Hair Care Directory

If you suffer from persistent skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, you know how that they are recurrent and difficult to control.

Common factors such as stress and poor diet can cause flare-ups, and who has time to run to the doctor every time this happens? Plus, your body can become resistant to the steroid creams that are commonly prescribed to treat these problems.

Luckily, there are several natural, easy, and safe herbal remedies for eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, and other causes of dry, flaky skin.

If you tend to have dry skin, taking vitamin E every day will help prevent problems before they start. Diets rich in olive oil and using safflower oil as a substitute for vegetable oil will also provide much-needed vitamin E.

Vitamin E is sold in capsule form, and you can break the capsules open and apply the oil directly to the affected area as well. Adding a few drops of lavender essential oil will help reduce redness, puffiness, and scaling.

For problems such as flakiness of the scalp, using a dandruff shampoo will help minimize the symptoms, but if you want to avoid the chemicals you can apply witch hazel directly to the affected area or mix it with your natural shampoo. This is very soothing and will help heal the skin.

Lastly, drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol and caffeine will help keep your skin hydrated, soft, and healthy. Take advantage of the natural herbal remedies available to help you control and treat your skin problems.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Health-Fitness-Solutions.com He provides more health related advice and simple herbal remedies that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

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Hair loss and dandruff are one of the most irritating disorders that can even make a person depressed at times.

There is a huge market for hair disorders such as hair fall, dandruff, alopecia etc. Companies are making a quick buck and exploiting in the name of herbal remedies. Many of these remedies are not purely herbal and may contain some herb as a component with inorganic and harmful chemicals as the prime component. Such products give only temporary relief, for example, anti-dandruff shampoos widely marketed, give relief only for a day or even lesser period.Ofcourse, there are genuine products in the market and the companies need not be pointed out for it is not their fault alone, but also of consumers who wants a quick remedy! Application of such temporary remedies and easily accessible products is not the right solution for the hair disorders, the solution lies in the age old systems of traditional medicine.

Such traditional medicine with modern science and technology can throw some effective long term and easy to use remedies. While I don’t remember at this point of time any such ready to use natural remedy manufactured by companies, I am suggesting some time tested age old traditional or natural methods for containing hair fall and dandruff. Though some of the methods are cumbersome or the ingredients not readily accessible, this is the only way and natural way for preventing as well as curing the irritating disorders.

The ripened fruits of Soap nut, botanically called Sapindus emarginatus, are soaked in hot water for 10-15 minutes and then crushed with hand in the same water to get the extract.The extract can be daily used beneficially with no side effects as a shampoo. It gives rich lather and can be compared in lathering property to synthetic lathering agents generally found in manufactured shampoos.

Another time tested natural shampoo, is the thoroughly ground powder of Blackgram, which should be made into a viscid paste with which the hair is washed and the scalp massaged. This is a good soap for the body also. For starters, the paste when applied, may be rough as compared to the soap, but a beautiful soap with all goodness.

Both the above, Soap nut juice and Black Gram powder are natural shampoos, with no loss of natural oil from the body and in addition are anti dandruff.

Prior to head bath the following applications are useful

Prior to shampooing or head bath, the scalp is thoroughly massaged with a combination made of crushed fenugreek seeds and sour curd. Leave for 15-20 minutes and wash with the shampoos suggested above.

People who do not like to apply oil in day times may apply oil like pure coconut oil before going to bed and then shampoo the natural way in the morning. This restores the lost oil from the scalp.

Another remedy widely used in India and known as a c-vitamin rich fruit all over the world, Powder of Indian Gooseberry is an excellent rejuvenator for the hair. It brings lustier, prevents or contains dandruff and helps strengthen the roots.

There are several such remedies, but access to the raw materials or genuine products is a problem in addition to the time consuming preparations. At least choose a product that has less of synthetic components and more of naturals. Never go for a shampoo full of chemicals, just because it gives tons of lather!

Ravikumar Uppaluri hails from Kaikalur, Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh State in India. The famous Kolleru bird sancturay, a fresh water lake that attracts birds from as far as Siberia, is located near Kaikalur. Kolleru lake once vast, beautiful and sheltering scores of birds and other animals is on the verge of extinction.

