The reflexology therapist announced that she had loosened the arch in my right foot and massaged the wood down. I nodded in agreement, half hoping she would accept my entry as a peace offer and stop. Instead, she doubled back, moving the stick back and forth more forcefully with each stroke.
The funny thing is, I didn’t even have to believe it. My whole life has been proof of that. But after this treatment, my sensitive stomach wasn’t as sensitive, my body felt less bloated, and I felt more energetic overall. That single reflex appointment didn’t permanently change my gut health, but it did change how I viewed my body. Western medicine often focuses on treating symptoms rather than the root cause, while Eastern medicine looks at the body as a whole. Tension or tightness in the arch of your foot indicates an imbalance in the gut. Cracks on your tongue suggest that your body has too much heat. And your hair? It is a universe of information in itself. It’s a whole ecosystem of signals, stories, and early warnings that appear long before you notice the extra wires in your brush.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, your hair is considered an extension of your blood — or qi — and your emotional landscape. A shiny, full head of hair is a sign of inner harmony. Thinning or shedding suggests the systems that nourish you, such as digestion, sleep and stress regulation, are asking for attention. In a world where the beauty conversation often stops at products and routines, TCM presents a profound truth – your hair is a barometer of your inner region.
“In TCM, the health of your hair is primarily linked to the kidney and liver organs and the quality of your blood,” said Dr Behar from Raksha Valence. “Deficiency in your kidneys often leads to premature graying, thinning, or loss of hair. If you experience stagnation in your kidneys, your scalp and hair follicles will not receive adequate nutrients, leading to hair loss or dryness.
Dr. Jhar says excess hair loss is something you need to pay attention to, and not for vanity reasons — excess shedding is a message from your body that things aren’t going as they should.
“In TCM, hair loss is never diagnosed by the hair alone. We begin by identifying root imbalances, with the tongue often checked first, as it quickly clarifies the pattern and reflects the state of Qi, Blood, Yin and Damp. Follow up with lifestyle inquiries, which the TCM doctor can recommend for long-term results.”
