It occurs on the whole body but is most troublesome and noticeable on the scalp, which propels sufferers to seek treatment. In order to understand the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment of this condition, it helps to define some of the terms.
This article will focus on the treatment of primary alopecia, i.e. hair loss that happens on its own, and is not secondary to another illness. (Some conditions that may cause secondary loss of hair are fungal infections, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, lupus, chemotherapy, or radiation burns. In those cases, of course, it is the underlying cause that needs to be addressed). Generally, if the skin of the bald patch looks normal, one can exclude an underlying condition.
Traditional Chinese Medicine knows the hair to be an extension of the Blood. If one¡¯s Blood is nutritionally complete and rich, the hair will be thick, lustrous and keep its colour. If Blood is deficient, or if it is somehow obstructed from properly flowing to and saturating the scalp, the hair will wither. Therefore, when faced with a case of alopecia or premature hair loss, the TCM practitioner must do some detective work to see which it is - deficiency or obstruction.
