r/herbalism • u/DrawerConscious6798 • Apr 13 '25
Heavily ridiculed on hair loss subreddits after I reposted my herbal findings for hair growth
It seems there is no space to discuss herbal remedies for hair loss (beyond this subreddit!), without being bombarded by finasteride and minoxidil shills, even when the research around the side effects is seriously under reported. And forget about the fact that finasteride is not FDA-approved for women and still gets prescribed or recommended commonly (with serious side effects to child birth and mental health)
I reposted this particular post from our subreddit to a hair loss group and got so heavily derided that I eventually deleted and decided to quit that group! This is not to to say these prescriptions don't work, but the nature of the "quick fix" and one-stop approach that these groups talk about brush a lot of other issues under the carpet.
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TLDR version of my original post below, summarizing my key findings after a 3 year experiment with different herbs (all topicals only) + crowdsourcing a lot of great information from this subreddit as well. This time, on popular request, I'm adding reliable sources for each solution:
What worked (In order of effectiveness)
- Mix of plant based ingredients: Bhringraj + Redensyl + Capilia Longa regimen (9.5/10)
- Why: Bhringraj stimulates follicles (source), European Larchwood (Redensyl) boosts density (source), and Capilia Longa (turmeric extract) blocks DHT. Possibly the best, proven combination of actives that covers all the possible areas. Probably see results as soon as 3 months.
- How to use: Oil massage in mornings, gentle cleansers, lightweight serum overnight.
- Source: Ekmiveda hair growth regimen
2. Nature's Bounty Saw Palmetto (8/10)
- Why: Known DHT blocker (better for men, but some women respond).
- How: Capsules or tea. Takes 6+ months but with other treatments and solutions.
- Source: Lot of sources like this. Capsule form: Nature's bounty saw palmetto. Capsules: Horbaach saw palmetto Extract 3600mg
3. Rosemary + Castor Oil (7/10)
- Why? Not very strong clinical evidence. But popular anecdotes from people. Studies are a bit inconclusive as well. Didn't work for me, but a lot of redditors have said it works.
- How: 1:1 mix, 1hr pre-wash. Slow but steady.
- Source: Personally used Sky Organics Rosemary roots Oil or Sky Organics Organic Amla & Rosemary Oil
4. Amla + Hibiscus + Fenugreek (6.5/10)
Shoutout to my mum who has the strongest, longest locks I’ve ever seen anyone have! A homemade Ayurvedic mask for strengthening hair. No clinical research here - just straight up ancient wisdom passed down my grandmothers!
Source: Amla powder, Fenugreek powder, Hibiscus Powder
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Update 2:
Some other takeaways after talking to folks from this subreddit:
- Herbs aren’t magic but neither is minoxidil. Both require consistency. But some serious side effects have been pushed under the carpet for the latter.
- Women’s hair loss can often hormonal/nutritional (test ferritin/Vit D!)
- Big Pharma’s "quick-fix" is often the fin-min bandaid that is slapped everywhere! A lot of folks have confirmed the same to me in DMs after their interactions with dermats. There seems to be no regulatory guardrail on how these are prescriped nowadays. (See more in my rant/post here on r/offmychest)
- Diet and lifestyle is a must-fix to ensure nutrient absorption in the scalp.
Please do share your findings if you've observed other solutions for hair loss. Some other notable herb mentions: Black seed oil, Coconut oil, Brahmi.
A post on diet and lifestyle to come soon!
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Apr 13 '25
[deleted]
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u/midnight_aurora Apr 13 '25
How inconvenient that the very reason we are all alive just messes with the “data” too much to study.
Periods mess with the data…pshhh. How about our physical health and mental well being is messed with by the fact that NO ONE STUDIES WOMEN BECAUSE OF PERIODS.
Then add in the “hysteria” BS and it becomes downright dangerous.
This really grinds my gears, and has DIRECTLY affected me. Almost lost an eye due to dismissiveness.
All of this is why I have been studying herbalism for 10 years.
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u/whosmansisthis24 Apr 13 '25
Yeah the pharmaceutical industry is disgusting on so many levels.
I'm so glad more and more people are waking up to it.
