Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hair Loss
Thousands of years old, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) seeks to treat the whole person by balancing yin and yang, complementary forces that are balanced when the person is healthy. TCM also takes into account natural elements, which are related to the function of different organs, and energy flow (chi) in the body.66
In keeping with this whole-body approach, where the hair loss occurs on the scalp can indicate a nutritional deficiency:5
NATURAL TCM HAIR LOSS REMEDIES |
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How it works |
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Also known as Biota orientalis or Chinese Cedar, biota is grows in both a tree and shrub form native to China, Japan, North Korea and Iran. The seeds and leaves have anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, and can be used in ointments or liquid tinctures to thicken hair and prevent further baldness to treat alopecia. Historically used orally for its stress relieving, hormone-regulating, and pain-relieving properties; topically as a hair tonic.252 Do not use if pregnant or lactating; may be a uterine stimulant.252 |
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Topical formula containing 8% herbal extracts:66
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In a double-blinded, 6-month clinical trial involving 396 patients, the Dabao-treated group showed a statistically significant increase in terminal (vs. vellus) hairs when compared to the placebo-treated group.66 |
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Topical application for men253 4.5 g/day oral supplement for women to treat menopause symptoms253 Contains:253
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Traditionally used to stop hair loss and regrow hair, dong quai phytosterols can reduce the formation of the androgen DHT.10 Antioxidant effects.253 Anti-inflammatory properties.253 essential vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids for hair growth.253 Do not use with anticoagulant drugs (e.g., warfarin) as it has been shown to increase the antiplatelet effect (as measured by INR).253 |
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Oral supplement containing:79
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Is especially helpful if other symptoms include dizziness, insomnia, and palpitations.79 |
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Used in TCM and Ayurveda (bh??gar?ja) to treat hair loss; often used with other TCM herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum (he shou wu), Rehmannia glutinosa, and dong quai to treat premature balding.254 Helps regulate immune system response.62 |
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Believed to inhibit hair loss and stimulate regrowth. 2 | |
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Oral supplement containing:(79)
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Helps reduce inflammatory immune response in hair follicles.79 As an added benefit, also treats premature greying.79 |
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Sometimes using TCM herbals to treat certain health conditions are found to be as effective as pharmaceutical treatments, without the adverse side effect of hair loss. One example is combining Tripterygium wilfordii extracts with prednisone to treat relapsing primary nephrotic syndrome in children. In a randomized controlled clinical trial involving 80 children, patients were treated for 3-6 months with either the TCM herbal formula and prednisone or cyclophosphamide and prednisone, and then followed up with for 3-7 years.255
Those treated with the TCM/prednisone combination had the same relapse rates as the control group, but with fewer side effects (e.g., hair loss and gastrointestinal problems).255 Like many chemotherapy drugs, cyclophosphamide is known to cause hair loss.198