Dosage Recommendations:
*Optional
Beta-Sitosterol
Take 500 Milligrams per day, either in the form of 250 tablets/capsules twice a day or 150 to 175 Milligram tablet/capsules three times per day. This is mandatory--if you take nothing else, take this!
Saw Palmetto (seronoa repens) *
Saw palmetto is available in either standardized extract or the whole herb. Either one will work fine, although personally I use the whole herb. It is important to take this morning and night, as you do not want to allow DHT any chance to form in your body. If you use the whole herb, take three in the morning and three at night before retiring to bed. The extract form is always more expensive and does not come in economical quantities. If you can find an economical size of 240 or 360 capsule counts (whole herb) you can save yourself some money. Typically concentrated extracts come in 30 to 60 capsule counts; they are more potent per capsule, but still not as kind to your wallet.
Saw Palmetto & Pygeum Combination *
It is preferable to use saw palmetto along with pygeum, other than pygeum alone. Saw Palmetto used alone is adequate in itself, although it doesn’t hurt to be taking pygeum along with it. Pygeum and saw palmetto combinations are easily found in health food stores, but not usually elsewhere. Again, using pygeum along with saw palmetto is optional and it will increase the cost of supplementation. If you’re going to take pygeum by itself, use a brand of pygeum that contains a lipophilic extract standardized to 13% total sterols (typically calculated as beta-sitosterol). The recommended dose is 50-100 mg two times per day.
Fo-ti (root), also called Ho-Shou-Wu *
Fo-ti root is always found in whole form (non-extract) only and is quite inexpensive. Take three capsules morning and night along with your anti-androgen of choice.
Progesterone Cream
Make certain that you buy a recommended brand from your local health food store. Pharmacology preparations are not recommended. Some brands may not work, and others may work better for different users. One brand that I personally recommend is from Source Naturals, called Natural Progesterone cream, which is mostly derived from soybeans as the source of USP Progesterone cream. If you are a women, apply about a ½ teaspoon of the cream to soft areas of the skin, which should supply 20 mg of progesterone. Apply this morning and evening. Progesterone cream is not be used everyday, as it's very important to use as a cycle basis. Consult your doctor for proper usage. If you are a male, apply just an 1/8th of a teaspoon on the testes. Use for 19 to 20 days, then take a week break, then continue use, repeat the cycle.
Phytoestrogens, Soy (Soy Isoflavones) or Plant Estrogens *
Phytoestrogens are found in soy supplement preparations (soy isoflavones), phytoestrogen formulas, and natural hormone replacement therapy formulas.
These products have been quite popular in the last few years, and are widely available in supermarkets, drug and health food stores. Use products as directed on label.
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) *
MSM is found just about everywhere. Its growing popularity for joint flexibility and arthritis relief has stirred demand; it’s available at supermarkets, drug and health food stores. Take one gram (1000 mgs) in the morning and evening. If available, use a formula that also contains Glucosamine sulfate and bromelain.
Bovine Colostrum *
This "first milk" from a mother cow is a very potent powerhouse of pro-immunity substances. This ability to regulate immune system response, while providing a host of nutrients in perfect combinations is excellent for hair health and re-growth. Taking bovine colostrum is vital for immunological hair loss conditions. Colostrum boosts levels of human growth hormone, which has been shown to reverse graying hair and stimulate follicle growth.
Make sure to avoid brands that offer colostrum in "convenient forms," like chocolate, wafers, or lozenges. Take two or more grams (1000 mg per gram) per day, preferably one gram in the morning and one at night.
GHR-15 (Growth Hormone Releaser) *
Will allow your pituitary gland to secrete healthy amounts of human growth hormone. GHR-15 contains a blend of specific amounts of amino acids, phytosterol, hypothalamus and soy phosphatides. See Bovine Colostrum for more information on human growth hormone.
Use as directed on label.
