The shock sets in when you find your shower drain clogged with hair ...or your pillow covered with scads of loose hairs. Could it be you�re losing your hair? If your once-thick hair is falling out in clumps, or you�ve got bald patches peeking out from your scalp, you�re not alone. Although there are many types of hair loss (see sidebar), the most common type�androgenetic alopecia (AGA)�affects up to 50% of men and 40% of women by age 50.
Balding men with AGA typically get receding hairlines and large patches of hair loss fringed by a horseshoe-shaped ruffle of hair. Women with AGA generally have diffuse hair-thinning all over the scalp, most noticeably over the top of the scalp, just behind the bangs. AGA in both sexes is caused by genetic and hormonal forces. In genetically susceptible hair follicles of the scalp, enzymes known as 5 alpha-reductase enzymes convert the hormone testosterone into another hormone, called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In a process called miniaturization, DHT shrinks hair follicles and causes them to deteriorate over time. Scalp hair becomes thinner and starts to fall out.

Fallout Shelter: Natural Therapies
The goal in treating AGA is to curtail hormonal activity in the hair follicle, either by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT or by reversing or stabilizing the miniaturization process. Although several prescription anti-baldness drugs on the worldwide market are designed to accomplish this, these medicines may not be your first choice. Instead, opt for some natural remedies to slow the shedding, and possibly get your hair growing again. Vitamins, minerals and herbs are among the options available.

Vitamins for Troubled Tresses
Among the vitamins necessary for healthy hair, two in particular may be therapeutically helpful in treating hair loss. One is vitamin B6, a nutrient involved in many metabolic processes. Research with animals shows that vitamin B6, specifically the pyridoxal hydrochloride form, can inhibit the action of 5 alpha-reductase enzymes, which convert testosterone into follicle-killing DHT.
More research is needed to verify an anti-baldness benefit of vitamin B6, and in particular, the effectiveness of its various forms. For treating hair loss, the currently recommended dosage is 50 mg three times daily.

Another important hair vitamin is biotin, a B vitamin that helps to produce healthy hair. The daily dosage of biotin delivered in biotin-containing hair products ranges from 150 to 300 mcg, although amounts up to 8,000 mcg daily have been prescribed.

Mane Minerals
Iron, zinc, copper and silica are the minerals most closely associated with healthy hair.
A shortage of iron in your diet may trigger hair loss. Blood tests can easily detect low iron levels, and you can correct the condition by taking iron supplements and eating iron-rich foods. The recommended daily intake of iron for men is 10 mg a day; for women, 15 mg a day.

Present in every nook and cranny of the body, zinc promotes the growth of all tissues, including hair and skin. In lab experiments, zinc sulfate inhibits 5 alpha-reductase activity. When vitamin B6 was added, the inhibitory effect of zinc was strengthened.

Although the jury is still out on both nutrients as anti-baldness measures, supplementation is worth a try. To encourage hair growth, supplement with 60 mg of zinc a day for six months; for topical preparations, follow package instructions.

Found in all body tissues, copper is involved in normal hair growth. It also inhibits the activity of 5 alpha-reductase enzymes. A number of topical anti-baldness lotions contain copper peptides (a copper/protein combination) and have shown good results in treating hair loss. The recommended daily intake of supplemental copper is 2 mg.

Numerous hair supplements contain silica, a mineral involved in the formation of bone and collagen and essential for healthy nails, skin and hair. The herb horsetail is rich in silica.

Silica has demonstrated some impressive anti-baldness powers. Twenty men with AGA were given two tablets daily of a supplement containing silica and a fish-oil extract (Viviscal) daily for six months. As a control, 20 other men took only two tablets of a fish-oil extract daily.

By the end of the experimental period, the group treated with the silica-fish-oil combination grew 38% more hair, compared to just 2% in the other group. The researchers note, �[It] appears to be the first highly active treatment for androgenetic alopecia in young males.�

It�s not clear why the product worked so well, but the key ingredient appears to have been silica.

To supplement with silica, take up to 50 mg per day in tablet or capsule form or drink 1 cup of horsetail tea daily. Follow package directions for combination supplements containing silica.

Anti-Baldness Herbs
Evidence is surfacing that certain herbs may help to counteract baldness. Here�s a closer look.
Saw Palmetto
(Serenoa repens)
Taking center stage as a potential natural remedy for baldness in men is saw palmetto, an herb derived from dried berries of the fan palm. Extracts of saw palmetto interfere with the metabolism of DHT and foil the action of 5 alpha-reductase enzymes. The net effect is to block the formation of DHT. The recommended dosage is 160 mg, twice daily. Supplements made from saw palmetto extract, rather than from the berries themselves, are more effective.

