hair loss

            

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 3 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 3 to 4 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.
 

 common baldness:

"Common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. It is also called androgenetic alopecia. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.


 causes excessive hair loss:

A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, high blood pressure or heart problems, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.

Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.




 hair loss classified"

There are numerous ways to classify hair loss. One useful way has been to classify hair loss by whether the loss is localized (small area) and patchy or whether it affects large areas or the whole scalp (diffuse). Other medical classifications for hair loss include scarring versus non-scarring hair loss and are beyond the scope of this article.

Patchy hair loss:

Some conditions produce small areas of hair loss, while others affect large areas of the scalp. Common causes of patchy hair loss are

    alopecia areata (small circular or coin size patches of scalp baldness that usually grow back within months),
    traction alopecia (thinning from tight braids or ponytails),
    trichotillomania (the habit of twisting or pulling hair out),
    and tinea capitis (fungal infection).

 alopecia areata:

A common condition, alopecia areata usually starts as a single quarter-sized circle of perfectly smooth baldness. Alopecia patches usually regrow in three to six months without treatment. Sometimes, hair grows back in white. In another variant, alopecia can produce two or three bald patches. When these grow back, they may be replaced by others. The most extensive form is called alopecia totalis, in which the entire scalp goes bald. It's important to emphasize that patients who have localized hair loss generally don't go on to lose hair all over the scalp. Alopecia can affect hair on other parts of the body, too -- for example, the beard or eyebrow.

Alopecia areata is generally considered an autoimmune condition, in which the body attacks itself (in this case its own hair follicles). Most alopecia patients, however, do not have systemic problems and need no medical tests. While alopecia areata has frequently been blamed on "stress," in fact, it may be the other way around; that is, having alopecia may cause stress.

Treatments for alopecia areata include injecting small amounts of steroids like triamcinolone into affected patches to stimulate hair growth. Although localized injections may not be practical for large areas, often this is a very effective treatment in helping the hairs return sooner. Other treatments such as oral steroids, immunosuppressives, or ultraviolet light therapy are available for more widespread or severe cases but may be impractical for some because of potential side effects or risks. In most mild cases, patients can easily cover up or comb over the affected areas. In more severe and chronic cases, some patients wear hairpieces; nowadays, some men shave their whole scalp now that this look has become fashionable.

traction alopecia:
This is a small or localized hair loss area caused by repetitive or persistent pulling or force on hair roots. Tight braids and ponytails can pull hard enough on hairs to make them fall out. If this happens, it's best to choose hairstyles that put less pressure on hair roots. The sooner this is done the better to avoid permanent damage.

 trichotillomania:

This refers to the habit of someone voluntarily pulling at their own hairs or twisting them, sometimes without realizing it. The scalp and eyelashes are often affected. Unlike alopecia areata patches, which are perfectly smooth, hair patches in trichotillomania show broken-off hairs. Treatment is often entirely behavioral: You have to notice that you're doing it and then consciously stop. Severe or resistant cases may require stress counseling with a therapist or psychologist or medical treatment with a psychiatrist. Several antidepressant or anxiety medications have been shown to potentially help with this condition.

 tinea capitis:

Tinea is the medical word for fungal infection, and capitis means head. Tinea capitis is fungal infection of the scalp that for the most part affects school-age children. Tinea capitis is more common in black African or African-American scalps. This condition is rare in healthy adults. Bald spots usually show broken-off hairs. Oral antifungals are needed to penetrate the hair roots and cure the infection after which hair grows back. It is contagious from sharing hats or combs and brushes.

 generalized (diffuse) hair loss:


This is an overall hair thinning without specific bald spots or patterns. While this type of hair loss may not be noticeable to others, often the individual will feel their hair is not as thick or full as it previously was. Common conditions in this category are

    telogen effluvium (rapid shedding after childbirth, fever, or sudden weight loss);
    androgenetic or androgenic hair loss ("male-pattern baldness," "female-pattern baldness").


 telogen effluvium:


Under normal conditions, scalp hairs live for about three years (the anagen, or growing, phase); they then enter the telogen, or resting, phase. During the three-month telogen period, the hair root shrivels up into a small white "club," then the hair falls out. It is therefore normal to lose about 100 hairs every day, more of them on days when shampooing loosens the hairs that are ready to fall out. The hairs are then replaced by the body.

