Dear skippy1,
To begin with, I should remind you that the vast majority of hair-loss
remedies are fraudulent. Hair loss is in most cases a genetic condition
with inevitable lifelong consequences. Despite what the snake-oil salesmen
would have you believe, there is no surefire cure.
Before you evaluate any claims for a patent medicine, herbal tincture,
or other pseudo-pharmaceutical product, be aware that only two drugs have
so far been proven in extensive scientific trials to stop and reverse
common hair loss. The first of these, generically called minoxidil, is
sold under the brand name Rogaine. The second, finasteride, is marketed
as Propecia. The only other medical method known to prevent male pattern
baldness is castration, but this ancient procedure has fallen into disuse
for good reason.
You might be interested in the concise and accurate history of hair-loss
treatments found on the following web page.
HairDoc: Hair Loss Treatment History
http://www.hairdoc.com/history.html
I also recommend that you read some hard facts and debunked myths about
hair loss on sites such as the following.
Hair Loss Q & A: Hair Loss Facts and Myths
http://www.geocities.com/hair_loss_qa/hair_loss_facts_myths.htm
CoolNurse: Hair Loss Myths and Facts
http://www.coolnurse.healthology.com/printer_friendly.asp?b=coolnurse&f=hairloss&c=hairloss_myths
Hair Loss Advisor: Hair Loss FAQs by Barry Resnik, MD
http://www.hairlossadvisor.com/hairloss/hair_loss_faq.asp
Although you should steer clear of quacks and con artists, I don't want
to discourage you from seeking inexpensive, non-medical therapy. Your
question about vitamins is a perfectly legitimate one. Although most
hair loss is genetically driven, environmental circumstances do influence
some cases. Malnutrition in particular can have a substantial effect.
If you follow a balanced diet that emphasizes whole grains, fruits,
and vegetables, it is highly unlikely that you are malnourished or
lacking in the trace elements that are vital to normal hair growth. On
the other hand, if your diet is not what it should be, you may suffer
from nutritional deficiencies that lead to hair loss. Such a condition
can usually be reversed by supplementing your diet with the missing
substances. The most important of these are protein, iron, zinc, and
vitamin B12.
"Fad diets often cause not only stress on the body, but stress on your
hair as well. Similarly, crash dieting, rapid changes in eating patterns,
and extremely low protein diets can also lead to hair loss.
"Extreme lack of overall nutrition, such as those caused by anorexia
nervosa, can also cause severe hair loss. Here, the body switches hair
from its growing phase into resting phase to conserve energy. The hair
would fall out 3 to 4 months later.
"Iron deficiency, which leads to the reduction of the number of red blood
cells in a condition called anemia, can also cause general thinning of
the hair. Zinc deficiency, often accompanied by skin diseases such as
psoriasis, can also lead to hair loss and diffuse loss of hair. Vitamin
B12 deficiency, commonly found in vegetarians because plant-derived food
do not have this vitamin, can also be responsible.
"The good news is that hair loss due to lack of nutrition is often the
easiest to treat - providing nutrition either directly to your hair or
through diet can help stop hair loss and restore hair growth."
Retane: Understanding the Causes of Hair Loss
http://www.retane.com/hair-loss-treatment/hair-loss-causes.htm
The recommended amount of protein for males over the age of 25 years
is 63 grams a day. The best sources of protein are milk, cheese, eggs,
meat, fish, nuts, grains, beans, and lentils.
Anne Collins: How Much Protein Do I Need?
http://www.annecollins.com/dieting/protein-rda.htm
Fitness Ireland: Protein Sources
http://www.fitnessireland.ie/proteinsources.php
Anne Collins: Good Sources of Vegetarian Protein
http://www.annecollins.com/protein_diet/vegetarian-protein.htm
Men over 19 years of age should consume at least 10 mg of iron a
day. Coffee drinkers and tea drinkers need more, since caffeine disrupts
the supply of iron. Foods high in iron include beans, lentils, pasta,
rice, whole-grain cereals, liver, potatoes, broccoli, and cabbage.
