Medicine used in ancient Chinese medicine can treat baldness: Research

 

Medicine used in ancient Chinese medicine can treat baldness: Research

             

Scientists have found that a root used in ancient Chinese medicine can treat baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss, affecting millions of men and women worldwide. The problem develops gradually, as hair follicles (roots) shrink over time. As the follicles shrink, they produce finer, weaker and shorter hair than before, and hair growth can slow down or stop altogether.

Current treatments, such as finasteride and minoxidil, have been shown to be beneficial for some people, but are not ideal for everyone. Finasteride targets the hormones that cause hair follicles to shrink, while minoxidil is applied to the scalp to stimulate hair growth.

However, some patients are concerned about the potential side effects of these medications, such as sexual problems associated with finasteride or scalp irritation caused by minoxidil. That’s why many people are looking for alternative treatments that seem safer, more natural, and more comprehensive.

A new scientific review suggests that the root Polygonum multiflorum (used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries) may be worthy of special attention for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. The herb has been used for more than a thousand years and is traditionally associated with ‘darkening hair and strengthening the body’.

What’s most interesting about this review is that the plant doesn’t just affect one biological pathway. According to the researchers, Polygonum multiflorum may simultaneously affect several biological processes that play a role in hair loss and regrowth.

A hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) plays a key role in androgenetic alopecia. This hormone gradually shrinks hair follicles, making it harder for them to produce strong, healthy hair.

According to a review, Polygonum multiflorum may help reduce the effects of this hormone, thus protecting the hair follicles from a major cause of pattern baldness.