Whatever its cause, hair loss can be difficult to accept and live with. The good news is that there are solutions that can give you back a full, thick head of hair. An effective solution for encouraging growth is feeding the hair follicle from which hair grows. Hair follicles are tunnel-shaped structures in the outer layer of the scalp, otherwise known as the epidermis. The hair starts growing in the hair bulb, right at the bottom of the follicle.
Scientific tests have proven stinging nettle leaf extract in hair growth formulas to be successful. Stinging nettle leaves are widely considered hair growth powerhouses due to their mineral-dense nature.
Vitamins Found in Stinging Nettle Leaf Extract
-
Vitamin A – All of our cells require vitamin A, also known as retinol in its active form, for growth including the most rapidly growing cells in our bodies – our hair. This vitamin also stimulates the production of sebum, an oily substance that serves as a lubricant for the hair follicles and a moisture barrier to prevent dryness of the scalp – which tends to result in issues such as dandruff.
-
Vitamin B1,2,3 and 5 – A well known B vitamin, known as Biotin, is commonly used in hair-loss treatment as it stimulates the production of keratin, which in turn provides exterior protection to the hair shaft and the interior structure of the shaft, known as the cortex.
-
Vitamin C – Otherwise known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C acts as a gentle cleansing agent has been found to aid in the removal of mineral build-up on the hair cuticle. This results in enhanced moisture absorption in the hair, furthermore, resulting in soft, smooth locks and reduced likelihood of tangling and damage.
-
Vitamin D – Although there is very little data regarding the effect that vitamin D has on hair growth, there is an abundance of studies suggesting that a deficiency in vitamin D is directly related to hair loss. This is because vitamin D is metabolised in the skin by keratinocytes which process keratin, a protein in the hair. Vitamin D deficiency affects the ability of keratinocytes in our hair follicles to sufficiently regulate hair growth, resulting in shedding.
-
Vitamin E – Due to its natural antioxidant nature, vitamin E supports a healthy scalp and hair, additionally aiding in hair growth maintenance. These antioxidant properties support the reduction of oxidative stress and free radicals, triggering a breakdown of hair follicles in the scalp.
-
Vitamin K – Not only has vitamin K been proven to assist in the regeneration of new hair strands, but it also plays a crucial role in the prevention of scalp clarification, defined as a build-up of calcium on the scalp that usually results in stunted hair growth.
What makes stinging nettle leaf extract so potent is its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Factors such as tension headaches or migraines, sunburn, rashes, and autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, for example, may cause the scalp to become inflamed, itchy, and uncomfortable. The anti-inflammatory nature of stinging nettle leaf extract reduces inflammation and follicle damage to protect and strengthen the hair
Beneficial Minerals found in Stinging Nettle Extract for Healthy Hair
The natural extract from the stinging nettle leaf is rich in minerals such as zinc, iron, and magnesium, to name a few. The combination of all these properties makes it highly effective for safeguarding the scalp and boosting the state of the follicles. Let’s look at precisely what role these minerals play in the strengthening of your hair and boosting scalp health:
-
Zinc – Zinc supports the preservation of hair strength by contributing to protein synthesis, simply defined as the process in which cells produce proteins such as collagen and keratin which support the structure of your hair.
-
Iron – An iron deficiency leads to lower levels of haemoglobin in the blood, which in turn, reduces the delivery of oxygen to your hair follicle stem cells which are responsible for hair growth. Therefore, an increase in iron levels will boost circulation to your roots resulting in accelerated hair growth.
-
Magnesium – By assisting in the prevention of calcium build up on the scalp, magnesium prevents the clogging of hair follicles, which would, in turn, result in dandruff and a hindrance in hair growth.
Stinging nettle has demonstrated effectiveness in revitalizing hair growth in those who deal with hair loss due to conditions such as alopecia areata, hormonal fluctuations and age-related hair loss, which may come in the form of male pattern baldness (MPB) or androgenic alopecia, for example. This is owed to the high levels of silica and sulphur found in the nettle extract which in turn reduces hair damage, provokes the regeneration of new hair and reduces thinning or shedding.
