Loss of hair or baldness is referred to as alopecia. Factors that are involved include heredity, hormones and aging. Other factors that promote hair loss are acute illnesses, chemotherapy, diabetes, iron deficiency, poor circulation, poor diet, pregnancy, radiation, skin disease, stress, sudden weight loss, surgery, thyroid disease and vitamin deficiency.

There are a number of vitamins that affect the hair. A lack of vitamins causes hair and scalp problems, but sometimes too much of a vitamin can also harm the hair.

Vitamin A - a lack of vitamin A causes coarse, dry, lifeless hair and dandruff appears. Taking large doses of vitamin A (100,000 IU or more daily) over long periods of time can trigger hair loss. Stopping the vitamin A will reverse the problem. The hair grows back when this cause is corrected. Too much A causes a hardening of the skin making it difficult for new hair growth.

Vitamin E is necessary for the body to absorb Vitamin A. In addition, it increases oxygen uptake, which improves circulation to the scalp and improves health and growth of hair. A shortage of vitamin E causes the hair to become dull and fall out.

Manganese - one milligram of manganese is necessary for the absorption of every 100 milligrams of vitamin E.

A lack of vitamin B1, iodine, iron or copper can cause the hair to fall out. Not enough vitamin B1 and iodine make the blood circulation to the scalp sluggish and starves the small, weak hairs.

Vitamin B1 - important for the health and growth of hair.

Iodine - is needed for the proper function of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland supplied with iodine keeps the circulation up to par.

Iron - is necessary for healthy hair.

Copper (chelate) - works with zinc to aid in hair growth.

Zinc - is necessary to prevent baldness.

A lack of vitamin B5, biotin, folic acid and PABA specifically seems to cause gray hair. Yeast contains these vitamins and yogurt provides the body with the ingredients to construct them. A half-pint of yogurt daily and a teaspoon of Brewer’s yeast in powdered form, mixed into milk or tomato juice (or another preferred liquid to kill the taste of the yeast), should be taken before each meal.

Vitamin B5 - important for the health and growth of hair.

Biotin - lack of causes dry and falling hair.

Folic acid - a lack of this vitamin is the main reason for hair turning gray.

PABA - needed for healthy hair and for graying hair.

L-Cysteine - improves quality, texture and growth of hair.

L-Methionine - helps prevent hair from falling out.

Herbal Nutrition For Hair Loss

Prickly ash herbal supplements - is a circulatory supporter and helps maintain normal blood flow to the extremities.

Oats - is a general nerve tonic that is also used to support the thyroid and all the mechanisms involve in hormonal harmony.

Sage essential oil - helps to tone and support the health of hair follicles and is of great benefit to the health of the scalp.

Rosemary - plays a supportive role on the circulatory system, allowing nutrient rich blood to reach the hair follicles. Rosemary essential oil is well known for its effect on the scalp and its ability to encourage healthy hair growth.

Horsetail herbal supplements - is rich in minerals, especially silica, which is an important part of all connective tissues in the body, as well as hair and fingernails.

Chamomile essential oil - on the scalp helps to support the health of the capillaries that supply blood to the scalp and hair follicles and maintain skin elasticity.

Ginkgo biloba herbal supplements - has been studied for its health benefits on blood with regards to circulation

Gotu kola herbal supplements - has been discovered to be beneficial for the purpose of treating male pattern baldness as well as hair loss that comes with age.

Remember that it is natural to lose fifty to one hundred hairs a day. If you are losing large amounts of hair, see your physician.