The clinical effect of plum blossom needle acupuncture with qi-invigorating superficies-consolidating therapy on seborrheic alopecia

A study conducted three years ago on 87 patients with Seborrheic Alopecia compared the effects of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The patients were divided into two groups: 43 treated with Western medicine (oral cystine and vitamin B6 tablets) and 44 treated with Chinese medicine (plum blossom needle acupuncture and qi-invigorating superficies-consolidating therapy). After two months, the Chinese medicine group had a higher total effective rate (95.45% vs. 81.40%), lower hair loss scores, and higher hair growth scores. Both groups saw decreased testosterone levels and increased estradiol levels. However, the incidence of adverse reactions, including emotional disorders and sexual dysfunction, was lower in the Western medicine group. The study concluded that the Chinese medicine treatment was effective, simple, tolerable, and low-cost.