Why and how does garlic work for shedding?

[anon123]

Assuming it does work, how or why would it? I mean, shedding is natural, right? That means your hair has reached the end of its life span and a new hair is growing out of the follicle. If your shedding is decreased, what does that mean? Does that slow down the hair growth? Speed it up? Extend the life span of your hair? Any thoughts on how something like this would work?

 

[myronnie]

lol we need to merge our threads or something
I've read that garlic helps to regenerate cells and is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral..i've tried searching for the mechanism by which garlic discourages shedding but to no avail..
i think it extends the life span of your hair..well all i know is that it works lol

 

[ItsyBitsy]

I'm not sure how or why it works but I started taking a garlic supplement about 2 months ago & my shedding has dramatically decreased.

 

[Irresistible]

I asked this a while back with no answers

I concluded that the only thing that might contribute to it causing less shedding is the sulfur content of it

 

[anon123]

for those who have noticed a decrease in the shedding, has your growth rate changed? i'm just having a hard time wrapping my brain around it.

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

I asked this a while back with no answers

I concluded that the only thing that might contribute to it causing less shedding is the sulfur content of it

That's what I was thinking....

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

for those who have noticed a decrease in the shedding, has your growth rate changed? i'm just having a hard time wrapping my brain around it.

Mine has... sort of. My growth spurts were usually during the summer but since I've started taking MSM I've had alot less shedding and my spurt started this fall. I've noticed less breakage too but I think that's in part to co-washing with WEN.

 

[KPH]

i don't what how or why but it works. I have a garlic shampoo and conditioner i found at marshall's and used it over the weekend for the first time on my hair and my daughter's because she was shed city and i promise you, she had less than 5 hairs in the comb and I had around 3. I am gonna stock up on this stuff after i'm done with the no buy for the rest of the year challenge.

 

[MonPetite]

This DOES work. Stopped shedding from MT overnight TWICE.

I was going from 5 hairs a days to 30!

Garlic and fish oil treatment for an hr = 1 hair a day! And I still get my MT 1" a month! YAY! I wrote reviews for what I did in my drugstore album using odorless tablets as well as one with the real deal.

 

[anon123]

Thanks for the replies. I only wondered because, without understanding how or why something works, it's hard for me to understand what other effects it might have. I generally considered hair life span fixed, so I just don't understand what garlic does to that. Hmmm.

 

[Fine 4s]

This DOES work. Stopped shedding from MT overnight TWICE.

I was going from 5 hairs a days to 30!

Garlic and fish oil treatment for an hr = 1 hair a day! And I still get my MT 1" a month! YAY! I wrote reviews for what I did in my drugstore album using odorless tablets as well as one with the real deal.

I looked in this album (http://public.fotki.com/littlegoldlamb/products-and-review/) in your Fotki but couldn't find it...

Can you tell me where I could find it.

Thanks.

 

[trenise]

If it's the sulfur in the garlic that causes it to work, then woudn't other sulfur based products do the same thing? - stop shedding?

 

[NappturalWomyn]

It's a combination of the sulfur and the allicin (which only forms when you cut, chop, cook or pulverize garlic, whole bulb-nathan) in the garlic that combat shedding. Think about a garlic bulb.

It darn near spouts into a tree if you leave it alone and don't cut it or use it. These two compounds syngeristically (sorry if my spelling is off) with shedding. Or think of what it does when you eat for health benefits.

Allicin may reduce fat deposition in the vessels and heart, , decrease blood pressure, and has anti-inflammatory activities, and function as an antioxidant to some extent. It even kills head lice. It also interacts with sulfhydrl groups, and we all know sulfur is a major component of hair. That's just my thoughts.

 

[JustKiya]

Thanks for the replies. I only wondered because, without understanding how or why something works, it's hard for me to understand what other effects it might have. I generally considered hair life span fixed, so I just don't understand what garlic does to that. Hmmm.

I've wondered this too - hair sheds because it's reached it's max lifespan, and the follicle is clearing the way for a new hair.

So - does the garlic

a) prevent the follicle from releasing the now dead/no longer growing hair, and thus prevent new hairs from growing?

or

b) encourage the follicle to continue growing that hair - which based on the physiology of a shed hair (the root is actually dead at the point that a hair would be ready to shed) doesn't seem possible....

or

c) change the growth cycle of the hair, so that the natural growth span of the hair is extended - but that doesn't seem to jive with the instant results that some people are getting.

