“You have weak digestion,” the reflexology therapist declared as she scraped a wooden massage stick up and down the arch in my right foot. I winced while nodding in agreement, half hoping she’d accept my admission as a peace offering and stop. Instead, she doubled down, moving the stick back and forth with more rigour with each stroke.
The funny thing is, I didn’t even need to believe her; my entire life has been evidence. But after her treatment, my sensitive stomach wasn’t as sensitive, my body felt less bloated, and I felt more energetic overall. That single reflexology appointment didn’t permanently change my gut health, but it did change how I saw my body. Western medicine often focuses on treating symptoms, rather than the root cause, whereas Eastern medicine sees the body as a whole. Tension or tightness in the arch of your foot communicates an imbalance in the gut. Cracks on your tongue suggest there is too much heat in your body. And your hair? That’s a universe of information on its own—an entire ecosystem of signals, stories, and early warnings that appear long before you notice extra strands in your brush.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, your hair is considered an extension of your blood—or qi—and your emotional landscape. A glossy, full head of hair is a sign of internal harmony; thinning or shedding suggests the systems that nourish you, like digestion, sleep, and stress regulation, are asking for attention. In a world where beauty conversations often stop at products and routines, TCM offers a deeper truth—your hair is a barometer of your internal terrain.
“In TCM, the health of your hair is primarily linked to the kidney and liver organs and the quality of your Blood,” said Dr. Jhar from RaKxa Wellness. “Deficiency in your kidneys often leads to premature graying, thinning, or hair loss. If you have stagnation in your kidneys, your scalp and hair follicles will not receive adequate nutrients, leading to hair loss or dryness. And a weak spleen can lead to a deficiency of nourishing blood needed for healthy hair.”
Dr. Jhar says that extra hair loss is something you need to pay attention to, and not for vanity reasons—the additional shedding is a message from your body that things are not operating as they should.
“In TCM, hair loss is never evaluated by the hair alone. We begin by identifying the root imbalance, with the tongue often examined first, as it quickly clarifies the pattern and reflects the state of Qi, Blood, Yin, and Dampness. Follow with lifestyle inquiries, which a TCM doctor can recommend foods, herbs, and lifestyle modifications for long-term results.”