Last Updated on: 17th September 2023, 12:58 pm
Hair loss is a problem triggered by many factors such as various medical conditions, genetics, lack of vitamins, hormonal imbalance and stress.
Thinning hair begins from the crown or the temporal region or in the form of patches like alopecia areata which can begin from single or multiple areas.
Although there’s no single treatment that can be used to regrow hair or stop hair loss, there are some herbal hair treatments that may slow hair loss and even help promote new hair growth.
Herbal hair oils
Hair oils or hair tonics contain herbal extracts that are mixed in a carrier oil.
The most popular carrier oil that has been proven to help with hair loss is coconut oil. Coconut oil contains healthy fats that can penetrate the deepest layer of your hair to moisturize it. However, it isn’t the only carrier oil that is used to make herbal oils.
Other carrier oils used are:
- sweet almond oil
- walnut oil
- olive oil
- mineral oil
- jojoba oil
- wheat germ oil
Herbs are used to provide added benefits to the carrier oils to boost their effectiveness.
Some examples of beneficial herbs to help with hair loss are:
1) Chinese hibiscus
This is an evergreen shrub that is edible and has vibrant flowers that are used to make herbal tea. It can also help stimulate hair follicles, and increase hair follicle size, which helps increase hair growth.
2) Brahmi
Also known as Bacopa, it is a herb that is largely used in Ayurvedic herbs. As hair is made mostly of protein, this herb contains alkaloids that can activate proteins that are responsible for hair growth.
3) Coat Buttons
This is one of the ayurvedic herbs found in the daisy family. It can help combat hair loss as it contains the antioxidants necessary to keep hair healthy and promote hair growth naturally. It also works in synergy with other herbs to increase the effectiveness of the herbal hair treatment.
4) Jatamansi
Hair fall caused by chemotherapy can benefit from this herb the most. It is a small shrub that contains rhizomes to speed up hair growth caused by alopecia areata.
5) Ginseng
This is the age-old herbal treatment used for everything related to hair care, skincare and overall health. It is one of the natural remedies proven to work as it contains saponins to help encourage hair growth by inhibiting the 5a reductase. This is an enzyme often found to be the cause of hair loss and male pattern baldness.
Polyherbal Ointments
These are herbal ointments or herbal salves that are made through a combination of herbs with an oil like lanolin or petroleum jelly and water. Common ingredients used include beeswax and cocoa butter. This herbal hair treatment typically contains multiple herbal extracts.
Some herbs used in these ointments and salves are:
1) Gooseberry
This is another ayurvedic herb that strengthens the scalp and hair to help with hair regrowth. It is known to contain several antioxidants that are beneficial for brittle hair.
2) Gotu Kola
The more well-known name of Gotu Kola is Centella Asiatica. Centella Asiatica is well known for its healing properties which makes it a suitable herb to use in herbal hair treatments.
It can help increase hair length, stimulate hair growth and even increase blood circulation in the scalp.
3) Aloe Vera
This is a well-known plant used to remedy burns and hydrate the skin. Because of how moisturizing it is, it can help keep the scalp conditioned and healthy to support healthy hair care. This is a herb suitable for anyone with a sensitive scalp.
4) Holy Basil
This is a fragrant and adaptogenic herb that is well known for its healing properties. It can prevent hair loss caused by oily scalp, dandruff, itching and also for those with any hormonal imbalances.
Herbal Creams
This is a herbal treatment that is made by infusing oils and water together. They are formulated to contain more water and less oil to ensure the product can be absorbed easily in the scalp and hair.
Some herbs used to make these creams are:
1) Giant dodder
This is a sprawling, ayurvedic plant that helps treat alopecia caused by steroid hormones that lead to hair fall in men.
2) Bitter apple
This is a dessert, fruit-bearing plant that is used to treat hair loss. They contain glycosides which is a compound used to initiate hair growth.
3) False Daisy
This is a hair treatment that is used to stimulate blood flow for anyone with scalp problems and research has found that hair grows faster when applied to nude mice.
4) Night flowering jasmine
A native herb to southeast Asia, this flower can help hair loss problems found in alopecia.
Herbal Gels
These are herbal extracts in a gel base that typically don’t contain oil. It is usually anti-inflammatory and suitable to be used on people with lesser hair.
Some herbs used in these herbal gels are:
1) Fenugreek seeds
This is a plant from the pea family. It is a popular cooking spice with hair-growing benefits. Research has shown that herbal hair treatment that uses fenugreek seed extract can help improve hair volume and hair thickness in both men and women suffering from moderate hair loss problems.
2) Marking Nut
This is a plant found in the sub-Himalayan area that is used in both ayurvedic and Siddha medicine to help with healthy hair growth.
Other herbs that can be found in herbal hair treatments
1) Oriental Arborvitae
This is an evergreen tree found in the cypress family that helps stimulate resting follicles in the growth stage.
2) Espinosilla
Found in Mexico, it helps strengthen hair follicles and helps treat any hair loss caused by scalp problems.
3) Goji Berry
One of the most popular ingredients found in Chinese herbs, it has medicinal properties that can help promote hair growth. Usually found in soups as part of a healthy diet, it also contains zinc which is an important mineral to help with hair growth.
Tuber Fleeceflower
This is a traditional Chinese herb with medicinal properties to remedy hair loss. As it contains compounds to inhibit 5a reductase enzymes, it also helps stimulate hair follicles that are in the growth stage.
Conclusion
Herbal hair treatments can help with hair loss in Singapore, however, it cannot be expected to regrow a full head of hair.
Research has shown that natural ingredients can help strengthen hair, support scalp health, improve hair thickness and stimulate the hair growth cycle.
Any of the herbs mentioned above can be used in all types of herbal product preparations. To find the right one for you, it is best to consult a professional to advise on which herbal hair treatment is suitable for you.