The author Holds a Masters degree in Agricultural Sciences and is cofounder of an organization involved in Nature conservation and sustainable development. The author has profound interest in the fields of medicinal plants, natural products and organic farming. The author can be reached at uravikumar@yahoo.com Visit http://www.geocities.com/uravikumar for more information on Kolleru lake.

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Who would have thought you could get antioxidants, Omega-3, Omega-6, and Vitamin E all in one fruit oil?

Cranberry seed oil is the latest natural hair product on the market. It provides a nutrient-rich formula that contributes to a healthy and strong head of hair.

Without Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, hair is dry and lifeless. A lack of fatty-acid balance in the scalp can lead to unmanageable hair and frequent bad hair days.

Nature’s Perfect Moisturizer

The rich cranberry omega oils help to reduce dandruff, itching, as well as eczema and psoriasis, a skin disease characterized by recurring reddish patches covered with silvery scales.

Approximately 2% of the population, about 120 million people worldwide, suffer from psoriasis. They experience a temporary thinning of the hair, which could be due to insufficient omega nutrition of the hair and scalp… a deficiency that can be rebalanced with cranberry oil.

One more benefit of using omega-rich cranberry oil directly on your hair - it suits vegans, vegetarians and others who wish to avoid animal-derived products such as fish oil, which can leave your hair with an unpleasant odour.

Loaded With Nutrients

You could spend a lot of money on products such as wheat germ oil and cold-pressed vegetables oils, which only contain one source of Vitamin E and will leave your hair greasy and unhealthy over the long run. Whereas cranberry oil contains natural, rich antioxidants (that repair cellular damage caused by pollutants) and a variety of elements including organic acids like benzoic acid to enhance scalp circulation and promote healthy hair.

Your hair needs Vitamin E for shine and strength; you can get this important vitamin by applying cranberry oil every time you wash your hair.

Cranberry oil also contains minerals that are beneficial to your hair such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium.

If you were to consume cranberry oil orally, it would gradually be distributed by your digestive system to various parts of your body, including your hair. But for a more direct effect, the nutritional benefits of cranberry oil can be delivered right to the scalp and absorbed by the roots if packed properly into an agent (delivery system) that can penetrate the skin to reach the blood vessels beneath the scalp.

Cranberry Oil Products

Look for shampoos, conditioners, hair moisturizers, styling cremes, hair sprays, and other products that contain cranberry seed oil. You’ll also find the oil increasingly being used in lip balms and skin creams because of its exceptional, non-greasy moisturizing properties.

Nancy Faizabadi is a professional hair stylist and the founder of ShortHairStyle.com. Visit http://www.short-hair-style.com/hair-care-and-style.html and find out how to solve your hair and scalp problem and restore your hair and scalp to optimum condition.

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Patient came in yesterday to our teaching clinic and reporting how she was doing with her horribly dry and itchy skin and scalp. She had been in a month prior in despair.

She had been recommended to take fish oil a few times a day. Her improvement was excellent yet not completely resolved.

My first thought was to include a shower filter which would remove the harmful effects of chlorine.

Dry skin’s main cause is either due to:

• diet
• environmental

Watching TV now is killing me with all the ads for lotions and creams. They are mostly all bunk. Why not remove the cause of the dry skin instead of putting a band-aid on it every 4 hours?

I must say that treating symptoms rather than treating the cause is one of my biggest pet peeves. So easy to do and so many of us do not do it. WHY??? I guess we’re programmed to find relief rather than resolution. Relief is faster than resolution most of the time. Us Yankees are so into making the short term buck for the least effort. Make a little more effort and gain further benefit.

Find resolution will ya?!

If one’s diet lacks essential fatty acids such as flax oil, borage oil, primrose oil or fish oil, their skin will likely become dry and irritated. Add essential fatty acids to your diet.

If one’s environment consists of harsh cleaners, solvents, alternating wet dry, chemicals or simply chlorine, dry skin may become an issue. Remove the environmental issues if possible.

Granted there are countless other nutrients for skin - such as vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, biotin, proline, MSM et al - yet a major component of healthy skin can be achieved through consuming fish oil and using chlorine filters.

A great liquid fish oil that tastes lemony can be found in Carlson’s Fish Oil. My son loves it and so do I - and that speaks volumes as I’m not much of a fish lover. If one prefers capsules, look for cold water fish oil capsules as they contain basically no heavy metals.

