Hair Loss according to TCM
According to Chinese medicine, hair is associated primarily with the meridian of the kidneys SHEN and the liver GAN, either on the liver blood GAN XUE XU or on the kidney essence SHEN JING, or on both, so it is always a state of XU deficiency. The kidneys SHEN influence the growth of bones (and therefore also the skull) and control the so-called marrow, which in turn determines the normal development of the brain. Therefore, normal hair growth, its colour, and density always depend on the condition of the kidneys SHEN and the liver GAN. Hair loss refers to gradual and uniform loss of hair (not in whole clumps – that’s alopecia!) or slow hair growth, or extremely thin hair. However, there are also causes of hair loss from excess SHI, especially with hot blood RE XU, which dries out the hair follicles and causes hair loss. This heat in blood RE XUE is usually caused by GAN HUO liver fire rising to the head and causing hair loss. Hair thinning often occurs after a serious illness that is either acute or chronic and protracted. Hair loss also occurs with chemotherapy (external cause).
Sometimes baldness can be seen in young people. However, if such a young man shows no signs of GAN XUE liver blood deficiency or SHEN JING XU kidney essence deficiency and has a strong, firm body, this indicates heredity and has no pathological significance.
In this table you can find the most common causes of hair loss according to TCM:
| 1. Liver blood deficiency GAN XUE XU | |||
| Symptoms: gradual loss of hair, dull headache, dizziness, blurred vision, seeing spots before the eyes, numbness or tingling in the limbs, dull pale skin, light periods in women | Tongue: pale |
Pulse: weak XU |
Herbal Therapy: Mane of Black Horse (code 119) + Bracelet of Eight Pearls (code 191) + Beverage of Heavenly Grace (code 888) |
| 2. Kidney Yin deficiency SHEN YIN XU | |||
| Symptoms: gradual hair loss, which may improve in women during pregnancy, dry hair without shine, dizziness, vertigo, whistling or buzzing in the ears, decreased hearing, sharper pain in the lower back, fatigue, malaise, depression, mild anxiety, poor memory, night sweats, dry mouth and throat at night, bone pain, constipation, dark urine in small amounts, infertility in women, premature ejaculation in men, nocturnal seminal discharge, infertility | Tongue: no coating |
Pulse: surface FU and fine XI |
Herbal Therapy: Mane of Black Horse (code 119) + Unwinding a tambled ball (code 068) + Beverage of Heavenly Grace (code 888) + Beverage of Chinese Sages (code 900) |
| 3. Kidney Yang deficiency SHEN YANG XU | |||
| Symptoms: gradual hair loss, which may improve in women during pregnancy, dizziness, whistling or buzzing in the ears, dull ache in the lower back, cold sensation in the lower back, weakness in the lower back and knees, light urine in copious amounts, sensitivity to cold, cold extremities, luminously pale skin, fatigue, softer stools, weak voice, slightly short breath, spontaneous sweating | Tongue: pale with a wet white coating |
Pulse:
deep CHEN and slow CHI |
Herbal Therapy: Midnight Delight (code 172) + Beverage from True Ginseng (code 822) |
| 4. Kidney essence deficiency SHEN JING XU | |||
| Symptoms: gradual hair loss, which may improve in women during pregnancy, dizziness, whistling or buzzing in the ears, ache in the lower back (both sharp and dull), cold extremities, fatigue, softer stools, weak voice, slightly short breath, spontaneous sweating | Tongue: paler |
Pulse: weak XU |
Herbal Therapy: Secret of Golden Case (171) + Beverage from True Ginseng (code 822) |
| 5. Heat in blood RE XUE from the liver fire GAN HUO | |||
| Symptoms: gradual loss of hair, especially on the top of the head, red face, bloodshot eyes, headache, dizziness, whistling or buzzing in the ears, irritability, tendency to outbursts of anger, thirst, bitter taste in the mouth, constipation, dark urine | Tongue: red with even redder sides and dry yellow coating |
Pulse: tense XIAN and fast SHUO |
Herbal Therapy: Pill of Gentian (code 014) + Taming of the Hot-Blooded Horse (code 018) + Beverage of Chinese Sages (code 900) |
In case of doubt with the choice of herbal products, we recommend TCM Test Tongue Analysis, which is evaluated by Dr. med. Petr Hoffmann and you will receive a recommendation (herbal products and foods) to your e-mail within 3 days.