If you are suffering from hair loss or are looking to improve the overall health of your hair, the first step to finding the right option for you is to do research about what is available and how each option works. This sounds easy enough, but unfortunately, the amount of information available and the prevalence of contradictory information can make discerning the respective benefits, drawbacks, and effectiveness of different options an extremely challenging task. If you have done research into possible solutions for improving hair health or treating hair loss, then it is likely that you have come across herbal hair supplements. Vitamins for hair growth have become an increasingly popular choice for many individuals due to their relative ease of use, affordable price tag, and the unique blends that many companies offer that are targeted specifically at use for improving hair, skin, and nails. But for individuals experiencing significant or hereditary hair loss, will herbal supplements help to regrow lost hair? To help you answer this questions, and many more, we have compiled an information guide about herbal hair supplements that delves into the most popular herbal hair supplements available and the science behind how they work to treat hair loss and improve hair health.
An Introduction to Natural Hair Supplements
Herbal hair supplements can contain a number of different vitamins and components designed to improve your hair health and promote healthy hair growth. The components contained in an herbal hair supplement can vary widely depending on what type of herbal hair supplement it is, with some supplements providing a concentrated dose of one particular component and others providing a blend of different components. Many herbal hair supplements are packed with various vitamins, antioxidants, and oils that have been shown to improve hair health and stimulate healthy hair growth.
Herbal hair supplements are not necessary for the majority of individuals as they often provide vitamins, oils, and nutrients that you may already be unwittingly consuming in your food. However, for individuals that have a natural deficiency or that are eating a diet that is not rich in foods that promote healthy hair growth, herbal hair supplements can be a simple and easy way to get the vitamins and nutrients they are lacking and help to boost their hair growth potential. In some cases, a medical condition could be the cause of a deficiency, though this is fairly rare and requires medical treatment to address the underlying condition. For example, individuals who are on long-term antibiotics to treat a medical condition or who must take anti-seizure medications may develop a biotin deficiency over time. Individuals who suffer from thyroid related disorders, such as an overactive thyroid or an underactive thyroid, may also experience dry or brittle hair or hair loss as result of their medical condition. To address this, it is vital to seek treatment from a licensed medical doctor to get the medication needed to regulate the production of thyroid hormones, though herbal hair supplements may help to improve hair health in the interim. Another common deficiency that may affect hair growth and hair health is anemia. Anemia is a result of the body becoming deficient in Iron, and can easily be addressed by taking a daily iron supplement.
If you believe are experiencing chronic issues with hair loss, the health of your hair, or with your skin and nails, it is important that you seek the guidance of a licensed medical physician to identify the underlying cause of these issues. It is vital that you are aware of how your body and hair health has changed over time and whether or not there have been any significant events or changes in your life that may have played a role. Hair loss can result from a number of different potential causes, so it is important to work with a licensed medical doctor to identify the underlying cause of hair loss or hair thinning in order to find the right treatment path. With that understanding in mind, it is now possible to explore a handful of the most popular herbal hair supplements available and how each supplement works scientifically to improve hair health and promote healthy hair growth.
The Top Herbal Hair Supplements and How They Work
Herbal hair supplements have rapidly gained popularity due to their convenience and ease, but there are a number of different key vitamins and oils that appear again and again as the most popular herbal hair supplements available. Many of the below hair supplements are sold both as an individual, concentrated herbal hair supplement and as a component of a multi-faceted herbal hair supplement. To help you understand how herbal hair supplements work, we have compiled a list of some of the most popular herbal hair supplements below and broken down their respective benefits and capabilities.
