Hair Loss & Hair Thinning: A Naturopathic Approach to Finding the Root Cause

Hair loss can be stressful and deeply upsetting. For many people, changes in their hair affect confidence, identity and self-esteem. In clinic, I often see women in their 30s, 40s and 50s who feel frustrated because their hair suddenly feels thinner, flatter, or is shedding more than usual.

Discovering a solution for hair loss or hair thinning is not always straightforward. Hair is influenced by hormones, nutrient status, stress, gut health, thyroid function, immune balance and more. This is why a quick-fix shampoo or supplement rarely addresses the real cause, and may delay you getting the answers and support you need. Sure, give the hair and nails multi a go if you want to, but if you’re not seeing hints of improvement after a month then you need to knuckle down and start looking at getting some answers.

The good news? With the right assessment and a root-cause approach, improvement is absolutely possible.

First: What Type of Hair Loss Are You Experiencing?

Understanding the pattern of hair loss gives us important clues.

General Thinning

Diffuse thinning across the scalp often suggests:

• Iron deficiency
• Thyroid imbalance
• Hormonal shifts (perimenopause, postpartum)
• Chronic stress
• Telogen effluvium

Patches of Hair Loss

Well-defined bald patches may indicate Alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune condition where the immune system targets hair follicles.

Strand Breaking

If hair is snapping rather than shedding from the root, we look at:

• Protein intake
• Nutrient deficiencies (zinc, biotin, silica)
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Chemical or heat damage

Receding Hairline or Thinning at the Crown

Often associated with:

• Androgenic alopecia
  This pattern can affect both men and women and is driven by androgen sensitivity.
• This can be impacted by increased tension on hair such as overly tight hairstyles.

Widening Part Line

Common in women 30-50, especially during:

• Perimenopause
• After stopping the pill
• Postpartum
• Periods of chronic stress

Identifying the pattern helps determine what systems we need to investigate.

The Key Nutrients for Healthy Hair Growth

Hair follicles are metabolically active, and so they need adequate nutrients to grow strong, thick strands.

Important nutrients include:

• Iron (Ferritin) – Low ferritin is one of the most common contributors to hair thinning in women.
• Zinc – Essential for hair follicle repair and immune regulation.
• Protein – Hair is made from keratin, a protein structure.
• Biotin & B Vitamins – Support energy production and follicle function.
• Vitamin D – Plays a role in immune balance and follicle cycling.
• Iodine & Selenium – Support thyroid function, involved in hormone balance and glutathione production.
• Essential Fatty Acids – Help maintain scalp health.

It’s important to test rather than guess, supplementing blindly is not ideal.

Hormones and Hair Loss

Hormones are one of the biggest drivers of hair changes, particularly for women aged 30-50.

For Women

Hormonal hair loss may be linked to:

• Oestrogen fluctuations (perimenopause)
• Low progesterone
• Elevated androgens (testosterone, DHT)
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Coming off hormonal contraception
• Postpartum hormone shifts

Artificial hormones that are androgenic (certain contraceptives or medications) can reduce the size of hair follicles over time.

Women may experience thinning along the part line or crown, a classic presentation of Androgenic alopecia.

For Men

Men commonly experience:

• Receding hairline
• Crown thinning
• Genetic androgen sensitivity

While genetics play a role, gut health, inflammation and nutrient status can significantly influence progression. Supporting testosterone metabolism by reducing the dominance of DHT can also be helped with some herbal medicines such as Saw Palmetto, and nutrients.

Stress, HPA Axis Dysfunction & Hair Loss

Chronic stress has a profound impact on hair growth.

When we are under prolonged stress, the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) becomes dysregulated, often referred to as “adrenal fatigue.” This impacts cortisol rhythms, thyroid function, and sex hormone balance.

One common result is Telogen effluvium.

This occurs when stress pushes hair follicles into the resting (telogen) phase prematurely. Hair shedding may begin 2–6 months after a stressful event such as illness, trauma, burnout, or major life change.

If you suspect stress is a factor, I explore this deeply in my Beat Burnout eCourse, where we address nervous system regulation and HPA axis recovery.

Autoimmune Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss can sometimes be immune-driven.

Alopecia areata

Characterised by round bald patches, this condition reflects immune system dysregulation.

When I see this in clinic, we investigate factors such as:

• Gut permeability or dysbiosis
• Inflammatory triggers
• Food sensitivities
• Stress load
• Thyroid antibodies

Supporting immune tolerance and reducing inflammation can help stabilise progression.

Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash

We Need to Identify the Cause

Hair loss is not a diagnosis, it is a symptom.

Before treatment, we ask:

• Is this hormonal?
• Is there a nutritional deficiency such as low iron?
• Is thyroid function suboptimal?
• Is there autoimmune activity?
• Is stress disrupting the hair cycle?
• Is gut absorption compromised?

This is why personalised assessment is so important. In some cases you may need to be referred to a specialist who can investigate further with a biopsy, however it can be helpful to also start taking a holistic approach with these tests. (Not all of these tests need to be done at once).

What Tests Might Be Helpful?

1. Blood Tests (Starting Point)

I often recommend:

• Iron studies
• Full thyroid panel and thyroid antibodies
• Vitamin D
• B12
• Zinc
• Hormone panel (depending on age and symptoms)
• Autoimmune markers

2. DUTCH Test or ENDOmap

A comprehensive dried urine hormone test can assess:

• Cortisol rhythm
• Oestrogen metabolism
• Progesterone
• Androgen level and metabolism

This is particularly helpful for women in perimenopause or with complex hormonal patterns.

3. HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis)

This test can provide insight into:

• Mineral imbalances
• Stress patterns
• Mineral metabolic rate

4. If You’re Not Improving, Look Deeper

The gut influences almost every aspect of health – including hair.

Looking at gut health involves assessing symptoms, history and potentially doing a thorough gut health workout such as with a stool analysis that measures the microbiome, as well as markers of inflammation, intestinal permeability and more.

Poor gut health can impact things like:

• Absorption of nutrients
• Chronic inflammation
• Hormone detoxification (e.g. may contribute to excess DHT, or poor oestrogen clearance)
• Gut-brain interaction

Poor nutrient absorption alone can stall hair regrowth, even if your diet appears adequate.

Types of Hair Loss Explained

For clarity:

• Androgenic alopecia – Gradual thinning due to androgen sensitivity.
• Alopecia areata – Autoimmune-related patchy loss.
• Anagen effluvium – Rapid loss during active growth phase (often due to chemotherapy or radiation).
• Telogen effluvium – Sudden shedding after stress or shock.

Each type requires a different approach.

From a Traditional & Herbal Perspective

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, hair is closely linked to Kidney and Spleen energy. Deficiency patterns may reflect chronic stress depletion.

In Western naturopathic terms, we would often interpret this as HPA axis dysfunction (commonly called adrenal fatigue), where prolonged stress has altered hormone signalling and metabolic resilience.

Supporting nervous system recovery is often a foundational step in treatment.

Apart from addressing the factors I’ve previously mentioned, I will often include the use of herbs that support circulation and hormonal health.

How Long Does It Take to See Improvement?

Hair growth is slow, so patience is essential.

General timelines:

• Reduced shedding: 6-8 weeks
• Baby hairs visible: 3-4 months
• Noticeable thickening: 6-9 months
• Full cycle improvement: ~12 months

Hair follicles cycle slowly. Sustainable improvement comes from addressing the underlying cause, not masking symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common cause of hair loss in women 30-50?

Hormonal shifts (perimenopause), low iron, thyroid dysfunction, and chronic stress are the most common contributors.

Can stress really cause hair loss?

Yes. Chronic stress can trigger Telogen effluvium by pushing hair into the resting phase prematurely.

Should I take a hair supplement?

If your hair loss is severe I don’t recommend starting without testing. Hair supplements can help, but only if they address your specific deficiency. Many people may notice an improvement from taking the generic hair loss supplements but it can be worthwhile to investigate first.

Can hair grow back after thinning?

In many cases, yes – particularly if follicles are still active. Early intervention improves outcomes.

When to Seek Support

If you’ve noticed:

• Ongoing shedding for more than 3 months
• A widening part line
• Patchy bald areas
• Hair thinning after illness or stress
• Hair changes during perimenopause

It’s time to investigate properly.

We take a root-cause, evidence-informed approach to hair loss and thinning. We combine functional testing, hormone assessment, nutrient optimisation and nervous system support to create personalised treatment plans.

Book a consultation in person or via telehealth if you’d like guidance tailored to your unique presentation. The sooner we investigate, the sooner we can support regrowth.

The post Getting to the root of Hair Loss appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.

