herbs for premature graying

[Guest guest]

First, some background info for readers new to TCM: The TCM concept

of Blood is not identical to blood. TCM defines one of the main

functions of Blood as providing food and moisture for the tissues and

meridians. Some of the herbs used for premature graying are Blood

tonic herbs.

 

Yin cools, calms, and moistens. Blood is considered Yin in relation

to Qi which is Yang in nature when compared to Blood. Some of the

herbs used for premature graying are Yin tonic herbs.

 

The Blood tonic herbs used for premature graying are He Shou Wu

(Radix Polygoni Multiflori, translated as " Mr. Black Hair " ), Sang

Shen (aka Fructus Mori Albae - mulberry fruit-spike), and Shu Di

Huang (aka Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae Conquitae - particularly good

for " premature graying of hair due to exhausted blood and essence. "

(Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, revised ed., Dan Bensky and

Andrew Gamble, p. 328.)

 

The Yin tonic herbs include Han Lian Cao (Herba Ecliptae Prostratae)

which " Nourishes and tonifies the Liver and Kidney yin: for Liver and

kidney yin deficiency with dizziness, blurred vision, vertigo, and

premature graying of the hair. " (p. 365.) Hei zhi ma, aka Ju Sheng

Zi, aka Semen Sesami Indici, aka black sesame seeds also is a Yin

tonic herb. Nu Zhen Zi, aka Fructus Lignustri Lucidi, aka privet

fruit, aka " female chasity seed " , is another Yin tonic herb which

also is used in some cases of premature graying. (It's the overall

symptom pattern which will determine which herb is best in individual

cases of premature graying.)

 

TCM classifies herbs according to their main use. An herb may have

more than one property. For example, black sesame seed also has some

Blood tonic properties, but its strongest property is that of Yin

tonic.

 

Victoria