Nowadays, hair loss troubles many people. High-calorie diets, insufficient sleep, work stress, environmental pollution, and genetic factors are all causes. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that pathological hair loss can be categorized into different patterns, each with corresponding dietary therapies. Eating the right foods can treat hair loss.
For some, hair loss begins at the back of the head or above the ears, and may be accompanied by scalp itching, a crawling sensation, palpitations, insomnia, shortness of breath, and a pale complexion. If the condition is long-lasting, it belongs to the Heart Blood Deficiency pattern. Patients with this pattern can consume foods that nourish the blood and calm the spirit, such as jujubes, longan flesh, lily bulbs, red beans, quail eggs, carp, and donkey-hide gelatin.
When hair loss starts at the crown of the head and progressively worsens, with the hair becoming dry and brittle, and is often accompanied by dizziness, insomnia, vexation in the five centers (palms, soles, chest), night sweats, and soreness in the lower back and knees, it belongs to the Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency pattern. Suitable foods include walnut kernels, chestnuts, black dates, mulberries, loach, soft-shelled turtle, fo-ti, black sesame seeds, kelp, oysters, lettuce, and goji berries.
In the elderly or after a prolonged illness, when hair falls out uniformly and becomes sparse, it belongs to the Qi and Blood Deficiency pattern. Treatment should focus on replenishing Qi and blood, strengthening the spleen, and nourishing the heart. Suitable choices include jujubes, Chinese yam, chicken, pig's blood, egg yolks, goat's milk, potatoes, grapes, carrots, and amaranth.
In middle-aged individuals, if hair loss starts at the crown of the head, accompanied by a greasy and sticky scalp, shiny hair, and scalp itching, it belongs to the Internal Dampness-Heat pattern. This is often accompanied by poor appetite, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, a red tongue with a thick, greasy coating. Treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen and eliminating dampness. Suitable foods include mung beans, lentils, corn, fava beans, red beans, tofu, Job's tears seeds, loofah, winter melon, Andrographis paniculata, celery, and green tea.
In the elderly, when hair gradually decreases, becoming dry, hard, and scaly, with a dull complexion, cyanotic lips, and often accompanied by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, it belongs to the Blood Stasis pattern. Patients should choose foods that invigorate blood and resolve stasis, such as hawthorn, garlic, onions, black fungus, grapes, grapefruit, cherries, apricots, and red wine.