A shower chlorine filter is a good idea as chlorine destroys proteins and strips oils from the body - inside and out. Ideally, one would also purchase filtered water or an in-home countertop drinking water filter.

I have been using the water filters by New Wave Enviro Products. The shower filter by New Wave Enviro has been in my home for about 6 years now. I love it and noticed a major difference in my scalp and especially after shaving. I don’t get the super dry face anymore - in fact, I don’t even use shaving cream anymore - just soap and water in the shower. My wife doesn’t apply buckets of lotion anymore either after each shower. That drove me nuts - one more step before she was ready to get out the door.

The next few paragraphs are a bit of a tangent but are useful if you’re considering a drinking water filter. If you have dry skin and the essential fatty acids and shower filter are not doing it, you may want to consider adding a drinking water filter to improve your skin and overall health.

There are numerous drinking water chlorine filters on the market. Things to look for are how much it costs to run them per gallon. If a unit initially costs only $20.00 that’s great short term - however, if the filter has to be replaced every 2 months and costs $20 a pop, that adds up fast. If you become lazy and do not change the filter as recommended, you are causing more harm that good. Why? The filter begins to dump out what it has been filtering for the past 2 months plus bacteria begin to set up base camp. Ever notice that your filtered water has begun to taste funky??? Replace the filter.

If you’re looking for a drinking water filter, consider the New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Premium Countertop Water Filter. This filter only costs an average of four cents per gallon and the filter has to be replaced only every 1500 gallons which is about a year for a family of four folks. The water tastes excellent coming out of there and it is a no brainer to set up. Many of my neighbors and fellow classmates are using it and enjoying it. I’ve done my homework on this one and the customer service from New Wave is unmatched. A friend of mine had her filter clog up for some random reason in only 3 months of use - the company shipped her out a new filter right away. It likely was due to her house’s water pipes being old and shedding sediment but New Wave didn’t care. They wanted her happy.

Toss the Brita - it’s bank and honestly is a garbage water filter. I had one of those for years. I got tired of the nasty taste.

To compare the major brand water filters, this website’s water filter review seems pretty good. They do not have the New Wave Enviro filters there but they do offer about 10 others.

When our patient comes back, I will let you know how her dry skin is doing. It may be awhile but I’ll remember to post her update.

Enjoy removing the cause of your dry skin! Applying lotion day after day month after month cannot be fun. It takes four weeks for a new healthy layer of skin to appear - only 4 weeks. So in 6 weeks you will likely be lotion free.

The shower filter benefits are noticeable in about 3 days - some people notice the difference after the first shower. Of course it depends on how much chlorine your city water has and how sensitive you are.

In health,
Ben

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Hair loss is experienced by all of us at one or the other time. To know the causes of hair fall, it is very essential to know the structure of hair and its normal growth cycle.

Structure of hair

The hair on our scalp can be divided into two parts, the root and shaft. The root part of hair is in the skin (epidermis) of scalp. The hair root is surrounded by a pouch like structure called follicle. The base of hair root is in the shape of a bulb. This bulb is indented by capillaries and nerve fibers. The cells in the center of bulb divide. The newly divided hair cells push the previous cells up. The cells which move upwards die slowly forming hard hair shaft.

The hair shaft has three layers the cuticle, medulla and cortex.

Cuticle is the outer layers and protects the inner layers. It is transparent. Healthy cuticle gives a shiny appearance for hair and unhealthy cuticle gives lifeless look

Medulla is the innermost layer composed of large cells.

Cortex is the layer between cuticle and medulla. This contains pigment and keratin. Cortex determines the bulk and strength of hair.

The hair follicle contains oil secreting glands which make the hair shiny .Stress and illness diminish secretion of oil and pigments causing graying of hair.

According to Ayurveda the hair is considered as a tissue which uses the same nutrients of bone and considered as a tissue which is formed as bi-product of bone tissue.

Normal cycle of hair growth.

About 10 % of the hair on the scalp is in a resting phase at any given time. The resting hair falls after 2 to 3 months and new hair starts growing in its place. The growing phase continues for 2.25 to 6 yrs. During this phase each hair grows approximately 1 cm per month. At any given time about 90% of the hair on scalp will be in growing phase.

Few strands of hair fall as the part of normal hair growth cycle. But some people may experience excessive hair fall which is more than normal cycle. Excessive hair loss can affect men, women and children.

