First some interesting bits of trivia: the word alopecia originated from the Greek word meaning fox; the origin comes from the fact that the fox sheds its coat twice a year. And statistics show that most men have a 50% chance of experiencing hereditary hair loss by their 50th birthday .The typical average hair loss actually amounts to about 100 strands a day.

Some causes of hair loss include mycotic infections causing massive hair loss, hypothyroidism, especially thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows and some drugs or medications, which improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medications that can cause hair loss include blood thinners, gout medicines, chemotherapy drugs used for cancer, supplementing with too much vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants.

Wearing a hat generally should not cause baldness, though it's a good idea to give your scalp a rest and let it breathe for several hours every day. Temporary loss of hair can occur in areas where sebaceous cysts are present for one to several weeks. Poor digestion, parasites and nutrient deficiencies such as iron or biotin deficiency shouldn't be overlooked as possible causes also.

Now tumors and skin growths can also induce localized baldness. If the thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, hair may fall out so treating the underlying thyroid disease will help remedy this. And alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as "spot baldness" that can result in hair loss that ranges from just one area to every hair on the body.

Propecia (Finasteride) and Minoxidil (called Rogaine in the U.S and elsewhere known as Regaine) are drugs that have reportedly shown some success in partially reversing loss but one really has to consider the side effects. Propecia is available with a prescription only comes in pill form, is only for men, may take up to six months before you can tell if it is working and you have to keep taking it. Immunosuppressants applied to the scalp have been shown to temporarily reverse alopecia areata, though the side effects of some of these drugs make this type of therapy very questionable.

Surgery is another method but extreme method of reversing hair loss and baldness. Hair loss remedies like treatments with prescription drugs are long term commitments. Minoxidil is available without a prescription and is for topical application, but one needs to consider its side effects.

Hair loss treatments and remedies range widely in price from free to expensive. Regular aerobic exercise can help keep the hormone androgen levels naturally lower while maintaining overall health, lowering stress and increasing SHBG. Studies done on subjects of various ages suggest that weight training alone may increase testosterone in those studies where aerobic exercise only was compared to either weight training or a somewhat sedentary life.

Massage the scalp with slight pressure with the fingers daily. One patient reported that he had used coconut oil on his hair and scalp for about a year and during that time his hair became thicker and he had more of it on the top of his head where he had been receding a little bit. Coconut oil is good as a hair gel too. Make sure that you test remedies on a small area first and check with your hair loss doctor or skin doctor before trying any natural home remedy, especially if it includes any irritating ingredients.

One home remedy is to massage the scalp nightly with a mixture made of one part rosemary oil and two parts almond oil. Then there is the olive oil and rosemary remedy for hair loss - before bedtime use equal amounts of olive oil and oil of rosemary; combine them in a bottle, shake vigorously, massage into the scalp, put on a shower cap and shampoo in the morning. Saw Palmetto is an herbal DHT inhibitor often claimed to be cheaper and have far fewer side effects than finasteride and dutasteride.

Beta Sitosterol, which is a constituent of many seed oils, can help to treat BHP (benign prostatic hypertrophy) by lowering cholesterol however consuming large amounts to get at small quantities of beta sitosterol is likely to exacerbate male pattern baldness. Russian cure with honey and vodka remedy - combine one tablespoon honey with one jigger of vodka and the juice of a medium-size onion, then rub the mixture into the scalp every night, cover with a cap and shampoo in the morning.

The onion juice and honey remedy: prepare a hair-growing mixture by combining 1/4 cup of onion juice with one tablespoon of honey then massage the scalp with it every day. For something strange try the fingernail buffer three times a day or so, for about five minutes. Buff your right fingernails with the fingernails of your left hand; this is supposed to stop hair loss, encourage hair growth and prevent hair from graying. And polygonum multiflorum is a traditional Chinese cure. Whether or not the plant itself is useful, the general safety and quality control of herbs imported from China can be quite questionable.

If you have any form of hair loss that causes you concern, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the treatment options available to you for your particular condition and research natural remedies. Treatment for alopecia can be slow and sometimes not very successful. The more hair that's lost, the more you may have to work to get it back and in some cases may not be able to, but try as many natural non-invasive treatments and remedies as you possibly can. With extensive research, reading ratings and reviews and reading testimonials from real people, not paid actors, you may be able to find the right hair loss product, treatment or remedy that'll work for you.