The Ancient Ways of Preventing Hair Loss

The Ancient Ways of Preventing Hair Loss

From ancient times, many men have tried to come up with the perfect solution or total cure for hair loss. Since the dawn of civilization, there have been herbal remedies that were used to help grow back hair.

Ancient Egypt

There was a certain cure which required a spell to be recited to the sun god and then this ritual was followed by swallowing a mixture of alabaster, onions, honey, red lead, and iron.

Egyptians applied lettuce patches (from chopped lettuce leaves) to their bald spots. They have done this solely because lettuce was associated to the god of virility—Min. It has been believed that hair loss affects a man’s virility; hence, they had to appease the god directly in control of that attribute.

Ancient Egyptians have also used massage solutions that have fir tree extracts in them. They extracted the resin which was necessary for coming up with the preparation that would improve scalp condition.

Egyptians also resorted to castor oil to enhance hair growth. This oil was mixed with sweet almond oil so that it would be easier to apply; not to mention that it would become scented.

Hair extensions aren’t modern man’s creation—in fact, the Egyptians of old have used human hair or sheep’s wool to make hair extensions and wigs. These people believed that with these hair extensions, their hair would become thicker.

Indian Civilization

Ayurveda followers used boiled sage leaves in coconut oil to stimulate hair growth. This mixture can also improve the natural pigmentation of a person’s hair.

Fenugreek was also used to fight hair loss. Sometimes, its powdered form was combined with pepper and coconut milk to come up with a massage cream of some sort.

Amla oil (extracted from Indian Gooseberries) was also boiled in coconut oil. This solution was used as a hair tonic which was best at stimulating hair growth.

Americas (Victorian Period)

Cologne, tincture of cantharides and spirit of camphor were applied to the hairs’ roots each night.

Tincture of cantharides has other partners in curing hair loss: Jamaica rum, rosemary oil, distilled water, Sesgui-carbonate of ammonia, and glycerin.

Brushing the hair vigorously was also believed to stimulate hair growth; this is true with soft hairbrushes. Stiff hairbrushes, on the other hand, can make the hair soft and shiny.

Africa

Ancient Africans made scented hair tonics by mixing steeped flowers and olive oil.

Ancient China

The Chinese believe that acupuncture could help cure alopecia. The primary acupuncture points are G5, 7, 20, Du16, 19, Yi Ming, and St8. Acupuncture treatment is done once each week or the sessions could be increased—this all depends on the acupuncturist. A seven-star needle can also be used by the patient in tapping the bald spot.

Modern man might not be able to fathom the mystery behind all of the ancient rituals, potions, and mixtures that were produced by the ancient civilizations. These people believed in such cures and some of the herbs that they have then used are still in use today.

Modern-day herbal treatments and medicines still contain some of the herbs that have been proven to prevent hair loss for thousands of years. If thousands of years of usage are not enough to convince any patient of an eventual cure, what else will?