Published on April 30th, 2014 | by Natural Awakenings Northern New Jersey

Tackling Hair Loss and More Without Medication

by Susanne Saltzman

One of the most common problems for women, and often easiest to cure, is hair loss. Although many menopausal women complain of thinning hair, younger women can suffer from this problem, as well.

When treating hair loss, it’s important to correct any thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism and/or Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis. Once thyroid disorders are ruled out, one of the most common causes of hair loss in women is protein deficiency; not serious protein deficiency diseases such as marasmus or Kwashiokor’s, often seen in children in developing countries, but subtler forms of protein deficiency in otherwise healthy individuals that are simply not getting enough animal foods in their diet.

When a woman eats quality protein at every meal, her hair stops falling out (assuming thyroid problems are corrected) and will even grow back. High-quality protein includes grass-fed, organic beef, venison and buffalo; wild salmon; and free-range chicken and eggs. Women should eat at least three to five ounces from a number of the above sources per meal, every day.

Degenerative bone disorders and osteoporosis are also often exacerbated by protein deficiency. Bone is living tissue composed of protein (collagen) and minerals (hydroxyapatite). Taking calcium supplements is not sufficient if a woman’s diet lacks quality protein, an important part of bone matrix.

Balancing Blood Sugar

The cause of elevated blood sugar is usually a diet too high in carbohydrates; even too much fruit, whole grains and legumes will elevate blood sugar in many people. For these carbohydrate-sensitive individuals, a diet emphasizing protein high-quality fats, such as cooking with coconut oil, using olive oil on salads, eating avocados and raw nuts and seeds, and lots of vegetables (raw greens, lightly steamed cruciferous vegetables, etc.) is recommended. Women and men will often lose body fat within a few months on such a diet. Their blood sugar will stabilize, too, although some people with a strong diabetes tendency (and usually a notable family history) will need supplements to help lessen insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.

The Facts About Fat

Excess fat releases inflammatory substances that increase our risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Usually, women and men will feel much better when their body fat is less than 30 percent and 25 percent, respectively. For overweight and obese individuals, a fat-loss program is highly effective for decreasing cravings, lowering blood pressure, stabilizing blood sugar and bringing cholesterol into healthy ranges, often without medications. Of course, exercising and reducing stress are also important to overall health.

Homeopathy for The Whole Person

Homeopathic medicine is a powerful way to heal many chronic diseases, because it can reach deeply into the psyche and alleviate fears, worries and anxieties, as well as old, unconscious traumas that often contribute to chronic disease. It is an extremely effective holistic medicine that treats the whole person. In homeopathy, it’s understood that someone’s mental and emotional states are just as important as his or her physical symptoms in the selection of the correct constitutional remedy.

As with most diseases, the way to a cure is often simple and does not require complicated, expensive tests and myriad supplements. Our bodies will perform magnificently if we just give them proper nutrition and care, and use remedies designed by nature to promote healing.