Herbal Hair Care Secrets from the Compendium of Materia Medica （Bencao Gangmu）

"Compendium of Materia Medica" (Bencao Gangmu) is a monumental Chinese medical text written by the renowned Ming Dynasty physician Li Shizhen. Completed in 1596, it is considered a comprehensive encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine, categorizing 1,892 types of substances with detailed descriptions of their origins, properties, uses, preparation, and applications.

Plants Recorded in the Book for Hair Washing

The Compendium of Materia Medica mentions several plants with cleansing and hair care properties, which were traditionally used to clean and nourish hair. Below are some notable examples:

1. Chinese honey locust (Soap Pod )(Gleditsia sinensis)

• Nature and Taste: Pungent, warm.
• Effects: Cleanses hair, removes dandruff, relieves itching, and has antibacterial properties.
• Usage: Boiling soap pods in water to wash hair has been a long-standing practice to make hair smooth and shiny.

2. Sophora Root (Sophora flavescens)

• Nature and Taste: Bitter, cold.
• Effects: Clears heat, detoxifies, relieves itching, and eliminates parasites.
• Usage: Boil sophora root in water to wash the hair, alleviating scalp itchiness, dandruff, and scalp infections.

3. Chinese Arborvitae Leaves (Platycladus orientalis)

• Nature and Taste: Bitter, astringent, cold.
• Effects: Cools the blood, stops bleeding, prevents dandruff, and reduces hair loss.
• Usage: Decoctions of arborvitae leaves are used to prevent hair loss and promote regrowth.

4. Mugwort (Artemisia argyi)

• Nature and Taste: Pungent, bitter, warm.
• Effects: Antimicrobial, removes dampness, relieves itching.
• Usage: Boiling mugwort leaves in water can remove dandruff and soothe the scalp while protecting hair.

5. Fo-Ti Root (Polygonum multiflorum)

• Nature and Taste: Bitter, sweet, astringent, slightly warm.
• Effects: Nourishes hair, darkens gray hair, and prevents hair loss.
• Usage: Often combined with other herbs to create decoctions for hair washing to improve hair quality.

6. Ligusticum Root (Ligusticum sinense)

• Nature and Taste: Pungent, warm.
• Effects: Relieves wind-induced itching.
• Usage: Ligusticum root decoctions cleanse the hair and soothe scalp discomfort.

7. Ginkgo Leaves (Ginkgo biloba)

• Nature and Taste: Bitter, astringent, neutral.
• Effects: Improves blood circulation and has anti-aging properties.
• Usage: Ginkgo leaves were traditionally used to prevent dry and brittle hair.

8. Schizonepeta (Schizonepeta tenuifolia)

• Nature and Taste: Pungent, slightly warm.
• Effects: Dispels wind, detoxifies, and relieves itching.
• Usage: Decoctions of schizonepeta are used to cleanse the scalp and remove excess oil.

Traditional Hair Washing Methods

In ancient times, these plants were often boiled into herbal decoctions to wash the hair directly or combined with other ingredients to enhance their cleansing, nourishing, and therapeutic effects. These herbs not only served as natural cleansers but also provided treatment for various scalp and hair issues.