HONEYBEE HIVE SEALANT PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH IN MICE

Hair loss can be devastating for the millions of men and women who experience it. Now scientists are reporting that a substance from honeybee hives might contain clues for developing a potential new therapy. They found that the material, called propolis, encouraged hair growth in mice. The study appears in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Ken Kobayashi and colleagues note that propolis is a resin-like material that honeybees use to seal small gaps in their hives. Not only does it work as a physical barrier, but it also contains active compounds that fight fungal and bacterial invasions. People from ancient times had noticed propolis' special properties and used it to treat tumors, inflammation and wounds. More recently, research has shown that the substance promotes the growth of certain cells involved in hair growth though no one had yet tested whether that in turn would result in new locks. Kobayashi's team wanted to find out.

When the researchers tested propolis on mice that had been shaved or waxed, the mice that received the treatment regrew their fur faster than those that didn't. The scientists also noticed that after the topical application, the number of special cells involved in the process of growing hair increased. Although they tried the material on mice that could grow fur rather than balding mice, the researchers note that hair loss conditions often result from abnormal inflammation. Propolis contains anti-inflammatory compounds, so they expect it could help treat balding conditions.

They add that further testing is needed to see if the beehive material affects human hair follicles.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR HAIR LOSS AND BALDNESS

Hair loss can affect just your scalp or your entire body. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or medications. Anyone — men, women and children — can experience hair loss.

Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness. Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the treatments available to prevent further hair loss and to restore growth.

Causes--Most people normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. This usually doesn't cause noticeable thinning of scalp hair because new hair is growing in at the same time. Hair loss occurs when this cycle of hair growth and shedding is disrupted or when the hair follicle is destroyed and replaced with scar tissue.

The exact cause of hair loss may not be fully understood, but it's usually related to one or more of the following factors:

·         Family history (heredity)

·         Hormonal changes

·         Medical conditions

·         Medications

Family history (heredity)

The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually and in predictable patterns — a receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning hair in women.

Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair, the rate of hair loss and the extent of baldness. Pattern baldness is most common in men and can begin as early as puberty. This type of hair loss may involve both hair thinning and miniaturization (hair becomes soft, fine and short).

Hormonal changes and medical conditions

A variety of conditions can cause hair loss, including:

Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes and imbalances can cause temporary hair loss. This could be due to pregnancy, childbirth or the onset of menopause. Hormone levels are also affected by the thyroid gland, so thyroid problems may cause hair loss.

Patchy hair loss. This type of nonscarring hair loss is called alopecia areata (al-o-PEE-she-uh ar-e-A-tuh). It occurs when the body's immune system attacks hair follicles — causing sudden hair loss that leaves smooth, roundish bald patches on the skin.

Scalp infections. Infections, such as ringworm, can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to scaly patches and hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back.

Other skin disorders. Diseases that cause scarring alopecia may result in permanent loss at the scarred areas. These conditions include lichen planus, some types of lupus and sarcoidosis.

Hair-pulling disorder. This condition, also called trichotillomania , causes people to have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair, whether it's from the scalp, the eyebrows or other areas of the body.

Medications

Hair loss can be caused by drugs used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, high blood pressure and birth control. Intake of too much vitamin A may cause hair loss as well.

Other causes of hair loss

Hair loss can also result from:

Radiation therapy to the head. The hair may not grow back the same as it was before.

A trigger event. Many people experience a general thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. This type of hair loss is temporary. Examples of trigger events include sudden or excessive weight loss, a high fever, surgery, or a death in the family.

Certain hairstyles and treatments. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair tight, such as pigtails or cornrows, can cause traction alopecia. Hot oil hair treatments and permanents can cause inflammation of hair follicles that leads to hair loss. If scarring occurs, hair loss could be permanent.

Symptoms-Hair loss can appear in many different ways, depending on what's causing it. It can come on suddenly or gradually and affect just your scalp or your whole body. Some types of hair loss are temporary, and others are permanent.

