Green Tea and Hair Loss

Some experts believe that green tea could stop hair loss. Green tea has a reputation for providing health benefits that could potentially prevent cancer and diabetes, boost the immune system, kill bad breath, etc.

But does green tea prevent hair loss?

In researching further, I came across various studies, although few in numbers, indicating that green tea can help grow hair.  There are two potential ways that green tea can help hair grow or stop hair loss:

1. By blocking dHT (dihydrotestosterone), the natural byproduct of testosterone that exists in both male and female.
2. As a natural relaxant that promotes blood circulation to hair follicles.

dHT is natural byproduct of testosterone.  Both men and women have testosterone in their bodies.  dHT causes pattern baldness if your hair follicles are sensitive to it.  Your sensitivy to dHT is determined by your genes. Green tea has been observed to increase the sex hormone binding globulin (SBHG) that reacts with testosterone so that dHT is prevented from forming, hence, blocked.

One of the main molecules in green tea is catechin.  Many studies have attributed catechin with various health benefits including anti-carcinogenic and antibiotic effects.

More importantly for this post, from a study at Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute, Japan:

"Animal model research studies indicate that green tea catechins have a variety of actions. Rats that were given green tea derived epicatechins showed vasorelaxation. Arteries that were induced to contract were found to relax again after administration of catechins (Huang 1998), so green tea may aid cardiovascular activity and microcapillary circulation to hair follicles."  (source: http://www.hairloss-research.org/greentea.html)

Green tea has far more benefits than just potential hair loss treatment. Many studies strongly suggests that a regular regiment of green tea drinking is a practical way of preventing cancer, inflammatory diseases (such as arthritis), cardiovascular disease, and other illness.

Therefore, even if the hair loss studies turn out to be false, drinking green tea is still highly recommended.

Some experts believe that drinking green tea ought to be supplemented with a vigorious scalp massage in order to promote blood circulation. Hair follicles are stimulated when massaging the scalp. And it's great to relive stress.

It is recommended that 5 minutes or so every day should be spent massaging the scalp with your fingers. A circular motion with the proper pressure is best.

Other suggested methods to promote blood circulation in the scalp includes the use of a laser hair comb.