Sometimes people worried about losing their hair start noticing hairs on their pillow or in the sink, not realizing that they've always been there. A close look at these will usually reveal the white club at the end, showing that these hairs were already dead. Normally, about 10% of scalp hairs are in the telogen phase.

There are several circumstances that produce a "shock to the system" that alters the hair growth rhythm. As a result, as much as 30%-40% of the hairs can cycle into telogen. Three months later, hairs come out in a massive shedding (effluvium), especially near the front of the scalp. These include

    childbirth,
    high fever,
    sudden weight loss (crash dieting),
    surgery,
    severe illness,
    and severe stress or loss (death in family, announcing change in sexual preference "coming out of the closet," divorce, etc.).

None of these has to be life-threatening, nor does hair loss always follow them. (It can happen after one pregnancy but not the next.) But when the hair falls out, it's all over the place -- covering the pillow, clogging the drain, and so forth. Paradoxically, the more dramatic the hair loss, the better the prognosis, because when the body gets back into normal rhythm, most if not all of that hair comes back. No special treatment is needed. Normal shampooing can continue, because this only loosens hairs that were going to come out anyway.

 androgenetic or androgenic alopecia ("male-pattern baldness," "female-pattern baldness"):


This type of alopecia is often attributed to genetic predisposition and family history. Traditionally, this was originally described only in men, but we now know it is seen in both men and women. The hair loss in men is often faster, earlier onset, and more extensive.

Doctors refer to common baldness as "androgenetic alopecia" or "androgenic alopecia," which implies that a combination of hormones and heredity (genetics) is needed to develop the condition. The exact cause of this pattern is unknown. (The male hormones involved are present in both men and women.)

Male-pattern baldness:


Even men who never "go bald" thin out somewhat over the years. Unlike those with reversible telogen shedding, those with common male-pattern hair loss don't notice much hair coming out; they just see that it's not there anymore. Adolescent boys notice some receding near the temples as their hairlines change from the straight-across boys' pattern to the more "M-shaped" pattern of adult men. This normal development does not mean they are losing hair.

Some "myths" about male-pattern baldness

    You inherit baldness through your mother's male relatives. Actually, baldness can come from either side of the family or both. Looking at your family can give you at best an educated guess about how you'll turn out. Studies are ongoing in this field, and current research has been inconclusive about the inheritance patterns.
    Longer hair puts a strain on roots. It doesn't. And hats don't choke off the circulation to the scalp to cause hair loss either.
    Shampooing does not accelerate balding.
    "Poor circulation" does not cause hair loss, and massaging doesn't stop it.

Homeopathic Treatment:

Lycopodium

Lycopodium is distilled from the spores of club moss, also called staghorn moss, a trailing evergreen plant native to Europe and North America. Homeopaths take personality traits as well as symptoms into account when prescribing remedies. According to Beneforce, Lycopodium works best on people with low self-esteem who tend to hide behind overconfidence. Holistic Online notes that homeopaths may recommend Lycopodium in particular for premature balding and for hair loss after childbirth. According to drhomeo.com, Lycopodium may help with male pattern baldness. Sleeplessness and headaches are another indication for Lycopodium.

                                                          Ganglion Cyst in Wrist

A ganglion cyst is a swelling that often appears on or around joints and tendons in the hand or foot. The size of the cyst can vary over time. It is most frequently located around the wrist and on the fingers.

Ganglion cysts arise from the capsule of a joint or the sheath of a tendon. They can be found at different places on the wrist. A ganglion cyst that grows on the top of the wrist is called a dorsal ganglion. Others are found on the underside of the wrist between the thumb and your pulse point, at the end joint of a finger, or at the base of a finger. Most of the time, these are harmless and will often disappear in time.
ETIOLOGY of Ganglion

    • Exact cause is not known.
    • May be benign tumour of tendon sheath.
    • Excessive use of joint.

CLINICAL FEATURES of Ganglion Cyst

Symptoms

    • Onset: insidious.
    • Cystic swelling gradually appearing at back of wrist.
    • Swelling causes mild discomfort during wrist movement.
    • Other less common sites are- palm & dorsum of hand.

Signs

    On palpitation
    • Cystic swelling.
    • Tense.
    • Non-tender.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT of Ganglion

    • Reassurance.
    • Immobilization of joint.

