The average person has more than 100,000 hair follicles in the head alone, each capable of producing at least twenty hair strands in a lifetime. Hair growth is affected by the hormonal system, in particular the androgenic (male) hormones, which include testosterone and a derivative of testosterone called DHT. Normally a person loses about 100 hairs each day, which are replaced within days. As we age, our hormone levels fluctuate and begin to decline, which reduces the stimulus to the hair follicles and results in hair loss. Hair loss affects both men and women, though it is more pronounced in men. There are many types of hair loss, or alopecia, in addition to those related to age. A type of hair loss known as alopecia areata occurs in patches, primarily affecting the head. Less common are drug-induced (chemotherapy) hair loss and genetic hair loss. Entire industries exist to help ease the emotional and social impact of baldness; purported solutions range from invasive surgical procedures to miracle drugs and ointments.

In Chinese medicine, hair loss is attributed primarily to the decline of the vital kidney essence as a result of overindulgence during youth. Stress, physical and emotional strain, an unhealthy lifestyle (including excessive sexual activity), and alcohol deplete the vital essence. This is often complicated by blood deficiency in the patient, as in cases of patchy hair loss resulting from pregnancy and giving birth, the mother being severely depleted of her vital essence and blood. We've had the gratifying experience of helping many patients recover from hair loss, whether the result of chemotherapy, radiation treatment, stress, or menopause. Our approach to hair loss is to help replenish the vital essence by administering herbal remedies and advising my patients on proper lifestyle, diet, and exercise. We also incorporate topical remedies and acupuncture to stimulate circulation and the hair follicles. In general, alopecia responds well to topical remedies and acupuncture.