Natural Alternatives to Propecia – The Best Finasteride Substitutes

Hair loss goes hand in hand with aging when it comes to the inevitable, but there are instances when your locks begin to fall out even if your age is still on the calendar. For men, this is commonly known as male-pattern baldness. It can be due to a myriad of reasons, and there are products that have been created to address this problem.

Propecia (Finasteride) is among the said products that resolve male-pattern baldness. It does get the job done, however there are side effects associated with its use. The most common one is the loss of sexual desire, coupled by impotence and difficulty in reaching orgasm.

There are some alternatives to the drug that can be taken to promote hair growth. Do take note that each and every hair is different, so what might work on some might not work on you.

The information shared in this article is only for information purposes. Do not substitute this for actual advice from an expert. Always coordinate with a professional regarding your hair problems, and inquire about the given alternatives below to see what works for you:

#1 Propecia Alternative – Saw Palmetto

The main cause of hairloss is due to the hair follicles essentially being “killed” due to the hormone DHT. Some people are genetically more pre-disposed to this (hence why male pattern baldness tends to run in the family.) This is where propecia comes to the rescue. Propecia (Finasteride) is a prescription medication that causes the body to produce far less DHT which in turn results in hair loss being stopped at it’s source. The problem is there are a lot of side effects that come with using Finasteride, including some side effects that scare off a lot of patients to say the least.

That’s why Saw Palmetto extract is one of the best options as it’s believed to naturally decrease the effect of DHT on the hair follicles.  Additionally it’s been shown to increase hair growth in patients by a significant amount which you can reference here.

Since Saw Palmetto is natural and effective it’s easily the best option for someone looking to help stop their hairloss without resorting to drugs like propecia.

When it comes to Saw Palmetto don’t go with random manufacturers as you want to make sure you are getting enough active ingredients with your supplement.We recommend the following Saw Palmetto Extract which you can get at Amazon.com here.

Carrier and Essential Oils:

                A study published in November 1998 at the journal Archives of Dermatology split 86 patients with alopecia areata (spot baldness) into two groups. On a daily basis for seven months, the first group was given a massage of essential oils mixed with carrier oils, while the second group was massaged with only carrier oils. At the end of the duration, 19 patients in the first group reported significant improvements with their scalp, compared to only six patients in the second group.

The essential oils used in the study are cedarwood, lavender, rosemary and thyme. The carrier oils are grapeseed and jojoba. There are a couple of ways on how to utilize these (and other) oils for your hair problems:

• In a bowl, mix all of the essential and carrier oils mentioned above and gently massage it on your scalp. Do this for up to two minutes on a daily basis. You only need two drops of cedarwood and thyme, three drops of lavender and rosemary, a half teaspoon of jojoba, and four teaspoons of grapeseed.

• Combine six drops of bay essential oil and lavender with four ounces of sesame oil. Make sure that the sesame oil is warmed first before mixing with the other oils. Massage on scalp, let it sit for up to 20 minutes so it can be absorbed, then shampoo and rinse.

• For an overnight mix, combine 20 drops carrot essential oils and 10 drops rosemary essential oils with four ounces apple cider vinegar. Before using a tablespoon of the mix, dilute it first with an equal amount of ice-cold water. Massage on scalp before going to sleep, and wash it off first thing in the morning. Do this every night for optimum results.

• Simply add two drops of rosemary for each ounce of your favorite shampoo or conditioner. You can also boil dried leaves of rosemary in one quart of distilled water, let it steep for up to five hours, then transfer the liquid in a new container and refrigerate. Combine ¼ cup of the concoction with one cup liquid Castile soap.

Onion

A common resident in your kitchen can play a role in helping with hair loss. A study at The Journal of Dermatology in June 2002 did show promising results in restoring hair growth with the use of onion juice. Onion’s abundant sulfur content helps in enhancing blood circulation that gives your hair follicles their much needed nourishment. Aside from that, onion is also a known antibacterial, and it can eliminate whatever infections that may be plaguing your scalp and causing hair fall.

• Preparation is simple. Peel and chop the onions and use a blender or food processor to squeeze out the juice. Massage it on the scalp, with a focus on the bald patches, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse off the juice with some mild shampoo.

• Alternatively, you can mix a tablespoon of honey with ¼ cup of the juice. Massage as usual, but leave it on the scalp for 30 minutes instead of 15, or use a shower cap so you can let it stay on your hair overnight. Wash off afterwards. Do these procedures at least thrice a week, and be patient as onion works quite slowly. It may take a month or two before you notice improvements.

