Hairfall and Homeopathy

Hairs are the appealing part of the body. Like other tissues, hair is also made up of a protein called Keratin which is produced in hair follicles in the outer layer of skin. As the new hair cells are produced by the follicles, old cells are being pushed out through the surface of the skin. The hair that we see actually is a dead keratin cells. On an average about 100,000- 150,000 hairs are present on an adult head. Losing 100-150 hairs daily is common.

Each follicle has its own life cycle which is divided into 3 phases. These are-

• ANAGEN PHASE– This is a phase of active hair growth that generally lasts between two to eight years.
• CATAGEN PHASE– This is a transitional hair growth phase that lasts for two to three weeks.
• TELOGEN PHASE– This is a resting phase that lasts for two to three months. After the end of this phase, old hair is shed and a new hair replaces it and the cycle restart again.

Hair loss or precisely called Alopecia is the most common ailments affecting men, women and children too. Hair loss can be temporary or permanent. Some common types of hair loss are discussed below:-

1. INVOLUTIONAL ALOPECIA– This is a natural condition in which hair gradually thins with age. More hair follicles goes to the resting phase and shed off. The hairs which remains become shorter and reduces in number.
2. ANDROGENIC ALOPECIA– This is a genetic condition which can affect both men and women.

Men with this are called MALE PATTERN BALDNESS. Man begin to suffer as early as their teens or early 20s and characterized by a receding hairline and gradual disappearance of hair from the crown and frontal scalp.

Women with this are called FEMALE PATTERN BALDNESS. They usually notice in their 40s or later and characterized by general thinning over the entire scalp, with most extensive hair loss at the crown.

3. ALOPECIA AREATA– This is the most common type of alopecia, equally affecting male and female. It can start at any age. Most frequently affects scalp, moustache and beard area. This typically presents as a discoid patch of alopecia which shows no scaling, papules, inflammation or atrophy. Presence of EXCLAMATION MARK HAIR is the pathognomonic.

4. ALOPECIA TOTALIS– This is the condition of complete loss of hair from the scalp.

5. ALOPECIA UNIVERSALIS– Loss of hair from the whole body including the eyebrows, eyelashes and pubic hair.

6. TRACTION ALOPECIA– This is caused due to constant or prolonged traction due to tight hair styles, hot combing to straighten curly hairs.

7. TRICHOTILLOMANIA- This is a psychological disorder in which a person pulls out one’s own hair.

8. TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM– this is a temporary hair thinning over the scalp that occurs because of changes in the growth cycle of hair. A large number of hairs enters the resting phase at the same time, causing hair shedding and subsequent thinning.

CAUSES OF HAIRLOSS :-

Normally, loss of 50- 100 hairs a day, is common. The old damaged hair gets off and replaced by new one. When these hairs are not replaced it leads to thinning and finally may results in baldness. Hair loss can develop gradually over years or may happen abruptly and it can be temporary or permanent. Generally, it become noticeable when the hair is seen after every combing, when seen on pillow or on the shoulder, large amount of hair in the drain after washing.

Hair loss is caused due to various factors. Some of the common factors are:-

1. FAMILY HISTORY/HEREDITORY– This is the most common cause of hair loss that progress with age. It occurs gradually and in a predictable patterns that is receding hairline and bald spots are marked in men and hair thinning along the crown of the scalp in women.
2. HORMONAL CHANGES– Hormonal changes occur in certain condition like pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, thyroid problems. They may cause temporary hair loss.
3. STRESS– This is the most common cause responsible for temporary hair loss. Now a days, every second person is suffering from stress. Loss of loved ones, any accident, etc causes a emotional disturbance.Usually people ignore this to be a reason for hair loss but this always lurks in the background.
4. CERTAIN MEDICATION & RADIATION THERAPY- Drugs like beta- adrenergic blockers, blood thinners, birth control pills can also cause temporary hair loss. Chemotherapy also causes loss of hair.
5. MEDICAL CONDITION– Diseases like thyroid disorder, diabetes, lupus, iron deficiency anemia etc causes loss of hair. When underlying cause is treated, the hair fall stops.
6. DIET- Diet lacking in protein, iron, vitamin B or severely calorie restricted diet can also cause temporary hair loss.
7. HAIR STYLES & HAIR TREATMENT– Excessive hairstyling that pulls the hair, tight braiding, excessive use of curlers, flat irons, tongs damage the hair and break them. Too often shampooing, bleaching, dying etc also cause dryness of hair and make them lustureless. In most cases hair grows back normally if the cause is removed but severe damage to scalp sometimes results in permanent baldness.

GENERAL MEASURES TO PREVENT HAIR FALL

1. Apply oil once in a week. This will provide nourishment to the roots and thus prevents the hair fall.
2. Minimise the heat damage.
3. Hair needs plenty of nutrients for the growth process. Take diet rich in Amino acid like nuts, dairy products. Eggs provide protein which is needed for the growth of hair. Diet rich in calcium, iron, vitamin B  must be taken.
4. Drink plenty of water. This is the best and most easy step that can be adopted to reduce hair fall. Water makes the hair more flexible, less brittle and therefore less susceptible to hair fall and breakage. Try to drink at least 3-4  litres of water everyday.
5. Reduce stress- This can be done by doing yoga, meditation and spending time with the things that one enjoys.
6. Take adequate amount of sleep. 7-8 hours of sleep must be taken. This will allows body cells to repair.
7. Use wide tooth comb- This will help in detangling of hair easily.
8. Try to avoid cosmetics and colors to your hair. Instead of that use natural conditioner like curd, egg, aloevera gel, heena etc.
9. Avoid direct sun exposure. Try to cover the hairs when going out.