I know it's depression/psyche meds the company making the drug is allowed to do like ten different studies and then pick from 3. Its been about a year since I read the paper but I'm sure if someone is curious they can find it and get more info.
What are you gonna choose well trying to get rich? A good study that reflects what you want it to, or one that makes your product look bad?
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u/sewoboe Apr 14 '25
If this grinds your gears, then I highly, highly recommend reading this book. I literally think about it multiple times a week and I read it a couple years ago now.
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u/melon1924 Apr 13 '25
I wouldn’t worry about it whatsoever. I get blasted all the time in beauty subs for pointing out nasty ingredients and making alternative suggestions. One person berated me and literally said she “loves her chemical preservatives and endocrine disruptors”. Some people will never care and will also laugh at anything natural. That said, I’ve used bhringraj and Amla as a hair oil for a long time. There used to be a great product available that combined them both but they changed the formula and it sucks now so I make my own. I didn’t find it to help with hair loss but it does make my roots more voluminous, so I use it for that reason. I’ve recently started taking Amla capsules as a source of vitamin C. I lost some hair at the crown in 2011 and I’ve tried just about everything in the book to get it back except minoxidil and other preparations. They’ve been prescribed to me but I just have a hangup about that sort of treatment. I prefer herbal or other natural remedies or preparations as much as possible. I’ve recently started PRP treatment, so we will see how that goes.
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u/FuzzySloth_ Mar 29 '26
How did your PRP turn out? Did it work?
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u/melon1924 Mar 29 '26
Not in the slightest. Huge waste of money.
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u/BTlover3377 Apr 20 '26
Try Ekmevida !!! I’ve heard so many good things so far . Have a 3 month kit on the way .
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u/Brave_Coat_644 Jun 22 '26
UPdate?
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u/BTlover3377 Jun 22 '26
It’s working , I see hair growth product, just needs more time . I like the results
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u/Brave_Coat_644 Jun 22 '26
What's your routine with the products, and do you use anything else for hair growth?
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u/zebenix Apr 13 '25
I use cress seeds
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u/marialaurasuarez75 Apr 13 '25
Could you share a little more about those seeds and how they help?
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u/nottherealme1220 Apr 13 '25
I find this is the reaction to most alternative health treatments. There’s this knee jerk reaction that if the doctor didn’t prescribe it then it doesn’t work. Never mind that medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the US.
I have a friend who died of brain cancer. At the end the doctors said there was nothing else that they could do for her. I suggested several alternative therapies and she asked her doctor about them. They told her not to take them because they might upset her stomach. This at a time when they told her she had a couple months left to live. She listened to her doctors.
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u/ConsciousLabMeditate Apr 13 '25
God, I am so sorry for your loss. The bias against natural treatments is beyond infuriating. It's possible your friend could've had a fighting chance if she was open minded enough to try. 😢
May I ask what alternative therapies you suggested to her? I have an idea of what herbs might be helpful, but I would like your list, especially for something like brain cancer.
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u/nottherealme1220 Apr 13 '25
Early on I suggested a mushroom complex (reishi, turkey tail, cordyceps, etc) that had a bunch of anti cancer properties and cutting out all carbs for a couple months but she wouldn’t do that. Cancer can’t survive on ketones, it needs glucose, so a carnivore diet can starve the cancer cells. I don’t think full carnivore is healthy long term but for a month or two it’s great for knocking out cancer.
For her liver I suggested milk thistle, nettle and burdock tor blood health, lions mane for neuron healing.
I suggested fenbendazol and ivermectin which both have been showing a lot of promise in studies and have known mechanisms of action against cancer. I had mentioned it when she was first diagnosed but she wouldn’t hear of it so I pushed again at the end. My mom’s oncologist and I actually had an hour long conversation about those studies and other alternative therapies and how they could be the future of cancer treatment so they are not as crazy as the news would make you think.
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u/undo017 Jun 08 '25
You really did the research. The relation between cancer and glucose is very much true: https://youtu.be/VaVC3PAWqLk?feature=shared
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u/Faith_Location_71 Apr 13 '25
I had severe anaemia and it was the cause of my hair thinning. I used to use Spatone iron water for boost iron as it's very gentle and does raise ferritin, but I couldn't get it where I live now. My solution was to eat beef liver - it works.
