Well, obviously you haven't lost your sense of humor... :) That's cute. We miss you around here - you haven't been posting as much. I miss my morning giggle from the crazy Greek on the east coast! :)
Hey, I workout in a baseball cap and other than a few "Hey Sporty Spice" comments from DH and my co-workers, it's all good. :) Wearing a baseball cap is nice because it keeps your hair totally out of your face and lets you concentrate on what you're doing.
I don't know how "in" to alternative medicine and natural healing you are, but Jonny has some info on his site, http://www.jonnybowden.com. You can do a search for alopecia areata and find info. Here is some that I pulled for you on how to treat it with nutrition, herbs, and stress reduction:
Nutrition
Reduce your intake of pro-inflammatory foods (saturated fats, dairy products, and other animal products) and eat more fresh vegetables, whole grains, essential fatty acids, and, in particular, protein (non-animal sources of protein include nuts, legumes, and soy). Biotin (300 mcg per day) and trace minerals, such as those found in blue-green algae (2 to 6 tablets per day), help hair growth. Androgenetic alopecia: vitamin B6 (50 to 100 mg per day), zinc (30 mg per day), and gamma-linolenic acid (1,000 mg twice a day) helps to inhibit 5-alpha reductase. Hormone imbalance: essential fatty acids (1,000 mg twice a day), B6 (50 to 100 mg per day), vitamin E (400 IU per day), and magnesium (200 mg twice a day) enhance hormone production.
Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots.
Combine the following in equal parts and use as tea (2 to 3 cups per day) or tincture (20 to 30 drops two to three times per day): ginkgo(Ginkgo biloba),rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis), prickly ash bark (Xanthoxylum clava-herculis), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa),yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and horsetail (Equisetum arvense) Androgenetic alopecia: Green tea(Camelia sinensis), 2 cups per day, and saw palmetto(Serenoa repens), 100 mg twice a day Hormone imbalance: Chaste tree (Vitex agnus cactus), 200 to 300 mg per day, has a normalizing effect on the pituitary. Viral origin or immune system cause: Herbs that support immune function can help treat the underlying cause of this type of alopecia. Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia),astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Therapeutic massage increases circulation and reduces stress. Scalp massage using essential oils of rosemary, lavender, sage, thyme, and cedarwood may be helpful in increasing circulation. Add 3 to 6 drops of essential oil to 1 tbsp. of jojoba or grapeseed oil. Massage into scalp daily.
Pages
I'm so sorry to hear about that.
I don't know how "in" to alternative medicine and natural healing you are, but Jonny has some info on his site, http://www.jonnybowden.com. You can do a search for alopecia areata and find info. Here is some that I pulled for you on how to treat it with nutrition, herbs, and stress reduction:
Nutrition
Reduce your intake of pro-inflammatory foods (saturated fats, dairy products, and other animal products) and eat more fresh vegetables, whole grains, essential fatty acids, and, in particular, protein (non-animal sources of protein include nuts, legumes, and soy).
Biotin (300 mcg per day) and trace minerals, such as those found in blue-green algae (2 to 6 tablets per day), help hair growth.
Androgenetic alopecia: vitamin B6 (50 to 100 mg per day), zinc (30 mg per day), and gamma-linolenic acid (1,000 mg twice a day) helps to inhibit 5-alpha reductase.
Hormone imbalance: essential fatty acids (1,000 mg twice a day), B6 (50 to 100 mg per day), vitamin E (400 IU per day), and magnesium (200 mg twice a day) enhance hormone production.
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Herbs
Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots.
Combine the following in equal parts and use as tea (2 to 3 cups per day) or tincture (20 to 30 drops two to three times per day): ginkgo(Ginkgo biloba),rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis), prickly ash bark (Xanthoxylum clava-herculis), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa),yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Androgenetic alopecia: Green tea(Camelia sinensis), 2 cups per day, and saw palmetto(Serenoa repens), 100 mg twice a day
Hormone imbalance: Chaste tree (Vitex agnus cactus), 200 to 300 mg per day, has a normalizing effect on the pituitary.
Viral origin or immune system cause: Herbs that support immune function can help treat the underlying cause of this type of alopecia. Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia),astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
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Physical Medicine
Stress reduction techniques can increase blood flow to the scalp.
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Massage
Therapeutic massage increases circulation and reduces stress. Scalp massage using essential oils of rosemary, lavender, sage, thyme, and cedarwood may be helpful in increasing circulation. Add 3 to 6 drops of essential oil to 1 tbsp. of jojoba or grapeseed oil. Massage into scalp daily.
Pages