Governing the Four States of 'Hyeol' (Blood): The Foundation of Hair Loss Treatment
In my previous writing, I emphasized that the cause of male pattern hair loss should be found not simply in the amount of DHT hormone, but in the 'sensitivity of androgen receptors' responding to that hormone and the 'chronic scalp inflammation' that amplifies it. Now, I would like to go a step further and share my core medical philosophy, which views hair loss from a macroscopic perspective of the body's overall balance.
Donguibogam (Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine), a great medical text containing centuries of Korean medical wisdom, contains this phrase: "Bal-ja-hyeol-ji-yeo" (髮者血之餘), meaning 'Hair is the surplus of Blood.' This signifies that the condition of the hair is a mirror reflecting the health of the 'Hyeol' (Blood) within our body. The 'Hyeol' mentioned here does not merely refer to 'Blood' in the Western medical sense. It is a much broader concept encompassing the blood itself, as well as all functions and material bases that serve as the foundation of life activities, such as supplying nutrients and energy throughout the body, collecting waste products, and regulating body temperature.
When diagnosing and treating hair loss patients, I examine the state of this 'Hyeol' based on four major criteria. Hair loss occurs when the balance of these four is disrupted, and conversely, only when this balance is restored can the hair regain the strength to grow again.
1. Hyeol-heo (Blood Deficiency): Are there enough resources to grow hair?
The first criterion is the quantity of Blood, specifically whether there is a 'Blood Deficiency' (Hyeol-heo). This does not only mean a low anemia count. It refers to a state where the material resources necessary to produce and grow hair—namely nutrients and hormones—are overall insufficient. If the body falls into a state of 'Blood Deficiency' due to extreme dieting or irregular meals, it prioritizes supplying nutrients to essential organs for survival and reduces the supply to the hair. Consequently, the follicles fall into 'malnutrition,' producing thin, weak hair before eventually stopping production altogether.
2. Hyeol-yeol (Blood Heat) and Hyeol-han (Blood Cold): Is the scalp temperature appropriate?
The second criterion is the temperature of the Blood, specifically 'Blood Heat' (Hyeol-yeol) and 'Blood Cold' (Hyeol-han). Rather than actual body temperature, these concepts represent the body's metabolic state.
Hyeol-yeol (Blood Heat): A scalp like a 'house on fire'
Blood Heat refers to a state where excessive heat and inflammation have accumulated in the body and scalp. Heat tends to rise to the scalp due to chronic stress, frequent alcohol consumption, or excessive intake of spicy and oily foods, making one prone to inflammatory diseases like seborrheic dermatitis or folliculitis. In a scalp environment that is like a 'house on fire,' follicles cannot survive intact.
Hyeol-han (Blood Cold): A scalp like 'frozen ground'
Blood Cold, conversely, signifies a state of decreased metabolic function. When metabolism slows down, blood circulation drops, and warm blood fails to reach the scalp—the most peripheral part of the body—smoothly. Just as a seed cannot sprout in 'frozen ground,' follicles in a cold, poorly circulated scalp cannot gain the energy needed for activity, causing growth to stall.
3. Hyeol-haeng-bul-li (Poor Blood Circulation): Is the blood reaching the follicles well?
The third criterion is the smoothness of the Blood flow, or 'Hyeol-haeng.' No matter how abundant and nutrient-rich the Blood is, it is useless if it cannot reach its destination: the hair follicles. Modern ailments such as 'text neck' (forward head posture), stiff neck, and shoulder tension cause muscle tightness that compresses the blood vessels leading to the brain and scalp. This state, where blood does not flow smoothly to the microvessels of the scalp, is called 'Hyeol-haeng-bul-li' or 'Stagnant Blood' (Eo-hyeol).
4. Hyeol-tak (Blood Turbidity): Is the quality of the blood clean?
The final criterion is the quality of the Blood, specifically 'Blood Turbidity' (Hyeol-tak). This refers to a state where the blood is not clear but has become turbid due to unnecessary waste products or high fat content. Recent research reports showing that hair loss appears more severely in people with hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol support the importance of this 'Blood Turbidity.' Excessive fat or waste floating in the blood increases its viscosity, slowing down the flow and causing microvessels to become clogged.
Conclusion: Personalized Treatment through Four Criteria
When I diagnose each hair loss patient, I comprehensively analyze these four criteria—Blood Deficiency, Heat/Cold, Poor Circulation, and Turbidity—to identify the patient's body condition and the core cause of their hair loss. I then prescribe a personalized treatment tailored to those causes. This Korean medical approach goes beyond simply making a few more hairs grow; it is a process of correcting the fundamental bodily imbalances that caused the hair loss. When the 'soil' of our body becomes healthy and fertile, the 'tree' of our hair can finally take deep and strong roots.