Hair is the barometer of your health. Hair loss is not just about losing strands of hair quickly or sudden thinning. It is the first sign of distress within the body; it can also provide doctors with insightful cues of underlying disorders, such as thyroid problems, diabetes and heart disease, much before a clinical diagnosis is established.

WHAT RESEARCH SAYS

Losing hair could be the first visible sign of heart disease, but only if it is from the top of the head. According to a study of 40,000 men, individuals with male pattern baldness — losing hair from the crown — had up to 70 per cent increased risk of heart disease.

The alarming fact is that the younger you are and the greater the extent of baldness, the higher the risk of heart disease.

Studies also suggest that an early visual cue for heart disease, such as hair loss, is important because it can serve as a warning signal, both to individuals to change their lifestyle and doctors to prevent the disease from developing further, or before it triggers a potential heart attack.

ROLE OF DIET

Healthy hair and scalp are directly related to your diet and state of wellness, because  uncontrolled levels of stress and anxiety can lead to hair loss.  The most common dilemma is nearly 60 per cent of women in India suffer from ‘diffuse hair loss,’ or thinning of hair — the apparent cause being anaemia, or low iron in blood.

Hair loss could also be indicative of the following conditions:

• Dandruff
• Ovarian cysts, or polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] in women
• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Autoimmune diseases [for example, systemic lupus erythomatsus, or SLE, which affects the skin, joints, kidneys, brain and other organs].

HOMEOPATHY: SAFE & EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR HAIR LOSS

Creating good health for your hair and preventing hair loss is in your hands. The best thing to do is to consult a homeopath-trichologist, a homeopathic doctor who specialises in the science of hair and scalp, the moment you notice any change in your hair health.

Getting your hair and scalp analysed is the next step to take towards reducing further damage and improving the quality of your hair health. The earlier you meet your homeopath-trichologist, the better will be the outcome of your homeopathic treatment for hair loss.

Prevention is obviously better than cure, so even a routine check-up can help, even when everything appears ‘normal’ on the scalp.

A study conducted in Scotland reports that 90 per cent of individuals with hair loss, who opted for homeopathic medicine as the first line of treatment, found that homeopathic medicines slow down the progression of bald patches and fill up scanty hair areas with new hair, leading to safe, effective and noticeable recovery in all treatable cases.

SELF-HELP

• Increase your intake of proteins [soy, oily fish, eggs and chicken], beans and legumes. Also, include whole grains in your diet
• Consume 3-4 servings of fruits and raw unprocessed nuts, along with dark, leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, every day. Broccoli and cabbage are also good for healthy hair
• Incorporating flaxseed, fenugreek and pumpkin seeds into your diet can nourish and promote healthy hair growth
• Drink 1.5-2 litre of water daily, to keep yourself well hydrated. Drink 4-6 cups of green tea [without milk and sugar], every day, but cut back or avoid regular tea, coffee, smoking and alcohol
• Avoid extremely humid conditions. This may have a bearing on your hair health
• Avoid scratching, or picking hair. Control dandruff with a natural anti-dandruff shampoo, enriched with homeopathic medicines, or formulations, having safe, effective hair stimulating and rich antioxidant effects, alongside proven antibacterial properties
• Monitor your hair health, hair loss, and follow-up with your professional homeopath-trichologist, on a regular basis.