Hair Loss — TCM Food Therapy & Dietary Approach

Food Therapy & Diet

Dietary Therapy Recipes

• Salted Black Soybeans: Soak 500g black soybeans in water until swollen, air-dry, sprinkle with a little salt and store in a porcelain bottle; take 6g with warm water twice daily. Helps prevent hair loss.
• Hair-Growth Formula: Decoct 60g wolfberry fruit, 60g fleeceflower root (heshouwu), 50g prepared rehmannia root and 50g dogwood fruit (shanyurou) in water to obtain a concentrated juice and strain; add 12 walnuts and 240g black soybeans and cook in the juice until the walnut kernels are mushy and absorbed into the beans, then dry. Take 6-9g twice daily on an empty stomach in the morning and evening. Promotes hair growth.
• Kelp with Sesame Paste: Eat shredded kelp tossed with sesame paste as a dish to prevent hair aging.
• Black Sesame Congee: Crush 250g black sesame seeds, cook with an appropriate amount of rice into congee; take once daily. Darkens the hair. (END)

Understanding the Condition

Hair loss is a common symptom in middle-aged and older adults. In TCM the kidney manifests its essence in the hair, and hair is the surplus of blood, so hair growth depends on the kidney and hair nourishment depends on essence and blood. Treatment should therefore nourish the liver and kidney and boost qi and blood.

What the Research Says

• The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss (J Am Acad Dermatol, 2006, PMID: 16635664)
• Meta-Analysis on the Efficacy and Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine as Adjuvant Therapy for Refractory Androgenetic Alopecia (Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2019, PMID: 31781285)

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.