Homeopathy Treatment & Homeopathic Remedies for Ganglion Cyst

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each medicine may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit our Materia Medica section. None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.
Homeopathic Remedies

Carbo veg.

Pulling and acute drawing pains in the forearms, the wrists, and the fingers. Relaxation of the muscles of the arms and of the hands, on laughing. Tension in the joints of the hand, as if they were too short. Cramp-like contraction of the hands.
Heat of the hands, burning in the hands. Icy-cold hands. The tips of the fingers are covered with cold sweat. Paralytic weakness of the wrists and of the fingers, especially on grasping an object. Fine granulated, and itching eruption on the hands. Extremities of the fingers become ulcerated.
Cachectic persons whose vitality has become weakened or exhausted. Persons who have never fully recovered from the exhausting effects of some previous illness. Weakness of memory and slowness of thought.

Causticum

Pains in the arms at night. Drawing pains and acute pulling, in the arms and hands. Convulsive movements and shocks in the arms. Itching and eruptions on the arms. Warts on the arms. Shooting pains in the front part of the arms, from the fingers to the elbow. Paralytic feeling in the right hand. Sensation of Fulness in the hands, on grasping an object. Tearing in right wrist-joint. Drawing pains in the hands, and the joints of the fingers. Spasmodic weakness and trembling of the hands. Paleness and painful torpor of the fingers. Tension of the posterior joints of the fingers when bending them. Contraction and induration of the tendons of the fingers. Itching tetters on the fingers.
Adapted to persons with dark hair and rigid fibre; weakly, psoric, with excessively yellow, sallow complexion; subject to affections of respiratory and urinary tracts.

Phos.

Stiffness in morning on washing, with pressure. Rheumatic tearing (and lancinating pains) in shoulders, arms, and hands (particularly in joints), especially at night. Burning pain in palms of hands and arms, clammy perspiration in palms and on head. Burning pain in hands and arms. Numbness of arms and hands.
Lassitude and trembling in arms and hand, and especially when holding anything. Congestion of blood in hands, with swelling and redness of veins, especially when allowing arms to hang down. Wrenching pain in joints of hands and fingers, with tension. Swelling of hands, even at night. Heat in hands. Coldness of hands at night. Contraction and jerking of fingers. Deadness of fingers. Paralysis of fingers. Numbness of finger-tips. Skin cracked at joints of fingers.
Adapted to tall slender persons of sanguine temperament, fair skin, eyelashes, fine blond, or red hair, quick perceptions, and very sensitive nature. Young people who grow too rapidly are inclined to stoop; who are chlorotic or anaemic; old people, with morning diarrhea. Nervous, weak; desires to be magnetized. Oversensitiveness of all the senses to external impressions, light, noise, odors, touch. Restless, fidgety; moves continually, cannot sit or stand still a moment.

Ruta

Paralytic stiffness of wrist. Wrenching pain or shootings in wrists. Sensation as from a sprain and stiffness in wrist. Bones of wrist and back of hand painful as if bruised when at rest and when moving. Pain in wrist (as from a sprain) on lifting a weight. Numbness and tingling in hands after exertion. Spasmodic contraction of fingers. Swollen veins on hands, after eating.
Ruta suited to Scrofulous exostosis; bruises and other mechanical injuries of bones and periosteum; sprains; periostitis; erysipelas; fractures, and especially dislocations. Bruised lame sensation all over, as after a fall or blow; worse in limbs and joints. All parts of the body upon which he lies are painful, as if bruised. Restless, turns and changes position frequently when lying.

Silicea

Ganglion on wrist. Gnawing, purulent vesicles, with burning in fingers. Tearing, drawing, sticking pain and numbness in fingers, as if suppurating, or as if a panaritium would form. Numb feelings of a finger, as though it were enlarged and the bone swollen. Pain as from a splinter in flexor surface of one finger. Panaritium, especially with vegetations, cries and insupportable pains day and night.- Drawings and tearings in arms, hands and fingers. Heaviness and paralytic weakness of arms, which tremble on least exertion. Numbness of the (fore-) arms when patient is lying upon them or leaning the elbows on a table. Throbbing and jerking of muscles of arm. Paralytic weakness of the forearm, everything is dropped from the hands. Induration of the cellular tissue of the forearm. Nocturnal shootings in wrist, extending to the top of arm. Tearing pain in wrists and ball of hand. Spasmodic pain in the hands and fingers. Numbness of hands at night. Paralytic weakness of hands.- Tonic spasm of hand when writing. Cramp-like pain and lameness of hand after slight exertion. Profuse sweat of the hands. Ganglion on back of hand. Ulcer on back of hand. Tingling in fingers. Burning sensation in ends of fingers. Pain in joint of fingers, when pressed. Weakness, rigidity, and want of flexibility in fingers. Contraction of flexor tendons, very painful when moving fingers.
Adapted to the nervous, irritable, sanguine temperament; persons of a psoric diathesis. Persons of light complexion; fine dry skin; pale face; weakly, with lax muscles. Constitutions which suffer from deficient nutrition, not because food is lacking in quality or quantity, but from imperfect assimilation; oversensitive, physically and mentally.

