October 23, 2024, 9:11 am | Read time: 6 minutes

Hair loss can occur in both men and women and, in many cases, causes great suffering. Although chemical remedies are effective in many cases, they often have undesirable side effects. FITBOOK has researched natural remedies such as basil extract.

Causes of hair loss

Many people lose more hair seasonally (typically in spring or fall) or as a result of physical or emotional stress. The latter is referred to as diffuse hair loss. This can subside if you change your lifestyle and, among other things, make sure you eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients and vitamins.

The most common reason for thinning hair in old age is hormonal changes. This is referred to as hereditary (or congenital or hormonal-hereditary) hair loss. In this context, the significance of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a by-product of testosterone, is discussed in particular.

The disadvantage of chemical hair growth products

The success of treatment for hereditary hair loss depends on the type and severity of the predisposition. There are various medications available, most of which have a decisive disadvantage. Once you have started treatment, you have to continue it for the rest of your life. This is because the scalp becomes accustomed to the active ingredient (e.g., the so-called potassium channel opener minoxidil).

Dermatologists recommend these natural active ingredients for hereditary hair loss

But what can you do against hereditary hair loss if you don’t want to use chemicals? In fact, there do seem to be promising natural methods to reduce hair loss and promote hair growth. This is the opinion of Munich dermatologist Dr. Timm Golüke. He would not use chemicals topically, as natural products such as caffeine, ginkgo, or basil can have an effect on hair loss, he confirmed in an interview with FITBOOK.

Golüke recommends that those affected by hereditary hair loss use substances that stimulate blood circulation, “for example, solutions containing caffeine or ginkgo.” He also believes that the use of Kigelia Africana, known here as the fruit of the sausage tree, is very promising. Golüke has developed his own “Royal Fern” formula, which is a (rather expensive) hair serum that contains Kigelia Africana, among other things.

Does basil work against hair loss?

Basil is popular in the beauty sector as a natural remedy for fuller, shinier hair and/or thicker eyelashes and eyebrows. Why? In the traditional Indian healing art of Ayurveda, as well as in other natural healing traditions, basil is used as a medicinal plant with numerous health-promoting properties. For example, it is used to treat hormonal imbalances and inflammatory conditions. The fact that basil – among other things – stimulates blood circulation may explain why it is considered a remedy for hair loss.

Some of the plant substances contained in basil are said to be able to inhibit the activity of the enzyme “5-alpha-reductase”. This enzyme plays an important role in the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a powerful hormone that causes the hair follicles – the structure that surrounds the hair root and anchors the hair in the skin (dermis) – to shrink in people with a genetic predisposition. This process leads to thinning hair and, ultimately, hair loss. A high DHT level is, therefore, bad for hair. This is why inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase (and thus blocking the conversion of testosterone into DHT) is a goal.

Comprehensive clinical studies confirming the role of basil extract as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor have not yet been carried out. Dr. Golüke also confirms this. But: “There is certainly no harm in using basil extract on the scalp – provided, of course, that you are not allergic to the herb,” the dermatologist tells FITBOOK.

Where to buy basil extract and how to use it

Basil extract can be bought in well-stocked health food stores and drugstores or online. The application is uncomplicated. Massage about three pipette tips’ worth of the extract into the scalp and then comb through the hair, doing this up to three times a week. Naturally, smaller amounts applied with the fingers are sufficient for eyelashes and eyebrows.

Study: Rosemary oil works against hereditary hair loss

Rosemary oil, on the other hand, could be a more promising natural remedy for hair loss. In 2015, researchers compared the effects of minoxidil and rosemary on 100 test subjects^.1 One group used the chemical hair loss remedy twice a day for six months, while the other used rosemary oil. After six months, a significant increase in hair growth was observed in both groups. The rosemary oil also resulted in less scalp irritation. Rosemary oil could, therefore, be an effective method for treating hereditary hair loss. Application: Regularly massage a few drops into the scalp.

Another effective remedy for hair loss was discovered in 2024

In 2024, scientists at the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University in Pakistan investigated the effect of the naturally occurring sugar deoxyribose, which is involved in the formation of DNA, on mice. They discovered this rather by chance: Skin areas to which they had applied a corresponding sugar gel showed stimulated hair growth with strong individual hairs after a few weeks. Both minoxidil and the sugar gel promoted hair growth in the mice by 80 to 90 percent. Further research is currently underway.

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There may be a pathological cause behind hair loss

Home remedies are certainly worth considering for a moderate form of hair loss. In the event of sudden, conspicuous hair loss or circular hair loss, a dermatology practice should be consulted. This is because there may be a pathological cause behind it, as Golüke is aware. A hair root analysis and, if necessary, further examination would then provide clarity.