Cleveland Clinic: Are You Meeting Your Iron Needs?
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/1700/1753.asp?index=7240
American nutritional guidelines suggest that men include at least 11 mg
of zinc in their daily diet.
"Zinc is one of the most important mineral nutrients and is necessary
for the proper function of over 200 enyzmatic reactions in the body. It
also acts as a potent antioxidant and detoxifier, and is essential for
growth and development, healthy body tissues, regulation of insulin,
proper immune function, and, in men, the heath of the prostate gland. In
addition, zinc plays a vital role in cellular membrane structure and
function, and helps maintain adequate levels of vitamin A in the body."
Healthy World: Minerals
http://www.1healthyworld.com/nutrition/minerals.cfm
Diet Nutrition Information: Recommended Daily Allowance for Zinc
http://www.diet-i.com/nutrition/how-much-zinc-needed-in-diet.htm
Finally, when it comes to vitamin B12, federal guidelines advise adult
men to include in their daily diet at least 2.4 micrograms (Recommended
Dietary Allowance) or preferably 6.0 micrograms (Daily Value). Vitamin
B12 is found in fish, meat, eggs, dairy products, and fortified breakfast
cereals.
National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B12
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb12.asp#h3
In the second part of your question, you ask about acupressure or
acupuncture points associate with the treatment of hair loss. Here,
I must once again warn you that mainstream science does not put much
stock in acupressure or acupuncture. Furthermore, the practitioners of
these arts generally recommend that the procedures be carried out by
trained professionals.
Nonetheless, if you insist on experimenting with acupressure, I can help
you find the points that are said to be linked with hair loss. First, you
should know that acupressure and acupuncture employ the same map of the
human body. Each treatment targets the same points but with a different
method. In the case of acupuncture, as you know, the practitioner
inserts a slender needle into the skin at the designated point. To apply
acupressure, one applies a finger or thumb to the designated point,
pressing firmly and steadily for one minute before releasing.
There are seven acupressure points commonly associated with hair
loss. These are named LU 6, LU 7, LU 9, LI 1, UB 13, GV 12, and GV 14.
Holistic online: Hair Loss, Baldness
http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/hair/hair_loss-oriental-med.htm
Haircount: Acupuncture and Acupressure
http://www.haircount.com/acupuncture_and_acupressure_hair_loss_treatment.html
The LU points are located along the lung meridian, which stretches along
the inside of each arm. Points 6, 7, and 9 are located between the elbow
and the palm, as the following diagrams show.
AcuMedico: Lung
http://www.acumedico.com/lung.htm
YingYangHouse: LU Meridian
http://www.yinyanghouse.com/acupoints/lu_meridian.html
The LI points lie on the Large Intestine meridian, which runs along the
outside of each arm. LI 1 is on the final joint of the index finger.
AcuMedico: Colon
http://www.acumedico.com/colon.htm
YingYangHouse: LI Meridian
http://www.yinyanghouse.com/acupoints/li_meridian.html
UB, the Urinary Bladder meridian, runs from the head to the tailbone,
parallel but not coincident with the spine. UB 13 lies next to the third
thoracic vertebra, which is the third vertebra counting from the base
of the neck.
YingYangHouse: UB Meridian
http://www.yinyanghouse.com/acupoints/ub_meridian.html
Team Creations: Bladder Meridian Pathway
http://www.team-creations.com/integrated/Urinary_Bladder_Meridian_Pathway.jpg
Finally, GV is the Governing Vessel meridian, which is parallel to the
UB meridian but does run along the center of the back. GV 12 and GV 14
correspond to the third and fifth thoracic vertebrae, respectively.
YingYangHouse: GV Meridian
http://www.yinyanghouse.com/acupoints/gv_meridian.html
IAMA: Governing Vessel
http://www.iama.edu/Graphics/Meridians/Meridian_GoverningVessel.htm
It has been a pleasant challenge to address this question on your
behalf. If you feel that any part of my answer requires correction or
amplification, do inform me through a Clarification Request so that I
may fully meet your needs before you assign a rating.
Regards,
leapinglizard |