Sulphur

Sprained pain and stiffness in wrist, worse in morning. Ganglion. Paralytic weakness of arms and hands. Swelling of hands and thumbs. Rigidity and wrenching pain in joints of hands and fingers. Trembling of hands, especially when occupied with fine work. Involuntary contraction of hands, as if about to grasp something. Coldness in hands and fingers. Great burning in palms. Perspiration on hands (in the palms) and between the fingers. Desquamation, hardness, dryness, and cracking of skin of hands. Itching vesicles on backs of hands. Cracking and chapping on finger-joints. Burning in balls and tips of fingers. Cramps and jerks in fingers. Contraction of tendons of hands and fingers.
Adapted to persons of a scrofulous diathesis, subject to venous congestion; especially of portal system. Persons of nervous temperament, quick motioned, quick tempered, plethoric, skin excessively sensitive to atmospheric changes. For lean, stoop-shouldered persons who walk and sit stooping like old men. Standing is the worst position for sulphur patients; they cannot stand; every standing position is uncomfortable. Dirty, filthy people, prone to skin affections. Aversion to being washed; always <. after a bath. Too lazy to rouse.

                                                       kidney stone

symptoms and signs

                       Intestinal Worms??Homeopathic Treatment

The digestive system of a human being plays host to various worms. Such worms feed on the food that passes through the digestive tract. Some worms are of benefit to the digestive process, whereas there are some harmful ones. The common symptoms of intestinal worms are diarrhea, bad breath, abdominal cramps, fevers, anemia, etc. Different worms can cause different symptoms. Threadworms can cause severe itching in the rectum while round worms can cause weight loss and inflammation of the intestine
Intestinal parasites are parasites that populate the gastro-intestinal tract in humans and other animals.[1] They can live throughout the body, but most prefer the intestinal wall. Means of exposure include: ingestion of undercooked meat, drinking infected water, and skin absorption. A parasite is an organism that feeds off another organism, called a host.


The major groups of parasites include protozoans (organisms having only one cell) and parasitic worms (helminths). Of these, protozoans, including cryptosporidium, microsporidia, and isospora, are most common in HIV-infected persons. Each of these parasites can infect the digestive tract, and sometimes two or more can cause infection at the same time.

Symptoms

A list of common symptoms:[2]
Abdominal pain
Myositis
Constipation
Anaemia
Anorexia
B-12 deficiency
Rectal hemorrhage
Blindness
Hematochezia
Hemoptysis
Dysuria
Central nervous system impairment
Chest pain
Chills
Chronic fatigue
Colitis
Coughing
Diarrhea
Digestive disturbance
Dizziness
Fever
Enlargement of various organs
Headaches
Vaginitis
Jaundice
Joint Pain
Weight loss due to malnutrition
Weakness
Immunodeficiency
Nausea/vomiting
Swelling of facial features
Sweating
Insomnia
Skin ulcers
Rectal prolaspe
Mental problems
Lung congestion
Memory loss
Night sweats
Muscle spasms
Hair loss or thinning
causes
In some people, intestinal worms do not cause any symptoms, or the symptoms may come and go. If you have some of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that you are infected. These symptoms may also indicate to other diseases. Common signs and complaints include coughing, cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and diarrhea. Some parasites also cause low red blood cell count (anemia), and some travel from the lungs to the intestine, or from the intestine to the lungs and other parts of the body. Many other conditions can result in these symptoms, so laboratory tests are necessary to determine their cause.
In children, irritability and restlessness are commonly reported by parents.
Intestinal parasite infections can occur in people of any age, and babies, the elderly and pregnant women are at a higher risk of becoming ill when infected. Intestinal parasites can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, anemia and bleeding, and intestinal parasite infection in babies may be life threatening
Animals
Contact with animals, including their waste can be a source of intestinal parasites, according to the Mayo Clinic. Petting zoos and pet shops may have animals including reptiles, fish and rodents that are infected with intestinal parasites, which can infect humans who pet or handle them. Allowing household pets to go outdoors can result in them coming into contact with other animals infected with parasites, and the pets can bring the parasites into the home to infect their owners.

