Abdul Gorur

Ancient holistic medicine practices, such as Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, believe that there is always a root cause to outlying problems and prematurely gray hair is no exception. In these traditions, it is believed that graying may be caused by underlying illnesses such as vitiligo, anemia, chronic vitamin B deficiency, thyroid imbalance, alopecia areata, and excessive stress to name a few.

Side Bar:

Treat These Conditions and start to Kiss Grays Goodbye

• Thyroid disorders. Conditions such as Grave's disease, Hashimoto's disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism have been linked with premature gray hair.  • Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. It can be due to a diet low in vitamin B12, which is found mainly in meat, eggs, and milk. It can also occur if the stomach can't absorb vitamin B12, due to surgery involving the stomach or small intestine (such as gastric bypass surgery), diseases that affect the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, fish tapeworms, or small intestine bacterial overgrowth, or a lack of protein called intrinsic factor due to an autoimmune reaction or a genetic defect.  • Vitiligo. A condition in which your skin loses melanocytes, resulting in very light patches of skin and possibly premature gray hair.  • Early menopause  • Smoking. Cigarette smoking has been linked to premature gray hair.

TCM takes it even further by suggesting that our hair, gray or not, reflects the strength of our kidneys and the quality of our blood. By treating these conditions, you may be able to reverse gray hair - at least for a little while.

Support For Kidneys:

Food For Thought: Strengthening our kidneys and blood can also strengthen our hair. Use these natural aids to help do just that.

In another related theory that became public in February 2005, Harvard scientists claimed that absolute failure of melanocytes may cause graying hair. They stated that when melanocytes cease function and fail to uphold their duties, it may also end the same signals that manufacture hair color in the body.

The latest scientific breakthrough revolves around the enzyme catalase. This enzyme is found in all living organisms. Catalase helps organisms turn hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Yes, the same hydrogen peroxide found in hair shafts.

According to a recent CBS News report, human hair eventually begins to "bleach itself from the inside out." This begins when catalase levels decrease and hydrogen peroxide, which naturally occurs in our hair, cannot be broken down properly. Hydrogen peroxide then begins to build up, making hair turn gray.

Karin Schallreuter, yet another professional from England's University of Bradley (a clinical and experimental dermatology professor to be exact), stated in the report that finding out ways to stop this break down could be the key to preventing gray hair in humans. Score!

No matter what idea any one scientist, doctor, or professor may believe, most can agree on some comment internal and external factors that, without a doubt, have a hand in enabling graying to begin (see side bar for factors).

Factors That Contribute To Going Gray

Internal:

• Genetic defects  • Hormones  • Body distribution  • Age

External:

• Climate  • Pollutants  • Toxins  • Chemical exposure

Before diving into "the slow down" process, you need to understand why hair grays to begin with.