Hair Loss & Severe Hair Thinning (of the hair shaft) In An Elderly Woman

[Guest guest]

I'm throwing this out to all who may have some ideas about this. It's in

regard to my mother who's 86 years old. A bit of background first...

 

My mom grew up during the Depression in a very poor large city family without

much in the way of good nutrition till she was in her late teens. She was a

twin & didn't learn to walk till she was 3 & even when young, she had poor

bones, breaking an arm from simply falling hard. But after she married, she

lived on a farm with lots of good unprocessed home-grown foods - milk, meats,

vegetables & fruits were all home grown. She had a full head of thick healthy

hair when younger too.

 

But after menopause, her hair started thinning & each hair, instead of being

thick & shiny like before, looked more like that fine wavy hair one sometimes

sees in newborns. Her hair is so thin now that her scalp is easily seen, no

matter how she styles it. Even if one is elderly, they still wish to look

nice & this troubles her. Her diet is still pretty good - lots of lightly

cooked vegetables (more than even I eat & I love veggies), sufficient

protein, whole grain products & little sweets & hardly no junk food. She also

takes supplements (a good range of B complex vitamins, salmon oil capsules, &

various mineral & vitamin mixes - she doesn't overdo it either) & doesn't

take much medication unlike many elderly people - some replacement thyroid

hormone & a med to increase her bone density (it's working well).

 

I know from a TCM view-point, she doesn't eat all the foods good for her as

she loves chicken but I'm not sure it suits her. (Her make-up, at least when

she was young, is similar to mine & I need to make sure I don't overdo yang

foods.) But her health, other than osteoporosis which I would've expected

with her early life, is quite good for her age. Until a couple of years back

when she lived in a house, not apartment like now, she gardened almost every

day & was active.

 

There's no way I can convince her, at her age & with her set ways, to see a

TCM doctor or change her diet which she feels is good. But from a TCM point

of view, is there any thing that describes this sort of hair loss & thinning

of individual hairs in elderly women? I've lots of elderly friends whose hair

is even thicker (when it turned grey) than when they were young & have a full

thick head of hair. My mom's is fine, wispy & so thin.

 

It seems that her hair loss & thinning fits into that caused by androgen

production (though I'm no expert). I've read of DHT (dihydrotestosterone)

blockers & heard that saw palmetto is a potent one. Does anyone know how

effective this may be for my mom? I was thinking she might take it orally & I

could also prepare a tincture for her to apply daily to her scalp. Any

thoughts about this, please? And sorry that this isn't strictly TCM but

perhaps any light shed on this from a TCM point may also help me help her.

 

Thank you in advance & sorry for the long post.

Judy

[Guest guest]

I'm just an amateur, but I do recall reading in a health book that one

function of the liver is to inactivate excess hormones. So I guess

one can take things to help the liver or, as you suggest, something

that works more directly (saw palmetto). I am a fan of getting to the

root of things, but when someone is real old, maybe there's no time to

use slow, natural cures.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you very much for answering. Since this is hardly a life threatening

problem, slow cures would be best any way. My mom used to be on a few more

meds & she does take acetaminophen more than I'd like her too (but not

excessively) so I got her on milk thistle to help her liver stay strong to

metabolize any drugs & not harm her liver. When she had blood tests recently,

her creat & BUN plus electrolytes & liver enzymes were all excellent.

 

Her doctor has said for a woman her age, she's strong & in remarkably good

health. Her main problem is a lifetime of anxiety & nerves. My mom worries

over nothing & can make a mountain out of something that's not even a

molehill. I know her well & understand she doesn't try to purposely act this

way & doesn't try to manipulate her children but I've never seen such an

anxious person as she is. I truly believe her anxiety contributes to her many

pains as when she was busy in her garden, she forgot all pains or problems.

 

I don't know if her anxiety may contribute to her hair loss in an indirect way

either. TCM is very complicated. When I see my TCM doctor this Friday, I'll

ask him. His English isn't the best but I hope I can get him to understand my

question & conversely understand what he says.

 

Judy

 

On Tuesday 24 June 2008 2:32:35 pm Mrs. Barley wrote:

> I'm just an amateur, but I do recall reading in a health book that one

> function of the liver is to inactivate excess hormones. So I guess

> one can take things to help the liver or, as you suggest, something

> that works more directly (saw palmetto). I am a fan of getting to the

> root of things, but when someone is real old, maybe there's no time to

> use slow, natural cures.

[Guest guest]

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 1:57 PM, Judy Wilkins <isomorphix wrote:

 

> But after menopause, her hair started thinning & each hair, instead of

> being

> thick & shiny like before, looked more like that fine wavy hair one

> sometimes

> sees in newborns. Her hair is so thin now that her scalp is easily seen, no

>

> matter how she styles it. Even if one is elderly, they still wish to look

> nice & this troubles her.

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would look at this as a natural by-product of living as long as she has.

My mom's hair is the same way and I just consider it a blessing that she's

still around to complain about it.

