What your hair and face reveal about your health

Stand in front of a mirror and stick out your tongue. Is your tongue’s surface smooth or cracked? Stroke your fingers across the back of your upper arm. Do you feel tiny bumps on the skin? You may never have noticed—but to a holistic doctor, such small physical signs provide clues to your health. Close observation gives me a sense of a patient’s problem even before I hear about symptoms or see lab test results—giving us a head start on healing.

In a two-part feature starting this month, I’ll take you on a top-to-bottom tour of the body, describing subtle signs that suggest health problems and outlining treatments. Unless noted, all products are sold at health-food stores or pharmacies and are safe for everyone (but if you take medication, check with your doctor before using them). In cases where my advice may differ from the instructions on product labels, I have recommended dosages. This month we’ll cover the hair and face…and next month, the rest of the body (including the arm and its mysterious bumps).

HAIR’S HEALTH CLUES

Brittle hair. Hair that breaks easily and has split ends may signal nutritional deficiencies. I suggest taking supplements of the mineral silicon at 5 mg daily…the sulfur compound methyl-sulfonylmethane (MSM) at 3,000 mg daily…and a vitamin B complex at 50 mg twice daily. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) also help, so take fish oil supplements with 500 mg to 1,000 mg of combined eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or two tablespoons daily of flaxseed oil, perilla oil or hemp seed oil. Helpful: Shampoo enriched with vitamin B-7 (biotin), such as Natural Biotin Hair Fortifying Shampoo (Jason Naturals, jason-natural.com).

Hair loss. It’s often blamed on genes, but for some men and most women, hair loss is actually due to excess cortisol (a stress hormone) or testosterone…or deficiencies of estrogen, progesterone or thyroid hormone. Low thyroid hormone also causes partial loss of the eyebrows. Such imbalances are associated with poor diet, stress, exposure to toxins or (for women) pregnancy or menopause. Hormone imbalances can be confirmed with saliva, urine and/or blood testing.

Mild cases of hair loss can be corrected in men and women with natural over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. Try…

The herbs saw palmetto (for men) or chasteberry (for women).

A cream containing progesterone (for women). Use under the supervision of a doctor—excessive dosages may cause irregular menstrual cycles.

If hair loss occurs at a time of high stress, also take oral supplements of…

The herb ashwagandha (in extract form).

An herbal relaxation formula with passionflower, oat straw and/or valerian root.

If these remedies don’t halt hair loss within six weeks, you may have a severe hormone imbalance. Talk to your doctor about bioidentical prescription hormone therapy.

Sensitive scalp. When patients report that it hurts to comb their hair, I suspect a deficiency of nutrients involved with nerve function. Solution: Daily supplements of vitamin D at 800 international units (IU) to 2,000 IU, plus 500 mg of magnesium in divided doses. Scalp pain also can be due to a sensitivity to shampoos or styling products. Switch to more natural hair products, available at health-food stores.

Dandruff. It doesn’t take a doctor to spot telltale flakes, but few people realize that dandruff often stems from nutritional deficiencies. Take a vitamin B complex at 50 mg twice daily…a multivitamin that includes 200 micrograms (mcg) of the mineral selenium…and EFAs, such as fish oil or flaxseed, perilla or hemp seed oil. Dandruff also may be linked to low stomach acid, which impedes nutrient absorption. Helpful: OTC tablets of betaine hydrochloride (which mimics stomach acid), at 500 mg to 700 mg three times daily with meals, plus the herbs gentian root and dandelion root, which stimulate stomach acid production. (Do not use these if you have an ulcer.)

SECRETS SEEN IN THE EYES

Bloodshot eyes. Persistent eye redness without nasal congestion suggests a food sensitivity, typically to dairy products, soy, sugar, wheat or gluten (a sticky protein found in wheat, rye and barley). To identify triggers, eliminate suspected foods from your diet, one by one, for several weeks to see if symptoms improve. Unique diagnostic tool: Noninvasive electrodermal testing, which measures the body’s electrical response—at acupuncture points and energy-flow meridians—to the foods being tested. (This test is available from holistic physicians and chiropractors.) Also, blood testing can measure the body’s production of antibodies in response to various foods. Foods that trigger reactions can be avoided…or a desensitization program that involves exposure to small but steadily increasing amounts of the allergen can “teach” the immune system to stop overreacting.

Dark circles. This classic sign of sleep deprivation also can indicate food allergies. Less often, dark circles suggest that the liver is not effectively removing toxins from the body. To improve liver function, eat carrots and beets or drink their juices…and take daily supplements of chlorella (a type of algae), plus the herbs milk thistle, dandelion root and wheatgrass.

Pale inner eyelids. When I gently pull down a patient’s lower eyelid, I hope to see a healthy pink-red color. A pale eyelid interior suggests iron-deficiency anemia—especially if the patient has bleeding hemorrhoids…has a heavy menstrual flow…or is a vegan (one who eats no meat, fish, dairy foods, eggs or honey). If blood tests confirm an iron deficiency, I prescribe 100 mg to 200 mg of chelated iron daily, to be taken only until test results return to normal.

EAR EXAM

Earwax. Excessive buildup often signals a food sensitivity or an EFA deficiency. To remove earwax, place two drops of warm (not hot) olive oil in the affected ear…leave in for one hour (lie on your side, ear up)…then rinse in the shower or bathtub. Repeat as necessary. OTC earwax removal products with peroxide can be used in a similar manner.

