Oh, the scalp – that seat of power in a man, slowly gaining ground as we age. What was once covered by lustrous locks becomes further and further exposed, and our precious braincase becomes vulnerable to whatever passing dangers that hair once sheltered us from. What I’m getting at with all this flowery prose is that, for a man, losing your hair as you age is one of the very real signifiers that we’re not as young and strong as we used to be. I researched a number of natural ways to slow or even reverse the process of hair loss, and I’m going to share them with you, my brothers.
Saw Palmetto Extract: Although the link is not fully understood, there does seem to be a connection between the prostate and hair loss. Regular doses of saw palmetto extract, derived from a small plant that grows in the Southeastern United States, has been proven effective against some prostate diseases by lowering the amount of the hormone DHT in the bloodstream. That hormone has also been linked to alopecia, the rare genetic disorder that causes sufferers to rapidly shed hair from wherever it grows on the body. The evidence is still circumstantial, but it is worth exploring.
Nettle Root Extract: This is another natural remedy that has been used to combat prostate disorders. Nettle roots are also rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, as well as several key minerals. When combined with saw palmetto extract, it forms one of the more popular homeopathic remedies for prostatic diseases. It has not been tested in the United States – only Europe.
Aloe Vera: This succulent plant is used as an ingredient in many commercial shampoos. However, the processing that goes into those products strips the plant of many of its worthwhile features, and it is best used fresh. Growing in arid, dry climates, fresh aloe is available in most good grocery stores. The ideal combination involves fresh aloe vera gel, coconut milk and wheat germ – this will clean and moisturize the scalp while healing the pores and balancing the pH level of your skin – a must if you live in an area with hard water.
Massage: Regular gentle massage of the scalp has many proven palliative effects. Unfortunately, hair recovery is not one of them. Massage temporarily increases blood flow to the area, which can stimulate hair follicles. However, the effect is too mild and lasts for too short a time to work in any serious hair loss cases. It can be used to speed the regrowth of hair, but won’t do anything for follicles that have stopped producing. Sure does feel good, though.
Diet: One extremely effective change that you can make is to more strictly monitor your diet to ensure that your body is getting what it needs to grow healthy hair. Most important is a set of five amino acids found in protein – lysine, cystine, cysteine, methionine, and arginine. These five proteins have the largest impact on the ability of your follicles to produce new hair, so make sure that your diet prioritizes proteins over sugars and carbs.
