Treating the four conditions of ‘blood’, the basis of hair loss treatment

In the previous article, I emphasized that the cause of male pattern hair loss should not be found simply in the amount of DHT hormone, but in the 'sensitivity of the androgen receptor' that responds to that hormone and the 'chronic inflammation of the scalp' that amplifies it. Now, I would like to go one step further and talk about my core treatment philosophy of looking at hair loss from a macroscopic perspective, which is the balance of our entire body.

There is this passage in Donguibogam (東醫寶鑑), a great medical book containing the wisdom of Oriental medicine that has been passed down for hundreds of years. “Baljahyeoljiyeo (髮者血之餘)” means, ‘Hair is the remainder of blood’. This means that the condition of the hair is a mirror that reflects the health of the ‘blood’ in our body. The 'hyeol' mentioned here does not mean only blood, or 'Blood' in Western medicine. It is a much broader concept that encompasses all functions and their material basis, including the blood itself, which is the basis of life's activities, such as blood supplying nutrients and energy to various parts of our body, collecting waste products, and regulating body temperature.

When diagnosing and treating hair loss patients, I divide the condition of the ‘blood’ into four major criteria. Hair loss occurs when the balance of these four things is broken, and conversely, only when this balance is corrected will the hair gain the strength to grow again.

1. Blood deficiency: Are there a lack of resources to grow hair?

The first criterion is the amount of blood, that is, whether there is ‘blood deficiency’. This does not simply mean low levels of anemia. It refers to a total lack of all material resources, such as nutrients and hormones, necessary to create and grow hair. If we are in a state of 'blood deficiency' due to a lack of blood due to extreme dieting or irregular eating, our body will prioritize supplying nutrients to major organs essential for maintaining life and reduce the supply to the hair. Eventually, the hair follicles become 'malnourished' and can no longer produce strong hair, producing thin and weak hair, and eventually stop producing hair.

2. Blood heat and blood cold: Is the temperature of the scalp appropriate?

The second standard is blood temperature, that is, ‘blood heat’ and ‘blood cold.’ This is a concept that represents the metabolic state of our body rather than the actual body temperature.

Blood fever: Scalp like a ‘burning house’

Blood fever refers to a condition in which excessive heat and inflammation accumulate in the body and scalp. Chronic stress, frequent drinking, and excessive consumption of spicy and oily foods cause heat to accumulate in the scalp, making it easy to develop inflammatory diseases such as seborrheic dermatitis and folliculitis. Hair follicles cannot survive intact in this ‘burning house’-like scalp environment.

Blood cold: Scalp like ‘frozen ground’

Conversely, blood cold refers to a state in which the body's metabolic function is reduced. When metabolism slows down, blood circulation decreases, and warm blood cannot reach the scalp, which is the most peripheral part of the body. Just as seeds cannot sprout in ‘frozen ground,’ hair follicles cannot obtain the energy necessary for their activity in a cold and poorly blood-supplied scalp, causing their growth to stop.

3. Blood circulation disadvantage: Does blood reach the hair follicles easily?

The third criterion is the smooth flow of blood, or ‘blood circulation.’ No matter how abundant the blood is and how full of nutrients it is, it is of no use if it does not reach its destination, the hair follicle. In particular, chronic diseases of modern people, such as turtle neck, straight neck, and stiff shoulders, are the main cause of tension in the muscles around the neck, which puts pressure on the blood vessels leading to the brain and scalp. The condition in which blood does not flow smoothly to the microvascular vessels of the scalp due to these causes is called ‘blood circulation disadvantage’ or ‘blood stagnation.’

4. Blood turbidity: Is the blood quality clean?

The final criterion is the quality of the blood, that is, whether it is ‘blood turbid’. This refers to a condition in which the blood is not clear and is cloudy due to excessive waste or fat content. Recent research reports showing that hair loss is more severe in people with hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia support the importance of ‘blood turbidity.’ When excess fat or waste material floats in the blood, the viscosity of the blood increases, slowing down blood flow, and this causes the microcirculation of blood vessels.

Conclusion: personalized treatment through four criteria

When diagnosing each hair loss patient, I comprehensively analyze these four criteria - blood lethargy, blood fever/blood cold, blood circulation disadvantage, and blood turbidity - to identify the patient's physical condition and the core cause of hair loss. We then prescribe personalized treatment based on the cause. This oriental medicine approach goes beyond simply growing a few more hairs, but is a process of correcting the fundamental imbalance in the body that causes hair loss. When the soil of our body itself becomes healthy and fertile, the tree called hair can finally take deep and strong roots.