BIOLOGICAL CONFLICT OR THOUGHT PROCESS ASSOCIATED WITH HAIRFALL

Hair is a flaunting part of our identity. It enhance our beauty and appearance. Having a good hair will boost our confidence and our presentation. But now a days due to so fast lifestyle, one forget to take care of the most sensitive part of the body. Everything is like a fast food , just grab and eat. In this hustle we just fill our tummy as well as our mind with rubbish only, ignoring the nutritive value. This is well said that- ‘we become what we eat’.

 Hair fall is like a nightmare. Nobody wants to loose hair. When one looses hair, they also lose self esteem and self confidence. Homeopathy is both art and science. It works on the concept of individualization. Along with pathology, it looks in and out of the patient, what patient feels, how it reacts. Any alteration from the healthy state is associated with the mental changes. Something is affecting the mind and body which manifest itself through clinical symptoms.

The biological conflict associated with the hair loss is SEPARATION CONFLICT (Desire to separate or have been separated from something). This separation could be  from the person you love, from friends, from the office, work place, from school, college etc. If the hair fall is persistent, than it means the person is having some problem or any issues with the head of the family or company. This conflict which does not get resolved manifest itself in the form of hair loss.  

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR HAIR FALL

Hairfall is a chronic problem, it can only by cured by proper constitutional treatment along with proper dietry management. Every second person is suffering from hair loss these days due to various reasons. This not only causes gross look but also affects the mental status of a person. Homeopathy offers a wide range of medicine that not only treat the cause but remove the disease from its whole extent. Homeopathic medicines are selected by the process of Individualization after proper case taking, by knowing the patients peculiar features, his like, dislike, habit, addictions, mental status, sleep pattern etc. All this guides the physician in the selection of best similimum.

Some of the common indicated medicines for hair loss are described below:

1. ARNICA MONTANA – One of the best hair tonic, which can be used internally as well externally. Indicated for chronic hair loss after injury, accidents, trauma( both mental and physical).
2. COCHLEARIA  ARMORACIA- One of the well known remedy for hair loss due to dandruff.
3. FLUORICUM ACIDUM:- One of the best homeopathic remedy for Alopecia areata. Indicated when hair loss occurs after a fever such as typhoid. Hair is dry, lustureless, tangles and easily break off.
4. LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM- Indicated when hair loss is associated with gastric ailments, after delivery, ovarian dysfunction. Hair loss occurs in bunches. Also one of the well known remedy for graying of hair.
5. NATRUM MURIATICUM- Indicated when the hair loss occurs after child birth. Also indicated when the patient is thin, pale, anaemic, poorly nourished due to gastric disturbances.
6. PHOSPHORUS- This medicine is indicated when hair falls out in bunches. Hair loss occurs from vertex, crown area and forehead. Baldness of single spot is marked. Itching of scalp. Dandruff is present.
7. PHOSPHORICUM ACIDUM- Indicated for thinning of hair. When hair  started falling at an early age and also started turning gray early in life.
8. PILOCARPUS ( JABORANDI)- One of the powerful glandular stimulant and a hair vitalizer. Helps in re growth of hair and improving the quality of hair. It can be used internally as well as externally.
9. THUJA OCCIDENTALIS- Indicated for dry, lustureless hair. When hair fall is associated with white, scaly dandruff.
10. VINCA MINOR- Indicated when hairs are matted together. Corrosive itching of scalp. Bald spots are present from which moisture oozes out. Irresistible desire to scratch. Indicated for Plica polonica.
11. WIESBADEN- One of the well known hair tonic. Hairs grows much more rapidly than usual. Hair fall out and grows again rapidly.

SOME IMPORTANT RUBRICS FOR HAIR FALL:-

Few common rubrics from KENT REPERTORY which can be used along with mental and physical generals to reach the simlimum are discussed below-

1. [Head]hair; dryness
2. [Head]hair; falling
3. [Head]hair; Falling: grief, from
4. [Head]hair; falling: handfuls, in
5.  [Head]hair; Falling: Menopause
6. [Head]hair; Falling: Parturition, after
7. [Head]hair; Falling: Pregnancy, during
8. [Head]hair; Falling: Spots in
9. [Head]hair; Falling: Forehead
10. [Head]hair; Falling: Occiput, on
11. [Head]hair; Falling: Temples
12. [Head]hair; Baldness
13. [Head]hair; Baldness: Patches

BIBLIOGRAPHY:-

1. Illustrated synopsis of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases , 6^th edition, Neena Khanna
2. German New Medicine, Hairfall
3. Boericke’s New Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica with Repertory, William Boericke.
4. A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica- J H Clarke
5. Repertory Of The Homoeopathic Materia Medica, James Tyler Kent

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