Biotin
By far one of the most popular herbal hair supplements is Biotin. Biotin is a water-soluble B-Vitamin that is also sometimes referred to as Vitamin H or B7. Biotin plays a key role in how the metabolism in the body functions and is a necessary vitamin for created essential enzymes. Biotin is used by the body as an energy source and has shown to have many benefits to the body outside of just promoting healthy hair, skin, and nails. Biotin has been shown to benefit the metabolism, digestive tract, nerves, skin, cells, and hair growth and is capable of transporting Carbon Dioxide from the cells in the body. A Biotin deficiency is one possible cause of hair loss or hair thinning and often occurs in individuals that are epileptic, have a metabolic disorder, are elderly, athletes, or those who have had their gastrointestinal tract removed. It is important to keep in mind that Biotin deficiency is actually quite rare, but if it ever does arise, it is important to address it quickly. Symptoms of a Biotin deficiency include mental confusion, sluggishness, alopecia, dermatitis, loss of pigment in the hair, decreased appetite, or tiredness. Biotin is most often known for its close link to healthy hair growth. Biotin metabolizes fatty acids and amino acids, which are the compounds that form all protein. This is vital to hair growth because each hair strand is made out of Keratin, which is a protein. Biotin is also a B-complex vitamin that is able to nourish and moisturize hair follicles, which promotes healthy hair growth and increases the luster and shine of the hair. Biotin is available in many forms for integration into your daily routine, including as an herbal hair supplement, an oil, or in an enriched shampoo. Biotin is also a key benefit of eating some foods, including avocados, eggs, almonds, spinach, cauliflower, legumes, and sunflower seeds. If you do take a daily Biotin hair supplement, be sure to consult with a medical professional to validate that you are taking the right dose for your height, weight, age, metabolism, and lifestyle.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Another popular herbal hair supplement is Omega-3 fatty acids. Many people do not know that the human body is incapable of producing Omega-3 fatty acids, which means that the only means of gaining the benefits of essential Omega-3 fatty acids is through diet and through dietary supplements. The two main Omega-3 fatty acids are Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help reduce inflammation in the body and to promote healthy heart function. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help reduce the symptoms of asthma by reducing inflammation in the airway. Foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, flaxseeds, spinach, broccoli, edamame, and walnuts. Omega-3 fatty acids are a widely used supplement for promoting hair growth because of anti-inflammatory properties that help to open up hair follicles and stimulate healthy hair growth. In addition, Omega-3 fatty acids are a rich oil that helps to nourish the scalp and hair follicles from the inside out, which increases the shine and lister and hair and reduced the appearance of a dry or flaky scalp.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is an herbal hair supplement that is slowly gaining traction as a natural powerhouse for stimulating healthy hair growth and improving hair health. Saw palmetto is a plant that has small berries on it. Saw palmetto has been used by Native American in both medicinal treatments and food for hundreds of years, but its inclusion into the most popular herbal hair supplements is much more recent. Saw palmetto is available in many different forms, including as an herbal hair supplement, as whole dried berries, in tablets, as a liquid extract, or as a powdered capsule. It is believed that saw palmetto combats hair loss because an extract of saw palmetto berries is capable of blocking 5-alpha-reductase. This is important because 5-alpha-reductase is an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, which is the molecule that causes many types of hair loss. In addition to helping stimulate healthy hair growth, saw palmetto has also been shown to help treat bladder infections and an enlarged prostate.
Beta-Sitosterol
Beta-Sitosterol is another natural herbal hair supplement that has been shown to promote healthy hair growth and improve hair health. Beta-Sitosterol is a phytosterol that is produced by plants. Beta-Sitosterol is found in the cell membranes of plants and has a chemical structure that mimics that of cholesterol, which is found in the cell membranes of mammals. As with many of the other herbal hair supplements, Beta-Sitosterol can be found in many commonly consumed foods, such as avocados, pecans, pumpkin seed, soybeans, and corn. Beta-Sitosterol is capable of aiding your body in reducing its absorption of dietary cholesterol, which is why many food companies utilize Beta-Sitosterol as an additive. Beta-Sitosterol has been shown to boost the immune system, treat heart disease and high cholesterol, and ward off arthritis, headaches, fibromyalgia, and gallstones. In addition to these benefits, Beta-Sitosterol is also beneficial for individuals suffering from hair loss or hair thinning because it inhibits the production of DHT by inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase, similar to saw palmetto.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C comes in many forms and is a common nutrient found in many foods, but most people do not realize how beneficial Vitamin C can be for individuals suffering from hair loss or hair thinning. Vitamin C herbal hair supplements provide a concentrated dose of Vitamin C that helps to build collagen, which is essential for healthy hair growth. Vitamin C is a key nutrient in maintaining hair strength because it is integral to the absorption of Iron, which helps to keep hair follicles strong and healthy. Vitamin C can be found in many different foods and integrated into your daily diet and routine through an herbal hair supplement.
Hair, Skin, and Nail Blends
In addition to the individual nutrients and vitamins listed above, one of the most popular herbal hair supplements available today are hair, skin, and nail blends. These unique combinations have swept the hair supplement market by combining nutrients, vitamins, and oils that are known to promote healthy hair, skin, and nails and combining them into one, convenient, easy to use supplement. When looking for a combination hair supplement to aid in promoting hair growth and improving hair health, be sure to check the ingredient list and research each ingredient to make sure you know exactly what you are taking, the dose of each ingredient, and how it will work to improve hair health and promote hair growth. Ideally, look for an herbal hair supplement that is designed specifically for hair growth as it will be tailored specifically to the hair growth process rather than encompassing nail and skin health as well.
How Scalp Med Can Help
If you are looking to boost your hair health and promote healthy hair growth, Scalp Med’s Herbal Hair Supplement includes a number of different natural ingredients shown to improve hair health and promote hair growth. Scalp Med’s Hair Supplement vitamin is packed with essential nutrients like Beta-Sitosterol, Biotin, and saw palmetto and is fortified with plant sterols, essential amino acids, and green tea.