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Fri, 4 Aug 2000 13:27:49 -0700 |
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<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
Just wanted to share something I learned that might
help to some of you with hair loss.
I've had a hair loss about 12 years ago. It continued
for 2 years and I lost about 50% of my hair.
Then it stopped (I never knew why: I tried a number of
different treatments at the same time) and the hair
almost restored later.
When I learned about my celiac 9 months ago, my GE MD
told me the hair loss then was probably celiac
related. That's why I was very surprised when after 4
months on a gf diet my hair started to fall again! I
was pretty confident this time it's diet related. So I
had food allergy testing (I also didn't feel very
well), excluded all allergenic food; took very strong
vitamins specifically for hair, excluded chocolate,
almost all carbohydrates, limited coffee, exercised.
I toughen my gf diet and didn't eat any processed
food. Nothing helped. I also searched all hair web
sites and forums and didn't find any recommendation
besides rogaine, etc.
Finally, I paid attention that next day after dinners
with dry wine and salad with vinegar I have less hair
falling. I searched the web for 'hair & acid' and
found this article:
http://oak.cc.conncoll.edu/~rjcha/wells/articles/hypoclor.htm.
It appears that low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria)
can cause hair loss. Since I never have a heartburn
(but otherwise no symptoms) I decided to take a
chance and to test this theory. So I bought betaine
hydrochoride from a hfs, and started to take 1 before
every meal.
Guess what happened: my hair loss STOPPED IN 2 DAYS!!!
I was absolutely amazed how easy it stopped after 5
months of a pretty heavy falling! I guess there is
something in these 'curing with vinegar', etc. ideas
(remembered my grandmother advice to rinse my hair
with vinegar solution).
I also figured out why my hair started to fall this
time: I don't eat dairy since the beginning of my gf
diet. So I started to take calcium supplement which
probably contributed into the stomach acid lack.
Unfortunately it looks like I have some side effects
from betaine: mild stomach and under rib pain
(probably I also have gastritis or something similar).
I tried to decrease the dosage but I see direct
correlation between the dosage and the hair loss. I've
made and appointment with GE (in a month :( ), so I
have a question for now: what generally people with
gastritis take for a low stomach acid ? What brands
do you take? How do you take calcium (do you increase
betaine dosage to compensate calcium effect)?
I wish you all great health & great hair!
rosa
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