Best Chinese Herbs for Alopecia Areata

Hair loss is frustrating, no matter the cause. But when you’ve been diagnosed with alopecia areata, you may feel like there’s nothing that can help. But with Chinese herbs for alopecia areata, you may be able to slow the rate of hair loss, all while boosting your overall health.

Read on to find out how Chinese herbal medicine could help you improve alopecia symptoms and stop hair loss at the root.

What is Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that develops when the body attacks its own hair follicles. When the hair follicles are damaged, they stop producing hair, and hair loss or baldness occurs. This hair loss often shows up as bald patches or ovals on the head, but can occur anywhere on the body.

One of the most frustrating things about having alopecia areata is that hair loss is often unpredictable. You may feel healthy, but you continue to lose hair. The good news is that hair loss from alopecia is not always permanent. Hair can regrow, especially with help from treatments like Chinese herbs for alopecia.

Symptoms of Alopecia Areata

In some cases, hair loss is the only symptom of alopecia. Others may experience issues such as:

• Bald patches
• Brittle nails with dents or ridges
• Other inflammatory or autoimmune conditions

Types of Alopecia Hair Loss

• Alopecia Areata: This version of alopecia causes patchy areas of baldness. They often occur on the scalp but can also affect facial and body hair.
• Alopecia Totalis: In this condition, a person loses all the hair on their head, leaving them entirely bald.
• Alopecia Universalis: With this rare version of alopecia, a person loses hair everywhere on their body.

Chinese Medicine for Alopecia Areata

Living with alopecia doesn’t have to mean living with hair loss. Chinese herbs for alopecia can help you manage this autoimmune condition and slow or stop your hair thinning.

While Western researchers are still studying why the body attacks the hair follicles, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors have their own explanation.

In TCM, healthy hair growth relies on good circulation of blood and qi to the hair follicles. When this flow of qi is disrupted by issues like blood stagnation, blood stasis, or inflammation, the follicles are starved of the nutrients they need to produce hair and hair loss occurs. Hair loss can also occur when qi and blood levels are low (you may also feel exhausted or weak).

So, what is at the root of these imbalances?

• Poor diet and nutrient deficiencies
• Chronic stress 
• High blood pressure 
• Serious illness 
• Childbirth 
• Certain medications 
• Hormone imbalances 
• Immune system dysregulation (autoimmune response) 

With this understanding, treating alopecia is relatively straightforward: promote healthy blood circulation, promote blood production, clear the inflammation, and stimulate the hair follicles.

Both acupuncture and herbs can be used to help stop hair loss and reverse the effects of alopecia. Studies show that Chinese herbs for alopecia can help increase the total number of active hair follicles and promote healthy hair regrowth.

Best Chinese Hair Growth Herbs

Regrowing your hair with alopecia is possible with Chinese medicine. The following Chinese herbs for alopecia areata are specifically formulated to help support natural hair regrowth and slow or prevent future hair loss.

Herbs that Cause Hair Loss

We’ve learned a few herbs to grow hair. But are there herbs that cause hair loss? The herbs to avoid if you have alopecia areata are those that are overly stimulating or that tax your resources. These herbs tend to be draining and may reduce your body’s hair growth resources even further.

Some examples of herbs that may cause hair loss if you have a weakened constitution are da huang or mang xiao. Thankfully, these herbs are not common in most herbal formulas as they are typically used in emergency situations with excess symptoms only. Reach out to your acupuncturist or herbal practitioner for more information on herbs to avoid in your unique situation.

Restore Hair Growth with Chinese Herbs for Alopecia Areata

If hair loss has robbed your self-confidence, Chinese herbs for alopecia can help. Chinese hair loss treatments like the herbal formulas above can help restore your body’s balance and promote hair regrowth. Don’t wait to feel like yourself again. Shop these and other Chinese herbs for hair loss today!