“A patient came to me devastated with what was going on with her hair, and who could blame her?” Susan Cucchiara, a naturopathic doctor and owner of Naturally Sue Wellness, told The Epoch Times.
Fortunately, the patient’s story took a positive turn. After just a few months on a natural medicine routine, her self-healing mechanisms kicked into gear.
The woman had been diagnosed with alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes significant hair loss. Previously, her physician had recommended corticosteroid injections into the scalp—a common treatment in conventional medicine.
However, the injection doesn’t fix the root cause of the patient’s hair loss, Cucchiara said.
At the time, the patient was experiencing significant stress, had a history of smoking, and maintained a poor diet. Laboratory tests ordered by Cucchiara revealed elevated levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone. As she suspected, further testing for Hashimoto’s-related antibodies came back positive. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid condition.
Treatment began with dietary adjustments. These involved eliminating substances known to negatively affect thyroid function, such as gluten and dairy, restoring key nutrients essential to thyroid health, and supporting other bodily systems involved in autoimmune regulation. Cucchiara also guided the patient in managing her stress levels.
“This was a complete lifestyle change for her.”
After several rounds of treatment over the course of about six months, the patient’s alopecia areata had resolved.
“Every patient is different. Some may take longer, and some may take quicker,” Cucchiara said.
Another patient of Cucchiara’s, a 17-year-old girl, had also been advised by her doctor to receive corticosteroid injections for alopecia areata. Instead, Cucchiara created a personalized naturopathic treatment plan for her.
“She continues to get better each and every day with naturopathic medicine,” she said. In just two and a half months, the previously visible bald patch on the top of the girl’s head had completely disappeared. She can wear her hair down without any visible hair loss. In addition, she also lost 14 pounds of excess weight.
The benefits of natural medicine extend beyond treating alopecia areata.
“If you have thinning hair, a lot of the natural treatments can be pretty helpful,” Dr. Armen Nikogosian, an internist and member of the Institute of Functional Medicine, told The Epoch Times.
Thinning hair is often linked to chronic inflammation, Nikogosian said. He advises patients to improve their diets—for example, by adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, reducing carbs, and incorporating specific herbs or supplements. Over time, patients often notice improved hair thickness.
Internal Imbalance
For patients with hair loss, many doctors begin by conducting trichoscopy—an examination of the scalp and hair using a dermatoscope—and ordering nutritional tests. Assessments are typically followed by medications or other therapies aimed at stabilizing the condition and promoting hair regrowth.
Natural medicine, however, takes a different approach—one that focuses on identifying and correcting the imbalances within the body.
While supplementing with hair-supportive nutrients such as B vitamins can be effective, outcomes vary from person to person. In more complex cases, issues may persist even after lifestyle and dietary improvements have been made. This often suggests that “there are deeper imbalances that also need to be fixed,” Cucchiara said.
Many of her patients, Cucchiara said, are high-stress New Yorkers whose imbalances tend to be more severe—and often long-standing. The longer hair loss symptoms have been present, the longer treatment may take.
These patients often share common root causes, including chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, or hormonal imbalances—such as elevated androgen levels.
Additionally, factors such as thyroid dysfunction, gut microbiome imbalance, and nutrient deficiency can contribute to hair loss, according to Cucchiara. Hypothyroidism—an underactive thyroid—for instance, can reduce metabolic activity, restrict nutrient delivery, and disrupt hair growth.
“We treat the person, not the disease,” Cucchiara said. Natural medicine views hair loss not as a disease itself, but as a symptom—a signal that something deeper in the body has gone wrong.
Test, Not Guess
Identifying the cause of internal imbalances often begins with testing.
“I like functional blood tests,” Nikogosian said.
Unlike standard blood tests, which look solely at the nutrient levels in the blood, functional blood tests measure the metabolites to see if the person is actually utilizing the nutrient.
He explained that while standard blood tests can sometimes clearly indicate a deficiency—such as when a nutrient level is low in the bloodstream—there are cases where levels appear normal, but the cells are not actually using the nutrient effectively.
In other words, since nutrients act inside cells—not just in the bloodstream—standard blood tests may not indicate true deficiencies.
As an example, Nikogosian pointed to folate, which plays a key role in hair growth: “I find it more effective to check what’s called a FIGLU.” The FIGLU, which stands for formiminoglutamic acid, test refers to a metabolite that reveals whether folate is being utilized at the cellular level—making it a much more reliable marker than simply measuring folate levels in the blood.
“Let’s test, not guess,” Cucchiara said.
She stated that naturopathic practitioners evaluate a broad range of markers—not only nutrient levels, but also inflammation markers, autoimmune indicators, thyroid hormones, and more. These data allow practitioners to identify each patient’s specific needs.
