An Approach to Hair Loss and its Management in Persian Medicine

Hair loss is a common problem among more than half of the world's population. The present study aimed to review and assess the etiologies, symptoms and basics of its treatment according to Persian medicine (PM). The main PM books including the Canon of Medicine, Zakhireh Kharazmshahi, Moalejat-e Aghili, Exir-e A’zam, Teb-e Akbari and Makhzan al-adviyah were searched and the related content on hair loss have been extracted. According to PM textbooks, the causes of hair loss can be divided into four categories: skin and hair nutrition disorders (low quality and quantity of nutrients, basal metabolism disorder, circulation of nutrients and skin absorption), skin pore problems (dilation and obstruction), inflammation, and environmental damage. To differentiate the above causes, several symptoms such as hair strand diameters, greasy or dry hair, the scalp condition at the affected area and general symptoms such as weakness and exhaustion were considered. In modern medicine sources, several causes are mentioned to be involved in the process of hair loss including nutritional disorders and anemia, hormonal disorders like thyroid problems, genetics and environmental factors. Applying topical oils of Myrtle, Emblic myrobalan, Myrobalan, Acacia, Oak gall, Lotus, and Violet, as well as the mucilage of marshmallow, common mallow, Psyllium and also labdanum along with nutrition correction and consumption of nutritious foods such as almond, currant and walnut based on the type of hair loss have been recommended. Considering that the causes of hair loss in PM and modern medicine are similar, it seems that therapeutic recommendations of PM provide a suitable ground for future studies.