Recently there has been a serious emphasis on biological or alternative solutions because of the not so pleasant side effects of pharmaceutical prescription drugs. It is well known that meditation can have a positive effect on our overall well-being, but can this type of therapy aid in the treatment of hair loss?
Some say it definitely can, but how?
Meditation has been around for hundreds of years and has evolved into a structured practice that men and women use every day. It is well documented that meditation is effective in reducing high blood pressure and strengthening the heart, as well as reducing stress and possibly cholesterol levels. But how can it help in hair growth at the same time?
Although there have been no direct scientific studies on the effect of meditation and hair growth to date, we can take a look at the various scientific studies and see how it could potentially be beneficial for one’s locks.
In 1978 research by R. Jevning, AF, Wilson, and JM Davidson demonstrated that plasma cortisol decreased significantly for long-term practitioners of meditation and that plasma cortisol was even higher in beginner practitioners. A slight decline has also been observed.
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Cortisol assists in a range of metabolic functions. Cortisol levels are able to fluctuate during the day, with afternoon amounts typically about half that of mornings. High levels of cortisol can be triggered by a disease such as Cushing’s disease, or Addison’s disease. Elevated levels can also be a barometer of stress. Stressful events can increase cortisol levels in the blood for an extended period of time.
Stress has long been known to be a factor in hair loss. The burden of hair loss: stress and the underestimated psychosocial impact of telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia can be found in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2004). This article lists several studies that show that stress actually has a negative effect on hair growth.
Furthermore, stress can also lead to insomnia, poor eating habits and disorders as well as contribute to a tendency to partake in unhealthy habits like cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, which are not only harmful to your general health But, can also affect the health of your hair, skin and nails.
The effects of meditation on hair health don’t stop with stress.
In a study published in the Journal of the Israeli Medical Association, researchers noted a significant drop in total cholesterol in individuals who practiced meditation.
The researchers selected 23 patients, all with high cholesterol; All participants were of comparable age, body weight, dietary choices, and physical exercise routines. Twelve patients were trained in meditation, and they did it for 11 months; The other eleven were control subjects who did not meditate. The meditation group displayed a significant reduction in cholesterol levels, from an average of 255 to 225; No significant reduction was observed in the control group.
An independent analysis by the same researchers showed a comparable reduction, as well as lowering elevated cholesterol readings within the average range.
But how exactly does it help with hair fall?
Recent research has shown that excessive cholesterol and androgenic hair loss may be correlated, although the exact reasons are unclear.
Clinical findings imply that most men affected by high cholesterol also suffer from androgenetic alopecia. Beginning in 1982, studies conducted on nearly twenty-two thousand volunteers over 11 years clearly show that men with hair loss also have a higher risk of heart attack. Further research only made this finding more robust in both men and women but additional research is still in progress to validate this particular hypothesis.
Another way of interpreting this finding is that people who currently have a genetic predisposition to hair loss may find that an increase in cholesterol will result in an increase in the production of ‘androgen’, which is a hormone. This in turn will increase the production of a hormone called DHT which causes hair loss.
Another school of thought is that DHT causes an increase in cholesterol. This may also be the reason why women suffer less from hair loss or heart conditions, despite producing about 20 times less androgen hormones than men.
Cholesterol is believed to mix with sebum and cause it to build up, obstructing hair follicles and affecting hair growth, causing the hair shaft to decrease in dimension at each successive growth stage .
Although more research is needed, meditation may help with hair loss. So, why not take some time out of your busy, stressful day to lower your cholesterol and your stress.
This will not only improve your overall health, but your hair as well.
Source by Donna Moss
