp, and a daily 20-minute massage with safflower oil produces positive results in as little as three weeks.

How to use essential oils for hair loss?

In the fight against alopecia, it is advisable to use various essential oils. Essential oil from wild carrot seeds (rich in zinc); cedar, cypress and lavender oils; sage, yarrow, grapefruit, thyme oils are recognized as a good remedy for increasing the tone of the scalp, strengthening hair roots and stimulating the growth of new hair.

Fir oil helps to cope with some skin problems (fungus, scabies), as well as pediculosis, but its strong antimicrobial properties do not work in the case of baldness.

Caraway oil (Carum carvi) disinfects and destroys pathogens of many skin infections. In addition to terpene compounds, it also contains aldehydes. One of them, furfural, can cause irritation, so for scalp massage, it is recommended to mix caraway oil with basil, lavender or grapefruit oils. Black cumin oil (Nigella sativa, Ranunculaceae family) is used in almost the same way.

Due to the high content of terpene compounds (myrcene, linalool, limonene), tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) acts as an antiseptic. Details in the article - Tea tree oil for hair

Rosemary essential oil has a wide range of applications, but its greatest benefit is in stimulating blood flow to the scalp cells, moisturizing the skin and improving the nutrition of hair follicles. As a base, you can use extra virgin olive oil or almond oil: 3-4 drops of essential oil per dessert spoon.

Like essential oils of lavender, lemon, mint or cypress, rosemary oil is suitable for increased hair oiliness, and then it should be added to sesame oil (5-8 drops per procedure). Aloe juice or extract for baldness gives an additional effect. Aloe vera improves hair growth, normalizing the skin's pH and reducing the accumulation of sebum. For more information on how to use it, read - Aloe mask for hair

The use of jojoba oil extracted from the seeds of the Simmondsia chinensis plant against baldness is fully justified, containing up to 20% docosahexaenoic acid. It also contains wax monoesters, carotenoids and antioxidant tocopherol (vitamin E); helps to balance the production of sebum and regulates its excess volume in clogged pores (which is often the reason for stopping hair growth). It is recommended to mix warm jojoba oil (4-5 drops) with a small amount of any edible vegetable oil and rub into the scalp, leave for 30 minutes, and then wash your hair with shampoo.

Ointments for baldness

Many people use unproven treatment methods, and this, of course, also applies to such a problem as alopecia. For example, they recommend using some ointments for baldness.

The recommendation to use the locally irritating and distracting capsaicin-containing ointment Kapsikam for baldness, and not for its intended purpose (for radiculitis and neuralgic pain), is questionable. This ointment - when applied to the scalp - can cause a chemical burn of its epidermal layer due to the action of turpentine in its composition, as well as contact dermatitis with rash and itching, which can be caused by other ingredients: cetyl stearyl alcohol, benzyl nicotinate and the preservative bronopol (a derivative of formaldehyde).

And who came up with the idea of using the anti-inflammatory ointment Levomekol for baldness, if it contains the antibiotic chloramphenicol and has nothing to do with the treatment of alopecia?

Vishnevsky's ointment for baldness is also under great question. If you don't know what this wonderful ointment is used for, look here - Liniment, Vishnevsky's ointment

Although, perhaps, this idea was prompted by the presence of birch tar and castor oil in the ointment, as well as the cheapness of this remedy for purulent inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. And the content of a phenol and bismuth derivative - xeroform, which not only disinfects but also dries the skin, among the active ingredients of Vishnevsky ointment, is not taken into account at all.

But if you prefer ointments, you can make them at home. For example, an easy-to-apply ointment can be made by mixing a very concentrated decoction of burdock root with honey and thick cream (1:2) (two tablespoons per 250 liters of water, boil for a quarter of an hour and leave to infuse in a closed container for at least three hours). Nettle or calamus root is a good substitute for burdock, and a couple of mumiyo tablets for baldness can be dissolved in the decoction.

An ointment for two or three procedures is prepared from raw grated onion and lard (2:1) with the addition of 10 mg of fish oil (containing polyunsaturated docosahexaenoic fatty acid) and a few drops of essential oil (lavender, sage, grapefruit, etc.). Lard can be replaced with coconut oil, but then before applying the composition, it must be slightly warmed up in a water bath.

Herbs for baldness

People have used and still use burdock for baldness: prepare a decoction from dried roots (a tablespoon of raw material per 0.5 liters of water), infuse it for several hours, strain and wash your hair - twice a week.

Nettle has also been used for a long time for hair loss (for better hair growth), since the above-ground parts of this plant - in addition to a lot of vitamins - contain almost 40% alpha-linolenic fatty acid, as well as enough oleic, linoleic and palmitoleic (there is even more in the roots and seeds).

