Acupuncture is a very ancient tradition that is not contained solely in China. While the spread of this practice has been slow to the Western world, more and more people are turning attention to this ancient medical practice to help with a number of conditions that Western medical practices often are unable to treat. One such problem acupuncture may be able to help with is hair loss. Here is a quick Q&A rundown of some common questions about acupuncture for hair loss

Q: What exactly is acupuncture?

A: Acupuncture is a medical practice that is over 5,000 years old. While widespread and highly developed in China, the tenets of acupuncture have been practiced by cultures ranging from south African tribes to Eskimo and Inuit peoples. Recently, acupuncture has made its way to Europe and the United States as a form of alternative medicine.

Q: How does acupuncture work?

A: The principles of acupuncture are based on the notion that the body’s health if regulated by paths of energy, called meridians, that flow throughout. Applying pressure to special nodes of energy that lay along these meridians can produce health benefits by releasing portions of the body’s energy that become trapped through illness, aging or poor lifestyle choices. Applying pressure is usually accomplished by putting a sharp needle into the energy node.

Q: Doesn’t that hurt?

A: Patients have reported acupuncture treatments to be relatively painless. Practitioners of acupuncture are trained to insert the needles in a very specific manner to reduce pain and discomfort. Common claims about the level of sensation range from a bee sting to a slight pinch.

Q: Have any studies been conducted to show the effects of acupuncture?

A: Researchers believe that any health benefits derived from acupuncture stems from the inserted needles exciting the nervous system and causing the body to release various chemical compounds, hormones and neurotransmitters that provide temporary feelings of relief, happiness and stress reduction. Short term benefits of acupuncture include reduced levels of stress and improved circulation but repeated use or long term benefits have not been thoroughly studied.

Q: How can acupuncture help with hair loss?

A: Chinese medical philosophy states that the body is comprised of three main substances, blood, chi and fluid. Overall good health is maintained by all three substances moving in harmony throughout the body. Receiving acupuncture helps maintain this flow. Chinese medical philosophy also states that hair loss is caused by a poor circulation of these fluids to the scalp and that by pressuring nodes on and around the scalp, blood flow will increase and prevent future hair loss and may even promote hair growth.

Q: Is there any science to back up this claim?

A: While studies have shown that acupuncture does indeed circulate more blood to the scalp, it has not been fully established that this in turn leads to hair growth or halting hair loss. Testimonials and anecdotal evidence has claimed that acupuncture for hair loss does work but the validity of these claims are uncertain and acupuncture may simply have a placebo effect on a number of conditions.