Hair loss
WHAT IS THE CAUSE?
Hair loss can have several causes and underlying reasons. In this article we
will briefly examine the most common ones.
There are 2 kinds of hair loss. One that involves scarring of scalp tissue due
to inflammation and tissue destruction and another which involves no scarring.
Skin problems like psoriasis can but rarely cause hair loss.
Hair loss as a result of scarring can occur from infections, either bacterial or
fungal, that travel deep into the skin. Other infections or tumors can also
cause scarring. Little hair growth can be hoped for if scarring is present.
Keep in mind that sudden and severe hair loss is usually due to acute stress or
a sudden toxicity or poisoning to the body. Chronic hair loss is commonly due to
hormonal and nutritional factors or a slow chronic toxicity. Toxicity causes
hair loss because the toxins interfere with the nutrients and hormonal
substances that help hair growth. Some toxins interfere with the glands or
organs that govern these nutrients. They may also damage the hair follicle.
Care should always be taken in washing and massaging the scalp so as to remove
oils, dead skin and other debris.
These material can clog the follicle and interfere with hair growth.
CANDIDA AND PARASITES
The same yeast that causes vaginal yeast infections can cause hair loss. This
yeast lives in the intestinal tract and is normal in small amounts. Antibiotics,
stress, high sugar diets and other factors can cause this yeast to overgrow out
of control. Both Candida and Parasites rob the body of nutrition. They live in
the intestines and eat our food. Further, they prevent your body from absorbing
vitamins, minerals and proteins necessary for hair growth.
The correct parasite and candida elimination program can many times reverse the
hair loss problem. However many candida and parasite programs fail. You must
make sure that the program you are doing is effective.
LOW THYROID
A common cause of hair loss is low thyroid. The thyroid gland produces hormones
that help spark our metabolism and keep our body temperature normal.
If our body temperature drops even slightly below what it should be, many
chemical reactions in the body either stop or slow down. Among these chemical
reactions are those involved with hair growth and health. Hair loss is a major
symptom of low thyroid.
The new thyroid protocol that I have been developing has been very successful in
restoring thyroid function. Unfortunately, in some cases, thyroid hormone
medication is needed. Even if this is the case, the thyroid protocol assists the
body in using the hormone medication. In many cases, without taking the thyroid
protocol, the medication works very poorly. This is because the body is lacking
important nutrients that naturally work with the hormone to help it carry out
its actions.
VITAMIN AND MINERAL
DEFICIENCIES
Zinc, iron, B vitamins, essential fatty acids, amino acids and other nutrients
are responsible for hair growth. If these deficiencies occur ,for whatever
reason, hair loss is likely. These deficiencies can result from many of the
problems referred to in this article as well as poor diet.
Dr. David Watts of Trace Elements inc. has recently observed that magnesium
deficiency is commonly found in hair loss.
Proper testing of urine, blood and hair (to reflect tissue levels) is important
to assess nutritional needs. Guessing by symptoms can fail miserably. An excess
of a nutrient can sometimes create the same symptom as a deficiency of that same
nutrient. This is why testing is so important. Many years ago, I experimented
with questionnaires to evaluate deficiencies. I found them to be useful tools,
but not accurate enough to rely on.
PROGESTERONE
AND TESTOSTERONE
Progesterone is a female hormone that is essential for proper thyroid function.
As a result, a deficiency of progesterone can lead to or worsen a thyroid
problem. A women suffering from hair loss should note if it worsens or only
occurs at certain times of the menstrual cycle.
Testosterone is known to be responsible for male pattern baldness in men when it
or its helpers (receptors) are too high.
Testosterone has been used to treat lack of libido in men and women, bone loss
and it encourages muscle gain and fat loss. However, it should be taken only if
found deficient by testing. Many natural substance are now being used that help
the body naturally produce the hormone on its own. I do not recommend the use of
synthetic hormone medications.
ESTROGEN AND COPPER
EXCESS
Both estrogen and copper are antagonist to zinc. Zinc deficiency has long been
recognized as a factor in hair loss.
New vitamin formulations have recently be developed that help the body lower
copper and balance estrogen. We have used the supplements with very good
success.
STRESS AND CORTISOL
EXCESS
Stress has been associated with hair loss for many years. During times of
extreme stress, the body loses large amounts of vitamins, minerals and protein (
in the form of nitrogen) in the urine. This sudden loss of nutrients has been
thought as a factor in hair loss. The stress may be caused by illnesses such as
scarlet fever, it may follow pregnancy or other illnesses.
During times of stress cortisol levels also increase. Cortisol is a hormone
produce by the adrenal glands. It has many important functions. However, in
excess, I believe that it can trigger hair loss as well as bone loss. If
cortisol is found elevated by saliva testing, a protocol does exist that will
normalize it. So far, this program has been 100% successful.
TOXIC METALS
One of the most common causes of hair loss I have seen in my 15 years as a
health practitioner. Yet, it remains unknown and unseen by mainstream medicine.
Lead, cadmium, mercury, iron, aluminum and copper are the most common causes of
hair loss. Other elements such as manganese, chromium, arsenic, titanium amy be
involved. Lithium and selenium toxicity have been well documented as causative
agents in hair loss.
Toxic metals usually do not appear in a blood test unless the person is
suffering with extreme poisoning. However they will show in the hair or finger
nails if the person is suffering with slow, long term exposure to the metals.
This is the most common type of exposure.
Toxic metals are referred to as heavy metals. They do not easily move out of the
body and will accumulate in the joints, bone, liver and other organs and glands.
They need to be removed by taking specific vitamins that drive them out. Hair
testing has been recognized by the EPA as an effective means of testing for
toxic metals. Testing is the key factor in understanding how the body is being
effected and what should be taken to correct the problem.
Both poor hair and nail growth and hair loss can be caused by toxic metals. Many
hobbies and occupations involve exposure to toxic metals. Examples are:
painting, arts and crafts, electrical work, soldering, jewelry repair etc. Any
activity that involves working with metal filings or dust can result in toxic
metal overload.
CHEMICAL TOXICITY
Chemical toxicity from various sources can contribute to hair loss: chemo
therapy, thallium compounds ( rat poisons) and other medications. Always check
with your pharmacist to see if your medication can be causing your hair loss.
The list of chemicals that may cause hair loss would be a mile long and not
definite. However, I will list chemical agents that could possibly cause hair
loss.
CHEMICAL AGENTS THAT
MAY CAUSE HAIR LOSS:
- PESTICIDES
- RADIATION TREATMENT
- CHEMO THERAPY
- IONIZING RADATION(NUCLEAR RADIATION, X RAYS,
ULTRA VIOLET, RADON GAS, ETC.)
- RADON
- RANCID OILS
- FORMALDEHYDE
- BENZENE
There are detox programs that can address each
toxicity. A general detoxification program can be done to address any and all of
them.
My experience has been that most hair loss can be corrected but only if the
correct causes are found. There is no one magic pill that corrects it regardless
of what is wrong. Proper testing will discover the reasons why. Then the correct
treatment can be used.
Many times improvements can occur in just a few weeks, so there is hope!
This information is provided by Dr. Michael Biamonte who holds a Doctorate of
Nutripathy, a Degree in Natural Healing, and a Master's in Clinical Nutrition.
He is affiliated with the International Academy of Clinical Nutritionists and
the International Academy of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine. He is listed in
"The Directory of Distinguished Americans" for his research in Nutrition and
Physiology.
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