Stinging Nettle Leaf Extract in Ideal Hair Vitamins
If you cannot get hold of stinging nettle leaves and don’t want the hassles of brewing topical solutions and teas, then IdealOfMeD. has the answer. IdealofMeD. stocks a range of hair restoring products including their Ideal Hair Vitamin Tablets complete with stinging nettle leaf extract. This nettle leaf supplement has a potent formulation made up of hair-boosting ingredients that will soon give you the strong and healthy hair of your dreams.
THE IDEAL HAIR VITAMINS
IdealofMeD's Hair Vitamins (120 Tablets) contain stinging leaf nettle extract along with other hair restoring ingredients that have been proven to promote hair growth. Our vitamins have been specifically designed to revitalize and restore hair follicles, leading to stronger hair and reduced shedding.
Stinging Nettle Leaf Extract vs DHT
Another factor that makes stinging nettle leaf extract very effective is the fact that it can inhibit the development of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), as it contains compounds that suppress the enzyme 5a-reductase, which the body requires to convert testosterone into DHT. This is the hormone that causes baldness in men who deal with prostatic hyperplasia, defined as the expansion or enlargement of tissue caused by a surge in the reproduction of its cells for the duration of the initial cancer development phase, or non-cancerous swelling of the prostate.
The same hormone (DHT) tends to cause hair loss in the form of male and female pattern baldness by causing hair follicle shrinkage which in turn hinders the growth of healthy hair. New hair growth from the miniaturized follicle will be thinner and more prone to shedding.
How to Use Stinging Nettle Leaf Extract for Hair Growth
Apart from its rich proportion of minerals, extracts from this herb are astringent, meaning slightly acidic in nature, which means that it can be used on an oily scalp or one that has dandruff by increasing circulation to the scalp.
Controlling oil and dandruff enhances the condition of the scalp to support growth. Additionally, the extract naturally contains silica and pantothenic acid, with studies showing that silica increases hair strength and limits breakage, and pantothenic acid (commonly known as vitamin B5) working in conjunction with other nutrients to rebuild heat and chemically damaged hair shafts to maintain the integrity and strength of newly grown hair.
There are different ways to use stinging nettle leaf extract to stop hair loss and encourage new growth. One method is to use it as a hair rinse after shampooing or cleansing and rinsing the hair sufficiently with water. The rinse can be made by crushing the stinging nettle leaf, with dried sage leaves, known to invigorate and reinforce the follicles by increasing nutrient supply to the scalp and dried chamomile leaves, due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
Stinging nettle extract can also be used in the process of brewing herbal tea. The leaves ought to be placed in a cup with hot water and left to infuse, they are then strained once the tea is cool enough to drink. The mixture is then consumed as regular herbal tea, which boasts a myriad of stinging nettle leaf benefits in addition to its ability to enhance hair strength and regrowth. These benefits include:
-
Assists in blood sugar and blood pressure management
-
Helps to counteract and control chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer
-
Relieves pain as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties
-
Strengthens and protects bone due to naturally occurring minerals in the leaves known to assist in bone-building, these minerals include calcium, magnesium and potassium and zinc
However, there are challenges with the above methods used in stinging nettle consumption or usage. The first is the challenge of sourcing fresh stinging nettle leaves which usually occur naturally in moist areas along streams, meadows, mountain slopes and forests. These plants are known to cultivate and flourish in nutrient-rich, moist soil, making them harder to source in areas battling drought. The best way to ensure accessibility to the plant is to simply grow it yourself if you can get your hands on it.
The second challenge comes in obtaining the leaves in suitable quantities to profit from the myriad of benefits this plant offers. For instance, it suggested that the right way to make nettle tea is to combine 2 cups of water with every cup of fresh stinging nettle leaves. If you can get past the earthy, grassy flavour of the tea, you will need to consume the tea consistently to see results.
All in all, this is why using a ready hair growth formulation made of stinging nettle leaf extract reigns superior over all the other options.
How To Consume Stinging Nettle Leaf Extract
One way to use stinging nettle leaf extract is to simply use it as a topical product. Applying it on the scalp places it right where it is needed and gets it to start working right away. While consuming tea made on stinging nettle leaf extract works, it is a method that is best used in conjunction with a topical nettle leaf extract product because the benefits of the stinging nettle extract tea are only experienced over a period of time due to the bodies rate of digestion.