Popping noises. Often due to chronic serous otitis media (fluid behind the eardrum), these noises may be caused by an EFA deficiency or food sensitivities. Helpful: A naturopathic or osteopathic doctor or a chiropractor can gently manipulate the head and neck to release trapped fluid.

WHAT I KNOW FROM A NOSE

Runny nose. When red eyes accompany a runny nose, I suspect an environmental allergy—to pollen or dust mites, for example. For relief, take supplements of stinging nettle leaf and quercetin (an anti-inflammatory plant compound)…and rinse eyes twice daily with one ounce of saline solution mixed with five drops of the herb eyebright in tincture form.

Red nose. Flushing on the nose and cheeks that’s accompanied by red bumps may look like pimples, but it could be due to the inflammatory skin disease rosacea. Its cause is unknown, though there may be an underlying vascular problem. A bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori (which also causes stomach ulcers) may be associated with rosacea, too. Such an infection can be diagnosed with a blood test and treated with antibiotics or oral supplements of the amino acid zinc carnosine…the herbal preparation mastic gum…and/or betaine hydrochloride. Since bacteria on the skin may exacerbate problems, use a topical cream with the compound alpha lipoic acid. Too much estrogen and/or too little progesterone also may contribute to rosacea. Helpful: Hormone-balancing progesterone capsules or cream (for women)…or the herb burdock root in capsule form, at 500 mg three times daily (for men and women).

WHAT A MOUTH TELLS ME

Swollen gums. These usually indicate poor dental hygiene, but they also can suggest a deficiency of vitamin C or flavonoids (healthful plant pigments), especially if the patient bruises easily. Try 1,000 mg of vitamin C twice daily…plus 300 mg of grape seed extract daily. In a vegetarian or a person who takes cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, swollen gums suggest a deficiency of the naturally occurring nutrient coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), needed for basic cell function. Helpful: 100 mg to 200 mg of CoQ10 daily.

Pale or swollen tongue. A light red tongue is a sign of good health, but a pale pink tongue may indicate iron deficiency. A swollen, smooth, sore tongue suggests a deficiency of B vitamins. Blood tests can confirm deficiencies, and supplements or injections can correct the problem.

White tongue coating. A thin coating is normal, but a thick white coating suggests a Candida albicans yeast infection—either limited to the mouth or reflecting an overgrowth of yeast in the digestive tract. It is common with long-term use of anti-biotics. Restrict simple sugars…eat yogurt with live cultures…take antifungal herbs, such as oregano oil…and take probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium, to restore beneficial bacteria to the digestive tract.

Rough tongue. Grooves in the middle of the tongue plus a sticky coating of mucus are associated with chronic digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or ulcerative colitis. Scalloped indentations on the sides of the tongue suggest liver or gallbladder problems. Solutions: A more healthful diet…digestive enzyme supplements, such as Enzymedica Digest Gold (888-918-1118, www.enzymedica.com), taken with meals…herbs to aid digestion, including ginger and gentian root…and/or herbs that support liver and gallbladder function, such as milk thistle, turmeric, artichoke and dandelion.

Splotchy tongue. Small bumps called papillae normally cover the tongue’s upper surface. Smooth, sensitive splotches amidst the bumpiness result from the loss of papillae on certain areas, creating a “geographic tongue.” Likely cause: Vitamin B deficiency. Take 50 mg of a vitamin B complex twice daily. Also try: The homeopathic remedy Taraxacum (derived from dandelion root). Take two pellets of a 30C potency twice daily for two weeks.

CHEEK CHECKUP

Sunken cheeks. Few American doctors realize that hollow cheeks can indicate a deficiency of cortisol or growth hormone. Saliva or blood testing can identify the problem, which then can be treated with hormone therapy, if necessary.

Puffy cheeks. I can tell whether a woman takes birth control pills because her puffy cheeks are a tip-off. Daily supplements of 50 mg of vitamin B-6 and 500 mg of magnesium help the liver to process the estrogen from the pills, reducing water retention.

Now that you know what to watch for, give your head a good look. If you notice any of the signs above, talk to your doctor—who will applaud your diagnostic skills.

WRINKLE REDUCERS

Some people count (and curse) each line, while others accept facial wrinkles as an inevitable part of aging. But the primary culprit often is a history of suntanning. For a smoother complexion…

Use sunscreen (which also guards against skin cancer). Avoid sunscreens with preservatives called parabens, which mimic estrogen and may be associated with some breast malignancies.

A diet rich in antioxidants—found in fruits (especially berries), vegetables (particularly broccoli), legumes and grains—prevents cell damage, which can worsen wrinkling.

The carotenoid lycopene absorbs ultraviolet rays and helps prevent skin damage. Good sources: Watermelon, pink grapefruit, tomatoes and tomato sauce.

Antioxidant creams minimize damage to collagen and skin cell DNA. Try: A cream that combines vitamin C, CoQ10, and the antioxidants alpha lipoic acid and dimethylethanolamine (DMAE), such as Rejuvenating Skin Cream from University Compounding Pharmacy (ucprx.com)

In postmenopausal women, a topical prescription cream with estriol (a weak estrogen) may improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles.

 

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