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Rooted

Skin · also Endocrine / Metabolic

Telogen effluvium

3 plants

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Diffuse shed 2–3 months after a hit (COVID, surgery, childbirth, crash calorie cut). Pull test positive, part wide, no scarring. Ferritin, TSH, and time. Androgenetic alopecia is patterned and gets the saw-palmetto page. Rosemary oil has a small AGA comparator file, not a telogen file. Do not start finasteride-class thinking for a postpartum shed that will grow back.

Primary plants

  1. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
    1
    RosemaryStrong traditional

    Salvia rosmarinus

    Topical rosemary oil is an AGA file. Borrowed here only if the leftover is patterned and they insist on a topical — not for classic telogen.

    Typical. Diluted topical if used at all. Never ingest the essential oil.

    Safety. Irritation. Wrong indication for classic telogen.

Supportive plants2
  • Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
    Stinging nettleStrong traditional
    Urtica dioica

    Leaf tea as a traditional 'mineral' adjunct while you replace iron/protein actually.

    Typical. Leaf tea. Not a ferritin.

    Safety. Allergy.

  • Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)
    Saw palmettoHuman data
    Serenoa repens

    Androgenetic page. Mention so you do not put every shed on DHT.

    Typical. If the picture is actually patterned: lipidosterolic extract 320 mg/day.

    Safety. Does not treat telogen. Does not treat prostate cancer.

Clinical notes

  • Postpartum shed at month 3 is usually telogen. Reassurance plus ferritin beats a DHT stack.

When this is not enough

  • Scarring alopecia, patchy areata, chemotherapy anagen loss, virilization, crashing ferritin with GI blood loss

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

All skin diagnoses