Signs and symptoms of hair loss may include:

Gradual thinning on top of head. This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting both men and women as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede from the forehead in a line that resembles the letter M. Women typically retain the hairline on the forehead but have a broadening of the part in their hair.

Circular or patchy bald spots. Some people experience smooth, coin-sized bald spots. This type of hair loss usually affects just the scalp, but it sometimes also occurs in beards or eyebrows. In some cases, your skin may become itchy or painful before the hair falls out.

Sudden loosening of hair. A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or even after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.

Full-body hair loss. Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair usually grows back.

Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp. This is a sign of ringworm. It may be accompanied by broken hair, redness, swelling and, at times, oozing.

Risk factors--A number of factors can increase your risk of hair loss, including:

·         Family history

·         Age

·         Poor nutrition

·         Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and lupus

·         Stress

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathic remedies are very effective for baldness and that can promote hair growth. Some of the main remedies are given below.

BARYTA CARBONICA 30-Baldness in young people.  The patients requiring this medicine are very timid and dull in nature and have very poor memory. The patients of baldness who have a history of throat complaints like tonsilitis (from suppression of foot sweat or from exposure to cold air) can be given this medicine.

FLUORIC ACID 30- Baldness of old age or prematurely aged due to syphilis . Falling of hair in patches

SULPHUR 200- Sulphur is  another remedy  that can be prescribed to those patients suffering from baldness who are extremely hot blooded and complain of excessive heat in body especially in the head, palms and soles. Another symptom that guides towards the use of sulphur in baldness cases is that the patient requiring this medicine have an aversion to bathing and are generally filthy – thus inviting plenty of long standing skin diseases. The patients requiring Sulphur show extra craving for sweets in food.

LYOPODIUM CLAVATUM 200-Lycopodium clavatum, is also an excellent medicine used to treat baldness cases occurring prematurely and can be given to those patients who complain of some sort of gastric trouble like flatulence, constipation or liver problems along with baldness. The patients requiring Lycopodiumclavatum usually crave hot drinks, hot food and sweet things

MANCINELLA 200- Baldness after severe acute diseases  or at the scar of healed wound

SILICEA 200-Silicea, is mainly given to those patients who suffer from baldness and complain of pain in head usually at the right side along with hair loss. The patients requiring this medicine are very sensitive to cold air and usually have very offensive sweat on the feet. Mentally the patients requiring this medicine are very headstrong and obstinate in nature

PSORINUM 200-Psorinum is highly useful in treating the hair loss that has occurred due to eczematous skin lesions on scalp that discharge sticky and very offensive fluid. These kinds of discharges make the hair to stick together, which further leads to the hair getting tangled and ultimately destroyed. The patient requiring Psorinum feels excessive chill and desires to be warmly covered even in summers

NITIC ACID 30- Falling of pubic hair due to syphilis or gonorrhoea

MEZEREUM 30- Mezereum, is equally good for treating hair loss in cases where the hair is destroyed due to eczematous skin lesions of scalp. The patients requiring Mezereum will complain of thick crusty eruptions on scalp, along with a discharge of thick offensive pus resulting in matting of hair, breeding of vermin in them and eventually the eating away of the hair by discharges leading to hair loss. 

MERCURIOUS SOL 30-Mercurius Solubilis is yet another homeopathic medicine which plays a wonderful role in treating the hair loss due to eruptions on scalp where the discharge from eruptions is fetid and accompanied by burning type of pains in scalp. This medicine can be employed in those patients in whom profuse perspiration is present along with excessive salivation from mouth and an increased thirst for water.

SELENIUM MET 30- Falling of pubic hair

THUJA OCCI 200- Falling of hair due to dandruff. Here  the dandruff is white in color

KALI SULPHURICUM 30- It is also used for falling of hair due to dandruff. But here the dandruff is yellow in colour

KALI CARB 30- Falling of hair due to dryness of scalp and dandruff

NATRUM MURIATICUM 200-Hair loss after child birth.Natrummuriaticum can be given to those women who suffer from anemia and hair loss on even a slight touch of the hair, along with severe headache after the delivery of a child. The women requiring this medicine complain that the headache is worse in the heat of sun. The patient may show an inordinate craving for salty things..

