TLDR Herbal plants may help treat hair loss with fewer side effects than synthetic drugs.
This review explores the potential of herbal plants as treatments for alopecia, a condition affecting up to 2% of the global population. While synthetic drugs like minoxidil and finasteride are effective, they may have side effects, prompting interest in natural remedies. The review identifies several medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could reduce baldness, including Eclipta alba, Arctium lappa, Centella asiatica, Morinda citrifolia, Acorus calamus var. angustatus, and Alpinia zerumbet. The study gathered data from databases like Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, highlighting the promise of these natural compounds as alternative treatments with fewer side effects.
March 2023 in “Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine” Oral and topical finasteride are effective and safe for treating female hair loss.
December 2021 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature” Topical finasteride is promising for hair loss with minimal side effects but needs more research and approval.
3 citations,
May 2020 in “Journal of The Korean Medical Association” Minoxidil and finasteride are effective for treating hair loss, with dutasteride showing potential but with side effects.
August 2018 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride helps female-pattern hair loss.
November 2014 in “PharmaTutor” Finasteride may help postmenopausal women with hair loss but is not effective for all and should be used cautiously in premenopausal women.
35 citations,
February 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride significantly improves hair growth but may cause sexual side effects.
92 citations,
October 2002 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride improves hair loss in women with hyperandrogenism.
10 citations,
June 2001 in “PubMed” Finasteride is effective in growing hair and stopping hair loss in men with mild to moderate alopecia.
581 citations,
October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride safely and effectively treats male pattern hair loss, but may cause reversible sexual issues and harm male fetuses.
