Dry Hair in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different dry hair patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Dry hair, often described as dull and brittle hair, is a common concern affecting many individuals. It's characterized by hair that lacks moisture, leading to a lackluster appearance and increased vulnerability to damage.
Symptoms may also include a dry scalp and hair that feels coarse to the touch. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dry hair is seen as a reflection of internal imbalances within the body, and its treatment is rooted in the principles of restoring harmony.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dry hair is seen as a symptom of internal imbalances known as patterns. These patterns represent unique disharmonies within the body. TCM emphasizes identifying the specific pattern behind dry hair in each individual before determining treatment.
This holistic approach addresses the root causes of dry hair, such as Blood Deficiency or Yin Deficiency, ensuring not only hair health but overall well-being.
TCM Patterns for Dry Hair
Blood Deficiency
Causes: Dry hair
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Dry hair
Along with: General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations, Dizziness, Poor memory, Insomnia, Dislike of speaking, Loss of appetite, Limb numbness, Skin numbness
Blood Deficiency
Dry hair
Along with: Dizziness, Scanty menstruation, Amenorrhea, Dull shallow face, Pale lips, Poor memory, Insomnia
Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
Dry hair
Along with: Palpitations, Dizziness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming, Poor memory, Anxiety, Easily startled, Dull pale complexion, Pale lips, Blurry vision, Eye floaters, Night blindness, Tingling of limbs, Limb numbness, Scanty menstruation, Amenorrhea, Muscle cramps, Muscle weakness, Skin dryness, Depression, Lack of direction, Withered and brittle nails
Liver Blood Deficiency
Dry hair
Along with: Blurry vision, Dull pale complexion, Scanty menstruation, Limb numbness, Pale lips, Muscle weakness, Dizziness, Tingling of limbs, Insomnia, Eye floaters, Night blindness, Amenorrhea, Withered and brittle nails, Skin dryness, Depression, Lack of direction, Vivid dreaming
Yin Deficiency
Causes: Dry hair
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
Dry hair
Along with: Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache, Insomnia, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Dry eyes, Blurry vision, Dry throat, Skin dryness, Withered and brittle nails, Vaginal dryness, Night sweats, Dry stools, Nocturnal emission, Scanty menstruation, Amenorrhea, Late menstruation, Infertility, Melasma
Liver Yin Deficiency
Dry hair
Along with: Dizziness, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Insomnia, Blurry vision, Eye floaters, Dry eyes, Night blindness, Scanty menstruation, Amenorrhea, Dull pale complexion, Flushed cheekbones, Muscle weakness, Muscle cramps, Withered and brittle nails, Skin dryness, Depression, Lack of direction, Night sweats, Vivid dreaming, Afternoon fever, Hot palms and soles, Preference for sipping
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Dry hair
Along with: Excessive sweating, Back pain, Hearing loss, Dry mouth and throat at night, Lower back pain, Constipation, Scanty and dark urine, Infertility, Premature ejaculation, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Depression, Anxiety, Heat sensation in palms, Evening heat sensation, Flushed cheekbones, Menopausal hot flashes, Preference for sipping, Evening anxiety
Qi Deficiency
Causes: Dry hair
Qi and Blood Deficiency
Dry hair
Along with: General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations, Dizziness, Poor memory, Insomnia, Dislike of speaking, Loss of appetite, Limb numbness, Skin numbness
Blood Stasis
Causes: Dry hair
Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
Dry hair
Along with: Loss of appetite, Slight abdominal distension after eating, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Dull pale complexion, Weak limbs, Diarrhea, Emaciation, Scanty menstruation, Amenorrhea, Insomnia, Limb numbness, Dizziness, Blurry vision, Eye floaters, Night blindness, Pale lips, Muscle weakness, Muscle cramps, Withered and brittle nails, Skin dryness, Depression, Lack of direction
Herbal Formulas for Dry Hair
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address dry hair
Gui Pi Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood
- Tonifies Heart and Spleen
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Palpitations, Dizziness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming, Poor memory, Anxiety...
Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Loss of appetite, Slight abdominal distension after eating, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Dull pale complexion, Weak limbs...
Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi and Blood
- Nourishes the Heart
- Calms the Mind
- Warms Yang
- Strengthens the Spleen and Lungs
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms and tonifies Qi
- Warms and tonifies Blood
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner)
- Raises the Yang
- Detoxifies
- Lifts what has sunken
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Suan Zao Ren Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Blood
- Calms the Mind and eliminates irritability
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Palpitations, Dizziness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming, Poor memory, Anxiety...
Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Blurry vision, Dull pale complexion, Scanty menstruation, Limb numbness, Pale lips, Muscle weakness...
Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Insomnia, Blurry vision, Eye floaters...
Bu Gan Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and regulates the Blood
- Nourishes the Liver Yin
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Blurry vision, Dull pale complexion, Scanty menstruation, Limb numbness, Pale lips, Muscle weakness...
Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Insomnia, Blurry vision, Eye floaters...
Ba Zhen Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and augments Qi
- Tonifies and augments Blood
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Guo Qi Yin
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms the menses
- Dispels blood Stagnation
- Nourishes the blood
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Zhi Gan Cao Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Augments the Qi
- Nourishes Yin
- Nourishes the Blood
- Restores the pulse
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Qi and Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
General weakness, Generalized fatigue, Weak voice, Pale face, Shortness of breath, Palpitations...
Si Wu Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Restores and nourishes Blood
- Stimulates Blood circulation
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Scanty menstruation, Amenorrhea, Dull shallow face, Pale lips, Poor memory...
Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Blurry vision, Dull pale complexion, Scanty menstruation, Limb numbness, Pale lips, Muscle weakness...
Zuo Gui Wan
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin
- Strengthens the Kidneys
- Fills the Essence
- Augments the marrow
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Dang Gui Shao Yao San
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Liver Blood
- Spreads the Liver Qi
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Resolves Dampness
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Loss of appetite, Slight abdominal distension after eating, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Dull pale complexion, Weak limbs...
Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies the Qi
- Generates Blood
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Scanty menstruation, Amenorrhea, Dull shallow face, Pale lips, Poor memory...
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin
- Improves vision
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Insomnia, Blurry vision, Eye floaters...
Kidney Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Excessive sweating, Back pain, Hearing loss, Dry mouth and throat at night, Lower back pain, Constipation...
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Blood and augments the Yin
- Moderates painful spasms
- Alleviates pain
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Spleen and Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Loss of appetite, Slight abdominal distension after eating, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Dull pale complexion, Weak limbs...
Sheng Yu Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Qi and Blood
- Preserves the Blood
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Palpitations, Dizziness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming, Poor memory, Anxiety...
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Zhen Zhu Mu Wan
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin and Blood
- Sedates the Heart and calms the Mind
- Calms the Liver
- Anchors the yang
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Liver and Heart Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Palpitations, Dizziness, Insomnia, Vivid dreaming, Poor memory, Anxiety...
Qing Gu San
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat from Deficiency
- Alleviates steaming bone disorder
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the Kidney Yin and Essence
- Nourishes the Liver Blood
- Beautifies hair
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Liver Blood Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Blurry vision, Dull pale complexion, Scanty menstruation, Limb numbness, Pale lips, Muscle weakness...
Yi Guan Jian
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the Yin
- Spreads the Liver Qi
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Insomnia, Blurry vision, Eye floaters...
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Pacifies the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Nourishes the Yin
- Anchors the Yang
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Zuo Gui Yin
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin
- Tonifies the Kidneys
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Kidney Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Excessive sweating, Back pain, Hearing loss, Dry mouth and throat at night, Lower back pain, Constipation...
Dang Gui Di Huang Yin
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Blood
- Tonifies Kidney and Liver Yin
- Regulates the menstrual cycle
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Kidney Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Excessive sweating, Back pain, Hearing loss, Dry mouth and throat at night, Lower back pain, Constipation...
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Addresses these dry hair patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Liver Fire from Stagnant Liver Qi
Addresses These Dry Hair Pattern Variations
Kidney Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dry hair
Accompanying symptoms:
Excessive sweating, Back pain, Hearing loss, Dry mouth and throat at night, Lower back pain, Constipation...