Tree extract worth trying to encourage hair growth
Q: I’m a woman in my 60s, and my hair has been thinning for 10 years. Rogaine and several other products were no help. My hair is thinner than ever.
I’m so very upset about my hair that at times I cry. Before menopause, I had a full head of thick hair.
Can you recommend some home remedies for me? A: A recent study suggests that you might want to try Pycnogenol, an extract of the French maritime pine. Sixty-three women with an average age of 54 participated in a placebocontrolled trial of this supplement (Health Science Reports, January 2023). Those taking Pycnogenol had 30% more hair after two months and 23% more at six months. In addition, their scalps appeared to have better circulation than the women taking placebo. No unpleasant side effects appeared.
Pycnogenol is known for its ability to ease menopausal symptoms (Journal of Reproductive Medicine, January-February 2013). We wish there were bigger, better studies of this intriguing natural product.
Q: I’ve been on Armour thyroid for 35 years. Back then, I had all the typical signs of hypothyroidism: terrible fatigue, dry skin and trouble staying awake.
At first, my physician prescribed Synthroid. When it had almost no effect, he switched me to Armour thyroid. It was like I became alive again. Both T3 and T4 thyroid hormones have been in the range ever since, and I am active and awake. Have other people reported the same benefit?
A: Many readers with hypothyroidism agree that desiccated thyroid extract, or DTE, makes them feel better. There is even science to support this observation.
Q: I had a terrible bout of colitis, probably brought on by back-to-back usage of antibiotics. The doctor thinks the drugs messed up my gut bacteria.
The resulting constipation caused inflammation and infection. It was painful and scary, with two trips to the emergency department and a follow-up colonoscopy. Thankfully, the procedure revealed no abnormalities.
My GI doctor has recommended a daily probiotic. He also wants me to “keep the pipes open” through frequent use of MiraLAX and a fiber supplement.
The good news is that the fiber supplement seems to be lowering my cholesterol for the first time in 20 years!
I am concerned about the MiraLAX, though. Is there something more natural I can take? I like that it is effective without causing a real sense of urgency, but I worry about the unnatural ingredients.
A: Your laxative contains polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG3350), a compound which pulls fluid into the digestive tract to make stool softer and easier to pass. Japanese researchers, noting that most European studies lasted six months or less, undertook a yearlong study of safety and efficacy (Journal of Gastroenterology, September 2019). They found that it improved bowel function over the long term without any alarming side effects. Some did report stomachache, nausea or diarrhea.
In mice, PEG3350 changes the balance of the microbiome (Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Oct. 1, 2021). You might want to consume more foods high in fiber to encourage the repopulation of microbes in your digestive tract.
We recommend kiwi fruit. Researchers have found that it may work as well as or possibly even better than psyllium (Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Oct. 6, 2022).