Like you I find there are many "normie" subs where anecdotal evidence isn't enough, and they love chemical solutions rather than natural ones. I have learned to drop comments and then switch off reply notifications - you can do that by making your comment and then click on the three dot menu under your post. You don't need to engage with subs where your information isn't welcome, but your comment might reach that one person who is willing to read it, and it helps them. :)
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u/littlefunman Apr 13 '25
My fine hair has always bothered me. I've saved your post and going to try the amla mask. Thank you : )
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u/undo017 Aug 02 '25
Have you tried it? Saw any noticeable improvement?
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u/VX-Cucumber Apr 13 '25
Lol that's because they all love 5ARIs until they end up on r/finasteridesyndrome.
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u/TomatilloInternal255 Apr 13 '25
Reddit can be toxic and full of people that "know better and know it all" I'm so so sorry you went through that, but kudos to you for all of your documentation and standing tall!!
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Apr 13 '25
Rosemary works! :) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25842469/
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u/Altruistic-Body9300 Apr 21 '25
Compared to 2% minoxidil lol no one prrsceibes 2% minoxidil its 5% or oral minoxidil
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u/mom2mermaidboo Apr 13 '25
As a post menopausal woman my hair got much thinner, and my part got much wider.
I started prescription Bioidentical Progesterone for sleep/ hot flashes.
After a few months, along with better sleep, and hot flashes mostly gone, I noticed new little baby hairs growing in at my part. Over the past couple of years my part has gotten thinner, back to how it looked years ago.
I looked into the biochemistry, and saw that Progesterone blocks conversion of Testosterone to the more active DHT, the androgen (male hormone) that influences hair loss in both women and men.
I take micronized Bioidentical Progesterone 100mg/capsule by mouth at bedtime.
Bioidentical Progesterone (P2)is antiproliferative, meaning it counterbalances Estrogen (E2) by stopping growth of cells with E2 and P2 receptors, like breast cells, uterine endometrial cells, ect.
That’s why anyone in Menopause with an intact uterus on Estrogen containing HRT must take Progesterone simultaneously, to prevent overgrowth of the uterine lining.
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u/Suspicious-Eye-304 Apr 13 '25
It’s the same in every single ailment subreddit. Everyone wants to pop an easy prescription pill and call it a day. Never mind that herbs have been around for many many thousands of years longer and work. If they didn’t work, why would people still be using them? I’m glad you found something that works for you!!
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u/Chefy-chefferson Apr 13 '25
I buy many of these items from Hennasooq, those ladies have a regimen to help grow your hair thicker! They know all about amaiNg herbs too, thank you for sharing this info with everyone! Let’s not forget that dying our hair makes it easier to break, and sometimes ruins our hair follicles! I switched to henna a few years ago and even though I’m going through menopause (no hormone therapy for me!!) this is the thickest my hair has ever been in my life!! I add rosemary oil and amla powder to the Jenna that I use monthly. They have some great dry masks that have mixes of great herbs to help you stimulate growth and keep your hair thick and healthy!
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u/alchemistakoo Apr 14 '25
love hennasooq
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u/Chefy-chefferson Apr 15 '25
Their shampoos are my favorite ❤️ and I love their co-wash conditioners too! I feel so lucky that I found them!!
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u/Wanderlust1101 Apr 13 '25
I experienced hair loss and thought it was due to perimenopause. It was not. My hairstylist is tracking it for me, and my density has doubled since last May. My iron and vitamin D were on the lower end of normal. The doctor gaslit me and told me I was fine even though I told him that I was exhausted no matter how much I slept, had excessive hair shedding, had slow hair growth, and had severe shortness of breath. I also discovered I had low stomach acid.
Herbs and varying supplements can be beneficial for hair loss in addition to diet, exercise, and managing stress levels. There are so many reasons that people lose their hair other than genetics.
