Hair Loss - Alopecia Homeopathic Treatment, Cure - Medicines

Hair Loss / Alopecia

Hair loss or alopecia is partial or complete loss of hair resulting from illness, functional disorder, or hereditary disposition. It usually develops gradually. Roughly 100 hairs are lost from the head every day. The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs. Each individual hair survives for an average of 4-1/2 years, during which time it grows about half an inch a month. Usually in its 5th year, the hair falls out and is replaced within 6 months by a new one. [1] Genetic baldness is caused by the body's failure to produce new hairs and not by excessive hair loss. Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. Inherited or "pattern baldness" affects many more men than women. About 25% of men begin to bald by the time they are 30 years old, and about two-thirds are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.

Typical male pattern baldness involves a receding hairline and thinning around the crown with eventual bald spots. Ultimately, one may have only a horseshoe ring of hair around the sides. In addition to genes, male-pattern baldness seems to require the presence of the male hormone testosterone. Men who do not produce testosterone (because of genetic abnormalities or castration) do not develop this pattern of baldness. Some women also develop a particular pattern of hair loss due to genetics, age, and male hormones that tend to increase in women after menopause. The pattern is different from that of men. Female pattern baldness involves a thinning throughout the scalp while the frontal hairline generally remains intact.

Baldness is not usually caused by a disease, but is related to aging, heredity, and testosterone. In addition to the common male and female patterns from a combination of these factors, other possible causes of hair loss, especially if in an unusual pattern, include:

- Hormonal changes (for example, thyroid disease, childbirth, or use of the birth control pill)
- A serious illness (like a tumor of the ovary or adrenal glands) or fever
- Medication such as cancer chemotherapy
- Excessive shampooing and blow-drying
- Emotional or physical stress
- Nervous habits such as continual hair pulling or scalp rubbing
- Burns or radiation therapy
- Alopecia areata -- bald patches that develop on the scalp, beard, and, possibly, eyebrows. Eyelashes may fall out as well. This is thought to be an immune disorder.
- Tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp)

Causes of Hair Loss / Alopecia

Alopecia is caused by aging, change in hormones, certain illness, family history of baldness, burns or trauma. Other possible causes of hair loss especially if in an unusual pattern, include alopecia areata (bald patches that develop on the scalp, beard, and, possibly, eyebrows; eyelashes may also fall out as well), autoimmune conditions (such as lupus), burns, certain infectious diseases (such as syphilis), chemotherapy, emotional or physical stress, excessive shampooing, blow-drying, fever, hormonal changes (example: thyroid disease, childbirth, use of birth control pills), nervous habits (such as continual hair pulling or scalp rubbing), radiation therapy, tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp), tumor of the ovary or adrenal glands.

Preventing Hair Loss

Following are helpful tips for prevention and coping up with hair loss.

* Brushing and washing away hair that is falling out.
* Cleaning hair and scalp gently with a herbal powder twice a week, and massage the scalp.
* Harshier damaging products containing bleach, peroxide, ammonia, alcohol, or lacquer to be avoided.
* Avoiding heat, curling irons, and hot rollers.
* Keeping hair short and easy to style.
* To avoid breaking hair strands, braids or ponytails to be avoided.
* Wide toothed comb to be used.
* Head to be protected from sun with a hat and sunblock having SPF of at least #15.
* Satin pillow or a hair net can be used while sleeping.
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT for Hair Loss / Alopecia

Hair-loss is again just an indicator that there is something not well in your body. The hairs may fall due to a local infection or due to a systemic disorder or deficiency. The treatment also varies accordingly. The following homeopathic medicines are often found indicated in cases of hair fall:

Alum, Ars, Bar-c, Carbo-veg, Flour-ac, Graph, Lyco, Nat-m, Nit-ac, Phos-ac, Phos, Selen, Sep, Syph, Thallium, Vinca.

The homeopathic treatment for hair loss varies according to the cause of hair fall. Alumina, Arsenicum album, Baryta carbonica, Carbo vegetabilis, Flouricum acidum, Graphites, Lycopodium, Natrum muriaticum, Nitricum acidum, Phosphoricum acidum, Phosphorus, Selenium, Sepia, Syphilinum, Thallium and Vinca minor are the useful remedies. Locally, Arctium lappa, Ceanothus, Malva sylvestis and Tropaeolum can be applied in mother tincture form mixed with coconut or other oil. Phosphoricum acidum 5C, Ambra grisea 9C are given if the hair loss is due to repeated sorrows. If it is due to depression, irritability and anxiety, Nitric acid 5C and Arsenicum album 9C can be given. If it is found in slow, constipated and sycotic patient graphites 5C and Thuja 9C may be helpful. Lycopodium, Sepia and Natrum muriaticum can be given for hair loss after pregnancy.

