Traditional Chinese Medicine Remedies for Hair Loss That Boost Growth After 50
Find out what could be causing your shedding and natural fixes that really work
Key Takeaways
- Hair loss after 50 is often linked to menopause, nutrient deficiencies and stress.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views thinning hair as a sign of internal imbalance.
- Ancient remedies like He Shou Wu and scalp massage may support healthier hair growth.
You’re used to seeing a few strands in your brush, but lately you’ve noticed more hair coming out, and it’s starting to worry you. You’re feeling less like yourself, and you’re wondering what’s happening and how to fix it. The good news is you have options. While your doctor may recommend medications like minoxidil (aka Rogaine), there are also gentle, natural approaches rooted in thousands of years of wisdom. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for hair loss offers time-tested remedies that research and experts say could help support healthier hair growth, and we asked them to explain how.
How is hair loss different from daily shedding?
“Normal shedding is usually about 50 to 100 hairs a day, because hair naturally cycles through growing and resting phases,” explains Shamsa Kanwal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Aesthetic Evolution Skin and Laser Clinic. “True hair loss is different because the hair may not grow back normally, the part may widen, the ponytail may feel thinner or patches may appear.”
What causes hair loss in women over 50?
Noticing hair loss can feel sudden, but it often develops gradually for weeks or months before becoming visible. Dr. Kanwal breaks down the top five causes she sees:
Woman's World Answers
Female pattern hair loss
Dr. Kanwal says that with female pattern hair loss, hair follicles gradually shrink, causing hair to become thinner, shorter and less dense, especially along the part and crown. This is often due to genetic factors or follicle sensitivity to hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menopause, she adds.
Telogen effluvium (sudden hair shedding)
Illness, surgery, crash diets, rapid weight loss and significant physical or emotional stress can all cause large numbers of hairs to shift into a phase of not growing all at once and shed two to three months later, explains Dr. Kanwal.
Alopecia areata
In this autoimmune condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, resulting in patches of hair loss that can affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes and other body hair, says Dr. Kanwal.
Traction alopecia
Repeatedly pulling on the hair through buns, extensions, ponytails and tight braids can weaken hair follicles, Dr. Kanwal says, especially around the hairline. This can cause hair loss that may become permanent.
Medical hair loss
Low iron, low vitamin D, thyroid imbalance, PCOS (now known as PMOS), inadequate protein intake and certain medications can disrupt the hair growth cycle and worsen hair shedding, explains Dr. Kanwal.
What does Traditional Chinese Medicine say about hair loss?
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been addressing hair health for thousands of years, and our experts say these ancient remedies may offer real benefits.
“Traditional Chinese Medicine is a 3,000 year old system of healthcare developed in China that focuses on restoring balance in the body to support the mind, body and spirit,” explains Charlotte Morgan, D.Ac., L.Ac., doctor of Chinese medicine and board-certified doctor of acupuncture. “Instead of treating hair loss as an isolated problem, TCM views it as a reflection of what’s happening internally. Historically, hair thinning and shedding have been linked to factors like reduced nourishment, stress, aging and hormonal changes, with common patterns involving depleted ‘blood’ or declining kidney-related energy—the body’s deeper reserves.”
3 Traditional Chinese Medicine remedies for hair loss
Rather than spending weeks in the library in search of ancient texts, we asked experts to break down three key TCM-approved natural hair loss remedies you can try today.
The ‘He Shou Wu’ herb
A review published in the Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy suggests that an ancient Chinese herb called polygonum multiflorum (aka He Shou Wu) may support hair growth and help combat hair loss through multiple methods, including blocking enzymes strongly linked to alopecia, preventing hair follicle cell death, activating hair growth and follicle regeneration pathways and improving blood flow to the scalp.
“The herb is thought to nourish blood and kidney essence, or ‘jing’ as we call it,” says Morgan. “Jing is the body’s deeper energy reserves that help determine how well hair grows, stays anchored and maintains pigment. When these reserves are strong, hair is believed to grow more steadily, stay thicker and retain its color longer.”
Morgan says that using an herbal formula that contains polygonum multiflorum rather than having the supplement as a standalone may be a helpful approach. “In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we often use formulas instead of a single herb because we can better customize the formula for each individual patient,” she adds.
An important caution: Dr. Kanwal says that polygonum multiflorum has been linked to liver injury, so she recommends speaking with a doctor before taking it. She adds that people with liver disease, heavy alcohol use, unexplained abnormal liver tests, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding or those taking medications that affect the liver should avoid the supplement unless a physician clears its use.
After getting your doctor’s go-ahead, you can find polygonum multiflorum and supplements containing its ingredients on online health websites and even at major retailers like Walmart.
Scalp massage
Our scalp has acupuncture points all over its surface that can bring blood and energy to the area, improving circulation to hair follicles, promoting hair growth and potentially reducing stress, which is a common trigger for hair shedding, says Morgan. She recommends massaging the scalp with your hands or using a tool like a gua sha.
“I recommend a gentle scalp massage for about five minutes a day, or at least three to four times per week if daily massage is not realistic,” adds Dr. Kanwal. “It should be done with the fingertips, not the nails, using light circular pressure without pulling or rubbing the hair aggressively.”
Cozy socks
Morgan recommends covering the bottom of your feet and ankles with warm socks as much as possible. “In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidney channel starts at the bottom of your foot and travels up the inside of your ankle. Keeping these areas covered supports healthy circulation, protects your body from external cold and supports the kidneys—and in turn, your hair,” she says.
The bottom line on Traditional Chinese Medicine for hair loss
Whether you choose prescription medication, natural remedies like TCM or a combination of both, the most important thing is to take action.
“If the part is widening, the ponytail is shrinking or shedding is lasting more than a few months, do not just wait and hope,” says Keith Kantor, PhD, ND, trichologist and clinical director of Regen Therapeutic. “Get evaluated. Check thyroid, iron/ferritin, vitamin D, protein intake, hormone changes, medications, stress and scalp inflammation. Hair loss is rarely one single thing. When we treat the whole person and the follicle together, we usually have a much better chance of helping the hair recover.”
The journey to healthier hair starts with understanding what’s happening in your body and figuring out which option works best for you.
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