Food
According to the Mayo Clinic, contaminated food and drinks can be a source of intestinal parasites. Food that is undercooked or eaten raw can contain worms, eggs or cysts that develop into parasites such as worms and washing foods with contaminated water can expose them to uncontaminated food. People who prepare food without washing their hands may contaminate food with fecal matter containing parasites.


Physical Contact
Direct physical contact with intestinal parasites can result in infections, according to the Mayo Clinic. Babies and toddlers with parasites may expel them into their stool, which can contaminate diaper changing areas and infect others. Touching soiled clothing that have parasites on them can also result in infection.

Sexual Contact
Certain types of sexual contact may result in infection with intestinal parasites, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Anal intercourse can allow parasites such as giardia to spread between people. Oral sex or vaginal sex that follows anal intercourse can also allow for the spread of intestinal parasites.

Soil
Exposure to soil that is contaminated with the eggs, cysts or adult intestinal parasites can be a cause of infection, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Soil that is fertilized with human or animal waste may contain parasites such as hookworms, which can enter the body through the skin and infect the intestines. Walking on soil with bare feet can result in small cuts or abrasions that can allow parasite eggs or cysts to enter the body and cause intestinal infections.

Water
Water contaminated with sewage including human or animal feces is a cause of intestinal parasites, according to the National Library of Medicine. Swimming in a creek, river or lake may cause infections with intestinal parasites such as giardia or schistosoma. Walking through mud or puddles without proper footwear can also allow worms to enter the body through the skin which then infect the intestines.

Homeopathic Treatment

Cina 
Produces a perfect picture of the wormy child. The patient is cross, irritable, has a sickly pale face with rings about the eyes, grates the teeth at night and has a tendency to convulsions; there is canine hunger or variable appetite; the child picks at its nose and cries out in its sleep; there is jerking of the hands and feet and a milky urine. It does not correspond well to pin-worms and a noticeable symptoms is a bluish color about the mouth.

Santonine. 
The alkaloid of Cina is also a remedy for round worms. It is not a safe remedy as Cina and no more efficacious. The writer has observed convulsions produced by its use in too low potencies.

Caladium.
Useful when worms travel over the perineum and get into the vagina in little girls, with tendency to excite masturbation.

Teucrium. 
The remedy for ascarides or pin-worms; there is much irritation caused by them in the rectum. Hughes prefers the tincture or lower dilutions, saying that it rarely fails in this condition. Another remedy for pin-worms is Sinapis nigra.

Cina and Cicuta are often indicated in convulsions from worms.

Spigelia. 
Strabismus, jerking with paleness of the face, blue rings around the eyes, faint, nauseated feeling with colic about the navel caused by the presence of worms, will indicate Spigelia. It has stools consisting of mucus, faces and worms. The tincture on a handkerchief and inhaled will frequently arrest convulsions from worms.

Ignatia 
Is useful where the child is much excited and has tickling and creeping at the anus.

Indigo 
Is a remedy for ascarides or thread-worms in melancholy children, with intense pain in the umbilical region, also convulsions from worms.

Sabadilla 
Has worm symptoms with nausea, vomiting and colic.

Stannum.
According to Hahnemann, Stannum so stupefies the worms that they are easily dislodged by purgatives. It has many worms symptoms; thus pale sunken face and eyes surrounded by blue rings, Sluggish disposition, general torpor, foetor of breath and passive fever. Patient prefers to lie on stomach.

Calcarea
Calcarea is a valuable remedy to eradicate the disposition to worms.

Cuprum oxydatum nigrum
Zopfy in his sixty years' practice asserts that this remedy will remove all kinds of worms, cure trichinosis, and even tapeworm. He gives it in small doses, about the 1X, in alternation with Nux vomica four or five times a day for four to six weeks, which always suffices to cure tapeworm without causing the patient any in convenience whatever.