* In a recent study, one third of 773 individuals involved in a road accident as a driver, bicycle rider or pedestrian experienced some level of anxiety, depression, fear of travel or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 3 to 12 months later and, in most cases, persisted. After one year, about half the group had phobic travel anxiety, nearly 60 per cent had general anxiety, and half were diagnosed with PTSD (Am J Psychiatry, 2001; 158: 1231-8).

* New research in nearly 1300 men suggests that, during a severe asthma attack, men are less likely than women to notice the symptoms of the attack. The reason for this is unclear, but it may be that men perceive less discomfort because of greater lung size and muscle strength, or because they generally develop asthma at an earlier age than women. Men also tend to only seek medical attention when symptoms are too severe to ignore, the researchers noted (Ann Emerg Med, 2001; 38: 123-8).

* What’s lurking in that paddling pool? Physicians in Canada have found the first outbreak of a new type of Pseudomonas infection called ‘hot foot syndrome’. This discovery was made when 40 children, aged 2 to 15, developed intense pain in the soles of their feet within 40 hours of using the same wading pool. A hot, red swelling began after a few hours, along with pain so severe that the children were unable to stand up. Three children were given oral cephalexin (an antibiotic) while the others were treated with cold compresses, analgesics and foot elevation. In all cases, the condition resolved within 14 days, although it recurred in three children after they revisited the same pool (N Engl J Med, 2001; 345: 335-8).

Her background is interesting and includes a very unusual occupation, which is worth recounting. Originally, she had come from the village of Bata in central Hungary, where they have a deep-rooted tradition of painting intricate designs onto Easter eggs. Painted eggs are even sent as a declaration of love.

Ever since she was a child, Mrs M.C.R. has painted eggs, usually using emptied eggshells. Her egg-emptying technique is to prick a hole in one end and then suck out the liquid contents. She has done this with all the eggs she’s painted so, since childhood, she has consumed vast quantities of raw egg.

Tests were done to check for food allergies (eggs) and chemical sensitivities (paints). Other tests looked at her female hormone levels (hair loss), checked for diabetes (tingling in the extremities) and probed for ‘leaky-gut syndrome’ (skin rash). But they all revealed nothing remarkable.

She then underwent a test for white blood cell pyruvate carboxylase activation, which is a way of checking biotin levels. This indicated a pronounced biotin deficiency, which is very rare. Biotin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin, and a protein in raw egg white called ‘avidin’ binds to biotin and prevents its absorption. But when egg white is cooked, the avidin is rendered unable to bind to biotin and prevent its uptake (Mock OM, Biotin, in Shils M et al., eds. Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th edn. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1999: 459-66).

I suggested that she should increase her consumption of food sources that are rich in biotin, such as liver, yeast and egg yolk (in cooked eggs), and also take a 30-mcg biotin supplement daily (1 mg = 1000 mcg). I also told her to empty the eggs she decorated only by blowing out their contents.

Biotin is not known to be toxic, but possible interactions with other supplements, medications (such as anticonvulsants) or herbs would need to be ruled out by a competent professional.

Gradually, over the next three months, Mrs M.C.R.’s symptoms improved. Although she stopped losing her hair, what hair she had already lost unfortunately did not regrow. Nevertheless, all of her other symptoms – the ugly red rashes, the lethargy and her depression as well as the peripheral neuropathy in hands and feet – completely disappeared.

Harald Gaier
Harald Gaier is a registered naturopath, osteopath, homoeopath and herbalist. He can be contacted at The Diagnostic Clinic, London, tel: 020 7009 4650

Dr Robert Wise and associates identified 60 cases of hair loss between 1978 and 1995, though the FDA only had nine on file. One mother told the FDA her child’s hair fell out on two separate occasions shortly after injections of the hepatitis B vaccine.

Dr Samuel Sepkowitz from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, says since the report was published he has been notified of an average of one case of hair loss due to vaccination per week (JAMA, 1998; 279: 117-8).

Researchers from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated 60 cases reported since 1984. Of these, 46 had been given the hepatitis B vaccination, and the majority of cases involved women, including young girls.

They estimate that up to 50,000 Americans suffer from alopecia after immunization every year.

Women seem to be at greater risk of developing alopecia.

The FDA decided to investigate the link when a concerned mother telephoned them in 1994 about her daughter, who lost virtually all of her hair after being given a second and third dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.

In most cases the hair grew back, although the recovery period varied from patient to patient. Of the 60 cases investigated, nine patients had reported previous allergies to medication (JAMA, 1997; 278: 1176-8).

For more information see WDDTY’s Vaccination Bible.

* Zinc. This is crucial for regulating more than 100 enzymes. One study found a significant reduction in 5-alpha-reductase activity in rat prostate tissue previously injected with zinc (Andrologia, 1993; 25: 369-75). Another study found that this inhibitory effect of zinc was increased when taken with vitamin B6 (Br J Dermatol, 1988; 119: 627-32).

