Horsetail/BioSil (silica) warning

Supplements for hair loss
1

Hey guys. I tried horsetail a few months ago after reading that it may be effective for stopping hair loss. It’s in some of the multi-vits for hair. I also read that Biosil may be better, so I switched to that after about a month on horsetail. Soon after, I started developing red itchy spots in different areas of my body: arms, side of head, and around ankles. Somewhat like eczema, although I’ve never had eczema. I immediately stopped the silica supplementation. It has been 2 months since stopping and the rash has finally disappeared. I don’t know what else could have caused this.

I also did some research and found a side effect of horsetail is dermatitis. This happens because horsetail lowers vitamin B (Thiamine) levels. Perhaps if taken along with a B-Complex vit it would be ok, but I’m not taking that risk. Just a heads up to be careful.

2

» Hey guys. I tried horsetail a few months ago after reading that it may be
» effective for stopping hair loss. It’s in some of the multi-vits for hair.
» I also read that Biosil may be better, so I switched to that after about a
» month on horsetail. Soon after, I started developing red itchy spots in
» different areas of my body: arms, side of head, and around ankles.
» Somewhat like eczema, although I’ve never had eczema. I immediately
» stopped the silica supplementation. It has been 2 months since stopping
» and the rash has finally disappeared. I don’t know what else could have
» caused this.
»
» I also did some research and found a side effect of horsetail is
» dermatitis. This happens because horsetail lowers vitamin B (Thiamine)
» levels. Perhaps if taken along with a B-Complex vit it would be ok, but
» I’m not taking that risk. Just a heads up to be careful.

i once had terrible itching , and was taking niacin. Didnt know why so i increased my vitamins, and niacin. this worsened it dramatically, niacin is a vasodilator and flushed my skin red i thought i was going to throw up and was very nauseous,

you are not taking maxi hair or any hair vitamin?

3

Thiamine deficiency does not cause dermatitis. It usually causes neural problems, memory loss and heart problems. The vitamin deficiency that is associated with dermatitis is Niacin deficiency.

» Hey guys. I tried horsetail a few months ago after reading that it may be
» effective for stopping hair loss. It’s in some of the multi-vits for hair.
» I also read that Biosil may be better, so I switched to that after about a
» month on horsetail. Soon after, I started developing red itchy spots in
» different areas of my body: arms, side of head, and around ankles.
» Somewhat like eczema, although I’ve never had eczema. I immediately
» stopped the silica supplementation. It has been 2 months since stopping
» and the rash has finally disappeared. I don’t know what else could have
» caused this.
»
» I also did some research and found a side effect of horsetail is
» dermatitis. This happens because horsetail lowers vitamin B (Thiamine)
» levels. Perhaps if taken along with a B-Complex vit it would be ok, but
» I’m not taking that risk. Just a heads up to be careful.

4

» Thiamine deficiency does not cause dermatitis. It usually causes neural
» problems, memory loss and heart problems. The vitamin deficiency that is
» associated with dermatitis is Niacin deficiency.

Niacin is also a B Vitamin in the Maxi hair
that is why i was wondering if he is on any hair vitamin

5

» Thiamine deficiency does not cause dermatitis. It usually causes neural
» problems, memory loss and heart problems. The vitamin deficiency that is
» associated with dermatitis is Niacin deficiency.

Ok, perhaps it depletes more than one B Vitamin. The point is to use caution, there are serious side effects:

“Horsetail contains an ingredient that destroys thiamine (vitamin B1), which could lead to deficiency with long-term use. This may cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system, including confusion, difficulty walking, difficulties with vision and eye movement, and memory loss. People who have thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency or poor nutrition should avoid horsetail, as it may affect levels of thiamine even more. Alcoholic or malnourished individuals are often thiamine deficient and this may be worsened by horsetail.”
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-horsetail.html

“Seborrhoeic dermatitis induced by nicotine of horsetails”
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0536.1985.tb02548.x

6

» i once had terrible itching , and was taking niacin. Didnt know why so i
» increased my vitamins, and niacin. this worsened it dramatically, niacin is
» a vasodilator and flushed my skin red i thought i was going to throw up and
» was very nauseous,
»
» you are not taking maxi hair or any hair vitamin?

