Acupuncture for Hair Loss: What It Can and Cannot Do

Acupuncture involves inserting really thin needles into specific spots on your body. You probably know it's used for pain and stress, but some people also think it can help with hair growth. Let's dive into acupuncture as a way to restore hair, with a few preparation tips and things to keep in mind.

Key Takeaways

• Acupuncture uses fine needles to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue, supporting circulation and repair.
  

• Evidence for acupuncture as hair loss treatment remains limited, but may slow shedding and regrowth.
  

• Improved Qi and blood flow can nourish follicles, reduce inflammation and DHT effects, and encourage growth.
  

• Acupuncture is often well tolerated, but unlicensed providers increase infection and injury risks.

What is Acupuncture?

Traditional Chinese medicine has been tackling alopecia for ages. Studies suggest that these age-old methods can actually stop hair loss and help hair grow back. Acupuncture, which has been around for centuries in places like China, is a key part of this traditional approach.

In the West, many experts see it as a complex technique that stimulates nerves, muscles, and connective tissues. The idea is to boost blood flow to the area and encourage healing.

More and more research is showing that acupuncture can be good for your health. Just make sure you go to a qualified practitioner who knows how to use those thin, sterile needles to stimulate your skin, either by hand or with a little electrical boost.

How Acupuncture May Support Hair Growth

Okay, so there's not a ton of research to back up acupuncture as a hair loss treatment, but it's also not likely to hurt you.

So, trying acupuncture for hair loss is really your call. Some folks might give acupuncture a shot after they've already looked into what Western medicine has to offer.

Here’s a little peek into what an acupuncture session might be like with a trained acupuncturist:

• They'll put needles into certain points on your body. These tiny needles go into spots that match up with what's going on with you, like hair loss.

• If you're dealing with hair loss, expect the needles to go into your head and scalp.

• To make it a nicer experience, your acupuncturist might use aromatherapy or some essential oils to help you relax.

How Acupuncture May Help With Hair Loss

You know what to expect during a session, but how does sticking needles in your head help with hair growth? Well, acupuncture aims to balance Qi and blood flow. The stimulation is thought to clear blockages.

Helps Harmonize Hormones and Reduce Stress

Hormones all over the place and constant stress can definitely lead to hair loss. Acupuncture can help get your hormones back on track by waking up your endocrine system and getting everything balanced. Plus, these sessions are super relaxing, which can take the edge off stress and anxiety. I find the whole process incredibly calming.

By tackling these root issues, acupuncture can help create a better hormone situation and keep more hair from falling out.

Addressing Underlying Conditions

Sometimes, hair loss is a sign that something else is up, like alopecia or a thyroid issue. Acupuncture can be a nice addition to regular medical treatments, helping to ease symptoms and support healing.

By digging into what's causing these conditions, acupuncture helps you look at hair restoration in a more complete way and supports the best possible hair growth.

Balancing Qi and Improving Blood Flow

In traditional Chinese medicine, hair loss is often tied to things being out of whack with your body's Qi (that's your vital energy) and blood flow. Acupuncture tries to get these things back in balance, which helps your scalp and hair follicles be as healthy as possible.

When those acupuncture points are stimulated, it's like releasing energy blockages, letting Qi and blood flow like they should. This gives your scalp a boost and helps your hair grow better.

Potential Benefits of Acupuncture for Hair Growth

Now you know how it might work, but what exactly can acupuncture do for your hair? Acupuncture may strengthen hair follicles by improving Qi and blood flow. That could lead to less breakage. With that context, here are ways acupuncture may support healthy growth and address common hair-loss concerns.

Helps Strengthen Hair Follicles

Acupuncture is all about making damaged hair follicles stronger, since they're what make your hair grow. By helping Qi and blood flow better, acupuncture helps feed those follicles and get them working their best. This could mean stronger, healthier hair and less breakage and thinning.

Improves Blood Circulation to the Scalp

One of the big wins with acupuncture for hair growth is that it can get more blood flowing to your scalp. When those acupuncture points get stimulated, blood vessels open up, letting more blood get to your scalp and hair follicles.

This extra circulation brings important nutrients and oxygen, which perks up your hair follicles and encourages hair growth. My friend noticed that after a few sessions, her scalp felt more invigorated.

Helps Reduce Inflammation and DHT Activity

Inflammation and DHT (that's dihydrotestosterone) are known to mess with hair and cause it to fall out. Acupuncture might help chill out inflammation on your scalp and balance out DHT levels, which can lessen their bad effects on hair follicles.

By dealing with these things, acupuncture can help your scalp be healthier and create the best conditions for hair growth.

Side Effects of Scalp Acupuncture

For the most part, acupuncture is a pretty safe alternative treatment. Some people might be allergic to the needles or stuff used during the session. Traditional hair loss treatments can include hormone therapy, prescription meds, laser stuff, and even surgery.

Compared to some of those options, acupuncture doesn't have a lot of potential downsides and could be a way to treat hair loss alongside medication. If you get acupuncture on your head, you might experience:

• Muscle twitching

• Minor bleeding

• Headache

• Soreness

• Bruising

Acupuncture side effects could be worse if you're not seeing a licensed professional. You're risking infection and injury if the person doing your acupuncture isn't licensed and experienced. Going to someone who knows what they're doing keeps those risks low.

How to Choose an Acupuncturist

You're more likely to have issues if you go to someone who's not licensed. So, do your homework and find someone who's properly trained and licensed to do acupuncture.

Here are some things to look for when you're choosing an acupuncturist:

• Make sure they have the right credentials. Look for someone who's licensed and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

• See what the rules are in your state. Not all states require practitioners to be certified.

• Ask around for a recommendation. Your friends or family might know someone good. Or, your doctor might be able to point you to a qualified acupuncturist.

Combine Acupuncture with Keyoma's Hair Wellness Tips

If you're generally healthy but experiencing stress-related shedding, acupuncture might be a helpful addition to your routine. The sessions can be relaxing, and researchers observed that acupuncture may influence endocrine activity.