Alternative Healing news

Yes it can be extremely annoying and embarrassing having a scalp condition like dandruff, eczema, scalp infections or a nasty itchy red rash on your scalp.

If you are suffering from:

itchy scalp, sore scalp or do you have a flaky dry scalp with redness and rashes that drive you crazy?

scalp picking – do you constantly find yourself picking at & scratching?

oily scalp and limp hair leaving you feeling less than your best

embarrassing dandruff falling on your clothes

or even a fungal infection of your scalp…that can lead to lesions or scalp sores.

Hair falling out & patches on your scalp

Your instinct might be to pick up a product from the store shelf or your doctor. Most of these scalp treatments that promise relief from dry scalp conditions sound very attractive until you start reading the fine print.

Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)? What’s that? Why do you have to call a Poison Control Center if you accidentally swallow shampoo? And what are those warning labels on the back all about? What does it do to your head if it’s that toxic?

Stop! What you must know is that several chemicals, especially SLS, strip the natural oils from the skin and even corrode it, along with your eye membranes. Have you also noticed that your hair has been thinning? Well hair follicle damage is another little known but very common symptom of these chemicals.

Actually, most commercial shampoos & scalp treatments are designed to meet people’s “sensory” expectations…offering instant gratification and the illusion that they are doing their job. So therein lies the problem. For example adding silicone to conditioner induces an artificial shine but in truth can create problems long term including sensitivities.

Most people expect a shampoo to:

Foam up nicely

Smell good

Take all the so-called “nasty” oiliness out of their hair

Make their hair feel squeaky-clean

And that’s a reasonable ask – think about it…if your shampoo didn’t foam up, smell good, or leave your hair feeling squeaky-clean, would you trust it? Well, here’s the thing: 90% of commercial shampoos achieve the foaming effect using the equivalent of engine degreasers to strip off not only dirt and grime but also valuable natural oils that your scalp needs.

Yes –your scalp needs natural oils. Without them, your body has no natural defence – those oils are there for a reason! Your scalp needs to maintain a natural PH balance that if disturbed – can develop into a dry, itchy irritated scalp. The good news is that there are many natural remedies you can use with moisturising oils and natural powerful alternatives to heal & reverse any scalp problem by restoring balance safely. You can easily repair follicle and damage – even boost hair growth and use your own home remedy for scalp cell regeneration. There are also the artificial aromas that are added – its alarming the huge percentage of people who are mildly to severely averse or allergic to artificial scents – resulting in itchy scalp, skin rashes etc and we don’t even know it.

So what non toxic itchy scalp treatments and natural remedies can help? Well there are many non toxic shampoos which are nourishing and conditioning while still giving you’re the “foam effect”, they smell devine with the addition of the natural oils they contain. So you do have a choice and it does NOT have to cost you more – in fact most of them are less – you just have to know what to look for.

So lets have a look at natural oils for treating your scalp…

Here are some of my favorite natural oils you can use for hair & scalp treatments.

Zinc Pyrithione: Wonderful stuff for dandruff & itchy scalp conditions. First synthesized in the 1930′s, this is the most widely used active ingredient from a natural source. It’s used to treat dandruff, seborrheic dermatitus, psoriasis, eczema and numerous other skin and scalp disorders. It has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Jojoba: Is excellent as a scalp moisturiser and helps to rebalance sebum.

Tea Tree: Oily hair … Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands, enlivens the scalp and brings the cells & follicles to attention

Basil: Oily hair … promotes growth

Chamomile: Fine to normal hair … gives golden highlights

Clary sage: All types of hair … dandruff treatment

Lavender: Normal hair … Scalp treatment for itchiness, dandruff, and even lice!

Lemon: Oily hair … Gives golden highlights; treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands

Myrrh: Dry hair … Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands

Patchouli: Oily hair … Dandruff treatment

Peppermint: Dry hair … Promotes hair growth

Rose: Fine hair … Soothes scalp

Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil: Itchy Scalp, Dry Scalp Excellent for itchy scalp, dry scalp and dandruff

Rosemary: Oily hair … Dandruff treatment; promotes hair growth

Tea tree: Oily hair … Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands

Ylang-ylang: Oily hair … Dandruff treatment

Neem: … a wonder oil from India. Neem is amazing for all of the wonderful “stuff” it does. It’s also derived from a type of tree bark. Neem is an effective fungicide and insecticide (great for head lice when used with geranium, rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus oils). In clinical studies Neem extracts and oil were found to be as effective as coal tar and cortisone in treating psoriasis with none of the usual side effects accompanying the use of Neem as there was with Coal tar and cortisone. Neem extracts and oil removes redness and itching when applied directly to your scalp…and it’s a great skin conditioner. Best of all its excellent for relieving itching fast.