Personally, I'm kinda erplexed at the thought of purposefully preventing my scalp from getting rid of dead hair and getting on with growing new ones, so I deal with the shedding - which, true, I think I have a perfectly normal amount of, anyhow, so no worries, for me.

If there was some evidence that garlic was doing (c) instead of (a), I would be all over it, because that would also extend your terminal length, naturally - which, hello,

Otherwise?

I dunnnnoooooo.

 

[anon123]

I've wondered this too - hair sheds because it's reached it's max lifespan, and the follicle is clearing the way for a new hair.

So - does the garlic

a) prevent the follicle from releasing the now dead/no longer growing hair, and thus prevent new hairs from growing?

or

b) encourage the follicle to continue growing that hair - which based on the physiology of a shed hair (the root is actually dead at the point that a hair would be ready to shed) doesn't seem possible....

or

c) change the growth cycle of the hair, so that the natural growth span of the hair is extended - but that doesn't seem to jive with the instant results that some people are getting.

Personally, I'm kinda erplexed at the thought of purposefully preventing my scalp from getting rid of dead hair and getting on with growing new ones, so I deal with the shedding - which, true, I think I have a perfectly normal amount of, anyhow, so no worries, for me.

If there was some evidence that garlic was doing (c) instead of (a), I would be all over it, because that would also extend your terminal length, naturally - which, hello,

Otherwise?

I dunnnnoooooo.

This is exactly what I was getting at. I don't understand how it effects those other things. Mysterious. So it makes me a little hesitant to use it.

 

[Jazala]

I've wondered this too - hair sheds because it's reached it's max lifespan, and the follicle is clearing the way for a new hair.

So - does the garlic

a) prevent the follicle from releasing the now dead/no longer growing hair, and thus prevent new hairs from growing?

or

b) encourage the follicle to continue growing that hair - which based on the physiology of a shed hair (the root is actually dead at the point that a hair would be ready to shed) doesn't seem possible....

or

c) change the growth cycle of the hair, so that the natural growth span of the hair is extended - but that doesn't seem to jive with the instant results that some people are getting.

Personally, I'm kinda erplexed at the thought of purposefully preventing my scalp from getting rid of dead hair and getting on with growing new ones, so I deal with the shedding - which, true, I think I have a perfectly normal amount of, anyhow, so no worries, for me.

If there was some evidence that garlic was doing (c) instead of (a), I would be all over it, because that would also extend your terminal length, naturally - which, hello,

Otherwise?

I dunnnnoooooo.

I like this analysis. I agree that (c) would be awesome!

 

[JustKiya]

This is exactly what I was getting at. I don't understand how it effects those other things. Mysterious. So it makes me a little hesitant to use it.

I like this analysis. I agree that (c) would be awesome!

I just had a thought - there's always been a lot of talk about how lush and thick and full a lot of the women from the islands hair is - thus our love for JBCO, for example, and it's often been attributed to diet. I'm not Caribbean, but is a lot of garlic used in their food? I know Indian womens hair is known for it's lushness, and the sweet gods know there is garlic in everything they eat.

I dunno. I'm trying to think of a way to figure out what the results, would be. I mean, people take garlic supplements for their overall health - I would think that if their hair stopped growing (which is what the end result of (a) would be) - that might have been noticed. Now, if it encouraged their hair to get longer/thicker - I don't know how much noticeable that would be (esp. if you weren't mildly hair obsessed, already).

Hrm. Or, it could be doing all three, at the same time.

:scratchch

Who knows......

 

[Jazala]

Hmmm, interesting.... I know one thing, I love garlic and I will be eating a lot MORE of it going forward

 

[JustKiya]

Hmmm, interesting.... I know one thing, I love garlic and I will be eating a lot MORE of it going forward

Ya know?!? Maybe that's why I don't have a lot of shedding to start with - I eat garlic daily. And a healthy bit of it, too.

Though, according to one website I saw, in order to get the prime results - you need to eat it raw, and freshly chopped.

I like garlic.

Raw garlic, though? My eyes water just thinking about it.