Causes of hair loss

1. Hormonal imbalance in men and women: In men high concentration of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in hair follicles causes hair fall. In women hormonal imbalances during pregnancy and after delivery cause hair fall.

2. High amount of sebum in scalp clogs pores of scalp and prevent nutrition to hair follicle.

3. Inadequate nutrition causes hair fall.

4. Stress, worry, lack of sleep, worry and anxiety cause hair fall

5. Long standing diseases like typhoid, viral infections, anemia, surgery etc cause general debility which lead to hair fall

6. Some medicines used for gout, chemo therapy of cancer , birth control pills , antidepressants etc cause hair fall

7. Diseases like lupus, diabetes cause hair fall.

8. Tying hair tightly pulls the hair from follicles and cause traction alopecia.

9. Heredity also causes hair fall.

10. Dandruff or Fungal infection of scalp.

11. Accumulation of dirt on scalp causes blocking of pores and weakens hair roots. This leads to hair fall.

According to ayurveda the causes of hair loss are described as follows

1. Too much exposure to dust, sunlight, water and other pollutants.

2. Too much of sweating.

3. Irregular sleeping pattern.

4. Anxiety, depression, insomnia.

5. Unhygienic way of living

6. Diseases

7. Alcohol consumption.

Hair loss Remedies

1. Liberal intake of vitamins.

2. High protein and iron rich diet.

3. Consumption of raw vegetables, fresh fruits, salads, green leafy vegetables regularly.

4. Washing hair regularly ( twice weekly ) with suitable shampoo.

5. Using relaxing techniques to overcome stress, anxiety and sleeplessness.

6. Preventing fungal infections of scalp.

7. Preventing hairstyles which pull hair.

Due to these causes the tridoshas get vitiated and cause hair loss. The vitiated doshas affect the scalp skin and cause hair fall occurs. Medicated oil with the herbs Bhringaraja ( Eclipta Alba ), Amalaki ( Embelica officinalis ), Haritaki ( Terminalia chebula ) and Vibhitaki ( Terminalia bellirica ) is a best remedy for hair fall.

Copyright Dr. SavithaSuri, Ayurvedic Physician

Dr. Savitha Suri has been an Ayurvedic Practitioner since 1989. After getting a graduation degree in ayurveda (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in 1988 from University of Mysore, India, she started practising ayurveda. Her articles about ayurveda have been published in news papers and websites. She is a regular health columnist to a regional news paper.

http://www.ayurhelp.com

doctor@ayurhelp.com

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When you decided to get a dog, I’ll bet you daydreamed about the great times you’d have with your new best friend. However, there are many things that you need to consider in order to keep your pooch happy and healthy. Things that perhaps you’d rather not even think about!

When you go to the veterinarian he may ask you to bring along a urine sample from your dog. How do you do this? Your dog surely won’t be able to hit a sample bottle. The easiest way to accomplish this is to tape a polythene container to the end of a yard stick. While your dog is out doing his business, position the container underneath his urine stream. This is easier to do with male dogs than female dogs but you can usually get a sample with one or two tries. Your veterinarian will want as fresh a sample as possible so if you won’t be taking the sample to the vet right away, keep it refrigerated until you bring it in. Your veterinarian will be checking the sample for a variety of things like bacteria and crystals. If bacteria is found it could mean that your dog has a urinary tract infection and will most likely require your dog to be put on a course of antibiotics. Crystals form in the urine whenever minerals bind together, there are several different kinds of crystals and these are most often treated with prescription diets.

If your veterinarian asks for a stool sample it could mean that he suspects that intestinal parasites are bothering your dog. They can get these by eating fecal matter from another affected animal, carcasses, or other unsavory things. You will want to bring in a fresh sample. The doctor will examine it under the microscope and look for telltale eggs of parasites. Commonest parasites are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Several of today’s monthly heartworm medications also protect against roundworms and hookworms. If you live in the country or your dog is outside for much of the day, he may need to be treated with a tapeworm wormer on a quarterly basis. Other diseases like coccidia, can also be seen under the microscope from your dog’s stool sample.

