Diseases of the Hair

Western Tradition

Hair, Premature Greying

1. An Oil or strong decoction of Eclipta Han Lian Cao is effective used topically for premature greying. In TCM, it is also taken internally.
2. Massaging Sulphur into the scalp is an old treatment for premature Greying.
3. Burn Earthworms to ashes, mix in Oil, and use to comb the hair and the hair will never grey. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
4. Boil Bees in olive oil and apply to the scalp.
5. Mix Ox Bile and Swallow dung in water and use as a wash. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913)

Letificans Almanforis
Aromatic Electuary
Aromaticum Rosatum
Electuary Alcharif (Mesue)
Christian Electuary (Unani)
Powder of Galangal (Diagalanga) (Nicholas)
Oil of Costus Compound
Oil of Alchanna

Dandruff–Scurf

1. Use infusions/decoctions of: Camomile, Nettle, Horsetail, Parsley, Rosemary
2. A wash is made with equal parts of Horseradish and Nettle steeped in wine.
3. Make a wash of Nettle, Horsetail and Rosemary.
4. Massage Coconut oil into the scalp every night.
5. Sesame seed, Bean flour (equal parts) boil and use as a hair wash.
6. Chickpea flour, Marshmallow seed, boil in vinegar and use as a wash.
7. Wash with Urine, Salt Water or Wine
8. Decoction of Willow leaf or bark is “commended”
9. Blanched Almonds beaten finely, mixed with Wine and used to wash the head.
10. Mix Bull Bile with Vinegar and apply.

Alopecia, Loss of Hair, Baldness

Avoid excess alcohol and drying foods.
1. A decoction of any of the following herbs used as a hair wash can be used for Alopecia or Loss of Hair: Eclipta Han Lian Cao, Elm bark, Mullein, Maidenhair, Oak leaf, Rosemary
2. Any of the following infused oils can be applied: Oil of Wormwood, of Spikenard, of Myrtle, of Galls, of Maidenhair, of Eclipta
3. Garlic oil stimulates hair growth if applied. Or, beat Garlic, rub it on the place, then wash with vinegar after. Or, burnt Garlic to ashes, mix with Honey and apply.
4. Oil of Radishes and Bayberry’s (Avicenna)
5. Lemon oil mixed with water (1:10) and applied has stopped falling hair.
6. Chews Walnuts then apply to the place. (Secrets of Alexis)
Or apply Walnut oil often. (Breviary of Helthe, Boorde, 1547)
7. Walnut leaf mixed with suet and applied promotes hair growth.
8. Decoction of the leaves and bark of Oak used as a wash.
9. Rosemary decoction with Borax added used regularly for premature baldness.
10. Euphorbia mixed with oil and applied is “wonderful good”.
11. Shave the Head, rub with a cut Onion; then take parched Barley, mix with [Bear] Suet and apply ‘and the hair will grow again’. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
12. Beat Olive leaves to a paste and apply topically.
13. Orris root, Chimney soot (equal parts), mix with old oil and anoint.
14. Birthwort, Verdigris, Sal Ammoniac, Bdellium, Mustard seed, Gum Tragacanth (equal parts), powder and mix with oil and vinegar and apply. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)

15. Ashes of Goose dung mixed with oil
16. Powder or Ashes of Bees mixed in oil and applied
17. Ashes of Frogs mixed in oil and applied.
18. Dog urine applied to the scalp prevents baldness and promotes hair growth.
19. Fox fat mixed with Olive oil as an ointment. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913)
20. Make an Ointment with Rabbit marrow mixed with Rabbit brain. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913)
21. Oil in which Cantharides has been boiled (Avicenna)
22. Lizard and Leeches, mixed with oil of Laudanum
23. Apply raw Honey, then sprinkle over it the ashes of Green Lizards; “it is proved”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
24. Boil a Lizard in oil, burn a foxes head to ashes; anoint the place with the oil and apply the ashes.
25. Boil Green Lizards in oil until they fall apart. Mix in ashes of Bees and apply every day. This was said to stop hair from falling and promote abundant hair growth. (Secrets of Alexis)
26. Mix snail ashes with Alum and Deer marrow, heat together in wine, strain, and anoint.
27. Beat Parsley and Pig Blood, then boil them in white wine, then pour them through cloth into cold water and collect the fat swimming on top. Mix this with boiled Egg Yolk, Mastic and Cumin, mix, and anoint. “and there will hair grow quickly, it has been proved”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)

To Promote Hair Growth

Many of the medicines above will promote healthy hair growth.
1. “To Make the Hair Grow Quickly”
Wash the part with the water that first distils from Honey.
2. Marshmallow root
    Pork fat
    Cumin powder
    Mastic
    hard-boiled Egg yolks
Pound the Marshmallow root with Pork fat, then boil together with wine for a long time; then add the Cumin, Mastic and Egg Yolks, and heat together. When well cooked, strain through linen and leave to cool. Collect the fatty residue on top and massage into the scalp after washing the hair.
3. Malmsey Wine
    Children’s Urine
    Cow Milk                            1 pound each
    Honey                                ½ pound
Mix and distill. Wash the head with it. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
4. Take the black skin-like growth that grows on the lower leg of an Ass, like a Wart, burn to ashes and mix in Oil, and apply. This was said to even make hair grow on the chin of a woman if applied. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)

To Stop Hair Growing

1. Fumitory juice mixed with Gum Arabic and applied after the hair has been plucked by the roots
2. “Foment the part with hot water, pull the hairs out one by one, then annoint the place with a solution of Saltpeter in water. If they do grow back after a year, they will be very soft and thin and can be again pulled and washed with the same solution and the hair will never grow again”. (Porta, 1669)
3. Pluck the hairs, then anoint the place with Blood of a Buck, or of a Frog, “it is proved”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
4. Leeches beaten with Vinegar and applied.
5. Labdanum, Ivy tree gum, Ant eggs and Arsenic, mixed with Vinegar and bound to the place, no hair will grow. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
6. Fire Flies, beaten and applied, or mixed with oil and applied stops hair growth.

To Thicken the Hair

1.  Agrimony
    Elm bark
    Vervain root
    Willow root
    Southernwood
    Linseed burnt
    Reed roots                        equal parts
Decoct in Goat milk or water and wash the area well

To Make the Hair Black

1. Eat Black Sesame seeds regularly
2. Leeches left for 60 days in Red Wine or Vinegar, then strain. Anoint the hair with it in the sun and they will become black. (Secrets of Alexis)