Hair today, gone tomorrow: control your hair loss naturally: holistic beauty expert and health advocate Kat James offers new strategies fro vibrant living. (beautycare).

Good news: You can do something about hair loss--whether you're a man or a woman.

Although genetics, illness, thyroid imbalances, childbirth and drug side effects are among the countless causes of hair loss, the most common type--called male pattern, or androgenic alopecia (AGA)--can often be stopped and reversed, even in some cases where heredity plays a role. And despite its name, male pattern baldness commonly affects women as well.

seeking a cure

A real breakthrough in hair loss treatment came with the confirmation in the late `90s that a relationship exists between AGA and a form of testosterone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). High levels of DHT were associated with male pattern baldness as well as prostate enlargement.

Studies had shown that the herb saw palmetto inhibits DHT formation--sometimes better than prescription drugs--with no side effects. A year ago, the first clinical trial proved the effectiveness of a non-drug, DHT-inhibiting treatment for androgenic baldness: a formula containing saw palmetto berry, plant sterols and other botanicals. This formula was shown to be a viable natural alternative to prescription hair-loss drugs in the double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the April 2002 issue of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Today you can walk into your local health food or vitamin store and purchase hair-help products containing proven ingredients. Ultra Hair, for example, contains organic sulfur to promote healthy hair, while Thin-to-Thick features biotin for gentle cleansing. And many of these natural substances have also been shown to be effective in treating AGA and other types of hair loss, including alopecia areata, which is characterized by small, bald patches on the scalp or the body.

proven products