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Why am I losing Hair? And what can be done to prevent Hair Loss?

As the saying goes “our mood depends on how good our hair looks”. Having healthy hair not only makes us feel great, it also gives us confidence in our daily lives and social interactions.



But what happens when our hair begins to fall out and our luscious locks are not what they used to be anymore?


Hair loss is a natural process and every person will lose about 50-100 hairs per day. However, when hair loss is accelerated and/or hair growth declines, this can lead to thinning hair or even balding.


Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss can be divided into two main types: sudden hair loss (alopecia), or gradual hair loss (thinning hair). Alopecia can occur gradually or suddenly and present itself in many different forms. The most common type of hair loss is Androgenetic Alopecia, also known as male-pattern hair loss or female-pattern hair loss. This type of hair loss is normally due to genetics and hormonal changes. Alopecia can even occur in children and adolescents too - especially after an onset of stress, sudden blood loss or surgeries.


Other causes of hair loss include: medication/drug-induced hair loss, trauma on hair follicles, medical conditions, infection, emotional trauma, Post Covid hair loss, hormonal imbalanced and an unhealthy lifestyle habits.


Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Hair Loss

TCM has a long history of treating hair loss in all sexes and can often be very helpful both for stopping further hair loss and for supporting regrowth.


In TCM, healthy hair relies on a good flow of qi (energy) and blood to nourish the scalp. This is because our blood contains the nutrients required to nourish our hair. This flow can be interrupted by either a deficiency of qi and blood or stagnation of qi and blood - either of which can mean that insufficient nourishment reaches the scalp. Blood and qi deficiency are often caused by either poor diet or poor assimilation of nutrients whereas qi and blood stagnation are often caused by stress or a hormone imbalance. The quality of blood directed towards the scalp determines the quality of hair. Therefore your hair is a direct manifestation of your blood quality - if there are any vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, it will show in your hair texture, growth rate and volume.


Your hair is not just there to show how stylish or cosmetically appealing you are - but an external sign of what is happening internally within the body.


TCM Reasons for Hair Loss


1) Sudden hair loss: Blood Stagnation and Deficiency

Blood in turn is closely linked to 2 organs, namely the liver and the spleen. Our spleen is responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption, while the liver is responsible for storing and circulating blood. A compromised liver and/or spleen system often results in blood deficiency or blood stagnation. This affects the nutrient supply to our hair and can eventually result in hair loss.


2) Sudden hair loss: Blood heat

More common in adolescents. Since young people are full of vigour and vitality, they have a tendency towards blood heat. If they are habitually irritable or easily angered, this can lead to blood heat. “Blood heat generates wind, which stirs the leaves to drop” (causes the hair to fall out). The scalp may have slight itching which may also be accompanied with headaches.


3) Gradual hair loss: Kidney Deficiency

Another organ that is related to hair health is our Kidneys. Our kidneys store a special substance known as Jing which is required for hair growth as well as hair colour. Think of it as a reservoir of energy given by your parents, and this reservoir decreases as one ages hence the early onset of ageing manifests as hair loss can be due to Kidney Jing Deficiency. As such, individuals with a compromised kidney system or jing deficiency may observe slower hair growth, brittle hair or an increase in the number of white hairs.


4) Gradual hair loss: Liver Qi Stagnation

Apart from circulating blood, the liver also plays an important role in regulating our Qi energy. This Qi energy is the driving force for blood, which is crucial for healthy hair. Excessive or prolonged stress, anxiety, anger and emotional trauma can all lead to Liver Qi stagnation, which can affect our hair in the long run.


5) Gradual hair loss: Damp Heat

In hot and humid countries like Singapore, excessive damp heat is a body type that is fairly common especially amongst younger adults. Made worse by our love for spicy foods and cold drinks, damp heat causes excessive oil secretion, leading to clogged pores and hair loss. Seborrheic Dermatitis is a skin condition that is caused by an overproduction of sebum (an oily secretion) by the sebaceous gland. It normally affects the scalp and can cause the skin there to become red, flaky, itchy and oily. Individuals with this condition tend to scratch their scalp a lot more, which results in damaged hair follicles. They are also more prone to Malassezia, a type of fungus that makes it more difficult for hair to grow.


6) Stress

Chinese medicine also recognises that mental and emotional factors can play a role in hair loss. TCM scriptures say “It is recommended that the patient maintain a happy spirit, have ease of mind, and work and study must not be overly stressful. This can accelerate the therapeutic effect of the medicine.” In addition to herbal medicine, patients with hair loss should be light hearted and optimistic in order to get twice the result with half the effort.


Our Treatments for Hair loss

Acupuncture can improve the flow of qi and blood in the scalp and can help hair to regrow and Chinese herbs can nourish qi and blood to stop more hair from falling out. At AcuLife, we usually use both acupuncture and herbs together along with nutritional suggestions and lifestyle changes to help our patients who are suffering from hair loss.


  • Regular acupuncture can stimulate hair regrowth by encouraging the flow of qi and blood to the scalp.

  • Chinese herbs have been used for hundreds of years to stop hair loss. One formula in particular is known for its ability to treat alopecia. We have a Hair Growth Formula (Fang Tuo Sheng Fa Jiao Nang) that promotes the flow of blood to nourish the scalp to treat Alopecia, unexplained thinning of hair, and bald patches. Accompanying symptoms may include fatigue, dizziness, dry and lacklustre skin, dry mouth, and thirst.

  • Moxibustion heat therapy is used as it thermally stimulates the channels and meridians where hair grows and boosts blood flow to the points.


Supplements to Take

  • Omega 3: It is a fatty acid that is particularly important for a healthy scalp and can be found in walnuts, flaxseeds, or taken as a supplement.

  • Iron: Iron deficiency can often contribute to hair loss. We have iron capsules so you will never run out.

  • Vitamin B12: B12 is essential to healthy hair. If you are a vegetarian or lack B12 in general, it may be helpful to take B12 as a supplement.

  • Biotin is another B vitamin that helps hair to regrow. It’s hard to get enough of it from food so here at AcuLife we usually suggest people to take it as a supplement.


What you can do at Home

  • Make sure you have a broad diet and are not missing out on important nutrients.

  • A daily scalp massage can help stimulate the scalp to aid with hair regrowth. We usually suggest rubbing the scalp gently for 5 minutes morning and night.

  • Using a Dermal Roller (we have at the Clinic here at AcuLife). It is clinically proven to treat hair loss and stimulate hair growth, especially when used with acupuncture therapy. It contains thin needles on a roller that create “micro-injuries” in the skin and follicles, releasing growth factors to stimulate new cell production, encouraging the growth of new hair

  • Applying castor oil onto your hair to help increase hair growth and quality. This is particularly used to increase hair volume and is ideal to apply on head before sleeping every 2nd night

Therefore, for individuals with chronic or more severe hair loss, you can try out acupuncture and herbal medication. Regular acupuncture improves Qi and blood circulation to the scalp, while herbal medication helps to address imbalances in an individual’s body constitution, speeding up the hair growth process.


For hair loss and alopecia, it is vital to discuss your main goals and health complaints with our health practitioners and ask all your relevant questions. Only then, our experienced practitioner can help further understand your situation and can they apply the best treatment protocol.


To learn what we can do for you, Contact our team today👇

AcuLife

(02) 4620 9798

5 Stewart St, Harrington Park



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