However, a word of caution: stick to the recommended dosages of 15-30 mg/day, as higher amounts can lead to copper deficiency which, in turn, results in – you guessed it – hair loss.

* Azelaic acid. This naturally occurring substance, found on the skin, is a potent inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase even at low levels. Combined with zinc, the two inhibitors had an additive effect (Br J Dermatol, 1988; 119: 627-32). Azelaic acid is available over the counter as a cream or lotion.

* Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). This antiandrogenic herb lowers dihydrotestosterone in two ways: it cuts down its production by lowering levels of 5-alpha-reductase; and stops its absorption by blocking its receptors on cell membranes.

A study of saw palmetto extract for treating mild-to-moderate male pattern baldness found improved hair growth in 60 per cent of the subjects (J Altern Complement Med, 2002; 8: 143-52). A common dosage is around 300 mg/day.

* Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Along with certain other unsaturated fatty acids, GLA is thought to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase activity – at least in animals. This study also found GLA to have low toxicity and no risk of systemic side-effects (J Invest Dermatol, 1997; 109: 152-7). Nevertheless, it’s worth remembering that the results of animal studies cannot be counted on as they don’t necessarily apply to humans.

Evening primrose oil is a rich source of GLA, and the recommended dosage ranges from 50-100 mg/day to as much as 700 mg/day.

* Silica. Although not, strictly speaking, a hair-growth stimulant, silica is a mineral recognised for strengthening existing hair, and maintaining its thickness and colour. Good food sources of silica include potatoes, cucumbers, brussels sprouts, and green and red peppers.

There is no recommended dose for silica. However, most of the commercial nutritional supplements containing this trace element use around 10-15 mg per dose.

* Traditional Chinese medicine. TCM practitioners believe that hair loss is linked to weak kidneys, and the usual treatment includes tonics or herbs to strengthen those organs. Other symptoms related to weak kidneys are fatigue, lower back pain and general physical weakness.

* Aromatherapy. The results of a randomised, double-blind study suggest that three drops each of the essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedarwood, when mixed with 30 mL each of jojoba and grapeseed carrier oils, improved the symptoms of alopecia areata (patchy hair loss). When massaged into the scalp every night for seven months, this oil mixture stimulated new hair growth in 44 per cent of users (Arch Dermatol, 1998; 134: 1349-52).

* Ayurvedic medicine. This form of traditional Indian medicine often uses Brahmi (Centella asiatica, gotu kola) or bhringarag (Eclipta alba) oils for hair loss. The Ayurvedic tradition believes that hair is a byproduct of bone formation.

Since hair loss is (so far) irreversible, the liquid needs to be rubbed onto the head regularly, and for life. Even if the application works, once you stop, the hair falls out again. The problem is that the hair does not just grow back on the head, but stimulates unwanted hair growth all over the body. Applied to sensitive scalps, the drug could cause a skin-rash reaction.

More seriously, topical minoxidil can cause fluid retention (resulting in weight gain) and tachycardia (increased heart rate) as well as angina. Rogaine may need to be taken in conjunction with a beta-blocker.

Due to unacceptable symptoms, I requested to cease HRT in 1997, and so it was stopped suddenly and without monitoring. However, my health continued to deteriorate. I requested a TFT [thyroid function test] and the results were: TSH [thyroid-stimulating hormone] 3.48; T4 22.00. I was informed this was normal and was prescribed diazepam [a neurodepressant] and amoxycillin [an antibiotic], which made my symptoms worse.

With deteriorating health, severe weight and hair loss, gum shrinkage and dry mouth, I contacted the GP; another TFT was done and again I was informed that the results were normal.

In October 1998, I again visited the GP as my fatigue was extreme but, as I tried to explain my symptoms, the GP showed me the door.

In January 1999, I was admitted to hospital for three days. My TSH was 47.22 (T4 15.3), but no one told me. I was discharged without medical care. In May, I was prescribed HRT again with thyroxine for my symptoms. In June, I was found to be folate deficient. I saw a rheumatologist in October, and the HRT was stopped. My hair grew back and my blackouts ceased, although the rashes on my face, and the burning mouth and gums, persisted.

In October 2000, the abnormal TFT results were found in my medical records.

In 2001, I saw an endocrinologist who acknowledged the severe illness from 1997; the problems I had with HRT were not disputed.

My health has been permanently changed. The distressing, painful symptoms persist, although thyroid function has remained stable for a while. The aches and pains are almost unbearable.

All of this would have been avoided if HRT had not been prescribed to me in the first place. – Shirley Johns, Plymouth

Interferon has been tested on MS patients for about 10 years, a therapy that has increased following some early, hopeful studies. Not that this is a unique approach. Interferon has become the great hope in treating a range of chronic diseases, including cancer.

