Alopecia (Baldness) & Medicinal Mushrooms

Alopecia means baldness or hair loss. It can involve the hair of the head or other parts of the body, for example the beard area.

Medical professionals do not yet completely understand alopecia.

It is well established that Alopecia Areata usually affects the scalp. It is an autoimmune disorder, in which hair follicles are damaged by the compromised immune system. In these cases, the lymphocytes penetrate the hair bulb of the hair follicles which leads to the loss of hair.

• rheumatoid arthritis
• lupus
• thyroid disease
• uncreative colitis
• vitiligo

The regulatory T cells are a specific type of T cells that act to suppress the immune responses, which play a critical role in preventing autoimmunity. These types of cells are generally associated with controlling the inflammation and can lead to hair loss and boldness.

In normal circumstances, in a healthy person, the T cells are constantly alerting the immune system of any dangers.

But when the T cells don’t function correctly, then the immune system gets compromised and people develop various reactions to harmless substances, like pollen or peanut protein, or suffer from auto-immune disorder in which case the immune system starts attacking its own body’s tissues.

It is important to improve the function of the immune system in order to help the body deal with various health issues.

Medicinal mushrooms provide such properties as immune boosting, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory effects, thus helping protect the hair from damage and reduce the hair loss.

The total or partial hair loss has several causes, here are some...

Related to Infections:

• Combination of genetics and male hormone called dihydrotestosterone
• Fungal infections
• Secondary syphilis
• Presence of Demodex Folliculorum
• Dissecting cellulitis
• Folliculitis

Related to Drugs and their side effects:

• Chemotherapy
• Anabolic steroids
• Contraceptive pills
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Fertility stimulating drugs (clomiphene)
• Acne medications
• Drugs treating fungal infections
• Medications controlling blood pressure
• Medication for diabetes
• Drugs used to maintain the cholesterol levels
• Medication for various heart disease

Related to Event (continuous or singular):

• Radiation to the scalp
• Major surgery
• Poisoning
• Childbirth (temporary occurrence as result of increased oestrogens level)
• Compulsive pulling and/or bending of hair (trichotillomania)
• Consistent rubbing of hair (frictional alopecia)
• Forceful pulling of the hair, for example into ponytails or cornrows (traction alopecia)
• Air and water pollutants
• Environmental toxins
• Smoking
• Extreme stressful event

Related to Disease:

• Lupus
• Tumours and skin outgrowths
• Hypothyroidism
• Autoimmune disorder
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hair styling products containing excessive amounts of sebum

In cases where hair loss is genetic, it is impossible to prevent it.

What can be done to prevent the onset of alopecia if it is not related to genetics?

• Before starting the chemotherapy you might want to ask your doctor to provide you with a cooling cap which might help reduce the hair loss during the treatment.
• Stop taking or try and avoid medications and supplements that cause hair loss as side effect
• Brush your hair gently without harsh pulling.
• Avoid applying permanents to your hair
• Discontinue the use of curling irons or hot rollers
• Stop applying the hot oil treatments
• Avoid pulling your hair too tight into ponytails, braids, buns, etc
• Stop the habit of compulsive pulling, rubbing, twisting your hair.
• Wear a hat or use a sun umbrella to protect your hair from excessive ultraviolet light (sunlight)
• Stop smoking (research shows that smoking may cause baldness)

Reishi is one of the most valuable medicinal mushrooms because it contains very high levels of such polysaccharides type like Beta-glucans, which play a huge role in boosting the immune system and Lion’s Mane, which is famous for its ability to stimulate the nerve growth factor (NGF).

The combination of these two medicinal mushrooms can help with hair loss issues.

• Lion’s Mane
• Reishi

Please do not hesitate to contact me and discuss your health issues or any of our MediMushrooms products.

I am here to help,
Dr Alla.