Alopecia Areata

A friend of mine told me about your web site because I asked for her help with a problem concerning my son. He has been diagnosed with alopecia areota, he just turned 17 yrs. old last week and is a junior in high school. Is there any herb that could help speed up the regrowth of his hair? The dermatologist that he is seeing is at a loss for what to do next. Several blood tests have been done and were all fine. A biopsy has been done and we're awaiting the results.
In the mean time, he had a bald spot that was 1/2 inch big and is now over 11 inches in less than 8 months. I have also noticed two more spots on his head too. You can only imagine the stress this is causing him because of his peers at school. Is there anything he could take? We do have an appointment with another specialist at the end of April but we just were hoping for something to help speed up the process. Can you help?

Alopecia areata is presumed to be an autoimmune disease, and may be related to allergies.
In autoimmune diseases, herbs are used to regulate the immune system: Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia or Echinacea purpurea) root, Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), Garlic and Wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) are some of the most effective immune system regulators. The diet should be high in sources of essential fatty acids (nuts, seeds, beans, pulses) and sugar should be eliminated because it suppresses the immune system. Supplements of vitamins and minerals help to rebuild the immune system: beta-carotene, B-complex, C, D, E, zinc, iron, selenium and calcium.
To test for food allergies, you can keep a food diary, noting any changes in your son's health with certain foods in his diet, eliminating any foods you suspect may trigger any health problems.
For information on herbs to stimulate hair growth, please see previous answers on our webpage at www.richters.com. Go to the Q&A area and search for "Herbs for Hair Loss" and "Herbs for Healthy Hair" in the Medicinal Herbs section.