Green Tea, Effective Against Hair Loss?

Green Tea is a leading herbal remedy for almost all maladies imaginable nowadays. It is also a popular health drink that promises restorative health benefits to users. But does it pack enough promise to combat hair loss?

What Is Green Tea?

Green tea refers to tea leaves that are dried and steamed without fermenting, as opposed to black tea. It originated from China but has been associated with many other Asian cultures. It is believed to ward off signs of aging as it contains lots of natural plant antioxidants. It is widely reputed to provide major health benefits.

Benefits of Green Tea and Hair Loss

So far, green tea is not a cure but there are more clinical evidence that indicates that it might be helpful in treating hair loss problems. A Japanese study on cancer has found that high green tea intake is associated with higher levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SBHG).

SBHG is a molecule that binds with testosterone. Testosterone bound to this molecule cannot bind with androgen receptors and therefore, cannot be converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). As the presence of DHT in hair follicles is directly linked to hair loss, fewer DHTs would mean lesser probability of thinning hair and baldness.

In the same research, green tea is also found to have plausible effect on the decrease in production of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase (5 AR). 5 AR interacts with free testosterones and produces DHT. The two distinct yet complementary effects of green tea on androgens may positively influence hair loss and baldness.

In another study conducted in Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, green tea is found to stimulate hair regrowth in rats given drinking water that contains green tea extracts. Of the mice in the control group that was given only pure water to drink, none experienced hair regrowth.

A study conducted by the Seoul University of College of Medicine tested the effect of EGCG, an antioxidant found in green tea, to hair follicles and dermal papilla cells. The derma papilla cells are found in human hair follicles and control hair growth. The study helps confirm the benefits of antioxidant in green tea in promoting hair growth.

How To Use Green Tea?

If hair loss is really a problem, it would not be a bad idea to add green tea in your daily intake of beverages and even use hair products such as shampoos and conditioners that contain green tea extracts.

Remember that previous experiments involved both ingesting green tea and topical application of extracts. Aside from the touted benefits to preventing hair loss, green tea packs a lot of other health benefits with very little known side effects.

It is very likely that green helps prevent baldness and even stimulate regrowth, but more research needs to be done to establish the claim, and to find the appropriate doses and methods of delivery.

The important thing to remember is that green tea has not been conclusively shown to cure baldness, either in animals or humans, but emerging evidences shows great promise. So go ahead and try green tea as a remedy for hair loss and baldness, just do not expect a miracle.

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