The treatment of Alopecia with acupuncture and related techniques

Alopecia is a common condition characterised by partial or complete hair loss of the scalp or other hair-rich areas. Forty million men and 20 million women are affected by hair loss in the United States and approximately two out of every three men are affected by hair loss at some stage of their lives. About half of the population is affected by hair loss by the age of 50. Most hair loss is in the category of androgenic alopecia (accounting for 95% of cases in men). This type of hair loss often starts between the ages of 12 and 40 in both men and women, but is more common in women after the menopause. This article outlines the Chinese medicine pattern differentiation commonly seen in alopecia and some effective systemic and local acupuncture treatments.