Happy World Contraception Day everybody!

Progesterone vs. Progestin

Side Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives

• Depression and anxiety. Some women, especially those aged 15-34 years can experience depression, mood swings or anxiety as a result of the OCP. This still needs more research, however one of the larger studies in this area (1 million women over 13 years) showed that 23% of adolescent women who started the OCP and had not experienced depression before, needed an antidepressant after starting the OCP.
• Blood clots. This is a risk that is so great that for those women who smoke or are overweight, they really should not use the OCP. For women without these factors, their risk of clotting still increases fivefold, and can be greater depending on the type of contraception that they use.
• Metabolic syndrome. Depending on the type of pill you are taking, the OCP can negatively affect cholesterol levels and raise triglycerides. It can also raise blood glucose and reduce insulin sensitivity, potentially leading to insulin resistance. For women choosing to take the OCP as a way to control Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), this can unfortunately worsen the condition as Insulin Resistance is a contributing factor.
• Low libido. This side effect also needs further research, and while I have seen this very common in clinic there is not that many papers which support it. One of the mechanisms is potentially the drop of natural hormones responsible for a healthy libido such as oestrogen and testosterone, but I also suspect that the nutritional deficiencies that can occur as a result of the OCP, such as zinc, magnesium and B vitamins can also play a role. While not necessarily harmful to ones health, it can cause some issues in a relationship and also goes against the concept of greater sexual freedom that should come with the OCP.
• Candida/Thrush and other infections of the reproductive and urinary system. Many women experience thrush whilst on the OCP, especially in the initial period of use. The risk of candida infection is actually higher for IUD use rather than OCP, and is also affected by other factors such as hygiene and antibiotic use.
• Post Pill Amenorrhoea. The standard length of time for a woman’s period to return after stopping the OCP is 3 months, however for some women they may return to normal straight away (yay!) or it can take much, much longer. This can be a real bother when the woman is stopping the OCP to try to fall pregnant. It may be that the pill was masking hormonal problems such as PCOS (a condition that is often made worse by the OCP) or that the woman was put on the OCP at such a young age that her hormones never had a chance to regulate themselves. Or potentially the hormonal production and messenging has been disrupted by the OCP, and the normal time to recover this is longer for some women.

So what are some safer alternatives?

• Pen and paper or app supported Fertility awareness method. Apps I recommended include Kindara and Read Your Body, but the purpose of these apps is for record keeping rather than analysis. For true accuracy you must input your cervical mucous, and this is not something that an algorythm in an app can read. Learn from an instructor for approximately 3 months before using this as a method. This is my recommendation of choice.
• Daysy is a fertility monitoring device that learns your cycle and uses this information to report back to you when you are fertile or not, based on your morning temperature.  Simply insert the tip of Daysy under your tongue each morning and allow it to take your temperature, input menstruation on the days that you have it. You can tell from either an App or the device itself whether you are in your fertile period or not, or if Daysy is still learning your cycle. Its accuracy is reported at 99.3% however as I mentioned above you cannot rely on an algorhythm to predict fertility and the analysis of cervical mucous must be included for accuracy and reliability.  Daysy retails at $499. I no longer recommend this device.
• Natural Cycles in an app which requires you to take your temperature and input the data into the app, and this then calculates the information and tells you whether you are fertile or not. The app is available on a monthly or yearly subscription. In the past I have recommended this app, however with further learning I have realised that temperature alone is not effective at predicting ovulation, and so this poses many concerns with those using it for contraceptive purposes. I no longer recommend this app.
• Condoms and diaphragms. Not everyones favourite but they are side effect free (except when allergic to the substance they are made from, however latex free condoms do exist). They are known to break, and there are many instances where they have been forgotten to be used in the first place.
• IUDs. Not free from side effects, but the side effects are less than other hormonal contraceptives. the copper IUD has no hormonal activity, is effective and not subject to user error. It can potentially worsen period pain for some women, and like all implants has a slight risk associated with the implatation and removal. The Mirena IUD has hormonal activity but seems to be less likely to produce the other risks and side effects than other implants, injections and the OCP.
• Vasectomy and tubal ligation. Effective and long lasting, mostly side effect free, not subject to user error,  and with a pearl index of 0.02 for male sterilisation and 0.13 for female sterilisation, this is something that can be considered once a couple has decided they are ready.

The post Knowing your contraception options appeared first on Alison Mitchell Naturopath.