PHOSPHORIC ACID 30-Phosphoric acid is prescribed when falling of hair occurs after an exhausting disease . Hair falls out from head, eye brows , eyelashes etc.

PULSATILLA NIG. 30-Pulsatilla can be used by those women who suffer from excessive hair fall after delivery. The guiding factor for recommending this medicine is a complete absence of thirst for water and desire for fresh open air. The mental symptoms that are to be considered for its use are weeping tendencies on the slightest cause, and relief when someone gives consolation. Another marked symptom that guides its use in women suffering from hair loss is that such women cannot digest fatty foods

SEPIA 200-Hair loss in the menopausal period.. The women requiring this medicine for hair fall have a history of long standing headaches. The women complaining of hot flushes followed by chills and perspiration and bearing down pains in the uterus at menopause along with hair loss can be given this medicine. The mental symptoms that significantly indicate the usage of this medicine by women suffering from hair loss at menopause are irritability of the utmost degree and indifferent behavior towards family members.

BORAX 30- Hair loss in anemic patients.Borax can be given to those patients who complain of hair loss and are anemic. A frequent complain in such cases is that the hair is very thin and gets stuck together and form bunches, thereby making it difficult for them to be untangled and combed smooth  and they are to be cut off. But as soon as these bunches are cut another group of bunches form.

CINCHONA OFF.30-off.Cinchona officinalis can be given to those patients in whom hair loss is accompanied with anemia. People who suffer from hair loss due to Loss of blood in any form like bleeding from nose or excessive bleeding during menstruation or loss of blood after an injury due to accident leading to anemia can be given this medicine. The patients requiring this medicine usually complain of a weak digestion along with excessive flatulence. 

CALCAREA PHOS 30--Clacareaphosphorica is a useful  medicine that can be used to treat hair loss in anemic patients – usually in anemic girls who grow too rapidly at puberty and suffer from hair loss and extreme headache along with acidity in stomach.

FERRUM PHOS 30- Hair falls from the head due to anemia

FLUORICUM ACIDUM 30-Fluoricumacidum is mainly used for hair loss in spots in a person of hot temperament, who is worse in any warm environment and constantly desires cold environment . Hair loss in bunches occurring during typhoid fever can be treated with this medicine.

PHOSPHORUS 30-Hair loss during typhoid fever.The symptoms that guides towards its usage are patches of hair loss on scalp along with unusual craving for salty things, chicken, cold drinks and ice creams. The patients requiring Phosphorus are tall, thin and slender in physical appearance.

CALCAREA CARBONICA 30- Calcreacarbonica is a great homeopathic remedy for hair loss .It can be prescribed to patients in whom the hair is lost in well defined patches, and constitutionally who are fair, fat and flabby in built. The other symptoms that stand out dominant to use this medicine are excessive chilliness with intolerance to slight draft of air, excessive perspiration on the scalp and unusual craving for boiled eggs.

VINCA MINOR 30-Vinca minor can be used for the hair loss in spots whereby the white coloured hair grows back in the spots of hair loss.

PIX LIQUIDA 30- Baldness due to diseases of the scalp. Scalp itches intolerably and bleeds on scratching

SANICULA AQUA  200- Baldness which is chronic due to dandruffs and lots of itching

THALLIUM 30-Thallium is effective for falling of hair after an acute , exhausting disease . It is prescribed when alopecia with profuse perspiration on the head is present. It is also useful loss of hair as an after effect of an atom bomb explosion.

