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Hair Loss

How Chinese medicine differentiates hair loss, the six patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Sudden or patchy hair loss usually needs dermatological evaluation; acupuncture is a complementary, not a replacement, approach.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for hair loss — 16 key points, used across most of the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys, nourishes Kidney-Essence, strengthens the lower back.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), strengthens Essence.
Ren-4Strengthens the Kidneys, benefits Original Qi, nourishes Blood and Yin.
Du-4Tonifies Kidney-Yang, warms the Gate of Life. Benefits Essence.
LR-3Subdues Liver-Yang, promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, invigorates Blood.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen, resolves Dampness, nourishes Blood and Yin.
BL-18Nourishes and invigorates Liver-Blood. Resolves Damp-Heat.
Du-20Raises Yang. Lifts the Mind. Benefits the Brain and scalp.
ST-36Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
Ren-12Tonifies Stomach and Spleen, resolves Dampness and Phlegm.
SP-9Regulates the Spleen, resolves Dampness, opens the Water passages.
ST-40Resolves Phlegm and Dampness throughout the body.
SP-10Cools Blood, invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
G.B.-20Expels exterior Wind. Clears Heat. Benefits the head and neck.
Du-14Clears Heat. Releases the Exterior and expels exterior Wind.
L.I.-4Expels exterior Wind, stops pain, removes obstructions from the channel.
The Six Patterns

reinforcing   reducing   even method — technique below follows standard Excess/Deficiency treatment principle for each pattern, not tied to a specific point-by-point source.

1. Kidney-Essence Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Premature greying and dry, brittle hair; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; dizziness and tinnitus; poor memory and difficulty concentrating; frequent urination at night; low libido or sexual dysfunction; brought on by ageing, chronic overwork, or a long illness depleting Kidney-Essence; eased by rest and nourishing food.
Tongue: Pale, thin, little or no coating, possible fine cracks. Pulse: Fine, Deep, Weak at the Chi (rear) positions.
Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Essence and strengthen the foundation, addressing the root of essence depletion.
Note: moxa applicable.

2. Liver-Blood Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Diffuse thinning and a receding hairline; dry, brittle hair that lacks lustre; a pale or sallow complexion, pale lips and nail beds; dizziness or light-headedness; a depressed mood or frequent sighing; brittle or ridged nails; brought on by chronic illness, blood loss, or long-term overwork depleting Liver-Blood; eased by rest and nourishing food.
Tongue: Pale, especially at the sides, thin, slightly dry, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine, Choppy, often Wiry at the left middle position.
Treatment principle: Replenish Liver-Blood to restore the upward flow that nourishes the scalp and hair follicles.
Nourish Liver-Blood
Local, scalp
Note: moxa applicable on the Nourish points.

3. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Diffuse thinning and a receding hairline; a pale or sallow complexion, pale lips and nail beds; persistent fatigue, dizziness, and heart palpitations; dry, brittle hair that lacks lustre; no itching, oiliness, or scalp inflammation; brought on by chronic illness, long-term overwork, or an underlying constitutional weakness; eased by rest and nourishing food.
Tongue: Pale, possibly thin or tooth-marked, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and Weak, or Empty and Soft.
Treatment principle: Tonify Qi and nourish Blood so the hair roots receive proper nourishment.
Tonify Qi and Blood
Local, scalp
Note: moxa applicable on the Tonify points. No deck slide anywhere on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one generic pattern — a gap confirmed across many prior conditions — so no pattern link is given here.

4. Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen

Clinical manifestations: An oily scalp with dandruff and itching; a sticky or bitter taste in the mouth; bloating and fullness after eating; loose, sticky, or incomplete bowel movements; a heavy, foggy sensation in the head; brought on by a diet heavy in greasy, spicy, or sweet food, or damp weather; eased by light, plainly-cooked food and a drier environment.
Tongue: Red, possibly swollen with tooth marks, thick yellow greasy coating, especially at the centre and root. Pulse: Soggy, Rapid, often Slippery.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat and dry Dampness from the Spleen and Stomach, addressing the upward-steaming Damp-Heat that causes an oily scalp and hair loss.
Note: no moxa. This site's Damp-Heat slides (Spleen and Stomach decks) describe the general digestive presentation without any scalp, oiliness, or dandruff content, so no pattern link is given here.

5. Blood Stagnation

Clinical manifestations: Patchy hair loss (alopecia areata); stabbing or fixed pain in the scalp; dark circles under the eyes or a dusky complexion; brought on by long-standing untreated stagnation, injury, or chronic Qi stagnation congealing the Blood; eased by gentle movement and warmth.
Tongue: Dark purple with stasis spots, distended sublingual veins. Pulse: Choppy or Wiry.
Treatment principle: Invigorate Blood and unblock stasis in the scalp, restoring fresh circulation to the hair roots.
Invigorate Blood
Local, scalp
Note: no moxa. This site's "Liver-Blood stasis" slide remains gynecological/hepatic-framed with no scalp or patchy-hair-loss content, so no pattern link is given here.

6. Wind-Heat

Clinical manifestations: Patchy hair loss (alopecia areata); a scalp that feels hot and itchy; a recent cold, fever, or sore throat; brought on by exposure to wind and heat, or a recent external infection; eased by cool air and rest.
Tongue: Red tip and edges, thin yellow coating. Pulse: Floating, Rapid.
Treatment principle: Disperse Wind-Heat from the scalp, clearing the external invasion disrupting the follicles.
Disperse Wind-Heat
Local, scalp
Note: no moxa. This site's "Invasion of Lungs by Wind-Heat" slide is purely respiratory with no scalp content, so no pattern link is given here.
Related conditions

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