🌿 Folk Prescriptions

In the market, countless shampoos boast herbal ingredients. Randomly picking one, you’ll likely find it contains herbs. In Beijing, a reporter briefly surveyed shampoos at a supermarket: among 10 varieties of one brand, 8 contained herbal components; among 8 varieties of another brand, 5 included herbal ingredients. Among these herb-containing shampoos, Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu), black sesame seeds, ginseng, soapberry, and mint are the most common names—almost every brand features them.
Do these herbs truly benefit hair health? How should consumers choose shampoos with different ingredients? Dr. Ni Qing from the Department of Endocrinology at Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, addressed these questions.
Dr. Ni Qing believes choosing herbal shampoos should depend on your hair type and constitution. Those with dry hair should choose shampoos with ginseng to provide nutrients needed for hair growth. Elderly individuals and those with premature graying should opt for shampoos with Polygonum multiflorum, which nourishes blood and kidneys and helps treat gray hair. Black sesame seeds, likewise, nourish kidneys and blood, promote hair growth, darken hair, and moisturize strands. For oily hair, especially those with seborrheic alopecia, consider soapberry shampoo—it removes oil and relieves itching.
From a pharmacological perspective, ginseng, processed Polygonum multiflorum, and ginger are warming herbs with tonifying effects, nourishing hair. Conversely, soapberry, raw Polygonum multiflorum, and mint are cooling herbs, capable of clearing stomach and blood heat, eliminating fat, and treating seborrheic alopecia. Thus, to “supplement” your hair with herbs, understand both your hair type and the properties of herbs. For instance, postpartum women should avoid shampoos with cooling herbs like mint; ginger-based shampoos would be more suitable.
Some readers may ask: Can we achieve hair health by taking these herbs orally instead? Dr. Ni Qing says these herbs can be absorbed both through the digestive tract and through the skin. While absorption differs between routes, both are effective. Generally, herbs that can be taken internally can also be used externally—but not vice versa. If desired, incorporate more black sesame seeds into your diet daily, or brew rose petals and Polygonum multiflorum directly as tea—both nourish the body and promote hair health.
Please note: Due to technical limitations, some shampoo manufacturers fail to properly purify herbal extracts. These products may not deliver hair benefits and could even cause side effects. Therefore, consumers should prefer well-known, reputable brands.