How Your Hair Reflects Your Overall Health---From a TCM Perspective | 你的身体健康吗？头发竟然可以告诉你

Frequently I receive emails asking about hair problems, and I always answer with my opinion and suggest plans of treatment accordingly, not only regarding the hair problems, but also other problems of the patients. Currently I also answer questions through WeChat and Facebook---which are much more convenient. At the same time, many ask me, “how are you able to give the patients suggestions over the internet without actually meet them?” My answer is simple---the condition of one’s hair is a perfect reflection of one’s over all health. Just as many medical institute would test the hair to find out about one’s overall health.

It is widely accepted that good hair is a sign of good health. Now let me talk about how exactly does one’s hair reflect one’s health, from the perspective of an acupuncturist:

1. Rapid hair loss

If hair loss happens in large number over a short period of time, it is usually associated to psychological issues such as trauma, serious stress, and serious sleeping disorder. Another possibility is chemical related.

2. Thin hair

If hair becomes thin, soft and dull, this is a sign of chronic lack of energy or mental depression. Other problems may include lower neck pain, lower and upper back pain, knee problem, vulnerable to sports related injuries, sleeping disorder, and anger-control difficulties. This is caused by lack of nutrients in the hair, and how to nourish the hair is the key.

3. Hair loss with excessive oil

If the hair has excessive amount of oil, and the color of the hair becomes dull, especially in the top and front of the head, this means the oil control function is having a problem. If the function can be restored, the hair loss will stop and the normal hair growth cycle can be restored. People who has similar problem are usually also prone to high blood lipids.

4. Rapid whitening of hair

If the hair becomes white in a short time, the person usually has recent mental irritation. Accompanying problems may also include irritation, depression, and a feeling of tightness in the chest or a shortness of breath, caused by depression.

According to these analysis above, we can conclude that the health of hair is a reflection of the overall health---and that is why one needs to seek for a doctor whenever the hair has problems.

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经常收到一些关于头发治疗的咨询邮件，我给出了自己的意见和治疗方案。相比较以前的电邮，WeChat和Facebook就方便多了。但同时，有很多人提出疑问：你都没看见病人，是如何给病人看病的呢？我的答案很简单——头发的健康状态已经反映了身体的主要健康状况。因为头发是身体状况的集中反射区，所以现在亦有很多医疗机构，通过化验头发来检测身体情况。

一头秀发作为身体健康的标志，这早已是人们的普遍认识。现在我们从专业的角度来谈谈，几种常见的头发状态是如何反映身体状况的：

1.快速脱发

近期内有大量的脱发，或数百根、或成缕、或成片，一般都与精神因素相关，如突然的精神打击，较重的精神压力，以及严重的失眠。另外，化学药物也是造成快速脱发的一个因素；

2.头发脱落稀疏

发质细软、无光泽，这类型的人士多伴有长期乏力、精力不足、心情压抑、腰痛、颈痛或背痛，膝关节不适、易受运动损伤，睡眠质量欠佳，易发脾气等。它所表现出来的是头发营养不足，因此，如何增加头发营养变得至关重要；

3.头发脱落稀疏伴头油较多

有的人头油多如渗水，头发污秽、无光泽（以头颅和前额为主）。这种类似的脱发关键在于人体内的控油机制出现了问题，只要控油机制好转，脱发自然停止，头发自然生成。若有类似症状的人，往往还容易有血脂高的情况；

4.头发短时间大量变白

这类型的人士多伴有精神刺激，还可能有胸胁胀闷、心烦易怒、善太息等等。[注：善太息是中医学的病症名，指患者自觉胸中憋闷，每以长声嘘气为舒的症状]

经过以上分析，我们可以说，头发的健康状态确实呈现出整个身体的健康状况，这也是“有头发问题必须及时就医”的原因。