If you watched our webinar “What is the Right Supplement for Me?” on January 27th, it can be found on our website here for those who missed it, you would have heard us talk about a number of important ingredients that you should look for in a hair loss supplement. One ingredient that we discussed that many patients may not be as familiar with is Ashwagandha Root. When thinking of important ingredients for hair loss supplements, Ashwagandha Root may not come to mind for most people, but it is actually quite important.
Ashwagandha is a small shrub that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. It is an ancient medicinal herb that has been used for over 3,000 years[i]. Specifically, extracts of the plant’s root have been used to treat a variety of medical problems. Ashwagandha Root is known as an adaptogen, which means that it can help reduce stress in the body. In 2012, a double blind study was conducted over a 60 day period and found that the treatment group had a significant reduction in scores on the stress assessment scales compared to the placebo group[ii].
So why is this important? Hair loss in women is typically a multifactorial condition, meaning it has more than one cause. One of the biggest contributing factors is stress. When stress levels are consistently high or you have an extremely stressful event, this can cause a shock to your system. In terms of your hair, this can actually cause an unusually high number of hairs to move to the telogen phase, which is also known as the resting phase and no more growth occurs. This is what causes increased shedding. Supplements that contain Ashwagandha Root have been known to help combat stress, which gives you a better chance for healthier hair. Ashwagandha Root can be found in the Tresse Fortifier supplement, which is part of the TresseRx supplement plan.
Before starting any hair loss supplement, we recommend meeting with a hair loss specialist and medical practitioner that can ensure that it is the right supplement for you.
Posted by Your Medi Tresse Team
[i] Mirjalili MH, Moyano E, Bonfill M, Cusido RM, Palazón J. Steroidal lactones from Withania somnifera, an ancient plant for novel medicine. Molecules. 2009 Jul 3;14(7):2373-93. doi: 10.3390/molecules14072373. PMID: 19633611; PMCID: PMC6255378.
[ii] Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012 Jul;34(3):255-62. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.106022. PMID: 23439798; PMCID: PMC3573577.
