A root used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 1,000 years is drawing new attention from researchers studying hair loss. According to a report from Science Daily, a scientific review suggests that Polygonum multiflorum may be a serious candidate for treating androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of hair loss in both men and women.
Androgenetic alopecia, often called male or female pattern hair loss, develops gradually as hair follicles shrink over time. As follicles get smaller, they produce thinner and shorter hairs. Eventually, growth can slow dramatically or stop altogether. The condition affects millions of people worldwide.
Current treatments include finasteride and minoxidil. Finasteride works by targeting the hormones involved in follicle shrinkage. Minoxidil is applied to the scalp to encourage growth. Neither works for everyone. Some patients have concerns about side effects, including sexual side effects linked to finasteride and scalp irritation associated with minoxidil. That has kept demand high for alternatives.
Polygonum multiflorum has been used for more than a thousand years and was traditionally associated with the ability to, as ancient texts described it, "blacken hair and nourish essence." What the new review adds is a look at how the herb might work at a biological level, and the findings point to more than one possible mechanism.
A hormone called dihydrotestosterone plays a central role in pattern hair loss. It gradually shrinks hair follicles, making it harder for them to produce strong, healthy hair. According to the review, Polygonum multiflorum may help reduce the impact of this hormone, which would address one of the main drivers of the condition.
The herb may also work through several other pathways at the same time. The review describes evidence that it may help prevent follicle cells from dying too early. Healthy follicles depend on active, living cells to keep the hair growth cycle going. Losing those cells prematurely is one of the ways follicles stop functioning.
Researchers also found that the root may activate what are known as Wnt and Shh pathways. These biological signals help control how cells grow, communicate, and repair tissue. In hair follicles specifically, they are connected to the shift from resting phases into active growth. When these signals are working properly, follicles are more likely to stay in or return to their active phase.
The review was published through KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. and reported on June 7, 2026. Researchers described the plant's effects as aligning well with both ancient descriptions of its benefits and what modern science understands about hair biology.
The review does not present Polygonum multiflorum as a finished treatment. It is a survey of existing studies meant to organize what is known and identify where more research is needed. Still, the breadth of mechanisms it may influence sets it apart from current pharmaceutical options, which tend to target only one pathway.
Finasteride targets hormones. Minoxidil targets blood flow and cell activity. The potential appeal of Polygonum multiflorum, according to the review, is that it may address hormone activity, cell survival, regeneration signals, and blood flow to the scalp all at once. Whether that multi-path activity holds up in larger clinical trials remains to be seen.
Pattern hair loss affects a significant portion of the global population and is a condition for which many people seek treatment for years without finding a satisfactory option. Research into plant-based alternatives has grown steadily, and this review adds Polygonum multiflorum to a growing list of traditional remedies now being examined through a modern scientific lens.