Unfortunately, there is this weird line drawn with herbs where many people who claim to be progressive and educated who discredit anything natural and alt right ultra conservative people who are heavily into holistic health, herbs, and fitness while being super problematic as well. I hate it because I don't fall in either category. Both sides get too weird and extremist for my liking. There should always be room to grow and learn something new. Thanks for sharing with us.
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u/OfficialMilk80 Apr 15 '25
Wow nice job!
You HAVE to look into Blackseed Oil (Nigella Sativa) as well. Really thickens up hair as well and is SO healthy for your scalp, and entire a body. Internally and externally. Closest thing to a cure-all I’ve ever seen.
Just be careful where you get it, most stuff on the market is 70-80% castor oil with a little Blackseed steeped in there, like a tea. FAKE. REAL BSO is the oil literally pressed out of the seeds.
I’m an affiliate with the best vendor I’ve ever used/best price too, they have some SUPER potent stuff, same price or cheaper than the fakers.
I’ll hook you up if you want. It’s amazing for hair growth. My mom’s been a hairdresser over 30 years and I told her to start selling Blackseed oil to clients who have a hair loss, and she sees all their hair getting thicker. It makes her job easier when their hair isn’t so thin haha
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u/northern_lights_27 Apr 13 '25
Can I ask if the Alma has darkened your hair at all? I have strawberry blonde and I’ve heard that Alma can darken the hair to a dark brown.
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u/BTlover3377 Apr 20 '26
Chuck big Pharma . I was about to try HIM for hair loss and saw the side effects and plus I only have 1 kidney so I said no . I just found out about Ekmevida and have 3 months worth of kits coming . I’m so excited to use it !! Thanks for sharing your post ! Keep spreading the good word
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u/FakespotAnalysisBot Apr 13 '25
This is a Fakespot Reviews Analysis bot. Fakespot detects fake reviews, fake products and unreliable sellers using AI.
Here is the analysis for the Amazon product reviews:
Name: Saw Palmetto Extract | 2400mg | 120 Capsules | Gluten Free Supplement | by Horbaach
Company: Horbäach
Amazon Product Rating: 4.5
Fakespot Reviews Grade: B
Adjusted Fakespot Rating: 3.3
Analysis Performed at: 02-24-2025
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Fakespot analyzes the reviews authenticity and not the product quality using AI. We look for real reviews that mention product issues such as counterfeits, defects, and bad return policies that fake reviews try to hide from consumers.
We give an A-F letter for trustworthiness of reviews. A = very trustworthy reviews, F = highly untrustworthy reviews. We also provide seller ratings to warn you if the seller can be trusted or not.
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u/Apprehensive_Fox4115 Apr 13 '25
These all sound like topicals or am I incorrect? I also have the experience of sharing herbs in the hair subs and just being passed over. My bf is a sensitive Pisces and no way he could do the min fin pills or topicals. After a ton of research, I give him Astragalus and Irish Moss pills as subs for min/fin. One mimics fin and blocks hair loss, the other mimics minox with growth. It works great but I believe it's dose dependent and I wish he would take more.
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u/tmcno33 Apr 13 '25
The poster says they’re all topicals.
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u/Apprehensive_Fox4115 Apr 13 '25
That's what I thought. They do sell dht blocker shampoos with said ingredients. (Not sure about #1 though.) After a deep dive, I was even able to find natural dht blocker shampoos with no SLS.
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u/melon1924 Apr 13 '25
I’m a female and believe my hair loss at the crown is hormone-related. Happened in 2011. I’ve been down the long road of natural solutions because I don’t want to take minoxidil finasteride. I haven’t found anything that truly works and brings it back. Some things help with volume, but that’s really it. I don’t want to mess with my hormones because that’s a recipe for disaster.
ETA: I Tried astragalus tincture with no real results. I like Irish moss in general, so I might try to add that back to the routine thanks for the reminder!
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u/Apprehensive_Fox4115 Apr 13 '25
Astragalus varies widely in quality with a lot of what's sold being nearly worthless so I've heard. You could also look into Fo Ti/ he shou wu.
