Hair loss - ashwagandha, bacopa monnieri,...
Andrey_81 14 May 2012
I have read that all 3 herbs are very good for hair loss problems, especially ashwagandha. The problem is that the quality of my hair reduced in the past 3 moths and I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the herbs I'm taking. I never experienced hair loss before. It is still not falling, but It looks like I have less hair than before because it is so thin. I used to have very thick hair. Btw. I'm 30 years old.
I know that high cortisol level can lead to hair loss, but herb like ashwagandha and rhodiola reduce cortisol.
The thing that bothers me is ashwagandha. I know that it can boost your testosterone level, and as I know (maybe I'm wrong), high testosterone = hair loss.
I'm also using OptiMen vitamins and minerals (with lots of herbs that can raise testosterone level).
According to all above, I'm using a good vitamin mix (important for hair quality) together with adaptogen herbs that should reduce hair loss and improve hair quality. Why do I have opposite effect?
Thank you co much!
Edited by Andrey_81, 14 May 2012 - 01:15 PM.
snowbell 14 May 2012
Andrey_81 14 May 2012
Can somebody please clarify this for me and explain why is higher testosterone level good (except more muscle and higher libido). There are many advices on the net that explains how can we boost testosterone level in natural way (zinc, omega 3, sleep more, less stress, vitamin c, workout, avoid alcohol...), but can all this lead to baldness or some worse problems (cancer)??
I read a lot about how eating of soya can lower testosterone level, and low testosterone level can reduce the percentage of cancer possibility. It confuses me that in one hand they say that we should boost testosterone level and in another hand we should use soya to lower the level (??). So what is right?
I'm sure that I'm wrong, please help. Is higher level good or bad? I'm talking about natural way when our body produces more hormone.
Edited by Andrey_81, 14 May 2012 - 07:21 PM.
aghonia 07 Aug 2013
I read somewhere that Testosterone effects depend on the concentration of other hormones. In hair loss case, Testosterone should be reckoned by considering its ratio with prolactine or aldosterone.
Andrey_81 07 Aug 2013
I can confirm as a chronic ashwagandha and rhodiola user...this herbs will not mess your hair or boost your hair loss. I can only feel the benefits from this herbs, just don't take higher doses, it's not needed. If you take ashw extract, take up to 750 mg per day and if you take rhodiola take up to 500 mg per day splited in two dosses (if you are taking stronger extract, 150 mg per day is enough).
JLL 08 Aug 2013
Andrey_81 08 Aug 2013
4 months is not that long, I don't see how taking a supplement could dramatically reduce hair thickness in that time. Thinning hair takes years.
4 months? I posted this topic in 14 May 2012
nowayout 08 Aug 2013
I can confirm as a chronic ashwagandha and rhodiola user...this herbs will not mess your hair or boost your hair loss.
That doesn't mean much. Some people are genetically prone to hair loss and others aren't. Maybe you just aren't prone to it.
JLL 08 Aug 2013
4 months is not that long, I don't see how taking a supplement could dramatically reduce hair thickness in that time. Thinning hair takes years.
4 months? I posted this topic in 14 May 2012
Yea, and you said:
"For the past 4 months I've been using ashwagandha, bacopa and rhodiola."
Andrey_81 08 Aug 2013
4 months is not that long, I don't see how taking a supplement could dramatically reduce hair thickness in that time. Thinning hair takes years.
4 months? I posted this topic in 14 May 2012
Yea, and you said:
"For the past 4 months I've been using ashwagandha, bacopa and rhodiola."
Yes, but during that time I was afraid that I will star to loose hair due to the ashw and rhodiola use since they have influence on the testosterone level. Now after this long term use I can say that all is OK and I have no problems with hair loss.
Andrey_81 08 Aug 2013
I can confirm as a chronic ashwagandha and rhodiola user...this herbs will not mess your hair or boost your hair loss.
That doesn't mean much. Some people are genetically prone to hair loss and others aren't. Maybe you just aren't prone to it.
True, but I'm not talking about people who are genetically prone to hair loss. I thought that the use of this herbs will reduce the hair of all others who usually don't suffer from hair loss.
cuprous 09 Aug 2013
I'm thinking of giving it a try again in part to test the hair loss thing but also because I think it's a really great anxiolytic herb.
Oh and I question the testosterone hair loss connection. That might increase hair loss over a longish time span but I was experiencing these sheds in the same week(s) as taking ash.
aghonia 10 Aug 2013
If this is the case,
I offer my 2 cents as a long-term minoxidil user. As some (miserable) one knows, minoxidil first goal was to increase vascular flow and reduce hypertension. However, this effect engendered the enormous side effect for which minoxidil received much of its fame: Hair growth!
Sadly, minox requires time to kick in with positive effect. The first month, the increased blood flow produces a very nasty effect, as it will literally shed one's head "dead" hair off. Thousands of dead hair will come out with just a few strokes. In the second phase, hair will start growing again, replacing (at least in theory) the dead ones, through their trails. In fact, the first month slaughter is due to the replenishing process.
Edited by aghonia, 10 August 2013 - 09:24 AM.
blind12 19 Aug 2013
I found one article that says that everyday usage of ashwagandha (5 g/day) can higher testosterone level by 40% (??).
I have also found many articles about how Rhodiola Rosea can boost testosterone level.
Can I haz referencez?
I also know that high testosterone level can lead to prostate cancer
This is pretty much an urban legend.
SHBG, signalled by estrogen, is the key initiator of prostate cell proliferation.
I read a lot about how eating of soya can lower testosterone level, and low testosterone level can reduce the percentage of cancer possibility.
Since men today are at the lowest historical level of testosterone, cancer should have all but vanished.
I'm sure that I'm wrong, please help. Is higher level good or bad? I'm talking about natural way when our body produces more hormone.
Since men's testosterone levels have been declining globally for decades, "natural" would seem to be way higher than status quo.