 

[Napp]

i dont get it either. is it supposed to be like nature's minoxidil or what? and there is nothing wrong w/ shedding is there? i shed so much and people talk about 2-3 hairs. it makes me feel creeped out. my hair is pretty thick though so i guess its not an issue...

 

[JustKiya]

i dont get it either. is it supposed to be like nature's minoxidil or what? and there is nothing wrong w/ shedding is there? i shed so much and people talk about 2-3 hairs. it makes me feel creeped out. my hair is pretty thick though so i guess its not an issue...

I don't know what the horror is about shedding, either. I think it's a fear that if it happens too much, the hair will thin - but, shedding is normal, ya know?

The average person sheds 50-100 hairs a day (a day) and that's average, which means some peoples normal is waaaaayyyy higher, and others is wayyyy lower.

I dunno.

 

[Jazala]

Ya know?!? Maybe that's why I don't have a lot of shedding to start with - I eat garlic daily. And a healthy bit of it, too.

Though, according to one website I saw, in order to get the prime results - you need to eat it raw, and freshly chopped.

I like garlic.

Raw garlic, though? My eyes water just thinking about it.

OMG! raw huh? ugh!

Well maybe I can put it in a green smoothie or something.

 

[GinnyP]

This DOES work. Stopped shedding from MT overnight TWICE.

I was going from 5 hairs a days to 30!

Garlic and fish oil treatment for an hr = 1 hair a day! And I still get my MT 1" a month! YAY! I wrote reviews for what I did in my drugstore album using odorless tablets as well as one with the real deal.

which brand do you use?

 

[vnaps]

Thanks for the replies. I only wondered because, without understanding how or why something works, it's hard for me to understand what other effects it might have. I generally considered hair life span fixed, so I just don't understand what garlic does to that. Hmmm.

Hmmm, interesting.... I know one thing, I love garlic and I will be eating a lot MORE of it going forward

Ya know?!? Maybe that's why I don't have a lot of shedding to start with - I eat garlic daily. And a healthy bit of it, too.

Though, according to one website I saw, in order to get the prime results - you need to eat it raw, and freshly chopped.

I like garlic.

Raw garlic, though? My eyes water just thinking about it.

Well one thing i can tell you bout garlic is if you arent prepared for the OTHER after effects such as garlic smelling burps/gas(i hope thats an ok word....read the message bout use of bad words and i'm scared to offend anyone)

i had a bulb (whole uncut) 2 days ago (for health benefits....hair was my last thought) and still SMELLING the garlic ....if u know what i mean....NASTY!!!!!

and yes it is best to crush/cut it first.....leave for 15 minutes then have with food or water(dont know bout chewing it though...that would be unpleasant!!!!)...

but if you do have it make sure you have it with something....like milk/water/salad if you have it raw on a regular basis.

garlic does have side effects....best to read up on it first before trying it......

i say all this based on my own research on its use.......IT IS VERY GOOD FOR YOU

 

[anon123]

I don't know what the horror is about shedding, either. I think it's a fear that if it happens too much, the hair will thin - but, shedding is normal, ya know?

The average person sheds 50-100 hairs a day (a day) and that's average, which means some peoples normal is waaaaayyyy higher, and others is wayyyy lower.

I dunno.

For me the only real beef I have with shedding is its role in tangling. And I think I do get that 50-100 hairs a day.

I'd eat it raw, though. Sounds good to me. But not in this country, at least not when I have to meet someone soon. When I lived in Korea I ate a lot of garlic and every now and then a little raw or quickly seared with the bbq'ed meat dishes. But that's a country where everyone eats garlic so I worried less about people smelling my stinky garlic breath and sweat.

 

[Carrie A]

This is not exactly related to shedding but I found a clinical trial using garlic for alopecia. They think it's anti-inflammatory properties may contribute. I just pasted the introduction and discussion part. It's a little wordy but good information.