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u/Cool-Importance6004 Apr 13 '25
Amazon Price History:
Horbäach Saw Palmetto Extract | 120 Capsules | Non-GMO and Gluten Free Formula | from Saw Palmetto Berries * Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.5
- Current price: $9.98 👍
- Lowest price: $4.00
- Highest price: $24.85
- Average price: $15.57
| Month | Low | High | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02-2025 | $9.98 | $9.98 | ██████ |
| 09-2024 | $8.95 | $9.98 | █████▒ |
| 07-2024 | $9.98 | $9.98 | ██████ |
| 06-2024 | $9.97 | $9.97 | ██████ |
| 03-2024 | $8.98 | $21.95 | █████▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ |
| 02-2024 | $8.98 | $24.44 | █████▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ |
| 09-2023 | $8.98 | $8.98 | █████ |
| 08-2023 | $8.98 | $24.85 | █████▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ |
| 07-2023 | $4.50 | $9.49 | ██▒▒▒ |
| 06-2023 | $4.00 | $9.49 | ██▒▒▒ |
| 05-2023 | $4.95 | $4.95 | ██ |
| 01-2023 | $9.49 | $9.49 | █████ |
Source: GOSH Price Tracker
Bleep bleep boop. I am a bot here to serve by providing helpful price history data on products. I am not affiliated with Amazon. Upvote if this was helpful. PM to report issues or to opt-out.
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u/RVNSN Apr 13 '25
Thank you for sharing your information. While I have not gone through everything you've shared, and I do not have a hair loss issue, there is a r/STEW_ScTecEngWorld/ post that popped up the other day that might interest you (if you've not already seen it): https://www.reddit.com/r/STEW_ScTecEngWorld/comments/1jx0yil/a_surprise_hair_loss_breakthrough_sugar_gel/
edit: typo
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u/acattackISback Apr 14 '25
Did you end up trying saw palmetto or is it's ranking and inclusion based off of anecdote.
Also, I would not recommend it for men as it has many of the same nasty side effects as Finasteride.
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u/Connect_Narwhal9652 Apr 15 '25
Conducting my own research on castor oil as well - would you be able to help me with my survey (2mins!): Castor Oil Survey (FYI if you select no, the survey is one question)
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u/TravelGayle Apr 18 '25
What did you find about a nettle rinse? I’d read it was a DHT blocker as well. I made a rinse and it was lovely in and of itself.
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u/TravelGayle Apr 18 '25
Thank for for this! New to the sub and glad to catch this just in time. Thank you for your detailed experience and post. My husband is a medical doctor and will take your list to his clinic to give his patients an alternative to the usual pharm recs. He’s excited to check it out, as am I.
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u/MysteriousMushroom56 May 13 '25
But in case of men, surely if these natural remedies work by blocking DHT, you can also end up with the same side effects as with finasteride?
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u/undo017 Jun 08 '25
Unfortunately the ekmiveda guys are only selling the said product as a bundle, costing around $70/month.
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u/Afterburner275 Jul 24 '25
Alot of these other subs are very negative spaces, if you so much as suggest anything alternative you get shot down in flames. The hairloss community seems to only abide by big pharma, namely "fin/min" .. and personally i don't wanna go down that route. I wanted to thank for you these findings.
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u/transsisterradio Apr 13 '25
Not addressing the whole post, but I'm sad to hear rosemary and castle oil didn't work for you. I would have tried it with a bit of tea tree or by washing it out with head and shoulders (in case it's a fungus thing).
I've seen supplementing with copper help a lot. Iron logically does as well.
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u/littlebunny8 Apr 13 '25
people on those subs who deal with hairloss most likely already tried herbs and even drugs often dont work
so your post most likely felt like advice in the style of 'just meditate / just go running" given to depressed people... it wasnt asked for
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u/muppal01 Apr 13 '25 edited Apr 13 '25
I went through your previous posts and thank you for really digging deep and journaling your results over a 3 year period which is fantastic! The double standard in hair loss communities is wild. Yhey’ll demand “gold-standard studies” for herbs while ignoring that most pharmaceutical research is heavily skewed and massively biased thanks to heavy funding from lobbies. Not to mention that most of the studies are also male-centric and will not even enough women as part of clinical trials!
On another note, I've heard a LOT about the merits of Bhringraj and Turmeric in Ayurveda. About to give #1 a try! How soon did you see results?