By Suneil Jain, NMD
A 52-year-old female presented with alopecia and pruritic scalp. With a diagnosis of vitiligo and lichen planopilaris, the patient has been treated for the past seven years at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. She has cycled between various corticosteroids, including topical clobetasol propionate, triamcinolone acetonide and oral prednisone. In addition, the patient has taken oral tetracycline and minocycline for the past two years.
After a thorough history, it was discovered that the patient suffer from numerous gastrointestinal symptoms, among them chronic constipation and bloating stood out the most. The patient has suffered from constipation for most of her life, averaging four to five bowel movements per week. She was told by her doctors to add fiber such as Metamucil to her diet to help her move the bowels. The patient had already tried this to no avail and quit taking the fiber when no benefits were noticed. To date, the patient had made no dietary changes. Her scalp illustrated active inflammation of the hair follicle, with moderate flaking over the frontal, parietal and temporal regions.
Upon completion of her homeopathic intake and a dietary serotype blood draw, the patient was placed on the following treatment plan:
- Discontinuation of all corticosteroids and antibiotics
- Dietary serotype plan for Blood Type O+, non-secretor status
- Nux vomica 30c – 3 pellets qam
- Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS by Vital Nutrients – 2 capsules, TID for 8 weeks
- Liquid trace minerals: 1 tsp
- EPA/DHA: 2 gms tid with food
- Massage the following formula into scalp 3-4 times a week: 2 drops thyme essential oil, 3 drops lavender essential oil, 3 drops rosemary essential oil and 2 drops cedar essential oil, combined with almond oil as the carrier oil
- Mesotherapy prescription for hair rejuvenation: Using a 30 gauge x 4 mm needle, a 10 cc syringe filled to 12 cc comprised of 2 cc biotin, 1 cc methylcobalamin, 1 cc pyridoxine, 1 cc dexpanthenol, 1 cc B-complex, 1 cc ginkgo biloba, 1 cc zinc, 2 cc multitrace minerals, 1 cc sodium bicarbonate and 1 cc 2% procaine was deposited bilaterally to the bregma over the parietal regions of the scalp. Treatment course involved weekly injections for the first month, biweekly injections for the next three months and monthly injections thereafter as maintenance.
Prior to the start of treatment, the patient would regularly notice hair on her pillow and in
the shower. After starting the serotype diet and two mesotherapy treatments, the patient stopped noticing such occurrences with any regularity. Currently, the patient is able to have one to two bowel movements a day and no longer suffers from gas and bloating. Flaking of the scalp and inflammation of the hair follicle are seen only on occasion, typically correlating with stress at the workplace.
