Hair Loss and Scalp Health — Korean Medicine Scalp Care by Gender and Type
Table of Contents
Types of hair loss and scalp health
Hair loss is broadly classified into androgenetic alopecia (AGA), alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and traction alopecia. Most male hair loss is AGA, while women experience AGA along with postpartum hair loss, menopausal hair loss, and post-diet hair loss from various causes. The common foundation across all hair loss is reduced scalp blood flow and inadequate follicle nutrition.
Korean medicine classification of hair loss
- Blood deficiency type (血虛型): Hair becomes thin and dry, with overall reduced density. The complexion is pale and dizziness may accompany. Common in women, treated primarily with modified Samul-tang (四物湯).
- Kidney deficiency type (腎虛型): Hair thins along with premature graying. Lower back and knee soreness and nocturia are present. Kidney-tonifying formulas such as Zuogui-yin or Yougui-yin are needed.
- Damp-heat type (濕熱型): The scalp is oily with abundant dandruff and itching. Damp-heat is cleared with modified Longdan-xiegan-tang or Erchen-tang.
- Qi stagnation and blood stasis type (氣滯血瘀型): Hair loss progresses intensively in localized areas. Alopecia areata falls into this category and is treated with modified Tongqiao-huoxue-tang.
He Shou Wu and biota-leaf scalp pharmacopuncture
He Shou Wu (何首烏, Polygonum multiflorum) is a representative herb that tonifies the liver and kidney to strengthen the foundation of the hair, and biota leaf (側柏葉, Platycladus orientalis) cools heat and wind in the scalp to suppress hair loss. When extracts of these herbs are injected directly into the scalp via pharmacopuncture, they nourish the follicles and stimulate growth factor secretion. The standard course is 1 to 2 sessions per week for a total of 12 to 20 sessions.
Management points by gender and type
Since DHT suppression is central to male AGA, natural 5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as green tea extract and saw palmetto can be considered alongside kidney-tonifying formulas. For female hair loss, iron and ferritin levels must be checked, and correction of anemia should come first. Because alopecia areata involves autoimmune mechanisms, herbal treatment for immune regulation (qi-tonifying spleen-strengthening combined with wind-dispersing) and intensive local acupuncture are applied.