Five Formulas I Commonly Use to Treat Hair Loss

Hair loss is a very common phenomenon. Heavy life stress, abundant dampness, and chemotherapy in cancer patients can all easily cause hair loss. I commonly use five formulas to treat hair loss.

The first is Qibao Meiran Dan (Seven Treasures for a Beautiful Beard). It is treated with nine herbs: red and black Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu, both red and white portions), red and white Poria (Fu Ling), Achyranthes (Niu Xi), Chinese angelica (Dang Gui), lycium fruit (Gou Qi Zi), dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), and psoralea (Bu Gu Zhi). Traditional TCM holds that it supplements the liver and kidney, strengthens the sinews and bones, and blackens the hair and beard. This formula is mostly used to treat symptoms caused by liver-kidney deficiency, such as soreness and weakness of the waist and legs, loose teeth, premature graying of hair, hair loss, and seminal emission; it is therefore suitable for those with liver-kidney deficiency.

The second is Shengfa Wan (Hair-Generating Pill), composed of just two herbs: biota leaf (Ce Bai Ye) and Chinese angelica (Dang Gui). This formula is recorded in the Danfang Yanjiu within the "Kangan Yixue Congshu" (Imperial-Japanese Medicine Collection) compiled by Japanese kampo physicians; its original name was "Er Xian Dan" (Two Immortals Elixir). The composition is: four liang of biota leaf and two liang of Chinese angelica, dried and ground into fine powder, made with water into pills the size of a parasol seed, taken each morning with warm water, three qian. The late renowned TCM physician Professor Yan Dexin changed the pairing to equal parts of biota leaf and Chinese angelica, ground into fine powder and made into pills, or taken directly as powder, once a day. Professor Yan used it to treat many patients with hair loss, and most began to grow new hair within 10-20 days.

This formula is also suitable for chemotherapy patients showing hair loss; it also improves the patient's blood picture, and is especially suitable for patients with low red blood cells and platelets.

The third is the patent medicine Erzhi Wan (Two-Solstice Pill), composed of just two herbs: glossy privet fruit (Nü Zhen Zi) and eclipta (Mo Han Lian). Erzhi Wan was originally a formula for treating women with early menstruation and prolonged periods. But I have used it with good effect for insomnia and hair loss caused by excessive mental stress; during my years in hospital management, I experienced alopecia areata twice, breaking out each winter, and resolved the problem by taking Erzhi Wan.

Later, some family members of cancer patients, who also suffered hair loss and insomnia from excessive work and life stress, consulted me about treatment; I advised them to use Erzhi Wan, and it often worked.

Erzhi Wan is also a formula that nourishes yin and blood, so I often use it for hair loss and abnormal blood counts after chemotherapy in cancer patients, with effect. One cancer patient lost his hair after chemotherapy; after taking Erzhi Wan, not only did his hair grow back, but his previously gray hair also turned black.

I often also advise patients with post-chemotherapy hair loss to combine Shengfa Wan and Erzhi Wan together; the hair grows back faster, and the blood picture improves more effectively.

The fourth is "Yi Wei Fu Ling Yin" (Single-Ingredient Poria Drink), an empirical formula used by the old TCM physician Yue Meizhong. Yue Meizhong once treated a patient with hair loss, using only Poria (Fu Ling) ground into powder, telling the patient to take it once each morning and evening. This patient had failed treatment from many sources; after taking Single-Ingredient Poria Drink for two months, his hair all grew back. I have also used Poria Drink to treat some patients with seborrheic dermatitis plus hair loss, with effect.

The fifth is Sang Ye Yin (Mulberry-Leaf Drink). The single herb mulberry leaf can treat hair loss; one can decoct an appropriate amount of winter mulberry leaf (Dong Sang Ye) in water to wash the hair, or brew mulberry leaf as tea to drink. Mulberry leaf not only treats hair loss but also treats diabetes, clears the liver and improves vision, and has an anti-tumor action. When treating cancer, I have tried using winter mulberry leaf for patients with both diabetes and hair loss, with a certain effect, but it must be used consistently for over three months.

I know a new-drug researcher whose company is using a purified extract of winter mulberry leaf to treat diabetes. Mulberry leaf also has a certain effect on constipation. In my experience, mulberry leaf works best on hair-loss patients who have acne on the skin and also suffer constipation.