• Essential oils or lemon juice can be used while rinsing the hair to mask off the strong onion scent. Also, increasing your onion dietary intake can also be helpful for your hair, albeit much slowly than topical application.

Garlic

Another kitchen staple with a host of medical benefits when eaten, as proven by countless published studies. It also works wonders for hair loss. Topical application of garlic can help with treating the said problem thanks to its selenium and sulfur content, and this also ensures the growth of stronger hair. The vitamins and minerals present in garlic also improve the condition of hair.

• Extract garlic juice by peeling the cloves and crushing them. Eight cloves make a tablespoon. Mix it with a tablespoon of honey and massage on scalp. L
  et it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing off. Do not apply garlic directly on your scalp as it is too strong, it is always important to dilute it with other ingredients to avoid skin irritation.

• Coconut oil also works well with garlic juice. Mix a tablespoon of the juice with an equal amount of slightly warm coconut oil. Massage and wait for 20 minutes then rinse off.

• You might see a bottle of garlic essential oil for sale. Do not use it on your scalp as it is too potent. Instead, try this home-made recipe for garlic infused oil which can be used as a hair salve for hair growth:

• Chop garlic cloves into small pieces and toss it in warm olive oil on a container. Follow the ratio of one clove per olive oil tablespoon. Refrigerate the mixture for up to two weeks. After the duration, transfer the oil into a dark glass jar. Massage a tablespoon of it on your scalp, wait for 20 minutes, and then wash it off. Refrigerate the remaining oil to prevent it from spoiling.

Vitamins, Minerals, and Water

Aside from these natural alternatives, here are some things that you can try that may help with your hair loss problem:

• Drink plenty of water to maintain proper hydration, and this keeps your scalp from drying out. Washing your hair hydrates it from the outside, drinking enough water does this job from the inside. Water also helps transport needed vitamins to the roots of your hair. Do not rely on sodas or other sugary drinks for your hydration, as these do not really hydrate and are not good for your health.

Proper nourishment plays a vital role in keeping a healthy body, and yes that includes your hair as well. Make sure to ask your physician first regarding how much of these vitamins and minerals you need:

• Vitamin C keeps the blood vessels in the scalp healthy, and helps the body absorb iron from the food you eat. Bell peppers, papaya, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, pineapple, oranges, and strawberries are among the best food sources of this vitamin.

• Vitamin A is crucial when it comes to cell reproduction, and hair growth is among the processes that
  are affected by it. The vitamin is also an antioxidant that protects your body from the damage wrought by free radicals. Eat more dairy products, organ meats, dark orange or yellow fruits and vegetables, and dark leafy greens. Be careful though, as too much vitamin A can induce hair loss, but you can never have too much of it if you don’t take supplements.

• Perhaps one of the easiest vitamins to accumulate is vitamin D, as it pretty much only requires exposure to sunlight. Hair loss is attributed as one of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. For those who do not get much time under the sun, consume more tuna, beef liver, eggs, and milk, and take vitamin D supplements.

• Silica addresses the imbalance of hormones, resulting in better hair growth. It also assists in the
  delivery of nutrients needed by the hair. Carrots, oats, bamboo, almonds, mineral water, horsetail herb, coffee, and even beer are good sources of silica. Supplements are the better choice to meet daily requirements and to reap its complete benefits. Topical application of beer is another way to supply the scalp with silica. This is done by simply using the beer as a conditioner after shampooing, let it sit by covering with a towel for up to 30 minutes, then rinse off.

• If your hair is dull and falling out, then you may be deficient in zinc. Get a zinc test from your health store to see if you need more of the mineral. Food sources include pumpkin seeds, red meat, oysters,spinach, and cashews.

• Iron is a mineral that is needed for the production of hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen throughout the body. A deficiency in iron can cause a host of medical problems such as anemia, and it is also believed that hair loss is an indication that the body is lacking in the mineral. Maintaining proper iron levels can help minimize the instances of hair loss and promote its stronger growth.

• There are many food sources of iron, and the ones with the most content include seeds (squash, sesame, flax, sunflower), organ meat (chicken liver), seafood (clams, mussels, oysters), and nuts (cashew, hazelnut, almond, peanut, pine). If you happen to notice your hair falling out, have your ferritin levels checked to verify if you have sufficient iron in your body. This is crucial as you need to determine the right dosage, as too much iron can do more harm than good.

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Do you have other alternatives that worked for your hair? Have you used any of the ones mentioned above? Let us know in the comments.