Help I'm Losing My Hair
Posted: Sunday, November 09, 2008
by Melanie Vonzabuesnig
VZ Botanicals
Horrified by my own reflection, I fell to the cool tile of my bathroom floor and sobbed uncontrollably. "Why God, why are you doing this?" I demanded. It was now impossible to conceal my baldness with the few strands of hair remaining on my scalp. It was inevitablesoon I would be completely bald.
It all began when I was seven years old. I can still remember the day. Mom sat me in a chair under the big oak tree in our yard and began brushing my long chestnut brown hair. The sun shone in my face as I dangled my bare feet in the soft green grass. This deeply relaxing ritual was abruptly interrupted when Mom discovered a small, perfectly round bald patch at the nape of my neck.
My parents carted me from doctor to doctor until we finally accepted the fact that there was no known cause or cure for the mysterious but common hair follicle disorder called alopecia areata. I didn't like it but I learned to live with it until many years later. At age 32 my hair started falling out by the handfuls. Within a two month period of time I lost about 90 percent of my hair.
Because all my medical tests came back normal, I was advised to get a good wig and get on with my life. With an ache in my heart and a sick feeling in my stomach I took a deep breath, and entered the wig shop. The sales person asked what my hair when I used to have hair looked like. She quickly proceeded to locate a dark brown shoulder length wig and plopped in on my head. "There" she said, "you look beautiful, just like a movie star". "I look like an Elvis impersonator," I cried as I flung the thick hairy bush off my head and left the shop. I didn't want to be bald. I didn't want to be Elvis. I just wanted to be me again and without hair that seemed impossible.
Eventually with the help of a hair stylist friend, I purchased a more suitable, natural looking wig. My friend also mentioned aromatherapy as a method known to help people with thinning hair and hair loss. Feeling hopeful, I purchased every book I could find.
Learning about how essential oils can help stimulate the scalp into producing new hair, was fascinating. Each oil had its own function such as cleansing, nourishing, increasing circulation, supplying oxygen, balancing ph levels etc.
As I continued experimenting, I learned which oils complemented each other and began mixing my own formulas. Every evening I massaged the essential oil blends into my scalp. Their soothing aroma seemed to lure me into a deep sleep. In the morning I washed the oils out. Instinctively I knew this was going to work for me.
Becoming absorbed in learning everything I could about the healing powers of aromatherapy allowed me to stop focusing on my hair loss. Taking control of my own health gave me a new sense of confidence. I learned that aromatherapy works on many different levels. It works in harmony with the body's own natural healing system.
Soon I felt an overall sense of well-being. I was beginning to look and feel better. Within three months of applying the oils I began to notice very fine, soft new hairs covering my scalp. Later the hair began to thicken and darken and I was finally able to discard my wig!
My new hair was dark, shiny and healthy looking. I vowed to keep it that way by continuing to use aromatherapy products and natural hair care products.
My love for aromatherapy has expanded beyond a hair loss remedy. Now, lining my bathroom shelves are 20 small amber glass bottles. Each bottle contains a different essential oil -- each one unique in it's aroma and healing properties. My family knows which bottle to pull out to help ward off a cold, reduce a fever, heal a burn, ease a headache or calm frazzled nerves!
Losing my hair was a painful, life changing experience. But it was this experience that led me to explore aromatherapy and to experience the beauty and power of nature's gentle yet potent healing products.
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)hi melanie,thank you for sharing your experience. my 2 nephews and niece have the same condition, but so far, they've kept their hair.they're all under 12, however.i will keep this in my favorite articles to refer to when i speak with my sister.this was a well written, interesting and helpful article,thank you and i hope you continue writing.welcome to searchwarp,best regards,sue thomHi Sue: Thanks for the support and for thw welcome!
It's an interesting article to say the least. It's to bad that we were not brought up learning about aromatherapy and natural cures.KathyThanks Kathy: I was fortunate to grow up with a mother who believed in natural cures so looking for natural alternative was instinctive for me. Fortunately we are experiencing a revival in natural alternative cures.
From despair brought hope with understanding of a new concept. Great Article and thank you for sharing.Hi Greg: I'm glad you found my article interesting. Thanks for the support.
Great article, Melanie. Helpful, well-written and informative. Hair loss is something that affects millions of people--mostly the men in my family. This article should be an interesting read for people with this problem. Keep up the good work and welcome to SearchWarp.SandraThanks for your kind comments and for welcoming me to this siye!
Hi Melanie.Very good article. You persevered and would not accept anything less than a full head of hair. The beauty of adversity is that it teaches us about our true strengths.DianneYes you are very right which is why I am so eager to help other women with hair loss issues. Thanks for your support!
Great article. You have shown courage and resourcefulness in your quest to maintain your hair. Congratulations.Thank you. It is my goal to help other in this situation to experience the subtle yet powerful effect of aromatherapy for hair loss.
Melanie, this is wonderful article. I once worked with a young lady whose hair just started to come out in wads. She wound up with very few hairs on her head.We lost track of her for some time but then ran into her several years later and she had a beautiful head of hair again. When asked about it she said she did not know what brought it back but she was thankful. I'm sure she tried most every thing she could to bring it back but did not know exactly what.Thank you. I'm glad your friend was able to grow her hair back. She probably had some sort of imbalance that temporarily disrupted the hair growth cycle. This is very common. Essential oil formulas can help speed up the recovery!
Hi Melanie,I started losing my hair several years ago so I can identify with your "horror".It turned out to be thyroid related and thankfully has grown back in. It also provides me a ready indicator when the thyroid is "off". I love aromatherapy too, the scents are glorious. ValThanks Val. The thyroid is involved in many cases of hair loss. I'm glad your hair grew back.
Thank you for sharing. My younger brother struggles with loosing his hair (it is in his genes). So I don't know if arometheraphy will help him, but I will let him know about it.
Thank you for your article and for inspiring so many people to take charge of their own health and explore alternatives to traditional medicine. I look forward to reading your books!
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