The following is not typed by me as I am only forwarding the information to you to get feedback.
I do nonetheless find it very interesting. There are some sites to back up the followin data but I don’t want to make this too long.
NOTE : This thread has turned into discussion of many things , especially low dose naltrexone, insulin resistance and other novel theories! It has gotten quite long!
Lets try to keep it on topic regarding LDN, insulin and elastase/elastin so it doesnt get to confusing. The original post below was just an obversation, but I was basically advocating the use of Low dose naltrexone to halt/fix MPB which it seems to have for me along with my Fibromyalgia pains.
Hello,
…I was using avodart with significant success, which was maintained. I stopped avodart due to cost in mid 2004.
My hair declined a little but not horribly.
Now this is very very interesting… I also suffer from fibromyalgia and CFS. I am seeing expert doctor etc etc and I am very up to date on the latest findings and research.
Many have found that elastase inhibitors seem to stop/remiss CFS and fibromyalgia , in short elastase has been found to cleave the antiviral system called RnaseL in these chronic diseases and elastase inhibitors can stop the cleavage and remiss the disease state.
I have been using the following for my illness, and in the process, my hair has grown incredibly! I didnt link anything up until i relalized some correlations!
- minoxidil is an elastase inhibitor if you didnt know
- elastin is involved in keeping the hair or loosing it
- elastase degrades elastin
- most of the effective topical remidies that are not DHT inhibitors are elastase inhibitors (ie: emu oil)
So my regimine for my illness, and hair loss / regrowth is this :
low dose naltrexone (www.lowdosenaltrexone.org) - this will take awile to explain but basically it boosts endorphins and the immune system and it frikin works and is cheap. Ask questions or goto the yahoo group. it STOPS multiple sclerosis and cancers etc. There was a worldwide conference in NYC eariler in the month and one of the presentors of the compuding pharmacies noted that several people are using it for “alopecia”. This is when i started researching.
So i use LDN, but i also am using several elastase inhibitors, such as rosemary extract, butchers broom, green tea, and beta lactum antibiotics, all proven elastase inhibiors, systmatically, and lo and behold no more androgentic alopecia!
I propose that the theory of DHT directly causing androgentic alopecia is false. DHT only comes in AFTER elastase degrades the hair connection/tip/follicle. Or alternatively, DHT is increased due to elastase. Stress will bring more elastase, and 5 alpha reductase. Remember that DHT, 5ALPHA is also related to modulation of GABA! So stress really does contribute to hair loss, as does DHT, but elastase is the key element that we are missing.
I suggest elastase inhibitors as a possible treatment for alopecia…
JL