codetomake.com

Herbs for Hair Loss: Do They Work?

2025.07.31 04:02



Skip to main content Home Conditions Back Conditions View All ADD/ADHD Allergies Arthritis Atrial fibrillation Breast Cancer Cancer Crohn s Disease Depression Diabetes DVT Eczema Eye Health Heart Disease HIV & AIDS Lung Disease Lupus Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Migraine Pain Management Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Sexual Conditions Skin Problems Sleep Disorders Ulcerative Colitis View All Drugs & Supplements Back Drugs & Supplements Drugs Supplements Pill Identifier Interaction Checker Pet Medications Well-Being Back Well-Being Aging Well Baby Birth Control Children s Health Diet & Weight Management Fitness & Exercise Food & Recipes Health & Balance Healthy Beauty Men s Health Parenting Pet Health Pregnancy Sex & Relationships Teen Health Women s Health Symptom Checker Find a Doctor More Back More News Blogs Podcasts Webinars Newsletters WebMD Surveys WebMD Magazine Best Hospitals Support Groups Privacy & More Subscribe Log In Subscribe Skin Problems and Treatments Hair Loss Reference

Can Herbs Help With Hair Growth?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors Medically Reviewed by Stephanie S. Gardner, MD on July 09, 2023 What Causes Hair Loss or Thinning? Do Herbs Help With Hair Loss? How to Use Herbs for Hair Growth Other Ways to Treat Hair Loss Considerations for Herbal Hair Treatments 4 min read

Hair loss itself doesn’t make you sick, but it can be upsetting and affect your mental health and self-esteem. Research suggests that some herbs might help with hair growth.

What Causes Hair Loss or Thinning?

Hair grows in stages. The first stage is active growing (anagen), which involves about 90% of your hair. The second stage, called catagen, is when your hair starts to die. The final stage, called telogen, is the resting phase when your hair sheds. These two stages each affect about 5% to 10% of your hair. ‌

Your hair normally sheds 50 to 100 hairs per day. Shedding more than this amount, having a widening part, or having patches of no hair are all signs of hair loss. ‌

There are many reasons why you might lose your hair. It may be a symptom of another condition or a side effect of a treatment. Sometimes, it’s directly caused by a hair condition. Some causes of hair loss include:

Severe and prolonged underactive or overactive thyroid Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes patchy hair loss Female or male-pattern hair loss, or hereditary hair thinning Not enough iron Malnutrition Weight loss Tinea capitis, a fungal infection in your hair follicle that causes hair loss Trichtotillomania, an impulse-control disorder that causes you to pull your hair out Trichorrhexis nodosa, or hair loss caused by tight hairstyles or harsh hair chemicals Treatments like chemotherapy, tamoxifen, and allopurinol Toxins like gold, bismuth, arsenic Hormone changes like in postpartum hair loss After a surgery After a high fever High stress levels 

Do Herbs Help With Hair Loss?

Herbs have been used for a long time in many different beauty and hair care routines. Some evidence shows that certain herbs can help with hair growth through a few different ways.

‌

Horsetail. Known as Equisetum arvense , horsetail is rich in silica. Silica penetrates your hair follicle and the hair matrix where cells grow and build your hair follicle, which makes your hair thicker . Having more silica content in your hair may help lessen hair loss. ‌

Red clover . Male- and female-pattern hair loss is influenced partly by inflammation and hormones, including a form of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone. ‌

One study showed that red clover ( Trifolium pratense ) blocks an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, and helps lower inflammation, which can help hair grow. ‌

Another study showed that a cream made of red clover and peptides, or short chains of amino acids, helped hair growth through blocking the 5-alpha reductase enzyme and lowering inflammation. ‌

Stinging nettle. There aren’t a lot of quality studies on stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica , for hair growth, but one study showed that taking this herbal extract increased dermal papilla cell growth. These cells are part of the hair follicle and regulate hair growth.

Another study showed that stinging nettle is rich in a plant chemical called beta-sitosterol, which raises growth factors that stimulate hair growth. ‌

Some herbs like stinging nettle are rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin A and iron, which are beneficial for your skin and hair. This herb might be helpful as a food or dried herb for people who have malnutrition or other vitamin deficiencies.

How to Use Herbs for Hair Growth

Using herbs as a topical hair treatment might be a safe way to use them. Using a herbal cream, serum, or hair mask on your scalp along with a massage can help stimulate your hair follicles and hair growth. ‌

Herbs are not safe for everyone. Some herbs can interact with medications and other health conditions, and some shouldn’t be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Taking certain supplements can actually worsen hair loss, too.

If you are thinking about taking herbal extracts or supplements, talk to your doctor and a trained professional herbal practitioner first.

Other Ways to Treat Hair Loss

There are other ways to treat hair loss or thinning hair. These can include:

Changing your hair products Towel drying or air drying your hair Using a flat iron on low heat no more than every other day Wearing loose hairstyles Avoiding cornrows, braids, and hair extensions Medications for hair growth Medications for the immune system Medications for hormones ‌

Eating a healthy diet might also help your hair. Research shows that the Mediterranean diet and diets high in protein and soy might be helpful alongside other treatments for alopecia .

Considerations for Herbal Hair Treatments

Sometimes your hair can show signs of changes in your hormones and nutrition. Some studies show that herbs might help by affecting your hair follicles and enzymes, but more research is needed. Your doctor can help you decide if herbal hair treatments are safe for you.

Sources Update History Share Print

SOURCES:

American Academy of Dermatology Association: “Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?” “Hair loss: Tips for managing.”

American Family Physician : “Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment.”

Archives of Dermatological Research : “Herbal preparations for the treatment of hair loss.”

Dermatologic Therapy : “5-Alpha reductase inhibitors in androgenetic alopecia: Shifting paradigms, current concepts, comparative efficacy, and safety.”

Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery : “Herbal cosmetics in ancient India.”

International Journal of Food Science : “Mineral Properties and Dietary Value of Raw and Processed Stinging Nettle ( Urtica dioica L.).”

Journal of Cosmetic Science : “A new strategy to modulate alopecia using a combination of two specific and unique ingredients.”

Medical Archives : “Proprietary Herbal Extract Downregulates the Gene Expression of IL-1α in HaCaT Cells: Possible Implications Against Nonscarring Alopecia.”

Skin Appendage Disorders : “The Role of Diet as an Adjuvant Treatment in Scarring and Nonscarring Alopecia.”

View privacy policy, copyright and trust info Share Print View privacy policy, copyright and trust info

More on Hair Loss

Understanding Hair Loss: The Basics

Tips to Care for Thinning Hair

Diet For Healthy Hair and Growth

Recommended

FEATURED

Top doctors in ,

Find more top doctors on

Related Links

Hair Loss News Hair Loss Reference Hair Loss Slideshows Hair Loss Quiz WebMDRx Savings Card Hair Loss Effluviums Hair Transplant Infectious Agents Scalp Problems Scarring Alopecia Skin Problems Hair Loss Reference Find a Dermatologist More Related Topics

Policies

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Editorial Policy Advertising Policy Correction Policy Terms of Use

About

Contact Us Careers Newsletter WebMD App Corporate Site Map

For Advertisers

Advertise with Us Market Research

© 2005 - 2025 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company. All rights reserved. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.