Hair loss and Silica
We get asked quite often about which products we recommend for hair loss (as well as the health of nails and skin). Hair loss is a complex issue, and could easily be the subject of an entire book, and we have an entire category populated with the products that may help here. But we’ll keep this simple. Women especially should always discount the possibility of iron deficiency, and supplement with iron if necessary. Note: please only supplement if you have been diagnosed with low levels of iron – don’t just guess – as iron is one of the rare minerals where if you take too much it won’t just come out when you pee, and taking too much can be toxic.
However, where iron deficiency is ruled out, our top pick is usually Silica Plus, which unlike iron is safe for everyone to take. (Oh, and by the way, you can take Iron and Silica if you are losing your hair). A quick glance at the reviews shows that those who can be bothered to write one (typically, and frustratingly this is only around 0.25% of customers with all products) typically report tremendous benefits for hair loss. We’ve been selling this product ever since we started our online shop, and whilst it’s never been one of the top sellers, we had quite a few people report that it helps with hair loss, as well the health of nails, prevention of wrinkles, and especially joint problems, arthritis and so on. Here’s a quick summary of what it helps with, and what to combine it with for optimal results.
If you need silica, you are likely to say “yes” to some of the following questions…
Do you have more wrinkles than you think is appropriate for your time of life?
Is wrinkle prevention high on your list of concerns for the future?
Is your skin tone not what it could be?
Is your skin dehydrated?
Do your fingernails peel?
Do you have joint pain or arthritis?
Is your hair weak or brittle?
Is your hair thin or thinning?
Are your gums inflamed?
So how can silica help?
- Silica strengthens hair and gives it shine
- Silica ensures that your skin is moisturised from the inside, leaving it health any supple
- Silica gives strength to nails – improving their health and appearance
- Silica helps strengthen joints and tendons
- Silica helps reduce inflammation of the gums
More detailed information on silica
Bones, Teeth and Gums
Osteoporosis is a common symptom of aging, caused by calcium being leached from the bones leaving them brittle and weak. Supplemental calcium on its own is not enough, other minerals are needed and silica can help the body repair brittle bones. The symptoms of osteoporosis are mainly seen in women after the menopause but the degenerative process occurs much earlier in life. With osteoporosis a lack of calcium in the bone matrix leads to weakened and thinned bones which are susceptible to being broken by a minor injury or even normal stresses and pressure.
Bones are made up of phosphorous, calcium, magnesium and silica. Silica’s function is the depositing of minerals, especially calcium into the bones to strengthen them. Therefore it can speed up the healing of fractures and help prevent them in the first place. Research has also shown that when the body has short supply of calcium, it can convert silica to calcium that is needed by the bones. Silica may also help with cartilage and joint inflammation and deterioration. Silica can stimulate bone formation so can be used as a preventative against osteoporosis.
Silica also has benefits for teeth and gums by hardening tooth enamel, preventing cavities and helping to preserve teeth. Silica guards against bleeding gums and also prevents recession of the gums that leads to loosening of the teeth and eventually tooth loss. Therefore silica can be used to maintain the integrity of teeth and gums.
Hair, Skin and Nails
There has been a recent interest in silica in the cosmetic industry as they have realised that shampoos, conditioners and creams containing silica are beneficial for healthy hair, skin and nails. However the benefits can also be seen when silica is taken internally.
Silica is a major component of hair as hair is almost as rich in silica as healthy bones. Silica helps to prevent baldness and stimulates healthier hair growth. A silica supplement can help revitalise hair by making it shinier and stronger.
As we get older, the amount of silica in the body becomes exhausted leading to brittle nails. Nails are complex protein structures that grow on average 4-5mm per month. When there is a mineral deficiency, the rate of growth slows down so the fingernails can be the first sign of a silica deficiency. Minerals will be removed from the nails before the bones so it is possible to stop the process before the minerals are leached from the bones and cause much greater health problems. Silica helps make the nails harder, shinier and less likely to break.
Skin also requires silica, as the supporting collagen underneath the skin enhances elasticity and beauty. Collagen is mainly made up of silica so the more silica available the more effectively the collagen can work and give a brighter complexion to the skin. Studies have shown that once the body is provided with enough silica, collagen levels are elevated and the texture of skin improves.
Silica can help the body deal with dry skin and other skin conditions, brittle nails, hair thinning, dandruff and burns including sunburn.
Anti-Aging
The body’s natural level of silica declines as we age causing bone density to decrease, dry and wrinkled skin, weak teeth and gums and hair loss to occur.
Tissue degeneration accelerates due to aging when connective tissue cannot retain moisture. Silica can help slow the degenerative process of connective tissue. Collagen’s ability to retain moisture is what gives connective tissue its ‘bounce’ and will slow down premature aging. Collagen contains large quantities of silica so if the body has enough silica, the collagen helps the skin look younger. Therefore a silica supplement inhibits the aging process of the skin by supporting the structure of connective tissue.
Vascular System
Silica is involved in maintaining blood vessels and is present in the heart, lungs, liver and the blood itself. Silica strengthens and stimulates the vascular system, lowers blood pressure and increases elasticity of blood vessels. Silica also helps improve arteriosclerosis, where the arteries become hardened leading to heart attacks and strokes. Silica can support the cardiovascular system as studies have shown people without heart disease have much higher levels of silica in their arteries.
Silica maintains the structure and permeability of the arteries so can help regulate blood pressure and avoid coronary problems.
Respiratory Conditions
Silica helps repair and maintain lung tissue, and contributes to the elasticity of the lungs. It also protects lung tissue from pollution that is inhaled, something we are all exposed to everyday. Silica acts as a cough decreasing agent and to tone the upper respiratory tract. Silica can reduce swelling in the nose, pharynx and larynx because of its positive action on the lymphatic system.
How is it best to take Silica Plus?
Like many nutrients, silica is best absorbed in a colloidal liquid form. Taken on 15 drops 3 x per day, Silica Plus is a two month supply of liquid silica with additional ingredients which help with its absorption, along with trace minerals. For this who are interested, there is more information on Silica Plus on the web site.
What products combine well with Silica Plus?
1) Oxygen Elements Max
A healthy oxygenated environment helps Silica Plus do it’s job even better. We supply a number of liquid oxygen products, but we usually recommend customers to combine Silica Plus with Oxygen Elements Max, made by the same company. Indeed Silica Plus was originated formulated to be Oxygen Elements Max’s sister product. Although Silica Plus can and does work by itself the increased oxygen enhances ALL the potential benefits of Silica Plus.
2) MSM
We can’t finish this newsletter without giving a quick shout-out for the benefits of MSM. For problems of the hair, skin and nails, MSM (nutritional sulphur) can also be helpul. According to one one of the pioneers of MSM – Bill Rich – “wrinkles are caused by a lack of sulphur in the skin”. This is of course over simplistic, and there other factors that contribute to skin aging. Nevertheless healthy levels of sulphur do contribute to healthy radiant hair and skin, and supplementing with MSM has countless additional health benefits besides. But as always I know I am on borrowed time, so I’ll save that discussion for another day.
Best wishes
Mark G. Lester – Company Director
www.TheFinchleyClinic.com