I am familiar with the Niacin “flush”. This was different. I was basically breaking out in itchy red patches that did not go away. I had to apply steroid cream to control it. I ditched the bio-sil and got on a B-complex supplement. It slowly got better over the period of about a month. It is now completely gone. I can’t say for sure if it was the horsetail or biosil, but those were the only things that were changed in my diet.

I’m not on a hair multi-vitamin. In retrospect, I see the advantage as it would keep things balanced.

7

» » i once had terrible itching , and was taking niacin. Didnt know why so i
» » increased my vitamins, and niacin. this worsened it dramatically, niacin
» is
» » a vasodilator and flushed my skin red i thought i was going to throw up
» and
» » was very nauseous,
» »
» » you are not taking maxi hair or any hair vitamin?
»
» I am familiar with the Niacin “flush”. This was different. I was
» basically breaking out in itchy red patches that did not go away. I had to
» apply steroid cream to control it. I ditched the bio-sil and got on a
» B-complex supplement. It slowly got better over the period of about a
» month. It is now completely gone. I can’t say for sure if it was the
» horsetail or biosil, but those were the only things that were changed in my
» diet.
»
» I’m not on a hair multi-vitamin. In retrospect, I see the advantage as it
» would keep things balanced.

multi hair vitamin has so many benefits i cannot begin to list them
I have been on them for 20 yrs, without them even if i am taking great dht blockers, my hair deteriorates quickly
if you have not tried them you should…2000mcg timed released biotin does wonders for your hair strength and speed of growth, etc

anyone on the board who has gotten on the maxi hair has reported back positive results

8

Yes. The most important cause is alcoholism. So persons taking alcohol should keep away from horsetail or at least take thiamine supplements along with it.

» » Thiamine deficiency does not cause dermatitis. It usually causes neural
» » problems, memory loss and heart problems. The vitamin deficiency that
» is
» » associated with dermatitis is Niacin deficiency.
»
» Ok, perhaps it depletes more than one B Vitamin. The point is to use
» caution, there are serious side effects:
»
» “Horsetail contains an ingredient that destroys thiamine (vitamin B1),
» which could lead to deficiency with long-term use. This may cause permanent
» damage to the brain and nervous system, including confusion, difficulty
» walking, difficulties with vision and eye movement, and memory loss. People
» who have thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency or poor nutrition should avoid
» horsetail, as it may affect levels of thiamine even more. Alcoholic or
» malnourished individuals are often thiamine deficient and this may be
» worsened by horsetail.”
» http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-horsetail.html
»
» “Seborrhoeic dermatitis induced by nicotine of horsetails”
» http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0536.1985.tb02548.x

9

» » Thiamine deficiency does not cause dermatitis. It usually causes neural
» » problems, memory loss and heart problems. The vitamin deficiency that
» is
» » associated with dermatitis is Niacin deficiency.
»
» Ok, perhaps it depletes more than one B Vitamin. The point is to use
» caution, there are serious side effects:
»
» “Horsetail contains an ingredient that destroys thiamine (vitamin B1),
» which could lead to deficiency with long-term use. This may cause permanent
» damage to the brain and nervous system, including confusion, difficulty
» walking, difficulties with vision and eye movement, and memory loss. People
» who have thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency or poor nutrition should avoid
» horsetail, as it may affect levels of thiamine even more. Alcoholic or
» malnourished individuals are often thiamine deficient and this may be
» worsened by horsetail.”
» http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-horsetail.html
»
» “Seborrhoeic dermatitis induced by nicotine of horsetails”
» http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0536.1985.tb02548.x

Bio-Sil is not horsetail.