Essential Fatty Acids (Omega-3 & Omega-6) *
Flaxseed oil is the best way to begin supplementing your diet with EFAs. However, Flaxseed oil contains an improper ratio of omega-3 and omega-6, about four times the omega-3 than the omega-6. The proper ratio for human health is 3:1 omega-6 to omega-3 intake. That isn’t a problem however as body tissues are normally so deprived of omega-3 type fatty acids that flaxseed oil will bridge the deficiency gap rather well. About after a year, it is recommended to switch to a more balanced supplement, using the proper ratio of 3:1 (triple the Omega-6 to Omega-3). Hemp seed oil contains that perfect ratio and is available for purchase via mail order or at a health food store. Following a year of flaxseed oil intake, hemp seed oil should be used thereafter. If Hemp seed oil is not available, look for a brand or product that contains a blended or balanced oil formula.
Flaxseed oil comes in a refrigerated, opaque container to protect it from light and heat. I recommend at least two tablespoons consumption a day. If you take more than that, you may experience some weight loss (increases metabolic rate), if overweight. Essential fatty acids are not stored as fat, but used as energy, repair, and body function. If you prefer a supplement, you can purchase flaxseed or hemp seed oil capsules.
Oxygenated Serum (dermal amino acid and plant sterol complex) *
One such brand name product is Folliderm by Nature’s Plus. Use as directed.
Apple-Cider-Vinegar & Cayenne (capsicum) *
This simple mixture of apple-cider-vinegar and cayenne pepper is a topical circulation aid that you can prepare yourself. You may add ginger (from ginger capsules for additional comfort and effect). Apply this mixture directly to your scalp. The apple-cider-vinegar acts as a solution, the cayenne pepper as a stimulant and ruberfacient (increases blood flow to the surface of the skin). Be very careful too not to let this get into your eyes. As I mentioned in chapter 6, (Polysorbates & Scalp Cleansers), this combination is much like a milder version of pepper spray. It will dilate your capillaries to a blood red. Your scalp will feel a tingling sensation (if ginger is used) or like a mild sunburn if the ginger is not added. Leave this astringent mixture on for five minutes or more rinse off after use. If you feel that your scalp has poor circulation, you may use this as often as you like, although I think of it primarily as a good way to jump-start the process of renewal.
How to prepare:
Mix one 12-ounce bottle of apple-cider-vinegar with three tablespoons of cayenne pepper (capsicum). If using other than condiment style cayenne pepper, like the capsules, then beware of the heat units contained. Cayenne supplements are offered in 40,000 to 200,000 heat units. Use the same three tablespoons worth if the cayenne capsules read 40,000 heat units on the label. If using 100,000 heat units capsicum, then reduce the amount of cayenne to the mixture by one half. If using 200,000 heat units, reduce the amount by a quarter. The amount of ginger to add (optional) can be from one tablespoon or more of ginger powder. Ginger will add to the tingling sensation and help reduce the heat from the capsicum while aiding circulation.
L-Arginine (amino acid supplement) *
Recommended dosage is taking one and a half grams in the morning and at night. Taking over three grams will encourage growth hormone production. The nitric oxide that this amino acid helps your body produce will allow for better blood flow and circulation (for improved uptake of nutrients into scalp capillaries).
Gingko Biloba *
Like the amino acid L-Arginine, the herb Gingko Biloba will help improve circulation and your body’s production of nitric oxide from within. Use as directed on label.
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) *
This is the natural way to stop chronic inflammation of the hair follicle. SOD helps with the breakdown of the superoxide free radical, which affects your copper stores (needed to make collagen-elastin, vital for healthy hair) and help maintain healthy nitric oxide levels. Superoxide can be expensive using the correct dosages. To normalize levels of superoxide in your body, the dosage is 30,000 I.U. (International Units) roughly equivalent of 3 Million SOD’s. The best way to acquire these levels is by way of a transdermal cream. This is not widely available in stores as of this writing, therefore a search will have to be conducted to find one via the internet. An alternative to an S.O.D. cream that can be found locally is by using a brand of S.O.D. capsules called Cell Guard by Bio-Tech (an anti-oxidant formula with wheat grass and barley green). If you use a non-green food based SOD supplement, make sure you buy a product that is either buffered or enteric coated, otherwise it may be destroyed before it reaches your small intestine. Whole food formulations, like Bio-Tech’s Cell Guard anti-oxidant formula do not require the SOD to be enteric-coated. Extracted versions of SOD are listed in international units (I.U.) these must be enteric-coated.