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Sida Acuta effect on hair

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Posted 8/24/2024 9:59 PM (GMT -5)
When I take Sida Acuta my hair feels thinner, like hay, and it's more grey. It goes back to normal when I stop taking it.
I never really questioned it but now I wonder why this happens? I was reading about creatine, creatine causes hair loss / thinning because it raises DHT.
Could Sida Acuta do the same?

I tried googling it but didn't find anything useful.
Posted 8/25/2024 12:12 AM (GMT -5)
Cryptolepine (the active ingredient in sida acuta and cryptolepis) acts like a nucleotide analogue and blocks the DNA polymerase. I couldn't tolerate it. I didn't take it long enough to find out if it would make my hair fall out, but hair loss is not entirely unexpected given its mechanism of action. Surprisingly I didn't have as much trouble with acyclovir and lamivudine, aside from the bad herx that those caused.

I also noticed hair loss from bartonella, but when this happened, blood tests showed low protein levels.
Posted 8/25/2024 12:36 AM (GMT -5)
You were on the right track Vimzor, sida acuta has androgenic properties, which can in turn increase testosterone levels. This can lead to higher levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and that's known to cause hair loss (depending on the person).

Sida acuta is actually considered an aphrodisiac for this reason.
Posted 8/25/2024 7:13 AM (GMT -5)

RainyCloud said...
You were on the right track Vimzor, sida acuta has androgenic properties, which can in turn increase testosterone levels. This can lead to higher levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and that's known to cause hair loss (depending on the person).

Sida acuta is actually considered an aphrodisiac for this reason.

I never found any scientific studies linking sida acuta to that. Cuold you please share with me where u got this?
Posted 8/25/2024 7:24 AM (GMT -5)
i've not noticed that - i have been taking it for a couple of years now and still have all my hair
Posted 8/25/2024 8:13 AM (GMT -5)

Mariochete said...
I never found any scientific studies linking sida acuta to that. Cuold you please share with me where u got this?

Sure, https://ibb.co/hm1z96v

The sensitivity to DHT and the resulting hair loss is unique to each person, that's why some people lose hair and others don't.
Posted 8/25/2024 10:15 AM (GMT -5)
Am I understanding this thread correctly, that crytolepis can cause hair loss? My hair has been falling out in chunks, I thought it was a side effect of a medication I'm on so I was planning on stopping it but after reading this I'm wondering if it could be from the crytolepis
Posted 8/25/2024 10:46 AM (GMT -5)
It's interesting it raises testosteron, I didn't know that.

Garzie said...
i've not noticed that - i have been taking it for a couple of years now and still have all my hair

Does your hair turn more grey? And is it also more hay-like, less soft? Kinda hard to describe.
When I stop, or accidentally lower the dosage, after some weeks my hair is back to normal. Less grey, soft and thicker.
Posted 8/25/2024 11:35 AM (GMT -5)
Well. I’m 55,
My brothers are losing theirs but i still have it all - with just a few flecks of grey

I know the hair texture changed due to lyme etc. but that was years before starting sida and cryptolepis.
Posted 8/25/2024 12:48 PM (GMT -5)
The change in color is likely due to a different mechanism than the hair loss.

Especially quick change and quick recovery.

Often due to an increase in peroxides (I believe a form of hydrogen peroxide?) which acts as an anti microbial, and if that level gets above what the body can clean up (mainly with glutathione) the hair turns gray.

If DHT is the case - are you seeing increased beard growth? That’s why test users tend to bald but have great beards.

If this isn’t happening.. I’d combine my first theory with some aspect of microbial effect having a reduction in circulation effecting those follicles.
Posted 8/28/2024 10:47 AM (GMT -5)
No, my beard sucks actually. :p
Posted 8/28/2024 11:23 AM (GMT -5)
I found when I was taking sida acuta, it seemed my hair loss got a bit worse. But at the time, I was also taking cordyceps and houttuynia. Looking back, I should have stopped one at a time to see what might be causing what, but I stopped all at once. The hair loss improved until a recent flare of Sjogrens, but now that is improving and hair actually coming back.
Posted 9/23/2024 2:13 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, it's the combo sida acuta & houttuynia. I found out that when the ratio is skewed towards houttuynia then my hair becomes soft and less gray again. But if sida acuta & houttuynia are the same dosage, it feels like hay, thin and becomes more gray.
Posted 9/23/2024 2:24 PM (GMT -5)
do you know if any of the following herbs can also cause increase in testosterone?

cats claw
japanese knotweed
cryptolepis
neem
artmesia
Chinese skullcap

bc I've been having hair loss and high testosterone levels so wondered if that could be caused by the herbs I'm taking, thanks
Posted 9/23/2024 2:36 PM (GMT -5)
not that i am aware of

buhner has a book on increasing testosterone for men

the herbs in there are
-nettle root
-pine pollen
-various ginsengs
-tribulis terestris

i think he would have mentioned if the other herbs he was well aware of from his lyme books were known to do this

my partner ( now ex) had quite a lot of hair loss - and random hormonal signs from bart and lyme - sore breasts - irregular menses i dont think she had high testosterone though - just stress from chronic illness, gut issues and random hormonal fluctuations - so although testosterone can be linked to hair loss - there are many other causes so i would say you cannot really assume its the high testosterone driving it.

and for instance - we don't see male pattern baldness in the female athletes who naturally have super high levels of testosterone - eg 4x normal
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