 

If however, she'd like something herbal to *perhaps* help, I would at least

determine if she's got a predominately yin deficient constitution or a yang

deficient constitution, or perhaps a blood deficient constitution. I don't

know that any herbs are going to get her growing dark luxurious hair, but

giving her something to do about it might help her at least feel like she's

doing something.

 

KPC has these little honey balls that I had a chance to sample recently. I

thought that they were pretty good, kind of tasty. They'd be good for her

too. She could just chew on a few throughout the day. I'm probably going to

order some tonics just for myself. Not sure that you can get any without a

practitioner, you can contact me off-list if you're interested.

 

Of course the single herb He Shou Wu is known for doing what I'm talking

about too. So if you can track some of that down, you might be barking up

the right tree. That herb is likely widely available online.

 

--

, DAOM

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

" blacken the hair " tea. if i can find my book of medicinal teas, ill

scan it for you.

 

 

 

 

Al Stone wrote:

> On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 1:57 PM, Judy Wilkins <isomorphix wrote:

>

>

>> But after menopause, her hair started thinning & each hair, instead of

>> being

>> thick & shiny like before, looked more like that fine wavy hair one

>> sometimes

>> sees in newborns. Her hair is so thin now that her scalp is easily seen, no

>>

>> matter how she styles it. Even if one is elderly, they still wish to look

>> nice & this troubles her.

>>

>>

>

>

>

>

I would look at this as a natural by-product of living as long as she has.

> My mom's hair is the same way and I just consider it a blessing that she's

> still around to complain about it.

>

> If however, she'd like something herbal to *perhaps* help, I would at least

> determine if she's got a predominately yin deficient constitution or a yang

> deficient constitution, or perhaps a blood deficient constitution. I don't

> know that any herbs are going to get her growing dark luxurious hair, but

> giving her something to do about it might help her at least feel like she's

> doing something.

>

> KPC has these little honey balls that I had a chance to sample recently. I

> thought that they were pretty good, kind of tasty. They'd be good for her

> too. She could just chew on a few throughout the day. I'm probably going to

> order some tonics just for myself. Not sure that you can get any without a

> practitioner, you can contact me off-list if you're interested.

>

> Of course the single herb He Shou Wu is known for doing what I'm talking

> about too. So if you can track some of that down, you might be barking up

> the right tree. That herb is likely widely available online.

>

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Al. Yeah, I know - she's lived this long in relatively good health so

thin hair's not a big deal. But I know a few others older than my mom & I

can't believe how thick their hair is!! Age isn't a reason to have thin hair

without something being not quite right, even if it's not serious. Especially

as she had thick hair at one time.

 

Okay, what does KPC stand for? Ive not a clue though I guess I could type in

acronyms & those letters in Google & see. But I think it may not show what

you mean. So what's in the honey balls - besides honey, I mean?

 

Will look up more about He Shou Wu tomorrow. Getting pretty sleepy right now &

ready to go to bed. I will contact you off-list if I need to. Thanks for the

offer, it's very kind of you.

 

Judy

 

On Tuesday 24 June 2008 9:09:20 pm Al Stone wrote:

> I would look at this as a natural by-product of living as long as she has.

> My mom's hair is the same way and I just consider it a blessing that she's

> still around to complain about it.

>

> If however, she'd like something herbal to *perhaps* help, I would at least

> determine if she's got a predominately yin deficient constitution or a yang

> deficient constitution, or perhaps a blood deficient constitution. I don't

> know that any herbs are going to get her growing dark luxurious hair, but

> giving her something to do about it might help her at least feel like she's

> doing something.

>

> KPC has these little honey balls that I had a chance to sample recently. I

> thought that they were pretty good, kind of tasty. They'd be good for her

> too. She could just chew on a few throughout the day. I'm probably going to

> order some tonics just for myself. Not sure that you can get any without a

> practitioner, you can contact me off-list if you're interested.

>

> Of course the single herb He Shou Wu is known for doing what I'm talking

> about too. So if you can track some of that down, you might be barking up

> the right tree. That herb is likely widely available online.

[Guest guest]

Blacken the hair tea even if it's not dark hair she's after but just thicker?

 

Funny that my mom's hair's so thin. I remember my grandma, till she died at

80, she still had a full head of thick hair & most of it was still quite dark

too! I'm 58 & my hair's still thick, grows fast & is very dark except for 2

grey streaks just above my temples (which I hate & dye - hate the look of

that Elvira, mistress of the dark).

 

Judy

 

On Tuesday 24 June 2008 9:21:01 pm Mercurius Trismegistus wrote:

> " blacken the hair " tea. if i can find my book of medicinal teas, ill

> scan it for you.

[Guest guest]

Forgot to mention, Al. I'm pretty good at being able to tell with people I

know well & am around enough whether they have a yin or yang deficient state.

But my mom is hard to figure. She has some really strong signs of both. Does

that make sense?

 

She's almost always cold & tired (yin deficient) but easily excited & upset.

