A thick and glossy mane of hair is not only a symbol of femininity but also an important aspect of showcasing a healthy and vibrant appearance for men. However, people often say that "hair is a thousand worries," indicating that hair and worries have long been intertwined. Nowadays, the "worry" associated with hair is primarily hair loss. Hair loss is no longer exclusive to the elderly; poor lifestyle habits and excessive stress have led to more and more young people joining the ranks of hair loss. Hair loss in young women tends to be seasonal, with an increase in autumn; male hair loss is related to the secretion of androgens and the activity of androgen receptors in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. In addition, premature graying, greasy hair, and dry hair are also common problems.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the kidneys store essence, and its manifestation is in the hair," "the liver stores blood, and the hair is the surplus of blood," "the lungs govern the skin and hair, and its manifestation is in the hair." Prolonged fatigue or excessive sexual activity can lead to excessive consumption of kidney essence, resulting in premature graying of the hair. Imbalanced diet or excessive weight loss can cause nutritional imbalances, insufficient generation of qi and blood, deficiency of liver blood, and combined with long-term mental stress, lack of sleep, or regular late nights, it can consume yin and blood, leading to "liver damage," resulting in stagnation of liver qi and difficulty for the hair to obtain the necessary nutrients, making it prone to falling out. In daily life, you can try massage, dietary therapy, and other methods to prevent hair loss and premature graying.
[Head massage methods]
1. Press Baihui and Sishen Cong acupoints. Place your thumbs lightly on both sides of the earlobes, and use your middle fingers to press the Baihui acupoint (located 7 inches above the center of the posterior hairline, directly above the earlobes), and then press the Sishen Cong acupoints (1 inch in front and behind the Baihui acupoint). Press each acupoint for 5 seconds. The strength should be determined based on the tolerance of your scalp. It's not the heavier, the better, but it shouldn't be too light either. A slight soreness and distention are appropriate.
2. Massage from the middle of the hairline to the earlobe with the proximal interphalangeal joints of both index fingers.
3. Use the fingertips of both index, middle, and ring fingers to lightly press the scalp along the Governing Vessel, without pulling the skin of the scalp.
4. Insert your ten fingers into the hair, lift the hair upwards, and slowly release it. Start by lifting the hair on the top of the head, and then lift 2-3 sections of hair on each side, 3-5 times for each section.
5. Comb the hair backward with the fingertips of both hands, repeat ten times.
6. Massage the Fengchi acupoint (on both sides of the big muscle at the back of the head, parallel to the earlobe) with the thumbs until a sore and distended feeling is achieved.
[Dietary therapy for preventing hair loss]
For different types of hair loss, there are different dietary choices.
In the case of insufficient kidney essence, which is more common in the elderly, the hair is dry, easily broken, with more white hair, and accompanied by back and leg pain, weakness and fatigue, or symptoms of insufficient sleep. It is advisable to consume more black sesame, black jujube, mulberry, and other black foods to nourish the kidney essence.
In the case of deficiency of liver blood, which is more common in women with irregular menstruation, there will be initial hair loss in small patches on the head, smooth skin at the hair loss site, gradual increase in hair loss, and symptoms such as dull complexion, dizziness, tinnitus, dry and itchy eyes, and decreased menstrual flow or amenorrhea. It is advisable to consume more walnuts, sesame, jujube, and gelatin to nourish the liver blood. If the scalp is greasy or itchy, you can also use dandelion, chrysanthemum, wolfberry, and other ingredients to make tea.
[Precautions for washing and combing hair]
1. Oily hair can clog pores and worsen hair follicle atrophy, so it is important to keep the scalp dry. It is recommended for people with hair loss tendencies to wash their hair every 2-3 days and choose a mildly acidic shampoo. It is not recommended to use strong oil control or anti-dandruff shampoos, as they may excessively dry the scalp.
2. People with hair loss tendencies should choose wooden combs to comb their hair, and the teeth of the comb should be thicker and have larger gaps. Avoid excessive force when combing the hair to avoid worsening the hair loss situation.