What about anal glands? The anal glands are two small glands located just on the inside of your dog’s anus that secrete a foul smelling liquid. Usually the glands will be emptied when your dog defecates. Unfortunately, in some dogs, the anal glands become impacted and do not empty properly. If your dog is urinating more than usual or licking his hind quarters more often, there may be a problem with his anal glands. In this case it’s important to make an appointment with your veterinarian who will check the anal glands by gloved touch. If the anal glands are full, he will be able to empty them manually. it is possiblen, however, to learn how to do this yourself at home. Some dogs require their anal glands be manually emptied regularly. Some owners have their dog’s anal glands surgically removed but if you choose to do this, discuss the possible outcomes with your veterinarian as there is often a risk of fecal incontinence if the surgery goes awry.

Occasionally in dogs, dandruff is just dandruff caused by skin allergies, nutritional deficiencies, or improper grooming. Sometimes, however, dandruff can be a sign of a parasite called mange of which there are a few different types:

a) Demodectic Mange is caused by a mite which all dogs have but are rarely adversely affected by it. Sometimes however, there can be an overabundance of these mites which causes skin irritation and hair loss.

b) Sarcoptic Mange (also known as scabies) is caused by another type of mite. A female mite buries herself in the dog’s skin and lays her eggs there. When the eggs hatch, the cycle begins again. This causes severe skin irritation and hair loss in dogs but is easily treatable.

c) Cheyletiella Mange is caused by a large mite that lives on the surface of the dog’s skin. This infestation is also known as ‘walking dandruff’. This type of mange causes minor skin irritation but is easily treatable with topical medication.

So, now you can talk about those unpleasant things! It’s important that you are properly educated and can recognize signs and symptoms so that you keep your dog as healthy as he can be.

Edwina Hanson is a dog care and training professional. Click on the link for a free 73 page report entitled
Complete Dog
Care. You’ll also get a nice little ebook entitled “20 Natural and Healthy Recipes” (for your dog!).

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In this article I’ll share with you my 5 easy tips to get rid of dandruff

1. Try vinegar. Pour vinegar into your hair and massage it all the way through for a couple of minutes. Then leave it dry for a few more minutes. Then wash your hair as normal. Do this everyday for a few days until your dandruff is gone. It should be gone in a few days.

2. A prescription steroid lotion might be the best bet. Steroid lotions can sometimes be the most popular treatment for dandruff.

3. Consider changing your diet. Try to cut out foods that are processed and high in hydrogenated fats. Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids by eating wild cold-water fish, freshly ground flax seeds, walnuts, fortified eggs, and leafy green vegetables. Trying to avoid dairy products may help you.

4. Try hypnosis! Believe it or not, sometimes skin conditions respond to hypnosis! So consider seeing a hypnotherapist experienced in treating them. Try here to find a hypnotherapist in your area (www.asch.net/referrals.asp).

5. See a Dermatologist. In some cases a scalp disease coule be the cause of severe dandruff. When this happens you should definetely make an appointment to see your dermatologist. Try here to find one in your area http://www.aad.org/public/searchderm.htm

In this articles I shared with you my 5 easy tips for getting rid of dandruff.

Did you find those tips on how to get rid of dandruff useful? You can learn a lot more about how to get rid of dandruff here.”

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There are two main dandruff dilemmas. The first one of course effects the person who is experiencing it, or the parent or loved one of that person. Our first reaction is its cause, and maybe more importantly, how to get rid of it.

The second dilemma is experienced by big business. They produce and sell products to alleviate the symptoms. But think about it, if their products were a cure, they would not have much repeat business.

Shampoo is a perfect example. Active ingredients such as zinc pyrithione and salicylic acid are added to the most popular shampoos. While both of these ingredients are excellent for treatment, they simply aren’t in contact with the scalp long enough to be of any real effect. Not to mention most of these shampoos give your hair an unhealthy dried out look.

For our purposes here, I will focus on the first dilemma, and let big business worry about their own problems!

Here’s the problem. Most people simply don’t know what to do short of buying popular products, or going to the time and expense of visiting a dermatologist. Here’s the good news. You don’t have to visit a dermatologist to receive as effective dandruff treatment. Dermatologist frequently prescribe medications which remain on the scalp overnight. There are however, hair products you probably already use, except for the addition of active ingredients like zinc and salicylic acid which stay in continual contact with the scalp being formulated into them.

Along with active ingredients, I highly recommend products which include natural herbal ingredients. Check out this list of beneficial herbal ingredients and their qualities.