The best part of knowing that there are alternatives is that you can have mix these into super powerful blends like a super moisture boosting home remedy for dry scalp, or soothing itchy scalp treatments. Dry itchy scalp can be dealt with fast and permanently without spending a ton on traditional scalp med products.

Here’s just one easy remedy you can make today:

Home remedy for dry itchy scalp Take c oatmeal and soak in water for 20 mins. Mix well and then strain the liquid adding it to a cup. Add 5 drops lavender oil (or lavender stalks steeped in cup hot water. Add 5 drops rosemary (or rosemary stalks steeped in cup hot water. Allow to cool until tepid.

Mix the liquids together and dab on your scalp…leave in for 10 mins to soothe the itch. This a good temporary soother for itching. Chamomile tea is also soothing!

There are hundreds of ideas that are excellent scalp treatments from dandruff to scalp infections like scalp sores & psoriasis. These remedies combined with the knowledge of what causes itchy scalp and other scalp conditions will enable you to be free from itching, dryness and allow you to grow fabulously thick, shiny beautiful hair also…..so have fun experimenting and “luxuriating” by giving your hair a treat using the many natural gifts from nature that are right under our noses! There are also many natural shampoos that so not use these ingredients and do wonders for your hair such as Akin shampoo, and Thursday Plantation which is fantastic as an effective anti-dandruff shampoo.

I have included a few more remedies and uses for oils below. There are many many more in “Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies ” and a list of shampoos that are not toxic. They are nourishing & repairing for your scalp & hair.

SOOTHING & HEALING ANTIFLAMMATORY REMEDY: Apply a mixture of 1 teaspoon of Neem oil (antifungal & antiitching) 1 teaspoon Teatree or Manuka (also antifungal) which much stronger than teatree, one teaspoon of Rosemary oil and one teaspoon of Lavender oil together in 3 tablespoons of carrier oils such as Olive or Almond oil (Wheatgerm and Macadamia carrier oils closely match your natural sebum) and apply to your scalp daily.

Alternatively add the oils together minus the olive/almond oil to one cup if water in spray bottle and shake vigorously then spray on your roots. If you can get a teaspoon of hemp oil add that to the mix as well.

GARDEN REMEDY: Go to your garden and get 3 sprigs of Rosemary, and chop up and add to 3 tea bags of Chamomile tea. Boil gently, let cool, strain and rinse your hair with this liquid for a calming antiflammatory effect.

As with all remedies please patch test first and use at your own risk. And but only non toxic shampoos without ingredients that cause your head to react, flake itch and burn….plus more remedies in “Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies ”

Heres a little about the oils above which can be mixed to create various formulas to treat different conditions and add condition to your hair found in my eBook “Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies “.

Neem Oil: Derived from a type of tree bark it is an effective fungicide and insecticide (great for head lice when used with geranium, rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus oils). It has a very strong odor which can overpower other fragrances but its effectiveness is proven:

In clinical studies Neem extracts and oil were found to be as effective as coal tar and cortisone in treating psoriasis with none of the usual side effects accompanying the use of Neem as there was with Coal tar and cortisone.

When applied to the skin, Neem extracts and oil removes redness and itching while improving the condition of the skin while being treated. In the case of eczema clinical studies demonstrate that even the application of weaker Neem leaf extracts effectively cured acute conditions of eczema with the fresh cold pressed oil with its high concentration of active ingredients.

Neem effectively kills the bacteria that cause Acne and studies prove that Neem will reduce inflammation caused by acne and other bacterial infections.

Its also good for other skin conditions such as Dry Skin, Wrinkles, Dandruff, Itchy Scalp, Skin Ulcers and Warts which can be effectively remedied with soaps and other products containing Neem oil.

Lavender Oil: Lavender is known for its calming properties both emotional and physical. There are different varieties of lavender and certain ones are favored more than others for medicinal treatments. Lavender is effective to soothe itching from skin and sore scalp inflammations such as burning red itchy scalp, and dandruff to insect bites as well as having a powerful calming effect to treat scalp itching and irritated scalp as well as relax you and help you nod off to sleep.

In one study of 86 people with alopecia areata (a disease of unknown cause characterized by significant hair loss, generally in patches), those who massaged their scalps with lavender and other essential oils daily for 7 months experienced significant hair re-growth compared to those who massaged their scalps without the essential oils. It is not entirely clear from this study whether lavender (or a combination of lavender and other essential oils) was responsible for the beneficial effects. Scalp massage is also highly beneficial to stimulate follicles and blood supply to the skin’s surface.

Aromatherapists also use lavender as a tonic in inhalation therapy to treat headaches, nervous disorders, and exhaustion. Herbalists treat skin ailments, such as fungal infections (like candidiasis), dandruff, eczema of the scalp, wounds, scalp acne, with lavender oil. It is also used externally in a healing bath for circulatory disorders and as a rub for rheumatic ailments (conditions affecting the muscles and joints).