For baldness, herbalists recommend washing your hair and doing wet wraps with decoctions of calendula flowers, cornflower and mullein; horsetail, sage and yarrow; hop cones and coltsfoot leaves.

But fireweed or willow-herb are not used for baldness, and viburnum, which is useful for coughs and sore throats, will not help with baldness either. Water infusion of hellebore (Veratrum lobelianum of the Melanthiaceae family), which contains highly toxic steroid alkaloids (for example, veratridine), was used as a remedy for pediculosis. But hellebore water should not be used for baldness: veratridine, easily absorbed through the skin, has a neurotoxic effect.

Powder from dried leaves of the Lawsonia inermis tree growing in hot climates – henna for baldness helps to strengthen hair roots also due to its composition. And it includes tannins and resins, coumarins and antimicrobial quinones, gallic acid and polyphenols-antioxidants (xanthones), as well as stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and luteolin isomers.

They say that masks against baldness, for the preparation of which I use henna powder and homemade cottage cheese (in a 1:1 ratio), give a good effect. For other ways to use henna, see – Henna mask

Pay attention to plants that researchers have found to have the ability to deactivate 5α-reductase to some extent and, accordingly, reduce the activity of dihydrotestosterone – due to the presence of polyphenols, isoflavones, triterpenes, phytosterols and unsaturated fatty acids in their composition.

These are basil (Ocimum basilicum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), turmeric (Curcuma longa), arrowroot or Japanese pueraria (Pueraria lobata) of the legume family, and Asian pennywort or centella (Centella asiatica) of the umbelliferous family.

Similar in action are phenolic flavonoids – catechin, epicatechin-3-gallate and epigallocatechin-3-gallate, which are active components of green (non-fermented) tea leaves, cocoa beans and peach and grape seed oils.

Recipes for hair loss

If we continue the list, including the best folk remedies for baldness, then the first place among the most popular is occupied by two plants: Allium cepa and Allium sativum of the amaryllis family. That is, onions and garlic.

Due to the high sulfur content, onion for baldness can stimulate the growth of new hair. Onion juice is used (apply it to the scalp for a quarter of an hour, and then wash off with warm water). An onion mask for baldness is made - with grated onion and sour cream, with onion juice and rye bread soaked in herbal decoction, etc.

Garlic for baldness, firstly, improves microcirculation in the epidermis, and secondly, increases the synthesis of collagen, which strengthens the hair cuticle. Take a few cloves of garlic, chop, add olive oil, heat the mixture to body temperature and apply for 30 minutes. It is supposed to be washed off with cool water

Ginger root, which contains linolenic fatty acid, is also very useful for hair, so you can use ginger for baldness - in the form of masks with oils, honey, egg yolk, etc. Read the material - Ginger for hair

Honey for hair loss is most often used as an ingredient in masks - with oils, herbal decoctions, lemon (for oily scalp), with egg, onion or aloe juice.

Is it possible to use coffee for baldness, and how to do it, read - Coffee mask for hair

Dry brewer's yeast for baldness is best used by mixing it not with water, but with a herbal decoction (a teaspoon of yeast per two tablespoons of liquid), and also adding a tablespoon of honey. It is useful to do the mask twice a week for a month.

By irritating skin receptors and causing a reflex rush of blood, red pepper should work against baldness, or more precisely, against focal or nesting alopecia.

Tincture of capsicum against baldness (preferably mixed with the same honey) is applied to the area where hair has stopped growing for 10-15 minutes, and then washed off. In the same way, according to advice, finely grated horseradish against baldness or grated radish is used.

Mustard oil or mustard is recommended for baldness. A mustard mask for baldness is prepared as follows: mustard powder is mixed with warm water (until a thick paste), one raw egg yolk and a little olive oil are added. After mixing everything well, the mass is applied to the hair roots for half an hour, and then washed off with water. It is enough to do such a mask once a week.

If the advice to use tar soap for baldness can be explained by the fact that birch tar promotes blood flow to the hair follicles (at the same time, it contains phenol, and the skin after such soap can peel), then using laundry soap for baldness and in general for washing your hair is contraindicated. When cooking laundry soap, a strong alkali is added to fats - caustic potassium, and the finished soap has a pH> 10. What happens to the skin and hair is easy to guess...

Urine will definitely not help with baldness, but green tea will (its catechins, which were mentioned earlier). Just brew 0.5 l of tea, and when it cools down to +30-35°C, use it to rinse your hair after washing it.

How peloidotherapy for alopecia is carried out, and how therapeutic muds work against baldness, is described in the material - Dead Sea Mud for Hair