Zinc Pyrithione: Most widely used active ingredient used to treat dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema and numerous other skin and scalp disorders. Synthesized in the 1930’s, has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Salicylic Acid: Naturally found in willow tree bark. Key additive in many skin care products. Causes skin cells to slough off more readily keeping pores open.

Tea Tree Oil: Strongest known natural antiseptic. Also has punitive skin penetrating capacity as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, germicide and fungicide. From the Australian plant Melaleuca Alternifolia.

Peppermint Oil: Natural properties include penetrating and anelgesic qualities.

Guava: Herbal anelgesic, anti-baterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic.

Wild Cherry: Natural root bark extract astrigent.

Chamomile: Herbal anti-inflammatory.

Horsetail: Herbal storehouse of vitamins and minerals, revitalizing properties.

Nettle: Herbal anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, rich in minerals.

Dandelion Extract: Natural allergen

Aloe Barbabenis: Natural anti-irritant

It may surprise many of my readers that most dandruff shampoo is actually harmful to your hair. While you may experience some moderate relief of your dandruff. It is usually short lived, and your hair actually ends up looking and feeling much worse. I would highly suggest that you choose one that will restore natural PH balance back to you scalp. I would also recommend it to be mild and include Tea Tree OIL and natural herbal ingredients.

The solution is not going to be in the shampoo entirely. At least not for the vast majority of people. They simply are not in contact with the scalp long enough to supply complete relief.

Living with dry skin and scalp has been a reality for me for most of my almost 50 years. I have researched remedies and have come across some who would even go so far as to advise the use of vinegar applied overnight on a regular basis. Now who in the world wants to sleep with vinegar in their hair!

So what would I recommend? How about products which have the beneficial ingredients in them, are easy to use, and smell great. What comes to mind you ask? How about styling gels and sprays which most of us use already? Wow, how simple is that. All we have to do is find styling sprays and gels which have the active and herbal ingredients formulated into them, and they will be in contact with our scalp each time we use them until we shampoo them off.

There are a very few available. But if you search online, I’m sure you will be able to find the ones which are right for you.
Just be sure they include many if not all of the ingredients I’ve listed above for maximum effectiveness.

Dandruff can be controlled, it just takes a better course of action than most common solutions provide.

http://www.skin-and-scalp-treatment.com/dandruff.html

Author is executive online director for his families 45 year old corporation which focuses on skin and scalp disorders. His wife is a 3rd generation cosmetologist of over 20 years.

After suffering with many allergies and scalp disorders, the author put the corporations vast resources into action researching the most effective and natural solutions to his personal disorders. He is currently symptom free from a 20 year sever case of dandruff for more than 3 years.

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For most of my life I’ve struggled with dry skin and dandruff. I’ve gone through every cream and shampoo available on the market without any acceptable results. I started to look to diet and more alternative practices for help. I’ve realized that it is possible to find solutions to dry skin and dandruff through diet, in combination with other health models, such as the Eastern practice of Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurvedic is an ancient medical system from India which empasizes more natural paths to healing through diet, massage and holistic remedies. It classifies individuals according to a metabolic body type or dosha. Each dosha is characterized by a combination of the earth’s elements like fire, water, wind, etc. When your doshas are out of balance, ill health can occur. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Depending on what body type you are, you could be more prone to dry skin and dandruff. For example, a person with an imbalance in their Vata dosha is prone to dry skin. Various herbal rememdies and oils can help to restore balance to specific problems. With Vata, a regular body and scalp massage with sesame or sweet almond oil is recommended. For Pitta the oil would be coconut and for Kapha try olive oil. These can all be found in health food or grocery stores if you don’t have a store that specializes in Ayurvedic remedies. You can also gently heat the oils in the microwave for a more intense moisturizer. Another great natural moisturizer is a mixture of egg yolks and honey. Thick and messy, but it works!

In addition to topical remedies, you can also work on your body from the inside out. Diet has a great impact on dandruff. Try these following dietary tips:

-Cut back on sugar and yeast. Foods that contain high levels of these ingredients can encourage fungus growth that causes dandruff. Unfortunately, that includes beer and wine!

