Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the growth and vitality of hair fundamentally depend on the abundance and harmony of qi and blood in the internal organs.
Hair is the surplus of bloodWhen blood is abundant, the hair is thick, black, and lustrous. If blood is deficient and the hair loses its nourishment, it becomes dry, sparse, and prone to breakage.
Hair is the splendor of the kidneysKidney essence governs growth, development, and reproduction, and its vitality is reflected in the hair. When kidney essence is abundant, the hair is thick, dark, and lustrous; when kidney essence is deficient, the hair turns gray prematurely and falls out.
The spleen is the source of qi and blood productionA healthy spleen and stomach can transform food into sufficient qi and blood, which are then transported upward to nourish the hair. If the spleen is deficient, the production of qi and blood is impaired, leading to withered, yellow, and sparse hair.
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Common Causes of Hair Loss in Traditional Chinese Medicine
(1) Deficiency of both qi and blood
It is commonly seen in women who are physically weak, postpartum, or excessively worried. Insufficient qi and blood fail to nourish the hair, leading to uniformly sparse, dry, and dull hair, often accompanied by pale complexion, dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, and insomnia.
(2) Liver and Kidney Deficiency
Commonly seen in individuals who stay up late for long periods, overuse their brains, or are elderly. Depletion of kidney essence and insufficiency of liver blood lead to large patches of hair loss, thinning and fine hair, or premature graying, often accompanied by soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, tinnitus, and memory decline.
(3) Blood Heat and Wind Dryness
It is commonly seen in young and middle-aged adults, associated with high stress and frequent consumption of spicy and fried foods. Heat in the blood system scorches yin blood, depletes body fluids, deprives hair roots of nourishment, leading to dry hair and hair loss. The scalp may be itchy with excessive dandruff.
(4) Internal Accumulation of Dampness-Heat
Often due to a diet high in greasy and sweet foods, the spleen and stomach's transportation and transformation functions become impaired, leading to the internal generation of damp-heat. This damp-heat rises to the scalp, clogging hair follicles, which results in oily, sticky, and flat hair, and even seborrheic hair loss. It is often accompanied by a bitter taste in the mouth and an oily, sticky scalp.
(5) Liver Stagnation and Blood Stasis
Emotional depression and excessive stress lead to liver qi stagnation, which in turn causes blood stasis, preventing nourishment of the hair follicles. Patchy hair loss, commonly known as ghost shaving, is often observed, accompanied by chest tightness, distending pain in the hypochondrium, and irregular menstruation.
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Fixing hair and promoting hair growth, traditional Chinese medicine has wonderful prescriptions
Dietary therapy for internal nourishment, nourishing hair roots
(1) Deficiency of both Qi and Blood
Angelica and Astragalus Chicken Soup, replenishes qi and nourishes blood; Jade Beauty Mulberry Drink (Ingredients: 5g dried mulberries, 2 longan meat pieces. Method: steep in boiling water for 10 minutes before drinking, can be consumed as tea), nourishes blood and yin.
(2) Liver and Kidney Deficiency
Black Sesame Walnut Porridge, Nourishes the Kidneys and Hair
(3) Internal Accumulation of Dampness-Heat
Coix Seed and Red Bean Porridge, strengthens the spleen, promotes diuresis, and clears the head and face.
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External treatment techniques, unblock meridians
Combing hair with fingertips
Every morning upon waking, use the pads of your ten fingers to comb your hair from front to back 100 times with moderate pressure, stimulating blood circulation in the scalp and awakening the hair follicles.
Baihui Acupoint: Press and knead for 3 minutes to elevate yang qi and promote the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body.
Fengchi Acupoint: Press and knead for 3 minutes to promote the flow of qi and blood in the head, and clear and brighten the eyes.
Taixi Acupoint: Press and knead for 3 minutes to tonify the kidneys and replenish essence, nourishing from the root.
The only way to improve hair loss is through perseverance By regulating the spleen and stomach replenishing qi and blood and clearing dampness and heat one can nurture healthy and beautiful hair from the inside out
