Historic Hair Loss Remedies

Hair Loss Treatments Articles : Historic Hair Loss Remedies

From the beginning of time, man has struggled to come up with a cure for hair loss. Here's a look at some of the lotions and potions designed to grow hair.

Ancient Egypt

• To stimulate hair growth, the Egyptians applied chopped lettuce patches to bald spots. Lettuce was associated with Min, the Egyptian god of virility.
• Another hair growth formula included a scalp massage preparation made from Fir Tree extracts. The Egyptians extracted the resin, or made an infusion from the needles, then massaged it into their scalps.
• The Egyptians also used Castor Oil to encourage hair growth. They mixed it with Sweet Almond Oil to improve the aroma and make the oil smoother and easier to spread.
• The Ancient Egyptians believed that thick hair was best and often improved on their own growth with hair extensions and wigs made from human hair or sheep's wool.

Sub-Sahara Africa

• Ancient Africans steeped flowers in Olive Oil to make fragrant hair tonics.
• They also relied on the astringent properties of Avocado leaves to make infusions that were ideal for treating scalp problems.

India

• To stimulate hair growth and natural pigmentation, followers of Ayurveda boiled sage leaves in coconut oil and applied the blackened residue to the hair and scalps.
• Fenugreek was used to combat hair loss. Indians mixed coconut milk with a pinch of black pepper and Fenugreek powder.
• Amla Oil (made from Indian Gooseberries) boiled in coconut oil was also used as a hair tonic to stimulate growth.

The Amazon

• In the rainforests of South America, the Taiwano Indians treated scalp problems with heated extract of banana.

Victorian America

• Hair loss was treated by applying a mixture of cologne, spirit of camphor and tincture of cantharides to hair roots each night. Another preventative measure called for mixing tincture of cantharides with Jamaica Rum, Glycerine, Sesqui-Carbonate of Ammonia, Rosemary Oil and Distilled Water.
• Vigorous brushing was the most prescribed hair care treatment. Using a stiff brush was supposed to keep the hair soft and shiny, while a soft brush was believed to stimulate hair growth.

Source: http://hairloss.about.com/od/hairlosscuresandcons/a/Remedies.htm