Taipei City Hospital

      Mr. Xu, 33 years old, found his hair on both sides of the forehead becoming scant three years ago; the hairline was also gradually retreating. He was diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia. After using hair restorer for one and a half years, he found the result to be unsatisfactory. Finally, he was introduced to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department in Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch, where the physician administered acupuncture on his scalp points. One month later, there were new black hairs growing on both sides of the forehead.

      Lin Zai-Yu, attending doctor of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department in Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch, points out that hair signifies blood condition according to the traditional Chinese medicine. Namely, the nutrients required for hair growth come from adequate blood supply; thus, we can know the condition of the blood by observing hair quality. Sufficient qi and blood will invigorate the brain and nourish the hair, while deficiency of qi and blood means the hair will not receive enough nutrients and thus will become depleted and fall out easily. Both qi and blood are the basic substances for maintaining human body activity and life. The blood relies on qi to be effectively transported to all body organs.

      Dr. Lin says that from the view of traditional Chinese medicine, one of the main reasons for baldness is the insufficient qi and blood of the scalp, with the lack of nutritional supply to the hair. People who suffer from androgenetic alopecia and have scant hair just like Mr. Xu can receive acupuncture treatment on scalp points (Baihui point and Sishencong point) to unblock the meridians, improve blood circulation and metabolism around the head and then nourish the hair and promote hair growth. Acupuncture treatment is convenient and safe and will not cause a burden to the liver and kidney (as western medicine does), so it is a good choice for androgenetic alopecia patients.