WEISBADEN 200- By the use of this remedy the hair will grow more rapidly than usual and becomes darker . New hair take place of the fallen hair rapidly

ACTIVATING HAIR GROWTH BY MODIFYING IMMUNE CELLS

How to restore hair loss is a task not undertaken exclusively by beauty practitioners. The discovery, now published by a group from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), reveals a novel angle to spur hair follicle growth. This also adds new knowledge to a broader problem: how to regenerate tissues in an adult organism, especially the skin.

 The group has discovered an unexpected connection--a link between the body's defense system and skin regeneration. According to the authors of the study published today in PLOS Biology, cells from the immune system called macrophages-- those in charge of devouring invading pathogens, for example--are also responsible for activating skin stem cells and induce hair growth.

The regenerative ability of stem cells allows skin replenishment during a lifetime. But different factors can reduce their regenerative properties or promote their uncontrolled growth. When things go wrong, this can lead to aging and disease, including skin carcinomas. The discovery that macrophages activate skin stem cells may also have further implications beyond the possibility to develop therapeutic approaches for hair loss, but may also be relevant for cancer research.

The authors of the study are Mirna Perez-Moreno and Donatello Castellana, from the Epithelial Cell Biology Group of the BBVA Foundation-CNIO Cancer Cell Biology Programme, along with Ralf Paus, a hair immunobiology expert from the University of Manchester and Münster.

"We have discovered that macrophages, cells whose main function is traditionally attributed to fight infections and wound repair, are also involved in the activation of hair follicle stem cells in non inflamed skin," says Perez-Moreno.

The researchers did not investigate the relationship between macrophages and hair for fun. This work emerged more than four years ago from an observation made by Perez-Moreno while working on another research project. The mice she had been working with at that time received anti-inflammatory drugs, a treatment that also reactivated hair growth. Convinced that the explanation could reside in the existence of close communication between stem cells and immune cells --the Perez-Moreno's lab began to experiment with the different types of cells involved in the body´s defense system.

After years of investigation, they discovered that when stem cells are dormant, a fraction of macrophages die, due to a process known as apoptosis. This stimulated the secretion of factors from dying and living macrophages, which in turn activated stem cells, and that is when hairs began to grow again.

Reproducing natural process

Macrophages secrete a number of factors including a class of proteins called Wnt.

Researchers demonstrated the participation of macrophage-derived Wnts by artificially reproducing the natural process by treating macrophages with a Wnt inhibitor drug encapsulated in liposomes. As expected, when they used this drug, the activation of hair growth was delayed.

Although this study has been completed in mice, the researchers believe their discovery "may facilitate the development of novel treatment strategies" for hair growth in humans.

The possibility of attacking one type of cell to affect another might have broader applications that go beyond "just" growing hair. Furthermore, the use of liposomes as a way of drug delivery to specific cells, is a very promising line of experimentation, which may have implications for the study of several pathologies, says Donatello Castellana.

From a more fundamental perspective, this research is an effort to understand how modifying the environment that surrounds adult skin stem cells can regulate their regenerative capabilities. "One of the current challenges in the stem cell field is to regulate the activation of endogenous stem cell pools in adult tissues to promote regeneration without the need of transplantation," says Perez-Moreno.

Biochemical dialogue

It is now known that macrophages are key cells involved in the biochemical dialogue that exists in the environment surrounding stem cells.

"Our study underlines the importance of macrophages as modulators in skin regenerative processes, going beyond their primary function as phagocytes [immune system cells]," say the authors in PLoS Biology.

The researcher´s next goal is to characterise the class of macrophage(s) that are involved in the activation of skin stem cells and their implications in the regulation of stem cells under pathological conditions, including skin carcinomas.

As Perez-Moreno explains, "macrophages are a very diverse cell population. It was only less that ten years ago that scientists discovered that besides from the bone marrow, macrophages originate from the yolk sac during pregnancy, and there are even other macrophages that proliferate within tissues. The diversity of the sources from which skin resident macrophages originate is not fully understood."