Common Cold - Homeopathic Treatment, Cure - Medicines

The common cold is the most frequent infection in all age groups. Children especially contract a lot of colds. Colds are caused by a viral infection that effects the respiratory system. Colds often respond well to homeopathic remedies which is a tremendous advantage over modern medicine which has no cure for the common cold. Homeopaths generally advise that a cold or two every year is not a bad thing, as it “cleans out” the system and hence, the adage: don’t cure a cold, let a cold cure you. Still others say that you never know what your "innocent/ordinary" cold might erupt into--a flu, a pneumonia? Consequently, if you see a clear remedy picture, you might be safer giving the remedy than risking what may be down the line. Jim Henson, creator of "Sesame Street", died from a cold gone horribly wrong. If you are finding that you are having more than two colds a year it would be advised to seek help from a professional homeopath to strengthen your immune system. Homeopathy emphasises treating the underlying imbalance in the immune system rather than simply fighting the infection--although in the moment, fighting the infection may be the priority. Note that some of the remedies below say, "for the first stage of the cold". So, don't wait around to see what your cold is going to do, or you might miss the opportunity to give Aconite or Belladonna or some other first-stage remedy, which may have been your only chance to prescribe with confidence for the duration of the cold.

The following remedies may offer symptomatic relief so long as the remedy you choose is well indicated for your individual symptom picture.