Introduction
Alopecia areata is characterized by round or oval patches of nonscarring hair loss. Men and women are equally affected and the prevalence is almost the same for all ethnic groups.[1],[2],[3] It is a common disease and at any given time, about 0.2% of people are involved with alopecia areata and 1.7% of the populations experience an episode of alopecia areata during their lifetime.[4],[5],[6] The etiology and pathogenesis of alopecia areata is still uncertain, but many factors have been have been described in its pathogenesis, e.g., genetic, family history, the atopic state, nonspecific immune and organ-specific autoimmune reactions, possible emotional stress, infectious agents and neurological factors. A range of treatments have been tried for the treatment of alopecia areata, such as contact sensitizers, immunomodulators and biologic response modifiers.[7],[8],[9],[10],[11] Though different medications with various efficacies have been used for long, no definitive treatment has been introduced yet.[1] Garlic, onion and aromatherapy are claimed to have hair growth promoting properties but the scientific basis is still lacking.[12],[13],[14] Bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses have been shown to be sensitive to crushed garlic preparations. Moreover, garlic has been reported to reduce blood lipids and to have anticancer properties. The main active component present in large quantities in garlic cloves is alliin , an oxygenated sulfur amino acid. In crushed garlic, alliin is converted to allicin , which gives the garlic therapeutic properties.[15],[16] Our study is based on anecdotal evidence of garlic therapy that several patients have had marked improvement with this form of therapy. The aim in this study was to test the hypothesis suggesting the presence of pharmacologically active stimulants of hair growth in garlic and that garlic can be a therapeutic agent in patients involved with alopecia areata.

Discussion

In this study, hair growth was observed in all patients. However, the response in the garlic gel group was significantly better than the control group after three months of treatment. Response of the patients to the treatment may be because of corticosteroid application, but the additive efficacy of garlic was demonstrated. In this study, no complications were observed.

Unfortunately, only a few studies have been done about the effectiveness of garlic components in managing alopecia areata. Garlic is used all over the world for different diseases. In Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM), garlic was prescribed as a remedy for different diseases such as infections, cancers, injuries, gastrointestinal dysfunctions and cardiovascular diseases. Some therapeutic mechanisms of garlic are not clear. The hair growth stimulating mechanisms of garlic are unknown yet. Different researchers have shown that alopecia areata is marked by autoimmune assault on the hair follicle resulting in hair loss.[18] The modulatory effects of garlic on immune responses[19],[20],[21],[22],[23],[24],[25] may justify its efficacy in alopecia areata. In a comparative study by Sharquie et al ., crude onion juice applied topically in treatment of patchy alopecia areata was compared with tap water; it was found that it can be effective in treatment of alopecia areata.[16] Onion and garlic belong to a widely grown vegetable family named Asparagus . Both of them contain diallyl disulfide, which may provide their therapeutic effects.(32) Though different modalities of treatment, local and systemic, have been used to induce hair re-growth, all of them have their own complications and efficacies. The high spontaneous remission rate of alopecia areata, sometimes makes it difficult to clearly assess the true efficacy of a given therapy.[3] In conclusion, this study demonstrates that topical garlic gel treatment may be effective and well tolerated in alopecia areata patients and provides prolonged therapeutic benefits.

 

[JustKiya]

For me the only real beef I have with shedding is its role in tangling. And I think I do get that 50-100 hairs a day.

I'd eat it raw, though. Sounds good to me. But not in this country, at least not when I have to meet someone soon. When I lived in Korea I ate a lot of garlic and every now and then a little raw or quickly seared with the bbq'ed meat dishes. But that's a country where everyone eats garlic so I worried less about people smelling my stinky garlic breath and sweat.

True, true. If they would just shed, and stay still, or shed, and instantly fall out, we would be aiight. But that either equals locs or a perm, and - no. *sigh*

 

[tada1]

I was wondering the same thing. Personally, I think garlic *changes* the shedding cycle of people's hair--and that results into less shedding..

 

[lovetolearn282828]

i don't what how or why but it works. I have a garlic shampoo and conditioner i found at marshall's and used it over the weekend for the first time on my hair and my daughter's because she was shed city and i promise you, she had less than 5 hairs in the comb and I had around 3. I am gonna stock up on this stuff after i'm done with the no buy for the rest of the year challenge.

Hey what was the name of that?

 

[JustKiya]

I was wondering the same thing. Personally, I think garlic *changes* the shedding cycle of people's hair--and that results into less shedding..

But that change has to affect the scalp and future hair growth somehow.... the shedding cycle can't change and everything else stay the same - unless garlic is doing (c).... can it?

If I ever think I've hit terminal length, I'll start on the garlic.