Which complementary and alternative medical journals are you reading? Some of the names may sound the same but there are important differences.
This comprehensive list of complementary and alternative medical journals may help you to decide which ones would best serve your practice:

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

For Naturopathic and complementary and alternative general practices (indexed on Pubmed)
Formerly known as Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery.
Internationally referenced.
Meets the broad ranging needs of the healthcare profession in the effective and professional integration of complementary therapies within clinical practice.
Provides rigorous peer reviewed papers addressing research, implementation of CIM in the clinical setting, legal and ethical concerns, evaluative accounts of therapy in practice, philosophical analysis of emergent social trends in CIM, excellence in clinical judgment, best practice, problem management, therapy information, policy development and management of change in order to promote safe and efficacious clinical practice.

Alternative Medicine Review

For Naturopathic and complementary and alternative general practices (indexed on Pubmed)
Open access.
Publishes literature reviews, original research, editorial comment, monographs and book reviews on topics relevant to CAM patients.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

For Naturopathic and complementary and alternative general practices (indexed on Pubmed)
Open access.
Publishes original peer-reviewed research articles in interventions and resources that complement or replace conventional therapies.
Specific emphasis on research that explores the biological mechanisms of action, as well as their efficacy, safety, costs, patterns of use and / or implementation.
Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine.

Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine

For Naturopathic and complementary and alternative general practices, also a good periodical for your waiting room (indexed on Pubmed)
Does not endorse any particular methodology but promotes the evaluation and appropriate use of all effective approaches from the physical to the transpersonal.
Publishes a variety of disciplined inquiry methods, including high-quality scientific research.
Encourages the integration of alternative therapies with conventional medical practices in a way that provides for a rational, individualized, comprehensive approach to healthcare.

Complementary Therapies in Medicine

For Naturopathic and complementary and alternative practices but less applicable to general practice (indexed on Pubmed)
Internationally peer-reviewed
Offers considerable appeal to anyone who seeks objective and critical information on alternative and complementary therapies or who wishes to deepen their understanding of these approaches.
Relevant to: 1. Healthcare practitioners including family practitioners, complementary therapists, nurses and physiotherapists, 2. Academics including social scientists and CAM researchers, 3. Healthcare managers and 4. Patients.

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

For Naturopathic and complementary and alternative practices but less applicable to general practice (indexed on Pubmed)
Observational and analytical reports on treatments outside the realm of allopathic medicine, which are gaining interest and warranting research to assess their therapeutic value.
Current concepts in clinical care, including case reports that will be valuable for health care professionals and scientists who are seeking to evaluate and integrate these therapies into patient care protocols and research strategies.

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM)

For Naturopathic and complementary and alternative practices but less applicable to general practice (indexed on Pubmed)
Internationally peer-reviewed.
Seeks to understand the sources and to encourage rigorous research in this new, yet ancient world of complementary and alternative medicine.
Applies scientific rigor to the study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities, particularly traditional Asian healing systems.
Emphasizes health outcome, while documenting biological mechanisms of action.
Devoted to the advancement of science in basic research, clinical studies, methodology and scientific theory in diverse areas of biomedical sciences.

Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (IMCJ)

For Naturopathic and complementary and alternative general practices (not indexed on Pubmed)
Provides practitioners with a practical and comprehensive approach to integrating alternative therapies with conventional medicine.
Published under the leadership of Joseph Pizzorno, ND, Editor in Chief, a co-founder and former president of Bastyr University.

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

For Naturopathic and complementary and alternative general practices (not indexed on Pubmed)
Provides the latest information on evaluating alternative therapies and integrating them into your clinical practice.
Topics include: botanical medicine, vitamins and supplements, nutrition and diet, mind-body medicine, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, ayurveda, indigenous medicine systems, homeopath, naturopathy, yoga and meditation, manual therapies, energy medicine and spirituality and health.

Complementary Health Practice Review

Less applicable to naturopathic and complementary and alternative general practices (not indexed on Medline)
One of the few resources that offers the cultural, social, demographic, political, economic and legal implications of the use of alternative and complementary therapies as well as original basic and applied research from a wide range of health and social science disciplines.
Every issue examines significant topics and trends that are shaping alternative and complementary health practice.
Original and peer-reviewed articles address theoretical aspects of holistic health and discuss educational, legal, legislative and policy developments influencing evidence-based complementary and alternative health practice.

Galen’s Watch is a journal watch focused on Naturopaths, Medical /Clinical Herbalists, Nutritionists, TCM Practitioners, Homeopaths, Midwives, Doulas, Aromatherapists and Alternative MDs. Articles with CAM relevance are hand-selected from over 80 complementary, alternative and mainstream peer reviewed medical journals and consumer news sources. Research is conducted by a Medical Herbalist and overseen by an advisory group of CAM practitioners.