For more complex cases—such as those involving severe hormonal imbalances—Cucchiara uses comprehensive diagnostic tools, including the dried urine test for comprehensive hormones, known as DUTCH.
Men can complete a DUTCH on any day, while women are typically tested on a specific day of their menstrual cycle. The panel assesses all major sex hormones, stress hormone levels, and their fluctuation cycle, as well as markers related to biotin, B12, B6, inflammation, and gut function.
In addition to these tests, naturopathic practitioners may also investigate mold exposure, heavy metal burden, or environmental toxins based on a patient’s history and living conditions. For instance, people who have lived in wildfire zones, industrial areas, or mold-contaminated environments may carry elevated levels of toxins in their bodies.
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The Foundation
While natural medicine often employs targeted therapies—such as specific nutrients and herbal remedies—to address underlying imbalances, the foundation of effective hair loss treatment lies in restoring the basics.
“These foundational habits are what move the needle most when it comes to restoring balance in the body,” Cucchiara said.
Those core habits include:
- Sleep: Getting seven to eight hours of restful sleep each night.
- Stress management: Practicing techniques such as meditation or gentle movement like yoga, qigong, or tai chi.
- Healthy eating: Following a diet rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods.
- Hydration: Drinking enough water.
- Physical activity: Exercising regularly.
Unfortunately, the importance of these basic habits is often dismissed as a boring cliché. However, they are much like the structural base of a building. When the foundation is weak, the structure above becomes unstable and may collapse with the slightest tremor.
In an age of advanced medical science, people assume there must be a complex, high-tech, one-size-fits-all solution. That assumption, however, is often far from reality. Most imbalances—such as hormonal disruptions or thyroid dysfunction—stem from long-term neglect of these basic principles, Cucchiara noted.
Expert Recommendations
During interviews, several natural medicine experts shared a range of herbs that may help improve hair loss.
Nikogosian highlighted three herbs in particular—ginseng, red clover, and horsetail—which he has found effective in treating patients experiencing hair loss in clinical practice.
Ginseng and red clover may help inhibit certain enzymes linked to male-pattern hair loss, while horsetail is rich in silica, a key structural component of hair that can help strengthen and support hair health.
He also recommends two natural topical remedies: aloe vera gel and onion juice. These can be applied directly to the scalp at least five to 10 minutes before showering, then rinsed off during the wash.
Aloe vera helps unclog and cleanse hair follicles, contributing to reduced dandruff and itchiness. Onion juice, on the other hand, is high in sulfur, which can help increase hair density.
Nikogosian said that certain natural herbs need to be applied directly to the scalp in order to deliver a therapeutic dose of active compounds. However, many commercial shampoos that list herbal extracts—such as aloe vera—often contain only trace amounts, which may not be sufficient to produce meaningful results.
Alexandra Roach, a board-certified holistic health practitioner, herbalist, and contributor to The Epoch Times, shared a fenugreek seed hair oil recipe that, when applied regularly to the scalp, may help stimulate hair growth.
Ingredients
- 1.1 to 1.4 ounces of fenugreek seed powder
- 5 fluid ounces of coconut oil or sesame oil
After mixing, allow the mixture to sit in direct sunlight for six days. Afterward, strain the oil and store it in a cool, dark place.
The finished product can be kept in a small amber glass bottle with a dropper. To use, apply the oil directly to the scalp using the dropper, then massage it into the scalp and the roots of the hair. Allow it to be absorbed for about 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water. If you do not mind a slightly oily texture, you can leave the oil in without rinsing.
Mary Helen Lee, a clinical herbalist and founder of Green Medicine Acupuncture and Apothecary, told The Epoch Times that she often uses custom herbal blends to support hair health. These formulas typically combine a variety of Western and Chinese herbal tinctures with essential oils such as rosemary, lavender, red thyme, ginger, and sage.
For those looking to start with just one essential oil, Lee recommends rosemary, which is widely recognized for its hair-supporting benefits. “Rosemary essential oil increases the circulation of blood to the hair follicles when used topically on the scalp,” she said.
One simple way to use rosemary oil is to add it to your shampoo or conditioner. It can also be diluted in a 1:1 ratio with jojoba oil and massaged directly into the scalp.
Rosemary is also believed to support adrenal health, making it particularly beneficial in cases of hair loss linked to adrenal stress—often linked to chronic stress, Lee said.
In addition to topical use, many herbs and foods that support hair health also double as flavorful, nutrient-rich ingredients—such as sesame seeds, mulberries, goji berries, and fenugreek seeds, Lee noted.
Lee added that everyday dietary approaches to hair care are most effective when combined with treatment for underlying conditions such as thyroid disorders or autoimmune diseases.
“Naturopathic medicine views the person as a whole,” Cucchiara said. “So while it may seem like you are just getting treated for hair loss, you are actually supporting your whole system. You’re getting a systemic rehaul.”