If you've suffered from alopecia, you know that it's an embarrassing and highly frustrating condition. If you're lucky, you can hide the patches of hair loss under a ponytail, headband, or other areas with hair, but often these patches do become noticeable especially as the condition progresses. One treatment that can be helpful for slowing the progression of hair loss and encouraging regrowth of hair is acupuncture. Women suffering from alopecia typically have a combination of high stress in their lives and an underlying depletion due to overwork, over-strain, over-exercise, or all-consuming mental conditions such as anxiety, worry, or overthinking. As we understand the condition in Chinese medicine, the stress or overwork has depleted the body of its ability to maintain and grow hair. Treatment with acupuncture and herbal medicine is two-fold: first, calm the nervous system and support the person with reducing stressors in their life, and second, provide treatment and herbs that will replenish a depleted body. Including nourishing foods in the diet will be important to support this therapy. Thankfully there are Chinese herbs that directly support hair regrowth along with supporting overall vitality and longevity. Another approach that can be helpful is using a blend of herbal oils topically on the scalp. Women can do self-massage or have a friend, child, or partner massage the delicious-smelling herbal oil on the scalp to encourage follicle health and hair regrowth. After continued acupuncture and herbal medicine for alopecia, women will typically find that their hair does regrow to some extent, and they also feel more vital, less stressed, and more optimistic about living a long and healthful life. Are you curious about whether acupuncture is the right path for you as you work to heal your alopecia? Call or email me to learn more and to discuss whether this may be supportive for you. Here's to your health!