🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Emperor Wen of Wei and Empress Dowager Cixi were both famous historical figures, especially Empress Dowager Cixi. She manipulated power behind the curtain and ruled through a screen, earning condemnation from later generations.
Both suffered from hair loss. Emperor Wen’s degree of hair loss cannot be accurately assessed due to lack of detailed records in historical sources. Empress Dowager Cixi’s condition was more severe—especially in her later years, she would lose dozens of hairs every time she washed her hair. For someone who cherished comfort, beauty, and health like her, this was as painful as cutting out her heart and soul. During this period, she often vented anger on eunuchs, even those previously favored such as Li Lianying. Once, while washing her hair, Li Lianying may have overexerted himself, causing dozens of hairs to fall off at once. Enraged, Empress Dowager Cixi overturned the copper basin and ordered him severely beaten.
Actually, hair loss is a normal phenomenon. As people age, losing a few hairs during shampooing is inevitable and should not cause alarm. Only when excessive hair shedding occurs suddenly or in large amounts should one pay attention and seek medical advice. When Emperor Wen experienced hair loss, he summoned his imperial physicians and prescribed:
<FONT color=#00a000> Huangqi, Danggui, Du Huo, Chuan Xiong, Rong, Gan Di Huang<FONT color=#00a000> Bai Zhi, Shao Yao, Mang Cao, Fang Feng, Xin Yi<FONT color=#00a000> Gao Ben, She Xian, Xie Bai, Wu Ma You each one ounce<FONT color=#00a000> Ma Zong Gao
Chop all ingredients finely, simmer gently to extract juice. Before use, first wash hair thoroughly. Then apply the medicine to hair, leave for one to two hours before rinsing off.
The *Yitai Mi Yao* states that Emperor Wen used this formula to wash hair with remarkable results, quickly stimulating new hair growth in bald areas.
As mentioned earlier, after being punished by Empress Dowager Cixi, Li Lianying sought revenge. He pressured court physician Li Deyu to urgently search for and prepare a hair-nourishing formula. Li Deyu, together with other palace physicians, combed through ancient texts and exhausted their minds, finally creating the “Xiang Fa San” for Empress Dowager Cixi. This formula truly worked wonders: whenever her hair itched, simply calling Li Lianying to apply the medicine brought immediate relief, effectively removing grease and relieving itching. Empress Dowager Cixi used it for years without hair falling out, old hair regrew, and she no longer needed frequent washing. The formula for Xiang Fa San is:
<FONT color=#00a000><FONT color=#00a000>Lingling grass one ounce, Xin Yi five qian, Shan Nai three qian, Bai Zhi three taels<FONT color=#00a000> Rose flower five qian, Linxiang six qian, Gancao four qian, Xi Xin three qian<FONT color=#00a000> Chuan Jinwen four qian, Fen Danpi four qian, Gong Dingxiang three qian<FONT color=#00a000> Su He Xiang three qian<FONT color=#00a000> Grind all herbs into fine powder, mix with Su He oil, dry, then grind again into fine powder. Apply to hair, wait briefly, then comb away.
Now we introduce another formula called “Jin Xiao Sheng Fa Gao,” recorded in *Yitai Mi Yao* compiled by Tang dynasty physician Wang Tao:
<FONT color=#00a000><FONT color=#00a000>Mian Jing Zi, Qing Xiang Zi, Lian Zi Cao each one fen<FONT color=#00a000> Fu Zi one piece, crushed hair ash appropriate amount
Preparation method: Chop all ingredients finely, grind into powder, soak in wine, seal with honey in a ceramic jar. After more than half a month, remove the medicine and mix with black chicken fat. Wash hair first, then apply the mixture to hair. According to *Yitai Mi Yao*, its effect is “new hair grows one foot in several days.” Those suffering from hair loss are encouraged to try it, preferably under medical guidance.
<Treating Hair Loss>