Through the ages, man has struggled to come up with a cure for hair loss. Everything from hair transplant surgery to herbal products has been tried. It is interesting to look at some of the ancient lotions and potions that have been used to stimulate hair regrowth. In ancient Egypt, the Egyptians applied chopped lettuce patches to bald spots. They associated lettuce with the Egyptian god of virility called min. They also used fir tree extracts as another ancient hair regrowth formula. They extracted the resin and made an infusion from the needles and then massaged it into their scalps.
The Egyptians also tried other things such as Castor oil to encourage hair regrowth. Mixed with sweet almond oil to improve the aroma, it made the formula smoother and easier to spread. Even back in Egyptian times, man experienced male pattern baldness. They believed that thick hair was proof of virility and often improved on their own growth, including the addition of wigs that were made from sheep's wool and human hair. The ancient Africans steeped flowers in olive oil and made fragrant hair tonics as well to encourage hair regrowth. They also used avocado leaves to make infusions, as they were ideal for treating any problems relating to the scalp.
In India, in order to stimulate hair regrowth and deal with male pattern baldness, they boiled sage leaves in coconut oil and applied the blackened residue to their scalps and hair. The Indians were ingenious and also mixed coconut milk with a pinch of black pepper and Fenugreek powder. Indian gooseberries were also boiled in coconut oil and used as a hair tonic to stimulate hair regrowth. Even in the rain forests of South America, the Taiwano Indians had scalp problems and used heated extract of banana as a hair loss remedy. And finally in Victorian America, hair regrowth was achieved by applying a mixture of cologne, the spirit of camphor, and tincture of cantharides directly to the hair roots each night. They prescribed vigorous hair brushing as part of regular hair care treatment. A stiff brush was supposed to keep the hair shiny and soft, while a soft brush was believed to stimulate hair regrowth. Today there are many hair loss solutions on the market, and it pays to do your homework before you purchase.
