Dandruff
Dandruff causes an overly dry scalp, with itchy
white flakes that may be waxy or greasy. If the
condition is serious, there are signs of
inflammation along the hairline and the eyebrows, and
certain parts of the face and chest are also
affected. Even the most severe case does not
cause hair loss. Cradle cap, a very common
problem in infants, is a similar condition and
usually causes concern for the parents more than it
does the child.
A dry and scaly scalp is usually a sign of poor
circulation and not enough brushing of the hair.
The excessive use of drying shampoos for oily
hair also produces itching and scaling. The most
common cause of dandruff and cradle cap,
however, is a type of seborrhea, caused by an
irregular production of sebum, an oily substance
excreted by glands in the scalp. This mild type of
eczema is due to an imbalance of essential fatty
acids in the body. More rarely, dandruff is a sign
of a fungal infection or, if the knees, elbows and
lower back are also affected, consider psoriasis as
the probable cause.
Supplements and herbs
Supplementing the essential fatty acids is most
important, since these are usually lacking.
Evening primrose oil is a good source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), easily absorbed by the
body. B6 deficiencies also cause
dandruff. To prevent imbalances, the entire
B
complex should be included. In addition, vitamins A and E are important for
skin health. Silica is also recommended for improving skin and scalp health. It
is available in capsules from a vegetable source and in a liquid gel form.
Herbs provide many essential nutrients that
encourage healthy hair and scalp.
- Horsetail contains
zinc and silica, which are
essential for healthy hair and scalp. Take 10
drops of horsetail tincture in water or 1 tbsp. of
horsetail juice daily for two months at a time.
- Dissolve 2 tbsp. of bulk organic vegetal silica in 1 cup of water and add
mixture to your shampoo, or open 25 vegetal silica aqueous extract capsules and
dissolve in water.
- Rub stinging nettle root juice on scalp and
drink 10 drops of tincture in liquid.
- Rosemary has astringent, antiseptic and
circulation-stimulating properties. Rosemary is
indicated especially for psoriasis. Add 1 tbsp.
of herb to 1/2 cup of shampoo and use for
fourteen days to shampoo hair; rinse with stinging
nettle tea or burdock,
chaparral,
red clover or
yarrow tea.
- Aloe vera is also excellent for shampooing the
hair: rub the fresh gel from a leaf into the
scalp, lather and rinse hair with clear water.
Since aloe vera dries out the skin, massage
scalp with a herbal oil such as burdock or
rosemary after drying the hair.
- To stimulate circulation, disinfect and loosen
dandruff, use birch leaves, gentian and oils of
St. John's wort,
calamus and lavender.
- Add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil into a mild
shampoo or rub a few diluted drops of oil
directly into scalp to unblock hair follicles and
help heal the scalp.
What else you can do
- Do not scratch the scalp.
- Brush scalp to loosen scales before
shampooing. If you wash the hair daily, use small
amounts of baby shampoo. Harsh shampoos
cause the sebaceous glands to overcompensate
by producing more oil than necessary.
- Exercise daily in the open air. The increased
circulation will bring vital nutrients to the
scalp and fresh oxygen will discourage fungal
growth.
- Hair-dryers will dry out the scalp, producing
itching and scaling.
- Wash the hair once a week with a
sulphurbased soap.
- Avoid hair products that contain alcohol,
which dries out the scalp.
- The onion, high in sulphur is an old, effective
country remedy. Cut in half and rub on scalp.
How much to take
- Evening primrose oil, two 500 mg capsules
three times daily
- Vitamin B complex, 50 mg twice daily with
meals
- Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate,
50 mg twice daily
- Vitamin A, 10,000 IU (avoid during pregnancy)
- Vitamin E, with mixed tocopherols,
400 IU
- Silica, 1,000 mg, two 500 mg capsules daily
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