Hair & Nails

Nails are formed from specialized epidermal cells and are primarily made up of keratin, a strong structural protein also found in hair. The nail grows from the nail bed, which is thickened to form a lunula (or little moon). Cells forming the nail bed are linked together to form a nail. There are no nerve endings in nails, and they serve as a protective plate and enhance the sensation of fingertips.

Nails grow at a rate of about 10 millimeters every 100 days. Fingernails require 4 to 6 months to regrow completely, and toenails require from 12 to 18 months. Actual growth rate will depend on age, nutritional intake, exercise frequency, and genetics. Growth records can help assess a person’s overall health and may also provide insight into potential physiological imbalances. Nail growth history has been used as a diagnostic tool since ancient times. Some illnesses will cause a deep horizontal groove on the nails. Discoloration, thinning, thickening, brittleness, splitting, grooves, spots, lines, receded lunula, or other changes in the shape of the nail can indicate illness in other areas of the body, nutritional deficiency, drug reaction, poisoning, or physical injury to the nail.

Hair originates in the hair follicles, which are located in the dermis (second layer of the skin). Hair follicles are present anywhere on the surface of the body except certain parts such as the lips, palms of hands, and soles of the feet. New hair is made in the hair bulb at the base of the hair follicle. Living cells in the hair bulb multiply and push upward. These cells rapidly dehydrate, die, and compact into a dense, hard mass that forms the hair shaft.

Hair is colored by the pigment melanin, which is also responsible for skin color. Hair grows in cycles, each consisting of a long growing phase followed by a short resting phase. At the end of the resting phase, the hair falls out, and new hair starts growing in the follicle, beginning the cycle again.

Hair loss is common and can be caused by some of the following factors:

• Genetics –the most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. It occurs gradually with aging.
• Hormones –changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid problems.
• Medical conditions –including alopecia areata, which causes patchy hair loss, scalp infections, and a hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania.
• Medications –hair loss can be a side effect of certain drugs, such as those used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout, and high blood pressure.
• Radiation therapy –hair may not grow back the same as it was before.
• Stress –many people experience a general thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. This type of hair loss is temporary.
• Certain hairstyles and treatments –excessive hairstyling or certain hairstyles can cause hair loss.

Ingredients

Hair & Nails is a blend of 35 ingredients. Among them is a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, flavonoids, and herbal extracts formulated to promote the strength and growth of hair and nails with great effectiveness. The proper proportions of each ingredient are used to help support the health of hair and nails.

Five botanicals are part of this product. A study published in 1993 indicated the potential of ginkgo biloba extract to promote hair growth, as researchers observed increased hair growth in mice during laboratory testing. Additional research found that ginkgo biloba may slow hair loss due to compounds such as L-Cysteine, an important amino acid found in healthy hair. Its effects on hair health are believed to be caused by increased blood flow. Ginkgo biloba also promotes healthy tone and elasticity of blood vessels.

Hawthorn berries, another ingredient in this blend, may also promote hair growth. The leaves, flowers, and berries contain a variety of bioflavonoids that appear to be primarily responsible for the circulatory action of the plant. One study found that hawthorn berries stimulated hair growth and increased the number and size of hair follicles, promoting healthier and stronger hair in mice. It is believed that the polyphenol content in hawthorn berries causes these beneficial effects.

Horsetail can also be found in Hair & Nails. Horsetail is rich in silicic acid and silicates, which provide approximately 2 to 3% elemental silicon. Potassium, aluminum, and manganese, along with fifteen types of flavonoids, are also found in this herb. The high mineral content of this plant can strengthen brittle fingernails and help grow strong hair as well.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, rosemary has been used for centuries not only to stimulate hair growth but also to delay graying. It has long played a role in European herbalism and popular folklore.

Sage has one of the longest histories of use among culinary and medicinal herbs. The volatile oil of sage contains the compounds alpha and beta-thujone, camphor, and cineole. It also contains rosmarinic acid, tannins, and flavonoids. The intake of sage promotes new hair growth and inhibits the development of gray hair.