Chinese medicine practitioner shares herbal and acupressure remedies to manage alopecia and boost hair health
One of the greatest enemies to maintaining good health is stress. It’s a state many of us are bound to go through at some point in our lives; it can take a toll on our mental and physical health.
Issues like premature ageing and heart conditions are often associated with prolonged stress. Alopecia, a hot topic of late, is the sudden loss of hair in patches that is strongly linked to stress.
Taking a step back from your worries and relaxing is one way to ease the problem. But anyone who’s experienced unexpected change or setbacks can tell you that it’s easier said than done. According to Cinci Leung, a Chinese medicine practitioner with degrees in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, maintaining liver and kidney health can help mitigate the physical effects of stress.
Here, the founder of Chinese traditional Chinese medicinal herbal drink CheckCheckCin shares insights on what causes alopecia, how it’s different from hair loss and naturopathic approaches to better hair health.
What's the difference between alopecia and hair thinning?
The key causes of alopecia
Dealing with alopecia and hair loss using naturopathic remedies
What's a good herbal tea for health growth?
How can acupressure help?
What’s the difference between alopecia and hair thinning?
Alopecia is when hair falls out suddenly in patches. Hair thinning is hair loss under normal circumstances and is difficult to grow back, or the newly grown hair comes back softer, thinner and weaker, which would fall out again shortly after and eventually not grow back.
What are some of the key cause, from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, that causes alopecia?
The common key causes of alopecia are exhaustion, lack of sleep, psychological stress or a response to unexpected change, resulting in qi and blood deficiency or liver qi stagnation. According to Chinese medicine, the liver governs our emotions, and any negative emotions would hurt the liver. The liver ensures the circulation of the meridians. If the organ is disrupted, we will experience emotional distress, leading to a lack of nourishment in the hair causing it to fall out in patches.
Basically, ‘soothing the liver’ can help us de-stress and improve our emotional well-being.
How can we deal with alopecia and hair loss with naturopathic remedies?
Besides learning to manage our emotions and relieve stress, we can also consume ingredients that can improve the circulation of the qi. These ingredients are white radish, dried citrus peel, five-finger fig root and kumquat. We can also opt for floral tea such as rose, jasmine, bergamot and chamomile, as they can help improve the circulation of the qi and blood and clear the stagnation in the liver.
Eating foods that help nourish kidneys could improve hair quality, too, such as walnut, black bean, black sesame and mulberries. It would also help to eat less cold and raw food, such as salads, sushi, fruit juices or smoothies, to improve overall health.
What’s a good herbal tea for hair growth?
Mint, jujube dates, and mulberry tea improves hair quality by nourishing yin and replenishing blood to enhance the hair quality. It’s suitable for those with grey hair or losing hair due to childbirth or excessive stress.
Mint, jujube dates and mulberry tea
Ingredients: 1g mints, 4 jujube dates, 6g mulberries
Preparation: Combine all ingredients with 800ml of water and boil for 30 minutes. Pour all contents into a thermos. Re-brew until ingredients lose their flavour.
How can acupressure help?
When we reach our breaking point, try massaging the Hegu and Taichong acupoints, as it can help improve the qi and blood circulation, regulate our emotions, and relieve stress symptoms like headache, dizziness, red eyes, and pain in the eyes.
4 acupressure points to counter negative energy and promote hair growth
Hegu Point
Effects: Alleviates symptoms caused by stress, such as headache.
Location: Between the thumb and index finger, right next to the second metacarpal bone|
Method: Apply pressure with your thumb softly for 30 seconds
Note: pregnant women should not press this acupoint as it has labour inducing qualities
Taichong Point
Effects: Relieves stress and stress-induced symptoms.
Location: On the back of the foot, about two finger-widths above where the skin of your big toe and the next toe join.
Method: Apply pressure with your thumb softly for 30 seconds.
Baihui Point
Effects: Refreshes the mind and restores energy. The head is where all the yang meridians meet.
Location: The midline of the head and 5 inches behind the hairline, in line with the apex of the ears
Method: Apply pressure with your thumb softly for 30 seconds.
Jiaosun Point
Effects: Improve blood circulation and nourishes hair to promote healthier hair growth.
Location: At the back of both ears, in the hallow parallel to the tip of the ears.
Method: Apply pressure with your thumb softly for 30 seconds.
