| There is nothing worse than a shower drain full of | | | | went through menopause their hair became much |
| hair, especially if it’s yours and it’s falling | | | | thinner. The decrease in estrogen after |
| out fast. Or perhaps you run your fingers through | | | | menopause can be another culprit in hair loss. In |
| your hair and come up with a handful. Your | | | | addition, an imbalance in your thyroid hormones |
| hairbrush is full and you’re finding stray hairs | | | | can raise the levels of a chemical called DHT, |
| – lots of them – on your pillowcase. | | | | which causes your hair to fall out faster than |
| What’s going on? | | | | normal. |
| Your hair is constantly falling out and regrowing, | | | | Low iron. Iron deficiency is a common cause of |
| and most people lose an average of 50 to 100 | | | | hair loss. Low levels of iron decrease the level of |
| hairs a day. However, if you’re noticing an | | | | red blood cells necessary for healthy hair follicles. |
| increase in shedding or if your hair is noticeably | | | | It’s important to know that you don’t |
| thinning, you’re probably losing more. | | | | need to be anemic for iron to be a factor. |
| Your hair grows in cycles during which it actively | | | | Some studies have shown that low levels of |
| grows for about two to three years and then | | | | stored iron, called ferritin, may contribute or cause |
| rests for a couple of months. During the growth | | | | hair loss. |
| phase, a hair generally grows about 1/2 inch per | | | | Medications. Some antidepressants, diuretics, and |
| month. At the end of the resting phase, the | | | | certainly chemotherapy can cause your hair to fall |
| strand of hair falls out and a new strand begins to | | | | out. |
| grow. Noticeable thinning of your hair is due to an | | | | Health conditions. Scalp infections, frequently fungal |
| above average number of hairs resting at the | | | | in nature, can cause your hair to drop. In addition, |
| same time | | | | diseases such as diabetes and lupus can be |
| In Chinese medicine, the Kidney organ system is | | | | associated with hair loss. |
| responsible for the hair on your head. The Kidney | | | | Hair treatments. This one may seem like a |
| system is also responsible for body functions | | | | no-brainer, but how you treat your hair can have |
| related to growth, fertility, menopause, and aging. | | | | a direct impact on the health of your mane. Harsh |
| As you get older, your Kidneys become weaker, | | | | chemicals, tight braids or pigtails, and brushing too |
| and one way that weakness is reflected is | | | | vigorously can damage your hair and scalp and |
| through the health of your hair. Hair loss, gray | | | | cause your hair to fall out. |
| hair, dry and itchy scalp, and unhealthy hair are all | | | | So what can you do if your hair is falling out? |
| signs that your Kidneys could be a little stronger. | | | | Make sure your diet is sufficient in protein and |
| In addition, your Kidney system is one of the | | | | iron, to nourish your body and hair. Don’t |
| Chinese organs most deeply damaged by stress. | | | | supplement with iron unless you’re sure your |
| The adrenal glands sit right on top of your | | | | levels are low. Check with your doctor if you |
| Kidneys, and in Western medicine, adrenal fatigue | | | | think low iron or hormone imbalances might be to |
| is the direct result of unrelenting stress. Extreme | | | | blame. Also ask your doctor about adjusting the |
| levels of stress can cause your hair to | | | | dosage or changing your prescription if hair loss is |
| prematurely go into its resting phase, causing hair | | | | a side effect of any medication you’re taking. |
| loss and thinning. | | | | If stress is the problem, work on coping using |
| Beyond stress, there are other reasons that your | | | | Yoga, meditation, visualization, acupuncture, and |
| hair may be falling out. Among them: | | | | any other relaxation techniques that work for |
| Poor diet. Remember the season of Survivor | | | | you. |
| (Australia) when Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s hair fell | | | | A practitioner of Chinese medicine would deal with |
| out by the handful? The contestants didn’t | | | | your hair loss by strengthening your Kidney |
| have anything to eat, and Elizabeth’s hair | | | | system through acupuncture and the use of |
| began to fall out as a result of poor nutrition. | | | | herbs. A common herbal formula for hair loss and |
| Extremely low calorie diets or a diet low in protein | | | | premature graying is called Seven Treasure |
| can cause your hair to fall out. | | | | Formula for Beautiful Whiskers, which nourishes |
| Hormones. Many women complain that once they | | | | the Kidney and benefits your hair. |