DRUG USED TO TREAT GLAUCOMA ACTUALLY GROWS HUMAN HAIR

If you're balding and want your hair to grow back, then here is some good news. A new research report appearing online in The FASEB Journalshows how the FDA-approved glaucoma drug, bimatoprost, causes human hair to regrow. It's been commercially available as a way to lengthen eyelashes, but these data are the first to show that it can actually grow human hair from the scalp

"We hope this study will lead to the development of a new therapy for balding which should improve the quality of life for many people with hair loss," said Valerie Randall, a researcher involved in the work from the University of Bradford, Bradford, UK. "Further research should increase our understanding of how hair follicles work and thereby allow new therapeutic approaches for many hair growth disorders."

To make this discovery, Randall and colleagues conducted three sets of experiments. Two involved human cells and the other involved mice. The tests on human cells involved using hair follicles growing in organ culture as well as those take directly from the human scalp. In both of these experiments, the scientists found that bimatoprost led to hair growth. The third set of experiments involved applying bimatoprost to the skin of bald spots on mice. As was the case with human cells, the drug caused hair to regrow.

"This discovery could be the long-awaited follow up to Viagra that middle-aged men have been waiting for," said Gerald Weissmann, MD, editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal. "Given that the drug is already approved for human use and its safety profile is generally understood, this looks like a promising discovery that has been right in front of our eyes the whole time. On to the front of our scalp!"

BEST HOME REMEDIES TO PREVENT PREMATURE GRAYING OF HAIR

You are in your mid 20s, but you already have white hair- then it can be a premature greying.

Greying of hair is a great concern for younger adults nowadays, especially women. Having grey or white hair can be embarrassing as it makes you look much older than you are.

There are many factors that affect greying- genetic, fluctuations, smoking, pollution, stress, etc.

The absence of the “melanin” (the pigment that gives hair its natural colour) in the hair causes grey hair. As you age, the melanocyte activity slows down and the body gradually stops producing melanin.

Chemicals found in hair products are harmful for hair in the long run. So avoid regular usage of hair dyes.

Also, deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals in the body can add to this problem. Eating a nutritious diet is vital for healthy hair.

Instead of going for those costly commercial and chemical-laden shampoos, you can use herbal ones.

Here are a few natural tips to prevent early greying of hair:

Indian Gooseberry: When it comes to hair problems including premature greying, Indian gooseberry, also called amla is one of the best home remedies for treating grey hair. Rich in vitamin C and anti-oxidants, it has anti-ageing benefits. Including amla in your diet will not only help keep your strands healthy, but prevent from greying.

You can also use amla paste on your scalp. Leave it for 15-20 minutes and wash your hair with normal water.

Curry leaves and Coconut oil: A perfect remedy for early greying of hair, including curry leaves in your diet will bring back lost pigment to your hair.

Boil a handful of fresh curry leaves in coconut oil for about 5-7 minutes. Strain the oil and allow it to cool down. Massage your scalp using this oil and leave it for half an hour or even overnight. Wash off the next morning.

Henna: Henna strengthens your stands while acting as a natural hair colorant. Make a paste of henna powder by adding some coffee powder in a bowl. You can add 1 tablespoon each of curd and lemon juice for better results. Let the mixture remain for 2-3 hours. Apply the paste on your scalp and leave it for 2-3 hours. Rinse with normal water and then shampoo your hair.

Lemon juice and Almond oil: Mix almond oil with lemon juice and apply it on hair using your fingertips. This will retard the process of greying of hair.

Black tea: Black tea is very effective for treating premature greying of hair. Simply boil tea leaves and cool it down. Strain the tea water and apply it on the scalp and leave it for an hour. Rinse with cold water without the use of shmpoo.

Useful tips: Using warm mustard or coconut oil, massage your scalp regularly to prevent premature greying.

Besides eating a healthy diet, drink lots of water to flush out toxins from the body. The toxins in the body can lead to many health problems including premature hair greying. Also, avoid junk food as overeating of fast food can contribute to hair loss as well as greying.