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Stop Hair Loss at Home

DHT Blocker for Hair

Superstar Dolly Parton is known for her big voice — and even bigger hair.

Dolly Parton has been suffering with hair loss since 1973.

But late last year, the singer finally revealed that the reason she’s worn a wig for the last 45 years is because she suffers from hair loss…

Male celebrities like Sean Connery and Bruce Willis have gotten away with hair loss for decades. In fact, their baldness is considered sexy.

But let’s face it, it’s a lot harder for women to lose their hair. A thick, healthy head of hair is a sign of youth, sexiness and femininity.

So when it starts to thin and fall out, your confidence and self-esteem take a severe hit.

In the past, I rarely saw what’s called “male-pattern baldness” in female patients. But now I see it all the time. In the last 15 years this problem has quadrupled in my practice.

And contrary to popular thought it’s not part of “normal aging.”

Most doctors blame too much testosterone for baldness. But it’s much more complicated than that…

The real problem is too much estrogen.

And it’s not the estrogen your body makes. It’s the fake estrogens produced by today’s industrial world. These alien estrogens are everywhere — from shampoos and laundry detergents to deodorants and perfume.

When these estrogen mimickers get into your bloodstream, they attach to estrogen receptors. Your body’s estrogen levels shoot through the roof. And your progesterone level sinks to almost nothing. This imbalance causes anxiety, insomnia, low libido, depression, mood swings, weight gain, dry skin… and hair loss.

Progesterone is the hormone that makes you feel like a woman. But it binds to the same receptors as testosterone. So when progesterone levels plummet, testosterone swoops in to take its place. And once testosterone takes hold, it breaks down into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

This powerful hormone gives men the “manly” traits associated with adult males. It’s also responsible for male-pattern baldness. DHT collects in the sebum glands in the scalp. It starts to attack your hair follicles. Your strands can shrink and eventually fall out. You lose the ability to grow thick, healthy hair.

Normally a woman doesn’t have much DHT because it’s blocked by progesterone. But with all the fake estrogens women are getting, progesterone plummets, DHT thrives, and you have hair loss.

The first thing I do to stop and reverse my patients’ hair loss is restore their natural hormone balance with bioidentical hormones.

I start by measuring estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHT. By testing we know exactly how much progesterone you need to offset the DHT.

If you are in South Florida — or can travel to my Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine — you can arrange for a consultation by calling my staff at 561-784-7852.

There are other things you can do right now to stop hair loss and regain your youthful mane.

One very effective solution is to block the DHT that’s attacking your hair. And the key to doing that is to stop the conversion of testosterone to DHT. In order to convert testosterone to the hair-destroying DHT, your body needs an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. Research shows that a number of natural plant-based nutrients inhibit this enzyme.

Stop Hair Loss at Home

Here are two DHT-blocking nutrients that I recommend to my patients.

  1. Panax Ginseng. A recent Japanese study found that ginseng promotes hair regrowth when hair loss is caused by too much DHT.1It also boosts blood supply to the scalp. In one study, volunteers using panax ginseng regrew more and thicker hair than those using a standard treatment alone.2Massaging panax ginseng into your scalp twice a day delivers ginseng directly to your follicles to produce a thick, full head of hair.You can also buy panax ginseng supplements. But make sure you get panax ginseng. Don’t confuse it with American or Siberian ginseng. Take 200 mg to 500 mg daily.
  2. Beta-Sitosterol. This is another powerful natural nutrient to block the conversion of testosterone to DHT. In a double-blind study, researchers gave a group of men suffering from hair loss either a placebo or beta-sitosterol. They found that 60% of those taking the beta-sitosterol had an improvement in hair growth. They also lost less hair than the placebo group.3You’ve probably heard of this nutrient in its connection to a man’s prostate. But don’t worry. It’s a safe hair loss treatment for both men and women. You can find beta-sitosterol in avocados, pecans and pumpkin seeds.You can also supplement. I recommend a daily dose of 50 mg. But you can take up to 300 mg. You should notice new hair growth within five months. Some of my patients have even faster results.During one of my trips to Bali, I discovered a great source of beta-sitosterol. It’s a root called galangal. The Balinese call it the “spice of life.” I make an easy tea that tastes delicious. Here’s how:

Balinese Galangal Tea

  1. Grate a small piece of dried galangal root and a small piece of red ginger root. You can find both at Asian specialty stores.
  2. Place the grated roots in the bottom of a cup and fill the cup with boiling water.
  3. Let the tea steep until it’s cool enough to drink.
  4. Strain, add honey to taste and enjoy!

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

Al Sears, MD, CNS

1. Murata K., et al. “Effects of ginseng rhizome and ginsenoside Ro on testosterone. 5a-reductase and hair re-growth in testosterone-treated mice.” Phytother Res. Jan 2012.
2. Oh G.N., Son, S.W. “Efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata.” J Ginseng Res. 2012.
3. Prager N., et al. “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.” J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Apr.