Hair loss in clumps 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 in clumps according to TCM:
| 1. Empty liver wind from lack of blood GAN XUE XU + FENG | ||
| Symptoms: sudden loss of hair in clumps, mild trembling of the head or hands or both, facial tics, light-headedness, blurred vision, unilateral numbness or tingling of the limbs | Tongue: pale and thin | Herbal Therapy: Vision of Peaceful rest (code 066) + Softness of Heavenly Fay (code 052) + Beverage of Heavenly Grace (code 888) |
| 2. Full liver wind GAN FENG | ||
| Symptoms: sudden loss of hair in clumps, tremors, severe light-headedness, ringing in the ears, headaches, limb numbness, tics | Tongue: stiff, deviated or moving tongue | Herbal Therapy: Pill of Gentian (code 014) + Loosening of Strained Bowstring (code 112) + Beverage of Chinese Sages (code 900) |
| 3. Liver fire with heat in the blood GAN HUO + RE XUE | ||
| Symptoms: hair loss in clumps, dry hair, headache, red face, light-headedness, ringing in the ears, irritability, tendency to angry outbursts, thirst, bitter mouth, constipation, dark urine | Tongue: red with even redder sides and dry yellow coating | Herbal Therapy: Pill of Gentian (code 014) + Taming of Hot-Blooded Horse (code 018) + Beverage of Chinese Sages (code 900) |
| 4. Liver Blood Blockade GAN YU XUE | ||
| Symptoms: hair loss in clumps, pain in the lower back or abdomen, purple nails and lips, purple or dark skin, painful menstruation in women, clots in menstrual blood, lumps and myomas in the abdomen and lower abdomen | Tongue: purple tongue | Herbal Therapy: Raising the Stuck Sluice-Gates (code 040) + Reinforcement of Undermine Riverbank (code 041) + Beverage Five Stars |
In case of doubt with the choice of herbal products, we recommend TCM Test Tongue Analysis, which is evaluated by MUDr. Petr Hoffmann and you will receive a recommendation (herbal products and foods) to your e-mail within 3 days.