In the clinic, I often encounter patients presenting with various health issues.
For instance, some professionals experience insomnia and emotional anxiety due to high work pressure. Women may deal with irregular menstruation, painful periods, and skin allergies.
Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involves observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse examination. We apply the principle of syndrome differentiation to tailor treatment to individual conditions. Many patients report significant improvements in their initial symptoms along with other aspects of health condition improving after TCM treatments, unexpected enhancement in their hair quality could be one of the positive effects.
Take, for example, a postpartum mother who consulted me for insomnia. After two acupuncture sessions, she excitedly reported a drastic reduction in hair loss, a concern that had previously made her hesitant to wash her hair frequently. With her insomnia alleviated, she now regularly undergoes acupuncture to maintain her hair health, treating it as preventive care.
Why do acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine promote hair health and beauty? This is rooted in foundational TCM theories:
“Hair is the extension of blood”: This suggests that the health of the hair depends on blood nourishment. Since the kidney stores essence which can transform into blood, exuberance of essence and blood will make the hair appear thick and lustrous.
If the kidney-essence is insufficient and blood is deficient, the hair will appear thin, dry, white and easy to lose. So, the state of the hair is closely related to the kidney essence. That is why it is said that “the kidney focally manifests itself on the hair”.
Tradition Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment can strengthen and balance the kidney qi and essence so that it can benefit the hair growing healthily and keep its beauty and shine (glossiness).
Article contributed by Dr. Anna Liu, doctor of acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine of Parkway.
