The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (13 page)

Precautions:

People taking blood thinners such as warfarin should avoid digestive enzymes. Pregnant or nursing women or people with ulcers, cystic fibrosis, liver or kidney disease should only take digestive enzymes under the supervision of a health care professional.

Chewable DGL

DGL, short for deglycyrrhizinated licorice, is licorice with the glycyrrhizin portion removed, because glycyrrhyzin can raise blood pressure and promote water retention.

DGL is considered an antacid alternative. Instead of blocking acid production, DGL stimulates the production of mucin.

Mucin coats and protects the esophagus, stomach and intestinal lining. DGL also improves blood flow to the lining of the digestive tract and helps form new protective cells.

Some studies have also shown that it can help inhibit the growth of potentially harmful stomach bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori (although it should not be used alone to treat H. pylori infections.)

Aloe Vera Juice

The juice from the aloe vera plant is another natural home remedy that is used to soothe an irritated esophagus. It has a long history of use in Europe as a natural home remedy to relive heartburn.

A typical dose is 1/4 cup of aloe vera juice approximately 20 minutes before a meal.
It should NOT contain any aloe latex, aloin, or aloe-emoin compounds, substances in the aloe plant that are very powerful laxatives. Aloe gel should not be taken directly from the plant as a home remedy, as the gel can be contaminated with the latex. Only gel/juice preparations specifically for internal use should be used.

Things to watch for:

If heartburn persists or if you experience it frequently, call your doctor. Heartburn may be a symptom of a more serious digestive condition called gastro esophageal reflux disease.

A burning sensation in the chest can also be a sign of a heart attack. If you are not sure, go to the emergency room immediately, especially if you experience shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, cold sweat, nausea, or pain in your shoulders or neck.

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What is Hair Loss?

Also known as:
Alopecia

The average human scalp contains 100,000 hair follicles. Red-haired scalps average about 25 percent fewer hairs and blond-haired heads tend to average about 25 percent more hairs than brown-haired scalps. At puberty, the hairline moves back a little in 96 percent of boys due to the androgen hormone spurt.

The medical term alopecia means partial or complete loss of hair. Hair loss may result from genetic factors, aging, or local or systemic disease.

The
causes
of hair loss can be grouped into the following categories:

Male or female pattern baldness

This type of hair loss requires the presence of androgens but the cause is unknown. The extent of hair loss in any man depends greatly on the genes he inherits from the father, mother or both.

Hair loss begins in the temples or at the top of the head. If male pattern hair loss begins in the mid-teens, subsequent hair loss is usually is extensive. Male balding goes in waves. The hair loss may begin in the early 20's, and then stop, only to start again in a few years.

By the age of 20 to 30 years, 30 percent of men have bald spots. This continues to rise until age 50-60, when 50 percent of men are completely bald.

The rate of hair loss is affected by advancing age, the tendency to bald early due to inherited genes, and an overabundance of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone within the hair follicle.

Although balding men have above average amounts of dihydrotestosterone in their hair follicles, they usually do not have above average circulating testosterone levels.

Female pattern baldness is not as common as male pattern, but is on the rise. It is confined to thinning of the hair predominantly at the top of the head. Complete baldness is rare.

Toxic alopecia

This type of hair loss is temporary and can a severe and often infectious disease by a period of as long as three to four months. It can occur in hypothyroidism, diabetes, hormonal problems and imbalance, nutrient and vitamin deficiencies, such as iron and biotin, hypopituitarism, parasites, poor digestion, early stage of syphilis, after pregnancy, and with thallium compounds, vitamin A or retinoid overdoses, or other cytotoxic drugs.

Alopecia areata

This is a sudden hair loss in demarcated areas. It can affect any hairy area, but most frequently affects the scalp and beard. Hair loss confined to a few areas is often reversed in a few months even without treatment. Recurrences may occur. Alopecia areata usually occurs in people with no obvious skin disease or systemic disease, but in rare cases, lab tests may show anti-microsomial antibodies to thyroglobulin, gastric parietal cells and adrenal cells.

Trichotillomania (hair pulling)

Trichotillomania is a habit that usually appears in childhood. This condition is often hard to differentiate from alopecia areata, and may remain undiagnosed for a long time. Hairs may be broken, hairs may be different lengths, and there may be re-growth seen.

Scarring alopecia

Scarring alopecia results from inflammation and tissue destruction. It may be due to injuries such as burns, physical trauma, or destruction after x-rays. In these cases, little re-growth is expected. Other causes are cutaneous lupus erythematosus, lichen planus, chronic deep bacterial or fungal infections, deep ulcers, sarcoidosis, syphilis, or tuberculosis. Slow growing tumors of the scalp are a rare cause of hair loss.

Diagnosis

A dermatologist can conduct microscopic exam of plucked hair to differentiate between causes of hair loss and balding. This method compares the different phases of hair growth. Normally, 80-90 % of hairs are in the growing phase, also called anagen phase, the rest are in resting phase, also called telogen phase. Experienced and trained clinicians can distinguish anagen hairs, which have sheaths attached to their roots, from telogen hairs which have no sheaths and have tiny bulbs at their roots. Other methods are biopsy of the scalp, physical examination and blood tests to detect any underlying metabolic, infectious, or inflammatory condition that could be causing secondary hair loss.