And if I read about time-released biotin one more time…(ALL of Maxi-Hair is time-released…the niacin in it, being time-released, is not exactly a good thing. See previous posts on that)

10

» » » Thiamine deficiency does not cause dermatitis. It usually causes
» neural
» » » problems, memory loss and heart problems. The vitamin deficiency that
» » is
» » » associated with dermatitis is Niacin deficiency.
» »
» » Ok, perhaps it depletes more than one B Vitamin. The point is to use
» » caution, there are serious side effects:
» »
» » “Horsetail contains an ingredient that destroys thiamine (vitamin B1),
» » which could lead to deficiency with long-term use. This may cause
» permanent
» » damage to the brain and nervous system, including confusion, difficulty
» » walking, difficulties with vision and eye movement, and memory loss.
» People
» » who have thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency or poor nutrition should
» avoid
» » horsetail, as it may affect levels of thiamine even more. Alcoholic or
» » malnourished individuals are often thiamine deficient and this may be
» » worsened by horsetail.”
» »
» http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-horsetail.html
» »
» » “Seborrhoeic dermatitis induced by nicotine of horsetails”
» »
» http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0536.1985.tb02548.x
»
» Bio-Sil is not horsetail.
»
» And if I read about time-released biotin one more time…(ALL of
» Maxi-Hair is time-released…the niacin in it, being time-released, is not
» exactly a good thing. See previous posts on that)

what would you rather do , release all the niacin at once? and stress your heart and blood vessels? or gradually release it?

the first time you take a large amount of non timed release niacin all at once u will understand what i mean

makes you flush red, nauseous, pricky skin…from the vasodilating properties

11

» »
» » And if I read about time-released biotin one more time…(ALL of
» » Maxi-Hair is time-released…the niacin in it, being time-released, is
» not
» » exactly a good thing. See previous posts on that)
»
» what would you rather do , release all the niacin at once? and stress your
» heart and blood vessels? or gradually release it?
»
» the first time you take a large amount of non timed release niacin all at
» once u will understand what i mean
»
» makes you flush red, nauseous, pricky skin…from the vasodilating
» properties

First of all…there is no-flush niacin out there. But this isn’t about that. You should know this, since it’s been brought up numerous times.

"Niacin is available in time-release tablets, and these products have less flushing reaction. These products release niacin slowly throughout the intestinal tract, which still presents the liver with a large niacin load. Simple, time-released niacin products have been associated with elevated liver enzymes in some users.

The niacin used in Schiff Flush Free Niacin is Inositol Hexanicotinate, a different kind of time-release niacin. Inositol hexanicotinate is absorbed by the body, and inside of tissues, enzymes normally present in all cells slowly release niacin from the inositol. This allows niacin from inositol hexanicotinate to avoid flushing and provide what the cells really want - niacin in the right place at the right time in the right amounts.

Niacinamide, another form of Vitamin B3 commonly used in dietary supplements and found in foods, does not cause flushing at any dose, but also does not have the cardiovascular health effects that niacin has. Niacin is involved in numerous reactions inside of cells that convert food into cellular energy. Niacin helps operate enzymes that transport and break down fats, carbohydrates, proteins and other molecules formed from food. A normal function of niacin is to help remove fats (triglycerides) from tissues and the bloodstream."

"Yet, because of the flush, some people have turned to time-released niacin. Yet I have also heard reports describing problems arising from this time-released niacin.

DURK: Yes. There were a few reports in medical journals; for example, one in JAMA reported on a few cases - I’m not sure about the exact number, but it was very small - where the subjects had elevated liver enzymes with time-released niacin. However, when they replaced the time-released niacin with regular niacin, the enzyme problems went away. Then when they returned to the time-released niacin, the liver problems returned. It was quite clear something was going on. Unless people have found out what the mechanism is or are willing to be tested over a period of time when they switch from regular niacin to the time-released niacin, they’re taking the chance of elevating their enzyme levels. We have no idea how many people could be affected by this type of problem."

"Some B vitamins have narrow absorption windows, so a time release pill might release them in the wrong place and they won’t get absorbed.

Once B vitamins get coenzymated, they stick around in the body for a long time so there’s no need to steadily dribble them into the system. I just take them in one dose like I would a fat-soluble vitamin.

We also know that the liver prefers to get niacin in an isolated chunk. Time release niacin is more toxic"

Now do you remember? :lookaround:

BTW…that “narrow absorption window” is another issue brought up before…for other nutrients as well.

12

» Bio-Sil is not horsetail.
»
I didn’t mean to imply that. I was merely trying a silica supplement and switched from horsetail to biosil as it is more bio-available. I don’t know for sure what caused my reaction, but it did not occur until I started biosil.