Cayenne pepper to the rescue

Many men and some women suffer from hair loss.  We think we look more attractive with hair, so many of us who are “follicle challenged” have tried various ways to stem the tide.

You may know of the prescription drug Rogaine ®, but did your doctor ever tell you about cayenne pepper?

Actually, cayenne has been used in Asia for centuries to help men and women keep and grow healthy locks, and it’s simple to do.

You can buy powdered cayenne pepper in bulk at most health food stores.    Just mix the powder in water (preferably purified) and rub the mixture onto your scalp.  Then, leave it there for 15-20 minutes.

Afterwards, wash your scalp – and your hands – thoroughly.  That cayenne feels hot so if it’s not washed away and you touch your hands to your mouth or your eyes, they are going to burn.  It’s not dangerous, it’s not unhealthy, but it does hurt.

How about rosemary?
To encourage hair growth, mix 4 to 6 drops of rosemary oil in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and gently massage it into your scalp.  For a deepening effect, cover your hair with a shower cap and wrap a hot, wet towel around your head.  Leave it on for 30 minutes, then shampoo.

Eat more iron
According to Cleveleland Clinic researchers, low iron intake may lead to male-pattern baldness.

They reviewed 11 studies on the relatiopnship between iron levels and balding and determined that treating men for iron-deficiency may help regrow hair.

“Cells use iron to turn food into energy, and it takes a lot of energy to grow hair,” say the study authors.  Therefore, if iron levels dip, thinning hair can result.

If you’re losing your locks, ask your doctor for an iron test.  If you score below 41 nanograms per milliliter, eat more clams, oysters, chicken liver, etc.

Warning: Iron pills are risky because megadoses can cause iron damage. Iron supplements may be fatal for adults when taken in doses of 200-250 mg/kg.  Iron poisoning may also occur in children who take adult supplements even at low doses.  The upper limit of safety for iron established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine is approximately 45 mg daily for adults.  So, you don’t want too much or too little.

Iron sources from food…

Food Iron (mg)
Clams, 3.5 oz, steamed             22.0
Oysters, 3.5 oz cooked              8.5
Chicken liver, 3.5 oz cooked       8.5
Pumpkin seeds, 1/2 cup             8.5
Tofu, 1/2 cup                             6.7
Beef liver, 3.5 oz cooked             6.3
Oysters, 3.5 oz raw                    5.4
Pistachios, 1/2 cup                    4.4
Blackstrap molasses, 2 Tbl.        3.6
Beef roast, 3.5 oz cooked          3.5
Ground beef, 3 oz, cooked          2.2
Lamb, 3.5 oz cooked                  2.2
Unsweetened chocolate, 1 oz     1.8
Raisins, 1/2 cup                         1.75
Pinto beans, 1/2 cup canned       1.75
Sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup            1.7
Pumpkin, 1/2 cup cooked           1.7

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