Spearmint tea could limit growth of unwanted hair in women

[Doondoo]

Women can get rid of their excessive and unwanted body hair by drinking two cups of spearmint tea a day, according to scientists who have carried out research on the subject.

Spearmint tea has the property to lower the levels of sex hormones in blood, the scientists involved in the study said. They found that women who drank tea made using leaves of spearmint plant, Mentha spicata, for five consecutive days were found to have reduced levels of the sex hormone that causes hirsutism, a condition where thick, dark hairs tend to grow on the face, stomach and breasts.



http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/32523.html

[WinkyDink]

1. I have rapidly thinning hair. Get back to me when it's solved!

[noonwitch]

3. I've been having some success with vitamins

My hair started thinning a few years ago, and I started taking those hair, skin and nail vitamins. It takes a while to see the changes, but they really have both strengthened the hair I have and helped new hair grow. Also, my skin is clear and in good shape. I'm not menopausal yet, though, I'm 42.

My sister had a physical condition that led to rapid hair loss. She used the generic version of whatever that stuff is that you put on your head (I can only remember the mock name from "The Simpsons", which was monoxodil). It worked really well and fairly rapidly for her.

[zanne]

2. That sounds interesting, but...

Alot of women with unwanted hair are menopausal. I don't know about lowering the level of sex hormones; I wonder if I would lose more estrogen. I need my estrogen.

[Virginian]

4. spironolactone does the same.

A potassium retaining blood pressure medication (brand name Aldactone) also is reported to lower male sex hormones which causes heavier hair growth, but some women have normal hormone levels and still have hirsutism.
This medication is at least ten times more expensive now than it was twenty years ago.

[rodeodance]

5. testosterone is the hormone they are measuring for this problem:

Twelve of them had polycystic ovary syndrome. When blood tests were carried out after consuming the tea for five days, it was found that levels of free (active) testosterone in their blood had been reduced by 29 per cent while levels of several female hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone, which are considered to be impairing hair growth were boosted. However, no decrease in overall testosterone levels was noticed, which suggested that the hormone tend to be binding to protein in the bloodstream and was inactive.

Hirsutism is a disorder caused by hormonal imbalance and is common among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. It is normally treated with drugs that block the functioning of hormones, or the contraceptive pill, which reduces testosterone in the bloodstream.

Details of the study are published in the journal Phytotherapy Research.

The scientists were prompted to conduct the study after they received reports about men losing their libidos after prolonged consumption of mint tea.

Tamer said more work is needed to test the reliability of the treatment.

[rodeodance]

6. .....men losing their libidos after prolonged consumption of mint tea.

The scientists were prompted to conduct the study after they received reports about men losing their libidos after prolonged consumption of mint tea.

[zalinda]

12. So, why are they using this tea in prisons?

It seems to me that changing over to mint tea from coffee might help the situation in prison with violence.

zalinda

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. If I could only stand the taste!

I like mint, but not in my tea....

I've seen something being advertised lately called Vaniqa that's supposed to do something like this. Been thinking about checking into it.

All of mine aren't even dark. I prefer it whhen they're dark so I can see the little fuckers to pluck them! It's the spiky blonde little bastards that are harder to see and pluck that drive me crazy. I can feel they're there, but can't find them to get rid of them!

[Clark2008]

10. Wax 'em.

That's what I do.

Sure, it hurts like hell the first couple of times, but your skin gets used to it. And be sure and use that little blue vial of after-wax ointment. It helps replenish the skin.

[Virginian]

13. Vaniqa is especially effective after waxing.

It is a prescription topical cream that slows down the regrowth of hair. It is not cheap. I think around $40 per 30 gram tube. Salon waxing can run about twice that, so if it saves you one waxing per tube then it is worth it.

The salons have a weaker, non-prescription cream they will try to sell you. Probably for about the same price. I don't know what to attibute the fact that hair hardly grows on my lower legs now. It could be menopause, poor circulation, Vaniqa, waxing for years, all of the above or none of the above.

There is also laser hair removal as an option. It will not work on those invisible little bristles though. The hair has to have pigment for the laser to find it. Laser won't work on all hairs the first time, so there will be repeat treatments. That will run you a couple of grand.

There is also electrolysis for those little invisible critters. Probably not practical for legs -- mostly for chins and small spots. They charge by the hour on that one. Usually in ten minute or 15 minute segments. Don't know how much.

[leftchick]

8. yeah but what does it do to the sex drive?

:shrug:

[asjr]

9. It is in "Park."

[MilesColtrane]

11. It makes you go 15mph with your right blinker on. n/t