Tag Archives: Herbalism

Big Shiny Hair

Ho/He Shu Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) is a Chinese herb known to restore hair color, and is named after the herbalist  Mr. He, who used it to maintain his own jet-black hair color well into his seventies. It is one of few Chinese herbs that rebuilds kidney essence, and is considered an adaptogen (stress manager) in the West.

Rapunzel’s Recipe?

Here’s a topical treatment for hair loss courtesy of my botanical medicine professor:

1-3 drops of Rosemary oil (Rosmarinus officinalis) mixed into 1-2 tsp of almond oil (prevents the rosemary oil from burning, but you may find you do not need to mix).

After bathing, work oil well into the affected area of the scalp.  Rosemary’s essential oil will help stimulate/activate the cells to function properly (produce hair).

Note: if you think you have a pathological condition responsible for your hair loss (i.e. redness, scaliness, flaking, oozing, bleeding) then please seek medical advice either by an ND or an MD before attempting this treatment.

Sleeping Remedies – Watch Out For Hops!

Most sleeping remedies sold in health and grocery stores contain a blend of constituents. One of these constituents is Hops (Humulus lupulus), and yes this is the same Hops found in beer. While this is fine for female use, men should be aware that long-term effects of Hops can include the growth of male breast tissue, as well as a decrease in libido. So if you are a dude who has no desire to grow breasts, and just so happens to enjoy sex, then you may not want to hop to the isle for this sleeping aid (and maybe consider switching to hard liquor).