Features from Facilitators

A natural treatment for androgenetic alopecia-Rosemary oil 

-Glenda Barnes, Taste Success Blenheim

Androgenetic alopecia  (AGA) is a common problem of progressive hair loss, particularly on the scalp and is found in men and women. It is a distressing condition, often bought on by ill health and increasing in frequency with age. AGA affects self-esteem and psychological health. It is almost as common in women as it is in men. However, women are often protected from its effects up till menopause. For females, hair loss is often at the scalp line and temples and also a general thinning of hair all over the scalp. 

Pharmaceutical treatments offer relief, yet they can have unwanted side effects such as scalp dryness, skin irritation, rashes, burning, redness.

That is why a 2014 randomized control trial comparing the most common FDA approved treatment for AGA -minoxidil,  to rosemary oil showed fascinating results. It showed that after six months with group members randomized to either minoxidil or rosemary oil, they both had improved hair growth and both at the same rate, but there were more side effects of itchy scalp with the minoxidil (Varothai & Bergfield, 2014). This is thought to be due to the ethyl alcohol and propylene glycol in Minoxidil.

I have found that rosemary oil does not even need to be applied topically onto the scalp. Simply apply some to the wrists, or in the ayurvedic way, into the naval, produces more robust hair growth on the head and less hair loss.

There are two ways Rosemary oil is supposed to act to prevent AGA. First, it enhances microcapillary perfusion or blood flow to the scalp (Panahi et al., 2015). Secondly, it blocks an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase that converts [good] testosterone to dihydrotestosterone [bad testosterone] (Dhariwala, 2019). Both in men and women, it is estimated that up to 10% of testosterone in the body is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This unfortunate rogue conversion pathway increases as we get older. DHT is the prime cause of Androgenetic hair loss which is why many of the pharmaceutical acts as blockers to DHT production. One pharmaceutical, finasteride, works to help hair grow. But it causes erectile dysfunction, impotence and breast growth in men and menstrual irregularity in women (Dhariwala, 2019)!

Dihydrotestosterone gradually reduces the blood flow to hair follicles. This process often takes place over several years until some hair follicles could no longer grow hair.

Rosemary acts to increase hair growth, by impeding DHT in the bloodstream. The response of hair growth is improved if they are also eating lots of nutrient-dense foods such as found in the Taste Success Program! 

So a dab a day of Rosemary applied dermally, as described above, or via adding it to cooked dishes, or putting a few drops in one’s shampoo (beware of too much or your shampoo will be too heavy) are all great natural ways to promote hair growth. For clients who are distressed and struggling with thinning receding hair, it can be a game-changer to pass on the tip of Rosemary oil!

References:

Dhariwala, MY, Ravikumar, P. An overview of herbal alternatives in androgenetic alopecia. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019; 18: 966– 975

Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A. Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial. Skinmed. 2015 Jan-Feb;13(1):15-21. 

Varothai S, Bergfeld WF. Androgenetic alopecia: an evidence-based treatment update. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2014 Jul;15(3):217-30.