Hair loss according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Hair loss can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like hair loss here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here hair loss is often associated with dizziness, tinnitus and blurred vision in the pattern “Kidney Essence Deficiency”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of hair loss we’ve identified three herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat hair loss.
Kidney Essence Deficiency, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause hair loss
In Chinese Medicine hair loss is a symptom for the pattern "Kidney Essence Deficiency". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Essence Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Pale
Kidney Essence (Jing 精) Deficiency usually involves Deficiency of Kidney Yin and, to some extent, Kidney Yang. Its symptoms are typically in relation to growth, development, reproduction, sexuality, bones, marrow, the brain, teeth, memory and hair.
In addition to hair loss, other symptoms associated with Kidney Essence Deficiency include dizziness, tinnitus and blurred vision.
Kidney Essence Deficiency is often treated with Zuo Gui Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Zuo Gui Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes the Yin".
Three herbal formulas that might help with hair loss
Zuo Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys. Fills the Essence. Augments the marrow.
Why might Zuo Gui Wan help with hair loss?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which hair loss is a symptom.
Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan
Source date: 1550 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Kidney Yang. Strengthens the Essence.
Why might Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan help with hair loss?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which hair loss is a symptom.
Tu Si Zi Wan
Source date: 1253 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Kidneys. Prevents abnormal leakage such as urinary incontinence or seminal emissions.
Why might Tu Si Zi Wan help with hair loss?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Essence Deficiency' of which hair loss is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat hair loss
Why might Cuscuta Seed (Tu Si Zi) help with hair loss?
Because Cuscuta Seed is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hair loss as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Cuscuta Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies Kidney Yang and Essence. Nourishes the Liver.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with hair loss?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hair loss as a symptom, like Si Wu Tang or Tong Ru Dan for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Goji Berry (Gou Qi Zi) help with hair loss?
Because Goji Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hair loss as a symptom, like Zuo Gui Wan or Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan for instance.
Goji Berries is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Yin of the Liver and Yin of the Kidneys. Brightens the eyes. Moistens the Lungs.
Why might Schisandra Berry (Wu Wei Zi) help with hair loss?
Because Schisandra Berry is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hair loss as a symptom, like Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Schisandra Berries is a Warm herb that tastes Sour and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Kidneys and preserves the Essence. Astringes the Lung Qi and stops coughing. Retains Bodily Fluids and encourages their production. Tonifies the Heart and calms the spirit (Shen).
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with hair loss?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat hair loss as a symptom, like Zuo Gui Wan or Si Wu Tang for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Other symptoms often associated with hair loss
Dizziness Constipation Fatigue Irritability Premature graying Tinnitus Blurred vision Insomnia Hair Graying Insufficient or absent lactation after childbirth