A patient came to me after receiving monthly steroid injections into her scalp. She was using minoxidil, topical steroids, psoriasis creams—yet her hair kept falling out. Her dermatologist diagnosed her with alopecia areata and told her she would “just have to live with it.”
But she didn’t have to live with it.
I found five root causes behind her hair loss, and once we addressed them, her hair grew back and she was able to stop all medications.
My name is Dr. Tom Rofrano from the Natural Medicine Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and author of the FreeDiet®. After 40 years in practice, most new patients I see come in with gut or thyroid issues—and this patient was one of them.
Her Symptoms: Hair Loss, Fatigue & Hashimoto’s
This 42-year-old woman had Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroid disease and was struggling with:
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Gut symptoms
- PMS
- Hair loss
Her hair began falling out soon after her endocrinologist changed her thyroid medication dosage. Even though her thyroid labs were “normal,” she was sent to a dermatologist who diagnosed alopecia areata and prescribed:
- Monthly steroid injections
- Topical steroids
- Minoxidil
- Psoriasis cream
Despite all of this, her hair continued to fall out.
She was frustrated and wanted real answers.
Comprehensive Testing Revealed 5 Root Causes of Her Hair Loss
- Nutrient Deficiencies
She had below-optimal levels of:
- Ferritin
- Magnesium
- B12
- Vitamin D
Even though her levels were technically “normal,” they were not optimal for hair growth or thyroid function.
For example:
- Ferritin normal range for women: 15–150
- Hair loss can occur below 50
- Her ferritin was below that threshold
When multiple nutrients are below optimal, the effects compound.
- Toxins
She had very high mercury levels, which can:
- Interfere with thyroid function
- Directly cause hair loss
She had been eating tuna and swordfish several times per week—both high-mercury fish.
- Food Reactions
She tested positive for:
- Gluten sensitivity
- Celiac genetics
- Leaky gut
Gluten sensitivity is one of the most common root causes of Hashimoto’s. It can:
- Trigger autoimmune activity
- Aggravate leaky gut
- Contribute to nutrient deficiencies
- Worsen hair loss
- Gut Infections
She had:
- Bacterial overgrowth
- Yeast overgrowth
Gut dysbiosis can:
- Aggravate autoimmune conditions
- Increase inflammation
- Worsen nutrient malabsorption
- Contribute to hair loss
- Hormonal Imbalance
She had:
- Above-optimal TSH
- Below-optimal T3
- Estrogen dominance (high estrogen, low progesterone)
Her Hashimoto’s was undertreated, meaning she didn’t have enough active thyroid hormone—another major cause of hair loss.
Estrogen dominance can also interfere with thyroid function and worsen hair thinning.
Step 1: The Anti-Inflammatory FreeDiet®
Once we identified her root causes, I put her on the FreeDiet®, which I developed years ago while healing my own autoimmune Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS, fatigue, and skin issues.
Foods to Avoid on the FreeDiet®
- Gluten
- Grains
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Soy
- Legumes
- Nightshades
- Processed foods
These foods are the most common triggers of inflammation, gut, thyroid, and other chronic health issues
Step 2: What She Ate
Breakfast
A nutrient-dense FreeDiet® Super Smoothie containing:
- Protein
- Essential fats
- Fruits and vegetables
- Fiber
(Recipe included with the FreeDiet® Phase 1 Food Chart linked below.)
Lunch & Dinner
- Beef, chicken, or fish
- Plenty of vegetables
- Healthy fats
As she improved, we added additional foods back in during Phase 2 and beyond.
Step 3: Targeted Supplements
She took the Functional Five:
- Multivitamin
- Fish oil
- Vitamin D with K
- Magnesium
- Probiotic
Plus:
Additional Support
- Gut-support supplements
- Curcumin
- Iron glycinate with vitamin C
- Sublingual B12
- Thyroid support
- Metal cleanse (for mercury detoxification)
These helped replenish nutrient deficiencies, support thyroid function, reduce inflammation, and detoxify heavy metals.
Her Results Over 7 Months
Her improvements were remarkable:
Symptoms Improved
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Gut symptoms
- PMS
Hair Loss
- Hair loss stopped
- Hair began growing back
Lab Improvements
- TSH improved
- Free T3 improved
- CRP decreased
- Ferritin increased
- B12, magnesium, and vitamin D normalized
- Estrogen dominance improved
Her Results After One Year
When she returned the following year:
- Her hair had fully grown back
- She had stopped all injections and topical medications
- Her dermatologist said, “It was probably just stress”
But she was still under the same stress—she simply addressed the root causes.
The Bottom Line
With the FreeDiet® and targeted supplements, she was able to:
- Resolve hair loss
- Improve thyroid function
- Detoxify mercury
- Heal her gut
- Balance hormones
- Restore energy
If you have fatigue, gut issues, thyroid problems, or hair loss, comprehensive testing is essential to uncover your root causes so you can receive the right solutions.
If you’d like personalized help, feel free to contact us—we’re currently accepting new patients.
Go here if you would like a free copy of the FreeDiet® phase 1 food chart.
