Go to page content
Natalie Falk
Written by Natalie Falk

Reviewed by Dr Jessica Gunawan

How to Reverse Grey Hair to a Black Crowning Glory Naturally

Premature aging can be caused by many factors but is it possible to reverse grey hair? Discover what causes premature greying and how you can reverse the effect.

5Artboard 1

It is common to notice your hair turning grey as you grow older. Unfortunately, it is also possible for you to develop premature grey hair before you turn 30. Typically, this hair disorder can be attributed to genetics. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners believe that a Weakened Liver or Kidneys causes premature greying. Which begs the question: Is it possible to reverse grey hair?

Long answer short, yes, it is! However, people with premature grey hair are more likely to treat the problem with tips from a hairdresser instead of a doctor. 

“While in rare instances it could be cause for concern, a young person going grey is more likely to present themselves to their hairdresser than their doctor. Although we have patients coming in for other conditions mentioning about their grey hair, they do not specifically seek treatment for it,” says TCM physician Alicia Lim.

This is especially true for conditions like alopecia areata, wherein hair loss is the predominant symptom. After an attack of this condition, the hair that grows back is grey due to the lack of melanocytes, which are melanin or pigment-producing cells. Rather than see a hair specialist for the grey hair, they consult with their hairdresser.

Here are the primary causes of premature grey hair and the steps you can take to reverse this disorder.

Depletion of Kidney Essence

grey haired asian freelancer drinking coffee while working at laptop in kitchen
A depletion of kidney jing as you age can cause health problems like premature grey hair or poor memory.

The Kidneys are responsible for doing away with toxins in the body and storing jing. Your jing is the essence of who you are, where you come from and where you are going. To put it simply, it is a substance that comes naturally from your parents. This directly influences your development right up to adulthood.

Unfortunately, Kidney jing will deplete as you age. It also increases your risk of health problems like lower back pain, poor quality sperm, infertility or impotence, and poor memory and concentration. Similarly, undernourished Kidneys may also cause your hair to turn grey or thin prematurely or appear dry and brittle.

Weakened Liver

Apart from producing glutathione, the Liver is also responsible for maintaining hair health by absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, detoxifying oestrogen, and regulating glucose production. In TCM, the Liver is also responsible for circulating blood and supporting qi regulation.

It is worth noting that qi is also the driving force for blood, which is especially crucial for healthy hair. Excessive or prolonged stress, anxiety, anger, and emotional trauma can all lead to liver qi stagnation. This will cause the colour and condition of your hair to deteriorate.

Steps to Reverse Grey Hair Naturally

Beauty Asian woman combing hair front of mirror
A healthy lifestyle and consuming herbs that nourish your kidney help reverse grey hair. 

The best way to reverse premature grey hair is to consume food or herbs that help to invigorate your Liver and Kidneys. You should also adopt the practice of a healthy lifestyle.

“Aside from the herbs and treatments we provide to patients, creating a general sense of well-being through a healthy lifestyle is very important to restoring balance to the body, which also helps maintain hair health and colour,” adds physician Lim.

Consuming Kidney and Liver-nourishing foods or herbals

The consumption of blackberries, mulberries, walnuts, black beans or sesame seeds can help to strengthen the Liver and Kidneys. In turn, this will prevent premature hair greying. In the same way, the consumption of fleece flower root (He Shou Wu) herb is effective in improving deficiencies in the Liver and Kidneys.  

Fleece flower root has also demonstrated the ability to regrow hair in most test subjects within three months. This ability can be associated with a few of the herb’s mechanisms. They include activating hair follicle activation during the resting phase (telogen), mitigating the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — a byproduct of testosterone — and preventing further hair loss. Consuming a herbal beverage that contains ingredients like red dates and longan can also promote a healthy flood of blood and qi whilst inducing a calming effect on the mind.

Going to bed and waking up early

Not getting enough restful sleep can cause hair loss, hair turn grey, breakage, or damage. A reduced blood flow to the hair follicles is a direct result of insufficient sleep. It will cause hair strands to become weak or prevent them from growing optimally.

Therefore, you should go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. Getting eight hours of sleep between 10 PM and 6 AM is the standard prescription by TCM practitioners. This is based on the notion that adequate rest will help support a healthy production of blood and qi, which is the foundation of healthy hair. Combining an essential oil blend and a diffuser which plays calming sounds can help promote good sleep.

Exercising regularly

girl friends working outdoor
Low-mobility exercises like yoga and qigong promote a healthy flow of blood and qi in the body.

Regular exercise can improve blood circulation and support the healthy production of melanin pigments. They are directly associated with a person’s hair colour. Yoga is a type of exercise that can help tone your physique and increase flexibility whilst also helping to keep your hair black by increasing blood circulation to the scalp. 

Alternatively, millions of Chinese people practised Qi Gong. It’s a type of exercise based on a repetitive yet very precise set of movements and is particularly designed to benefit a person’s health on various levels, including the reversal of prematurely greying hair.

Specifically, Qi Gong aims to promote the movement of qi in the body. This is done by opening certain ‘gates’ and stretching and twisting energy channels. You should also relax your body and pay close attention to how you deep breathe during Qi Gong, as both are integral to a healthy flow of qi

To reverse premature greying of hair, it is essential to practice a healthy lifestyle. Identifying deficiencies in the organs is also necessary. It can enable a TCM practitioner to prescribe you remedies to promote a healthy circulation of blood and qi and improve your overall health.

References

  1. Health in Flow Chinese Medicine. 2016. What to Eat to so we can Nourish our Jing, our Life Essence. [Accessed 28 July 2021] 

Share this article on

Was This Article Useful to You?

Reviews (1)

pkMar 04 2023

at last it identified root causes

Want more healthy tips?

Get All Things Health in your mailbox today!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Related Articles

A man in old age holds his throat, having difficulty swallowing while eating.
Health & Balance

Dysphagia Causes and Treatments for the Elderly 

Difficulty swallowing or dysphagia can affect up to a third of older adults. Learn more about its causes and how to maintain quality of life despite the condition.

Read More
Middle-aged male looks at his hair in the mirror with a concerned expression.
Health & Balance

Is DHT the Cause of Your Hair Loss?

DHT is a hormone responsible for male physiology, including body hair. It can also be the cause of hair loss.

Read More

The contents of the All Things Health website are for informational and educational purposes only.
Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.