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Acupuncture Treatment for Baldness and Hair Loss

 

An average person loses about 30-100hairs per day. If you find that your hair loss is much more significant than this number, it is called baldness; in addition to the amount of hair, you can also do a hair-pulling test: gently pull a small amount. Rub the hair, and if more than six strands are pulled out, it also means a problem with the hair.

Type

Abnormal hair loss includes 1. increased amount of hair loss, 2. The visible range of the scalp becomes larger 3. The hair is fragile, thin, and soft 4. The hairline recedes. Common causes include genetics, autoimmune disease, endocrine disease, infection, after major surgery, hormonal changes(postpartum or menopause), stress (staying late, insomnia, mood), taking medications, cancer chemotherapy, and excessive pressure on the scalp.

 

Acupuncture Treatment

In clinical practice, TCM often uses acupuncture and herbal medicine therapy. On the local scalp acupoints, Baihui, Sishencong, Shenting, and Fengchi are commonly used to promote blood circulation and relieve scalp tension. If the patient has insufficient qi and blood, use Qihai, Guanyuan, and Sanyinjiao; for damp-heat pattern, choose Yinlingquan, Xuehai, and Quchi.

 

Factors of Hair Loss

The factors that cause baldness can be summed up in the following six points:

1. Family genetic inheritance.

2. Lack of dietary nutrients.

3. Mental nervousness.

4. Professional working environment.

5. Improper hair care.

6. Potential chronic diseases.

 

Foods that benefit hair growth

 ● foods containing plant protein: oats, peanuts, corn, walnuts, beans.

 ● Iron-containing foods: potatoes, beans, spinach, radishes, shrimp, eggs, bananas, and poultry.

 ● Foods high in iodine: such as kelp, amaranth, seaweed, jellyfish, sea cucumber, seaweed, and persimmon.

 ● Alkaline-containing foods: such as fruits and vegetables.

 ● Foods containing vitamin E include black sesame, mustard, and spinach.

 

Press the scalp

  People with hair loss can also use more combs to comb their hair to help blood circulation and avoid hair loss. At the same time, you can also press the scalp frequently, and each time must be pressed for at least 5 minutes. The function is as described above. In addition, people with hair loss should avoid staying up late.

If you’re interested in how TCM helps your hair problem, feel free to contact us.

 

Reference:

Li AR, Andrews L, Hilts A, Valdebran M. Efficacy of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Alopecia: A Narrative Review. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Jun 9;9:868079. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.868079. PMID: 35755043; PMCID: PMC9219404.

Chen Q, Tao Y, Wang L, Zhang J, Sun B, Yang X. A randomized controlled clinical study of acupuncture therapy for Seborrheic alopecia in young and middle ages: Study protocol clinical trial (SPIRIT compliant). Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Apr;99(17):e19842. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019842. PMID: 32332635; PMCID: PMC7220544.

Li Q, Xie Y, Zha X. The clinical effect of plum blossom needle acupuncture with qi-invigorating superficies-consolidating therapy on seborrheic alopecia. Ann Palliat Med. 2020 May;9(3):1030-1036. doi: 10.21037/apm-20-909. Epub 2020 May 11. PMID: 32434362.

Kawashima N, Hu X, Ishikawa N, Matsuhisa T, Sato J. A combination of herbal formulas, acupuncture, and novel pine-needle stimulation for recurrent alopecia areata: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 May 21;100(20):e26084. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000026084. PMID: 34011130; PMCID: PMC8137033.

Tan EK, Millington GW, Levell NJ. Acupuncture in dermatology: an historical perspective. Int J Dermatol. 2009 Jun;48(6):648-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2009.03899.x. PMID: 19538380.

Leem J, Jung W, Kim Y, Kim B, Kim K. Exploring the combination and modular characteristics of herbs for alopecia treatment in traditional Chinese medicine: an association rule mining and network analysis study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018 Jul 4;18(1):204. doi: 10.1186/s12906-018-2269-7. PMID: 29973199; PMCID: PMC6030800.

Lee HW, Jun JH, Lee JA, Lim HJ, Lim HS, Lee MS. Acupuncture for treating alopecia areata: a protocol of systematic review of randomised clinical trials. BMJ Open. 2015 Oct 26;5(10):e008841. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008841. PMID: 26503391; PMCID: PMC4636638.

Alopecia from Mayo Clinic