Can ashwagandha cause or treat hair loss? Learn more about this adaptogen supplement here.
Ashwagandha has been around the health & wellness block once or twice. It’s an adaptogenic herb thought to help the body adapt to stress. If you’re dealing with hair loss, or excessive shedding you might be wondering if ashwagandha could be the cause or a solution.
While ashwagandha is thought to help your body deal with stress, and anxiety, could that impact hair growth?
In this article, we’ll explore ashwagandha hair benefits, whether or not it causes hair loss, and discuss other hair loss treatments.
Currently, there is no evidence to support ashwagandha as a hair loss treatment.
However, if you’re losing hair or experiencing sudden excessive shedding due to stress, anxiety, or you’ve recently gone through a traumatic event, ashwagandha might be able to help indirectly.
Research shows a link between long-term stress and changes in the hair growth cycle, suggesting stress may impact new hair growth.
Additionally, cortisol, the infamous stress hormone, may impact hair follicles.
Because ashwagandha is famed for its ability to reduce stress levels, you could find benefit in using it for stress-related hair loss.
Beyond this connection, ashwagandha does not directly impact the hair cycle or the hair follicles.
Currently, there is no link between ashwagandha and hair loss.
It’s worth noting that the most common cause of hair loss is not medication or supplement side effects. While this shouldn't be totally ruled out when looking for the cause of thinning or balding, it’s not where experts start asking questions first.
The most common cause of hair loss for both men and women is a condition called androgenetic alopecia.
If you were to get a hair loss consultation, one of the first questions an expert would ask you is: “Is there a family history of hair loss?”
Because the main cause of hair loss is genetics.
If you're dealing with stress-induced hair loss, it really might be worth it to start taking ashwagandha to help recover from stress. But, for all other reasons, look elsewhere for hair loss solutions.
Let’s cover some tried and true hair loss treatments geared toward diffuse thinning, balding, and receding hairline.
Let's briefly talk about how androgenetic hair loss treatment works.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen closely related to hair loss. Those who deal with androgenetic alopecia often have a genetic sensitivity to DHT.
Exposure to DHT can cause hair follicle miniaturization, leading to thinning and eventual balding. If left untreated, this androgen can cause permanent follicle damage and irreversible hair loss.
This is why treating hair loss early, with DHT-blocking medications, can be game changing. DHT-blockers like Dutasteride and Finasteride prevent the formation of DHT. (Stopping the conversion from testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.)
Less DHT means less androgenetic-related hair loss.
Dutasteride, an off-label hair loss treatment, has a high success rate. Studies indicate hair growth improvements in more than 80% of users.
These medications can be used in either a tablet or topical form. Topical treatments get the medication right where you want it: on your scalp. This is often preferred to “all over” treatment via oral tablets.
Minoxidil was the first FDA-approved treatment for androgenetic alopecia.
You’ve likely heard about this treatment via the brand name Rogaine®.
This topical solution is used for hair loss for its ability to boost blood flow to the hair follicles. More blood flow to the hair follicle triggers and sustains hair growth.
While this medication does not stop DHT from binding to the hair follicle receptors, it does support new growth. At Strut Health, we take a combination approach that focuses on both DHT-blocking and kick-starting new growth with Minoxidil.
Strut’s approach to hair loss is multifaceted—because that’s what works.
Our premium topical solutions target hair loss with DHT-blockers to stop hair loss and Minoxidil to stimulate new growth. With exfoliating Tretinoin to enhance absorption, our formulas deliver everything you need to combat androgenic hair loss effectively.
Ashwagandha is not known to cause hair loss, nor is it a proven treatment for regrowing hair. However, its ability to reduce stress may indirectly help those experiencing stress-related hair shedding.
Key Takeaways:
Bottom Line: If your hair loss is stress-induced, ashwagandha might help as part of a stress-management plan. But for other types of hair loss, clinically backed treatments from Strut Health are your best bet.
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