(I KNOW I posted some of these a few months back, and now they're gone...so I'll see what I can dig up...)
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How can green tea be used to treat baldness
Green tea, also known as "Camellia sinensis", is very popular and consumed daily in Japan and other Asian countries. Asia is naturally the largest producer of green tea and plantations are commonplace. Green tea is simply dried leaves of the tea plant. Black tea is made from dried tea plant leaves that have been through a fermentation process. Green tea is a popular form of treatment for androgenetic alopecia although there have been no published studies to directly demonstrate its effectiveness. As with saw palmetto, the potential for treating pattern baldness is indicated by research into the properties of green tea in treating other ailments.
The key ingredients of green tea are molecules called catechins. Catechins have several properties. Animal model research studies indicate that green tea catechins have a variety of actions. Rats that were given green tea derived epicatechins showed vasorelaxation. Arteries that were induced to contract were found to relax again after administration of catechins, so green tea may aid cardiovascular activity. Catechins of green tea are selectively bactericidal. They do not affect lactic acid bacteria but will reduce the proliferation of other bacteria types particularly those that use alpha-amylase activity in their growth and cell division. Green tea also contains antioxidants and may even help lower cholesterol. Of greatest interest to the research community green tea apparently has a protective effect against a range of cancers. Green tea has been statistically shown to reduce the frequency of smoke-induced mutations. It has also been particularly useful in protection from stomach and colon cancer.
Of greatest interest to those with androgenetic alopecia is evidence that green tea can influence serum concentrations of hormones. Research in this area is primarily with reference to hormonal effects on the development of cancer and how green tea and other caffeine containing products might mediate changes in hormone levels. For example, high intake of green tea has been associated with higher levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and lowered levels of serum estradiol (estrogen) concentration in women. Increased SHBG may be of help in reducing the effects of androgenetic alopecia. SHBG is a molecule that binds with high affinity to testosterone. Testosterone bound to SHBG is not bioactive and cannot bind to androgen receptors or be converted into dihydrotestosterone. An increase in SHBG concentration effectively reduces free testosterone.
Green tea may affect testosterone levels and may also have an affect on the type I 5 alpha reductase enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. These distinct, but complementary, effects of green tea may influence androgenetic alopecia.
The medicinal action of androgens and green tea epigallocatechin gallate
S Liao
Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Ben May Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, US
Unorthodox (non-traditional or alternative) medicinal practices have been expanding very rapidly in western countries. Modern physicians, scientists, and non-traditional medicine practitioners now must join forces to promote evidence-based medicine to benefit patients. Green tea extracts are among the most widely used ancient medicinal agents, while androgens are probably the oldest drugs used in a purified form in traditional Chinese medicine. It is now clear that a specific green tea catechin, (-)epigallocatechin-3-gallate, can modulate the production and biological actions of androgens and other hormones. Modulation of androgenic activity and administration of (-)epigallocatechin-3-gallate may be useful for the treatment of various hormone-related abnormalities, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, baldness, and acne, as well as androgen-dependent and - independent prostate cancers. (-)Epigallocatechin-3-gallate has also been shown to modulate appetite and control obesity in animals.
HKMJ 2001;7(4):369-74
Key words: Catechin; Medicine, Chinese traditional; Obesity; Prostatic neoplasms; Testosterone 5-alpha-reductase
I love this articles about green tea ant its effects on pcos ,pls can you tell me whether decaffinated green tea also works like non decaff?
Ditto. I've been drinking green tea for a few years now. Not every day but at least 3 times a week. My hair is still thinning. But I have to drink decaf because my body shuts down with the least amount of caffeine. Like chocolate doesn't bother me but there's something about tea and coffee flavored products and I don't sleep for days. I'll try anything to keep my crown and glory. . .
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I can't tolerate Green tea either......I wish I could, but the caffeine just kills me. The slightest amount of caffeine makes me feel horrible......and don't even mention alcohol and that includes even any herbal tinctures that contain alcohol.....I feel SO horrible.
Oh well, I can live without caffeine and alcohol, I just can't live without a nice tall glass of water with lemon in it !
Camellia sinensis is the scientific name for the tea plant which can be fermented or unfermented to have black tea or green tea (or even white tea). I never hear that green tea could help with hirsutism before, and it surprises me as green tea is part of my everyday... and I might be among the hairiest girl in the USA lol.
Green Tea & Hirsutism 