Tends to have too loose stools, gets angry easily, big appetite still (which

I think is more signs of yang, if I'm right). I dislike cold drinks or cold

foods but she seems to crave them too. The nearest TCM doctor (the one I go

to) is an hour drive away. My mom can't sit in a car for that long without

pain or needing to pee. And she finds it agony to lay on her back or to lay

still (unless she's asleep, then she's fairly still). Her memory is terrible

now too - no signs of dementia though. I did get her to agree to have a

seniors assessment at a medical centre in her town to check her mental

abilities & check for Alzheimer's since she's fearful of that.

 

I wish I could get her to my doctor but she's unbelievably stubborn. Sometimes

I feel like throwing my hands in the air, wondering why I try. But she's done

so much for me during my life & she has a good heart, even if she's stubborn.

Older people sometimes become very set in their ways & at their age, it's not

reasonable for us to think they'll change.

 

Judy

 

On Tuesday 24 June 2008 9:09:20 pm Al Stone wrote:

> If however, she'd like something herbal to *perhaps* help, I would at least

> determine if she's got a predominately yin deficient constitution or a yang

> deficient constitution, or perhaps a blood deficient constitution. I don't

> know that any herbs are going to get her growing dark luxurious hair, but

> giving her something to do about it might help her at least feel like she's

[Guest guest]

thats just the name of the tea. in chinese medicine, the hair is a

manifestation of essence. this tea strengthens the essence. (kidney

essence, which is the foundational energy of the body.)

this energy wanes with age.

 

 

 

Judy Wilkins wrote:

> Blacken the hair tea even if it's not dark hair she's after but just thicker?

>

> Funny that my mom's hair's so thin. I remember my grandma, till she died at

> 80, she still had a full head of thick hair & most of it was still quite dark

> too! I'm 58 & my hair's still thick, grows fast & is very dark except for 2

> grey streaks just above my temples (which I hate & dye - hate the look of

> that Elvira, mistress of the dark).

>

> Judy

>

> On Tuesday 24 June 2008 9:21:01 pm Mercurius Trismegistus wrote:

>

>> " blacken the hair " tea. if i can find my book of medicinal teas, ill

>> scan it for you.

>>

>

> ---

>

> Post message address: Chinese Traditional Medicine

> http://health.Chinese Traditional Medicine/

[Guest guest]

Yes, thank you now. I understand. She certainly seems to have a deficiency

with Kidney Yin. She eats a fair amount of yang foods too & not enough yin

foods. If you can find a Chinese name for it or what's in it, I'd appreciate

it.

 

thanks again.

Judy

 

On Tuesday 24 June 2008 10:27:56 pm Mercurius Trismegistus wrote:

> thats just the name of the tea. in chinese medicine, the hair is a

> manifestation of essence. this tea strengthens the essence. (kidney

> essence, which is the foundational energy of the body.)

> this energy wanes with age.

[Guest guest]

Funny you should bring this up...I am currently praying for hair

regrowth. Recently, I began taking a medicine called Topamax. After 2

months of taking a fairly low dose, I noticed my hair was falling out

by the root (I always look because I am a bleach blond so I look to

see if it fell out or broke off) Anyhow, I thought I remembered seeing

Alopecia as a side effect somewhere. Imagine my horror when I googled

" topamax and hair loss " , and I found a bazillion nearly bald people.

I have since quit taking it and it is growing back in, however, I am

still losing a little and some seem to be thinner pieces like you

described.

 

During my investigation into this crazy hairloss thing...I remember

reading about many different medications that cause your hair to fall

out and thin. Among them was thyroid medicine. (I also remember

reading that hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism actually causes your

hair to fall out).

 

What a couple dermatologists said about my medicine was that it is

usually related to too strong of a dose and that stopping the meds and

using a little minoxidil, will help to regrow your hair. I am not

sure how true that is becuase I was on the same meds 4 years ago at a

little higher dose- and I didn't lose any hair at all.

 

I've not used the minoxadil but I did stop taking the meds and it

seems to be filling in. Some of the other drugs I read about are

zoloft, effexor, antihistimines, topamax and neurontin. That's all

that I can recall right now.

 

You might want to google your mothers meds and hair loss just to see

if anyone in particular causes it. Some of the people on the forums I

was reading suggested that it was from some sort of vitamin

deficiency. (They recommended taking prenatal vitamins). Some said

they noticed their hair become very brittle and dry. I'm not sure

about any of that but you can bet I started taking my vitamins again.

(When I took the topamax 4 years ago, I had just had a baby- so I am

pretty sure I was still taking prenatal vitamins. That's the only

difference I can remember)

 

I hope this helps and you can get a handle on it.

 

 

 

 

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Judy Wilkins <isomorphix

wrote:

>

> I'm throwing this out to all who may have some ideas about this.

It's in

> regard to my mother who's 86 years old. A bit of background first...

>

[Guest guest]

You won't be able to attach a scan to your email if you want it to be

distributed here. But you can type the content into an email if it is short

enough.

 

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 9:21 PM, Mercurius Trismegistus <

magisterium_magnum wrote:

 

> " blacken the hair " tea. if i can find my book of medicinal teas, ill

> scan it for you.

>

>

--

, DAOM

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.