-Pack your diet full of B-vitamin, Omega 3 fatty acids, and zinc rich foods like egg yolks, fish, whole grains, bananas, avocados, nuts, seeds, flaxseed, and spinach. These nutrients help maintain healthy hair and skin and zinc is actually found in many anti-dandruff shampoos.

-Use a tea tree oil shampoo on your hair. This is a very popular natural product from Australia, and has been used as an antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal agent. This is the only anti-dandruff shampoo that has worked for me!

These are only a few tips that can help to restore your body to optimal health. Ayuvedic medicine is as vast as the Western model requiring years of study and knowlege. I hope to have simply provided an introduction to a wide range of help available.

Find out what your dosha is by visiting: http://www.ayurbalance.com/explore_articlethreedoshas.htm

Jane Arnold is a freelance writer and part-time beauty buff. You can get more health and beauty tips at her website at: http://www.girlyside.com/girlyside.html The website is a girl’s guide to health, beauty, love and leisure. Sign up for the free newsletter at http://www.girlyside.com/newsletter.html

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Most of us would privately agree that hair loss affects our psyche and self esteem intensely. The hair we have on our scalp - our crowning glory - is one of the most important features of our appearance and affects our overall ‘attractiveness quotient’.
It is absolutely devastating to our ego and self-worth when hair loss results in thinning or partial or total baldness.

Hair loss can become an obsession with anyone who suffers from the condition. These patterns have been identified on the The “Norwood scale” which classifies different types of hair loss. A research study recently found that most people showed extreme loss of self-esteem, ranging from vulnerability to jealousy.

A number of factors could lead to hair loss.

Diet: Eat right. A healthy diet can only improve your overall health. Include plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and small amounts of lean protein. A paramount cause of hair loss for women is hypochlorhydria. So, ask your doctor to test you for inadequate protein digestion brought on by low stomach acid.

Lack of Vitamins: Excessive hair loss can also be caused by deficiencies in folic acid and vitamin B12.

Iron Deficiency: Another common, but generally unrecognized, cause of hair loss is an iron deficiency, especially in pre-menopausal women. Dr. Wright, who publishes an excellent ezine, stresses that you can increase iron intake by adding dried fruits, fish, legumes, meat, molasses, potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, and whole-grain products to your diet.
(Unfortunately, iron does not help with male pattern baldness.)

DHEA: Many women past 50 find that when they raise their levels of DHEA back up to the range for a normal 30- or 40-year-old woman, it not only slows or stops hair loss, but it can actually help re-grow new hair. Noticeable diffuse thinning in women usually starts after menopause, when the production of the female hormone, estrogen, slows down dramatically or stops altogether.

Sunlight: Get out of the house! Sunlight provides you with vitamin D which the body greatly needs. So spend some time outdoors and reap the benefits of fresh air and sunshine. Your beautiful hair will soon mirror your health.

Dandruff: Among the more common factors concerning hairloss, there is the dreaded subject of dandruff. If you have an oily scalp, which is the real culprit behind most dandruff (not a dry scalp), a daily shampoo will help prevent dandruff. It should be a gentle, preferably herbal, shampoo. No strong chemicals.

Stress: Stress aggravates dandruff. It can either trigger it or exacerbate an already bad condition. A 5 minute daily meditation will do wonders for your overall health and hair.

Asian Formula for beautiful hair: Here is a routine used by many Indian women for glossy healthy hair. Mix 25% castor oil with 75% almond oil and gently massage for 10 minutes into your scalp weekly. It should first be warmed (place the container in hot water for 5 minutes), so that it is readily absorbed into the scalp. Leave on your scalp for 15 minutes to 30 minutes before shampooing out with a gentle natural shampoo. Follow with a final rinse with a vinegar and warm water solution (5% vinegar, 95% water), and then seal the hair, and remove the vinegar odour, with a cold rinse. Towel dry. Look in the mirror. You will love your beautiful shiny manageable hair.

Remember, natural remedies are always better than harsh chemicals, especially for your hair!

Jay Chatterjee, a Chartered Accountant and ex-Corporate Banker, lives in Canada.
Roshmi Raychaudhuri is a businesswoman residing in India. They have shared a longstanding and keen interest in the success of natural therapies. Their website http://www.youngagainforever.com contains important information on natural remedies for a wide range of different ailments, including over-weight, hair loss, vision improvement, arthritis, heart disease, teeth and gum care and many other topics.

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