But does it really work, and what does the drug do to the quality of life of the sufferer? A meta-review of seven trials suggests that the early optimistic soundings were premature. Worse, the side effects from the treatment were common and, in some cases, made the patient seriously ill.

Half of all patients given interferon suffered ‘flu-like symptoms, while one-third had fever or myalgia. Nearly half had headaches or reported hair loss, and 20 per cent had serious psychiatric disorders.

And to add insult to the injury, the treatment was ineffective, especially after the first year.

(Source: The Lancet, 2003; 361: 545-52).

There are no magic formulas despite the claims. But one preparation, which started out life as a heart drug, appears to help. While it is not clear exactly how it works, minoxidil (Regaine-Rogaine in the US) may act on the follicle, stimulating hair growth.

It works best in the very early stages of hair thinning or loss. It can take up to a year before any results are seen and then these last only while the drug is still being used. On the plus side, minoxidil does seem to slow down progressive hair loss.

Side effects to watch out for are: chest pain, dizziness, rapid heartbeat and other signs that it is affecting your blood pressure. (Oral minoxidil available on prescription only is still used for hypertension.) While Regaine is a topical application and the amount absorbed into the scalp is minimal, exceeding the recommended twice daily dose is not advised.

A:As many as two thirds of men and two fifths of women can expect some degree of hair loss by the time they reach their mid 40s to 50s. Hair growth is characterized by alternating periods of growth and rest. There are different types and different causes. Anagen effluvium results from the body’s exposure to certain internally administered drugs (such cytotoxic drugs used in cancer treatment and chemotherapy).

Hair usually falls out early in its growth phase. Telogen effluvium is a natural loss of mature hair prompted by new hair growing in the follicle below.

Alopecia disseminata (or alopecia diffusa) is hair loss from the scalp and elsewhere caused by a nutritional deficiency (especially lack of zinc or iron), a dysfunction of the thyroid gland, a polluting intoxicant or chronic and generalized illness.

Nobody really understands the cause of hair loss. One theory, yet to be proved, is that when there are well defined round or oval bald patches alopecia areata it is an autoimmune reaction (Townsend Letter for Docs & Patients, January 1996; 68-74).

Some practitioners offer ultraviolet treatment (PUVA) but research does not support the use of this, since it is not very effective and exposure to UVA radiation carries potential long term side effects (Br J Derm, 1995; 133: 914-8).

Minoxidil (sold under the name Rogaine in the US; Regain in the UK) is made by Upjohn, and has around a 26-30 per cent success rate. The problem with it is two fold. First of all it was not originally intended for use as hair loss treatment. Instead its primary use is as an anti hypertensive (Loniten). According the the Physicians’ Desk Reference it has many side effects including significant water and salt retention leading to edema. Its use has been associated with gastrointestinal upsets, breast tenderness, skin rashes and increased heart rate. It is contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women.

You should not use minoxidil if you have hypertension. Use of the topical solution has been associated with rashes and allergic reactions. Women using minoxidil are five times more likely to experience unpleasant side effects in other parts of their bodies including respiratory difficulties, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and muscle aches and pains. Also, once you start using minoxidil you must keep using it. Once the treatment is discontinued, the regrown hair will fall out again.

Two more natural preparations have shown promise in helping restore hair loss. Thymu Skin (New Action Products, 147 Ontario Street, Buffalo, New York, 14207, USA; phone: 001 716 873 3738; fax: 001 716 873 6621) is made primarily from biologically active calf thymus extract combined with various botanicals such as aloe vera, nettle, birch, vitamins and fatty acids plus other immune system boosters. Its advantage is that while you are regrowing your hair you are also boosting your immune system. Its success rate for men is around 60 per cent. For women it’s a bit higher.

Thymu Skin has been tested in Germany in three placebo controlled, double blind studies and was effective in all kinds of hair loss except alopecia disseminate. For this condition the underlying cause of the hair loss must also be treated for maximum effect (Deutche Dermat, 1991; 39: 945-6; Effahrungsheilkunde, 1993; 3: 144-9; German Dermat, 1993: 3-8).

Another herbal preparation which has shown promise is HairPrime (Universal Biologics, 3920 Cypress Drive, Suite D, Petaluma California, 94954, USA; phone: 001 707 765 3080; FAX: 001 707 765 8355; web:http:// www. unibio.com). A recent study (J Derm Treat, 1996; 7: 159-62) showed that after 40 weeks of treatment with this solution total mean hair count increased by 77 per cent in the treatment group, compared to 3 per cent in the placebo group. Overall 90 per cent of the patients showed increased hair growth compared with 33 of the placebo group. Another study showed similarly encouraging results (Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, November 1996); 68-72).

Some of the success of these natural preparations may be the nutritional supplements which are part of the regime. So, you might want to get your son checked out for various mineral deficiencies. Low levels of vitamin B, zinc and iron can all cause hair loss.