Herbal Treatments

One of the most effective conventional approaches to male pattern hair loss is the drug
minoxidil
.

Interest in minoxidil began with the observation that the oral form of this drug, which dilates blood vessels and is taken for high blood pressure, caused hair regrowth and partially reversed baldness in some men. For baldness, a topical form of minoxidil (Regaine or Rogaine) is applied to areas of hair loss. However, less than 10% of men taking it achieve satisfactory results.

Another conventional drug for baldness is the
anti-androgenic drug finasteride
. It inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that transforms testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. This seems to stimulate the growth of thicker, stronger, and darker hair.

Both
minoxidil
and
finasteride
have side effects.

Diet
A diet that contains whole foods, particularly the outer skin of plants such as potatoes, cucumbers, green and red peppers, and sprouts can give strength to hair because they are rich in the mineral silica. Foods that are high in iron, such as lean meats, are important for people with a known iron deficiency.

Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins & Herbs

Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto oil is an accepted treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia in men. It appears to interact with various sex hormones, including dihydrotestoseteron (DHT). DHT is produced from testosterone by enzyme 5-alpha-reductase.

Like most enzymes, it can be inhibited. There has been great medical interest in substances that have the potential for inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase, and thereby preventing or treating benign prostate hyperplasia. Theoretically, saw palmetto could have also been used to block DHT and prevent hair loss. Saw palmetto is believed to have a similar mechanism of action to the anti-androgenic drug finasteride (Propecia), which has been used in low doses for hair loss.

Folic acid, biotin, vitamin B5, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), and silica
are supplements that may help maintain the color and thickness of hair.

Precautions

Be sure to check your daily intake of zinc through supplements. Intake of 30 mg or higher for more than three months can induce a deficiency of copper, and low copper levels can result in hair loss. Speak to a health practitioner before supplementing copper to avoid copper overdose.

Aromatherapy
the results of one research study suggest that the essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedar wood mixed with oil and applied on the areas of hair loss may stimulate hair growth. This double blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 84 people who massaged either these essential oils or non-treatment oil into their scalps each night for seven months. Results showed that 44% of people in the treatment group had new hair growth compared to only 15% in the control group.

Hair Oil Recipe


        
3 drops of essential oil of thyme


        
3 drops of essential oil of lavender


        
3 drops of essential oil of rosemary


        
3 drops of essential oil of cedar wood


        
1/8 cup of grapeseed oil


        
1/8 cup of jojoba oil

Mix the ingredients together. Cover your pillow with an old towel. Apply several drops of the mixture to areas of hair loss each night, massaging gently into scalp for 3-5 minutes. Store the oil tightly covered. Do not take internally or near the eye area.

Ayurveda
Bhringaraj oil or brahmi oil are applied to the scalp regularly to stimulate hair growth. The Ayurvedic herbs ashwagandha and amla are also reported to stimulate hair growth.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine, hair loss is linked to kidney deficiency syndrome. Other symptoms of kidney deficiency are weakness, fatigue, and low back weakness. Kidney energy is believed to naturally decline with age, but people with early or accelerated hair loss may have particularly weak kidney energy. Kidney tonics are usually recommended.

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What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to sustain a satisfactory erection to perform intercourse and ejaculation.

It is estimated that 10 to 30 million men in the United States experience some form of erectile dysfunction. Over 50% of men, aged 40 to 70 have experienced erectile dysfunction and this number increases with age. However, erectile dysfunction is not inevitable with aging, even into the 70s and 80s. Men can enjoy sexual activity throughout life, although the amount and force of ejaculation and muscular tension decrease.

L-Arginine

L-arginine is an amino acid found in foods such as meat, dairy products, poultry and fish. Arginine appears to be safe at moderate doses of 2 to 3 g per day, although minor digestive distress can occur. High doses of arginine may stimulate the body’s production of gastrin, a hormone that increases stomach acid. For this reason, arginine may be harmful for individuals with ulcers and people taking drugs that are hard on the stomach.

L-arginine may also alter potassium levels in the body, especially in people with severe liver disease. It is particularly a concern for people who take drugs that alter potassium levels such as potassium sparing diuretics and ACE inhibitors.

In a double-blind clinical trial, 50 men with problems achieving an erection received either 5 g of L-arginine per day or placebo for 6 weeks. More men in the treated group experienced improvement in sexual performance than the placebo.

Gingko

Some research suggests that ginkgo may be useful in erectile dysfunction, due to their ability to stimulate blood flow to the penis. In one study of 60 men with impotence due to poor blood, circulation demonstrated a 50% success rate after 6 months. In addition, some research suggests that ginkgo may be useful for impotence caused by drugs in the Prozac family as well as other types of antidepressant medications.

Gingko appears to be relatively safe. It should not be combined with blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin), heparin, aspirin, and Trental (pentoxifylline). Ginkgo may cause bleeding problems if combined with natural blood thinners such as garlic, phosphatidylserine, and high dose vitamin E. There have been some case reports of subdural hematoma (bleeding in the skull) and hyphema (bleeding into the iris chamber) with ginkgo use.