Evidence supporting the use of: Nettle (mixed)
For the body system: Hair

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Nettle (Urtica dioica) has a long history of traditional use for supporting hair health. In European folk medicine and herbalism, nettle has been used both internally (as tea or extract) and externally (as rinses or lotions) to strengthen hair, reduce dandruff, and potentially slow hair loss. This traditional use is largely based on nettle’s content of vitamins and minerals such as iron, silica, and vitamins A and C, which are believed to nourish the scalp and hair follicles. Some herbal traditions also suggest that nettle may help balance hormones that contribute to hair loss, such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), although these claims are not robustly supported by clinical studies.

Despite its popularity in traditional remedies, scientific validation for nettle’s effectiveness in supporting hair growth or preventing hair loss is limited. A few in vitro and animal studies suggest that nettle extracts may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may inhibit 5-alpha-reductase (an enzyme involved in DHT production), but well-designed human clinical trials are lacking. Therefore, while nettle's use for hair health is well-established in traditional herbal practices, the evidence base from modern scientific research remains weak to moderate.

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