By Juan Martinez
January 28, 2026

A centuries-old medicinal root is gaining renewed scientific attention for its ability to target multiple biological processes involved in hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss seen in medical practice, affecting millions of people worldwide. Although often associated with aging, it increasingly appears at younger ages and affects both men and women.

Typical signs include a receding hairline at the temples, thinning at the crown or forehead, and scalp symptoms such as oiliness, dandruff, itching, folliculitis, and acne. Without early treatment, progressive thinning can eventually lead to noticeable baldness.

Today, treatment options remain limited. Finasteride and minoxidil are the primary medications used to manage AGA. Minoxidil works by stimulating hair follicle cells after being converted into its active form in the scalp, while finasteride blocks the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone most strongly linked to follicle shrinkage.

Despite their effectiveness, both drugs are associated with side effects that many patients find concerning, including scalp irritation, hormonal effects, and anxiety about long-term use. As a result, there is growing interest in safer, multi-targeted alternatives.
An Ancient Remedy Revisited by Modern Science

A new scientific review published in the Journal of Holistic Integrative Pharmacy points to an unexpected candidate. Polygonum multiflorum, also known as Polygoni multiflori radix (PMT) or He Shou Wu, is a root used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than a thousand years. Ancient texts famously describe it as an herb that can “blacken hair and nourish essence.” Modern research now suggests those claims may have a biological basis.

“Our analysis bridges ancient wisdom and modern science,” said Bixian Han, the first author of the review. “What surprised us was how consistently historical texts from the Tang Dynasty onward described effects that align perfectly with today’s understanding of hair biology. Modern studies now confirm that this isn’t folklore; it’s pharmacology.”

Targeting Hormonal Pathways and Follicle Survival

Unlike conventional hair loss drugs that act on a single pathway, PMT appears to work on several fronts at once. Laboratory and animal studies show that extracts of the processed root strongly inhibit 5α reductase, the enzyme responsible for producing DHT. Certain compounds in PMT, including emodin and physcion, directly reduce DHT levels in skin tissue and suppress androgen activity linked to follicle miniaturization.

The herb also protects hair follicle cells from premature death. AGA is associated with abnormal apoptosis, or programmed cell death, which shortens the hair growth phase and leads to thinner strands. Key PMT components, particularly 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxyl diphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside (TSG), activate survival pathways such as PI3K/Akt, increase protective proteins like Bcl-2, and suppress pro-apoptotic signals including Bax, Fas, and Caspase-3. These effects help extend the anagen, or growth, phase of the hair cycle.

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