REMEDY	KEYNOTE SYMPTOMS	OTHER SYMPTOMS	MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER	MAKES YOU FEEL WORSE
Aconite	Comes on suddenly. Fearful, restless, cheeks hot and red. First stage of cold. Caused by exposure to cold dry winds	Sudden dry painful cough/croup watery mucous, sweats on uncovered parts. High fever with sensitivity to light. Thirsty, watery runny nose, possible bright red nose bleed.	Fresh open air, sleep	Warm stuffy room In the evening and at night Lying on affected side. Irritated by music, dry, cold winds.
Allium cepa	Profuse, bland, watery discharge from eyes. Nasal discharge is profuse and burning. Warm rooms aggravate, better in open air.	Eyes run but the discharge is usually bland Violent sneezing. Mucous burns/corrodes top lip. Tickle in larynx, hoarseness, hacking cough worse breathing in cold air desires onions	Fresh air	Evening. Cold air. Stuffy room. Getting feet wet.
Arsenicum album	Complaints are usually right-sided. Watery, burning nasal discharge. Restlessness, weakness, anxiety, thirsty for sips at frequent intervals, chilly, desires company.	Right nostril burns/corrodes top lip watery thin discharge, but nose feels blocked. Excessive sneezing, Irritation, tickling of the nose. Cold might move to chest.	Heat, elevated head, Warm drinks, company	Wet, windy weather. Midnight to 2am. Sight or smell of food.
Belladona	First stage of cold, sudden onset, high fever, red face, cold extremeties, throbbing pains, patient radiates heat.	Skin hot, dry with high temperature Throbbing headache, very thirsty or not thirsty at all sore throat on right side Tickly throat, light hurts eyes Eyes glassy Eyes dilated delirious in high fever dry barking cough desires lemons or lemonade	Sitting upright or standing. In warm room	Jarring, movement, Noise, drafts. From lying down. After 12noon, 3PM
Bryonia alba	A Cold slow to develop, painful coughs--patient holds chest when he coughs; worse from slightest movement, dry mucus membranes and very thirsty, worse for company, worse for having to answer questions, very irritable, wants to be alone.	Better for being still and quiet. cold moves into chest. A painful, dry, spasmodic cough. Left-sided headache, otherwise, right-sided complaints.	From applying firm, cool pressure to head and chest. In cool surroundings	For movement. Bright lights. Eating, noise and touch 9pm and 3pm.
Dulcamara	Worse from damp and cold/damp weather, worse from change of weather, worse from drafts.	Thick saliva and hoarse voice Possible cold sores Thirst for cold drinks Post-nasal drip, lumbago or an Earache, watery diarrhea	warm, dry air. Movement	For rest. At night. Cold, damp weather
Euphrasia	The opposite of Allium Cepa: Nasal discharge is bland; discharge from the eyes is burning. Cough only in the daytime.	Copious fluid from nose Bursting sensation as sinuses fill. At night little pains all over body. Heat/fever descends the body, sweats only on front. Later symptoms, chilliness, loose violent cough, pressing pain under sternum.	Lying down in darkened room but may feel more blocked up. For coffee	From warm, windy weather. Being indoors. In the evening. Bright light.
Ferrum phos.	A cold that comes on slowly. Beginning of colds when symptoms are vague. Right-sided complaints.	Mild fever may be present Mouth feels hot. Throat is red and swollen. Possible nose bleeds.	Gentle exercise. Applying a cold compress to the forehead.	For fresh air. In the Sun. For jarring or touch. Lying on right side. Between 4am& 6pm
Gelsemium	Cold comes on gradually. Patient's appearance: dopey, drowsy, droopy and dull. You could also add dizzy! Inclination to sleep. Apathetic. Weakness, chills run up and down back, headache starts in back of head or neck and spreads forward, heavy head, thirstless.	Tiredness, heavy body sensation. Headache above nape of neck. Tickling in nose gets worse. Later running nose, watery and irritating	Fresh air. movement, After urinating. Bending forward, sweating. Drinking alcohol.	Before thunderstorm. Early in the morning and last thing at night. Humidity. Tobacco smoke.
Hepar sulph	Over-sensitive to pain; anxiety, irritable, angry outbursts, chilly and worse from cold, intolerant of drafts, worse uncovering a hand or a foot, swollen glands, bad odor of discharges, splinter-like pains.	Cold starts with watery runny nose. Later, excessive yellow mucous with offensive-smelling discharge and sneezing. Irritability and chilliness.	For wrapping head firmly. Warm, moist environment.	In cold air, draughts. Getting cold from undressing. If touched.
Kali bichrom	Second stage of cold. Thick, yellow, ropy, stringy nasal discharge. Sinusitis. Thick post-nasal drip.	Thick mucous may block nose. yellow or green discharge with postnasal drip. Sinus headaches, pressure pain at root of nose.	From warmth	In the morning. Hot weather Getting cold from undressing.
Natrum mur	Beginning stages of a cold with sneezing. "Egg-white" nasal discharge. Runny eyes worse in open air or wind. Sun and light aggravate. Warm, worse heat. Cold sores on lips, vesicles in mouth, cracked lips, ailments from grief.	Wants to be left alone. A dislike for sympathy. Cold starts with fits of sneezing and a thin catarrhal discharge consistency of the white of a raw egg. Nose maybe blocked with tendency towards developing cold sores.	Applying cold compresses to the sinuses. Fasting. Fresh open air	In sea air or wet weather. Mental, physical exertion. Around 10am. Bright light or hot sun. Noise, talking, music.
Nux vomica	Cold, chills, worse slightest draft of air, ailments from over-work, irritable and angry, impatient; runny nose in the morning, obstructed at night; stomach pains, better warm drinks, constipation with ineffectual urging.	Runny nose during the day blocked at night. Overcritical of others, impulsive, chilliness, watery eyes, sneezing, headache, sore throat	Sleep, warmth. Firm pressure, in the evening. Washing and warm compresses	Windy, Cold, dry weather. In public places. After over-indulgence of spicy foods and stimulants such as coffee. Between 3am & 4am.
Pulsatilla	Patient is weepy and wants to be consoled. Warm and worse heat, worse sun, better walking slowly in open air, worse warm stuffy rooms, dry mouth but no thirst, worse at twilight, worse from fatty foods; bland and often greenish nasal discharge	Possible nose bleeds runny nose during the day, blocked nose at night thirstless, loss of smell Headache above eyes	Crying and Sympathy. Exercise and fresh open air. Cold drinks, cold compresses. Raising hands above the head.	Rich, fatty foods. Heat, In the sun. In the evening and at night.
Rhus tox.	Second stage of cold Congested nose and scratchy throat. Worse cold and cold wet weather. Better warmth and warm bathing. Stiffness and restlessness. Desires cold milk. Worse in cloudy, foggy, rainy weather; worse getting wet. Can't be still, must move.	Thick, yellow/green nasal discharge with a red scratchy throat, dry cough, tickling, hoarseness. Cough prevents sleep	From warmth, hot bathing. >From motion. For changing positions.	Cough worse in cold room. Cold, wet, rainy weather. During sleep.

Along with these remedies the most effective treatment is rest and plenty of fluids. To increase fluids, try hot water with lemon juice and a little honey is good for the extra vitamin C. Encourage a light diet of soups, fresh fruit, vegetables and plenty of fresh air. Recurrent colds in adults and children do require constitutional homeopathic treatments from your professional homeopath.