To All the Ladies in Taiwan Asking: What is Happening to My Hair?

I see it in many of the messages to me at HBH, in the foreigner groups here in Taiwan, and in conversations with the women around me: What is going on with my hair?

While there is no one remedy for everyone, this blog can help you find the right solution for you.

Common causes and risk factors for hair thinning, hair loss, and brittle hair:

• low iron

• stress (hair issues often shows up 3 months after stress happened or started)

• thyroid hormone levels

• systemic inflammation

• PCOS

• poor blood sugar/glucose regulation (this can be due to stress and/or hormone changes)

• poorly filtered water (for example using a Brita filter), or water that is super filtered and so

• there is a deficit of minerals in the diet

• stopping birth control

• hormone disruptions including during perimenopause and menopause

• shower water issues

• blood deficiency (as it’s known in TCM)

• insufficient protein and/or collagen

• vegetarian and vegan diets

• general malnutition which is surprisingly common!
  

Start with

🌿Castor oil
It's a thick oil so you'd need to take time to apply it to the scalp, but it has a long history of use for this purpose.
www.healthbestowinghands.com/face-body/castor-oil
or
🌿HBH Healthy Hair and Scalp Therapy Oil, 100 g
www.healthbestowinghands.com/face-body/scalp-oil

A shower filter. This one is made in Taiwan, is easy to install, and works well


And because of how prevalent low iron causing hair loss is:
Have your ferratin (iron) checked (see this post for the most up to date info about optimal iron levels to shoot for and how to maximize your iron supplements)
Be sure you are getting enough protein (see this post for how to calculate your ideal protein intake goals - many of us are shockingly low for our needs!)



Herbs that can help improve hair growth and quality:

Burdock Root
Hair highlights of burdock
- Whole herb is high in vitamins and minerals that support healthy hair growth
- It supports liver and digestion (which is why it is also very helpful for clear, healthy skin and hormones balance)
- Burdock can support healthy inflammation levels reducing some of the risk factors for poor hair growth and health
- It’s the combination of all of the powers of this herb that have made it a reliable hair helper for centuries.


Rosemary Tea Hair and Scalp Massage
Rosemary tea from a fresh plant or good quality spice in your cupboard makes a hair and scalp strengthening and stimulating remedy. Be sure to cover the rosemary tea as it steeps so you can benefit from the aromatic oils that can escape in the steam.

Some people prefer to use rosemary oil and add it to topical products. It is recommended that you use a dilution of rosemary essential oil at no higher than 2 %. For example, if you create 100 ml of a hair product, only 2 ml of that is rosemary oil.


Fo-ti/He shou wu
This herb has a long history of use for hair health and healthy hair regrowth. Some reasons why fo-ti works are very specific to hair growth and others are indirectly supportive to hair health.

One reason is that it can lower the amount of the form of testosterone that can increase hair loss.
Another is that it works very well for calming stress reactions in the body and helping recover if stress or anxiety has been fatiguing the body and mind. Stress and energy depletion are causes for hair thinning and loss (and hormone imbalance and inflammation).



Stress:
Why do hair loss and thinning show up three months after a stressful event of the end of a stressful period?

The part of the hair follicle cycle that most affects health of new hair growth is approximately three months.
Various factors can contribute to stress impacting hair follicles. When the stress releases or we can improve overall health and therefore hair folicle healthy, the next cycle of hair can grow in healthier.

What to do about stress?
Be sure you are getting enough protein per day and aim to get at least half of that protein by noon every day to support mood and hormone balance.
Incorporate your favourite stress relieving practices like walking, breathing exercises, stretching. What else do you love to do to de-stress? Let us know in the comments!
Be sure you are getting enough of your B vitamins. Try a B-complex like this one or this one, or a multi vitamin like this one!
Are you getting adequate omega 3 EPA and DHA? This will help!


Try an herb or an herbal formula for stress:
Motherwort for overwhelm, anxiety in the chest, need of a big hug and support, possible heart palpitations

Vervain when the stress and anxiety is living in your head. It may feel like compulsive and circular thoughts, head/shoulder/neck/jaw tension that may result in headaches, type A people, and those who feel like all their feels are trapped in their head.

Feel like you need both motherwort AND vervain?
Try my Lower the Volume formula here

Feel like you’re burnt out and wish for help feeling like yourself again?
Try my Adrenal Support: Recovery

There are many ways that stress touches our lives. Not enough sleep, hormones are disrupted, symptoms of conditions we already have are stronger.

Two additional herbs that show promise for certain fgroups experiencing hair loss and thinning:
Pumpkin seed oil
Black cumin seed oil


Diet:
Lowering inflammation that can affect blood sugar balance, hormones, and hair follicle health:
- at least 7 servings of vegetables and some fruit per day - Click here if you need help with that.
- getting adequate protein - Need help? Try a vegan pea protein or whey protein to reach your goals with less stress.
- eating nutrient dense food to be sure you are giving the body raw materials to grow hair
- reducing alcohol as it is strongly inflammatory
- not eating foods you are or may be sensitive to - Not sure which foods you are sensitive to? Click here to get help with that.




What does TCM blood deficiency look like besides thinning hair?
dry skin, thinning hair, light or short periods, late or no ovulation and poor memory,
Eat cooked dark leafy greens, like spinach, chard, and kale, to build healthy blood. Have a healthy protein with every meal. Be sure to eat breakfast daily.

Thyroid
Though undetected, many women experience thyroid issues, or a period of thyroid issues specifically after birth called Postpartum Thyroiditis. These often contribute to hair loss and thinning.
If you are interested in that topic, Dr. Aviva Romm has written excellent articles about these
avivaromm.com/women-thyroid-health

avivaromm.com/thyroid-problems-after-pregnancy

About thyroid testing:
If you’re getting a thyroid panel by your doctor, GET A PAPER COPY OF THE RESULTS. This is really important. The majority of physicians will say you're fine. But the most recent numbers considered healthy by the Mayo Clinic have changed and most doctors don't recognize that. This piece gives a better guide to thyroid level evaluation.
www.avivaromm.com/hypothyroid-testing-need-know




More resources from trusted sources:

https://avivaromm.com/hormonal-hair-loss/?fbclid=IwAR0Z395Zgy1TRHwMyp2CLlr1E8j4YpY_qj1n6VASzPoLEUJEc_FjbHrY268

Understanding Hypothyroidism
Dr Jolene Brighten

Hair Loss Treament Due to PCOS (and other symptoms associated with PCOS), Dr. Aviva Romm