Pygeum
(Pygeum africanum)
Men seeking natural cures for baldness are turning to pygeum, an herb derived from the bark of an African evergreen tree. Pygeum is believed to influence the metabolism of testosterone. The recommended dosage is between 60 and 500 mg a day in pill or capsule form.

Green Tea
(Camellia sinensis)
Sipping a cup or two of green tea daily may put AGA on the slow track. Preliminary animal research shows that certain natural chemicals called catechins in green tea inhibit the activity of 5 alpha-reductase enzymes. You can reap the benefits of green tea in the conventional way�with some brewed or iced tea�or by taking a green-tea-extract supplement. If you choose to supplement, follow the manufacturer�s recommendations for dosage.

He Shou Wu
(Polygonum multiflorum)
This Chinese herb has a long history of folk use for nourishing hair. As a natural hair-loss remedy, extracts of the herb are believed to work by hindering the production of DHT. Products containing the extract generally come in capsules to be taken three times a day; or follow the recommended dosage on the label. There are also topical anti-baldness formulas containing he shou wu.

Aromatherapy for Hair Loss
Gee, Your New Hair Smells Terrific
Massaging essential oils into your scalp may help to combat alopecia areata. In one study, 43 people with alopecia areata received daily two-minute scalp massages with essential oils of rosemary, thyme, lavender and cedarwood blended with jojoba and grapeseed oils. A control group of 43 people received massages with jojoba and grapeseed oils only.
At the end of seven months of massage treatment, 19 people in the essential-oil group regrew hair, compared to only six people in the control group.

Pinpointing the Cause of Your Hair Loss
There are many types of Hair loss in addition to AGA. Through a scalp examination and other tests, a dermatologist can pinpoint the exact cause of your hair loss.
Alopecia areata: The medical term for patchy hair loss on the scalp, alopecia areata affects approximately 2% of the population. Alopecia areata is believed to be caused by a disorder of the immune system.

Disease-related hair loss: There are a number of diseases that can produce hair loss, including syphilis, thyroid disease and bacterial and fungal diseases. Hair loss reverses after the disease causing it is cured.

Telogen effluvium: The second most common form of hair loss, telogen effluvium is usually the result of crash dieting, severe stress, illness, major surgery, childbirth or the use of certain medications. With telogen effluvium, an abnormally high percentage of actively growing hairs abruptly enter the resting stage of growth. Unless chronic, telogen effluvium usually resolves on its own.

Trichotillomania: A fairly common cause of hair loss is trichotillomania, or habitual hair-pulling. It is a psychological disorder brought on by stress and can be resolved through behavioral counseling.

Eat Your Way to a Healthy Head of Hair
No matter which hair-loss treatment you choose, it is important to follow a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods and does not skimp on important nutrients.
Men in particular should follow a low-cholesterol diet, since research has found a link between AGA and high-cholesterol diets. Because protein is a chief constituent of hair, both men and women should eat an adequate amount of protein-rich foods each day.

In general, good nutrition can enhance natural anti-baldness treatments and make your existing hair healthier and more radiant than ever before.

Selected References
Kniewald, Z, Zechner, V and Kniewald, J 'Androgen hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases under the influence of pyridoxine derivatives' Endocrine Regulations (1992) 26: 47-51 Stamatiadis, D, Bulteau-Portois, MC and Mowszowicz, I 'Inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase activity in human skin by zinc and azelaic acid' British Journal of Dermatology (1988) 119: 627-632 Lassus, A, and Eskeline, E 'A comparative study of a new food supplement, Viviscal, with fish extract for the treatment of hereditary androgenic alopecia in young males' Journal of International Medical Research (1992) 20: 445-453 Liao, S, and Hiipakka, RA 'Selective inhibition of steroid 5 alpha-reductase isozymes by tea epicatechin-3-gallate and epigallocatechin-3-gallate' Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (1995) 214: 833-838 Hay, IC, Jamieson, M and Ormerod, AD 'Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata' Archives of Dermatology (1998) 134: 1349-1352 Trevisan, M, Farinaro, E, Krogh, V et al 'Baldness and coronary heart disease risk factors' Journal of Clinical Epidemiology (1993) 46: 1213-1218