Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss, affecting millions of men and women worldwide. This is often known as male or female pattern baldness, and it usually develops gradually as hair follicles shrink over time. As the follicles shrink, they produce thinner, shorter hairs until growth dramatically slows or stops.
Current treatments, including finasteride and minoxidil, may help some people, but they are not ideal for everyone. Finasteride works by targeting the hormones involved in follicle shrinkage, while minoxidil is typically used to stimulate growth on the scalp. However, some patients are concerned about unwanted effects, including sexual side effects associated with finasteride or scalp irritation associated with minoxidil. Because of these concerns, many people continue to seek options that feel safer, more natural, or more holistic.
Ancient roots meet modern hair science.
A new scientific review suggests so. Polygonum multiflorum: The root, long used in traditional Chinese medicine, may deserve serious attention as a potential treatment for androgenetic alopecia. The herb has been used for over 1,000 years and is traditionally associated with “the essence of dark hair and nourishment.”
What makes this review particularly interesting is that the plant does not appear to work through just one biological pathway. Instead, researchers report that Polygonum multiflorum can affect several processes involved in hair loss and regrowth at the same time.
In androgenetic alopecia, a hormone called dihydrotestosterone plays an important role. This can gradually shrink hair follicles, making it harder for them to grow strong, healthy hair. According to the review, Polygonum multiflorum can help reduce the effects of this hormone, protecting follicles from one of the major drivers of pattern hair loss.
A multi-pathway to hair growth
The review also describes several other potential benefits. Polygonum multiflorum can help prevent follicle cells from dying prematurely, which is important because healthy follicles rely on active, living cells to maintain the hair growth cycle. It can also turn on key biological signals involved in regeneration, including the Wnt and Shh pathways.
These pathways are important because they help control how cells grow, communicate, and repair tissue. In hair follicles, they are closely related to the transition from resting to active growth phases. When these signals are strong, follicles are more likely to enter a regrowth state.
The herb can also improve blood flow to the scalp. Improved circulation can help bring oxygen and nutrients to the follicles, supporting the environment needed for healthy hair growth. That’s one reason researchers look. Polygonum multiflorum is potentially broader than traditional treatments that focus on a single target.
“Our analysis combines ancient wisdom and modern science,” said Han Buxian, first author of a recently published review on the topic. Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy. “What surprised us was how historical texts from the Tang Dynasty to the present have consistently described effects that are perfectly consistent with today’s understanding of hair biology.
From traditional records to laboratory evidence
The review draws together several types of evidence, including laboratory research, clinical reports, and historical herbal records. Researchers do not treat these old records as evidence by themselves. Instead, researchers compare traditional claims with modern biological findings to see where they overlap.
This phenomenon appears to be one of the main reasons for the renewed interest in overlap. Polygonum multiflorum. Reviews show that the herb can do more than just hair loss. By acting on growth factors and signalling pathways, it can help create conditions that support regeneration.
This is an important distinction. Many hair loss treatments are primarily designed to preserve existing hair or to thin it out further. A treatment that actively supports regrowth through multiple mechanisms may offer a different approach, particularly for those who have not responded well to current options.
Safety depends on proper preparation.
The review also emphasises that preparation is essential for safety. In traditional Chinese medicine, Polygonum multiflorum is usually processed before use. This step is considered important because processing can affect both safety and biological activity.
“When properly processed — a key step in traditional preparation — the herb shows a favourable safety profile, making it more acceptable to patients wary of side effects such as sexual dysfunction or scalp irritation associated with existing medications,” the article highlighted.
This point is particularly relevant because natural products are not automatically risk-free. Herbs can contain powerful compounds, and their effects can vary depending on preparation, dosage, and product quality. The review has been processed. Polygonum multiflorum: As a more acceptable option for some patients, it does not suggest that people should self-medicate without guidance.
Further clinical testing is still needed.
Although the results are promising, the researchers stress that stronger clinical evidence is still necessary. Much of the current support comes from laboratory studies, historical records, and limited clinical observations. Larger, carefully designed human trials will be necessary to confirm these findings. Polygonum multiflorum works for androgenetic alopecia and how safe it is in different patient groups.
Still, the review points to a big idea with growing scientific importance. Traditional treatments may contain biologically active compounds that, when studied in modern ways, may inspire new treatments. In the case of Polygonum multiflorum, centuries of use are now being examined through the lens of hormone biology, cell survival, developmental signalling, and cranial circulation.
For people dealing with hair loss, the research offers a hopeful but cautious message. A root used for more than a thousand years may not replace today’s treatments, but it could help guide the next generation of hair regrowth treatments.
