How to treat alopecia areata by foot massage

This is a disease of the scalp with loss of hair in localized areas. The hair may be suddenly lost overnight in a single or multiple areas, varying in size and shapes such as round, elliptic or irregular. Nearby patches may fuse to form a confluent area covered with smooth and shiny skin and surrounded by a well-defined margin. On the bared scalp, the hair follicle holes are clearly visible, but without any sign of inflammation. Patients with alopecia totalis may lose all the hair on the scalp, and patients with alopecia disseminata may also lose their eyebrows, beard and axillary hair in addition to total scalp hair loss.
   
Treatment:
Foot massage: The massage is applied to kidney (22), lung (14), head (1), pituitary gland (4), parathyroid gland (13), adrenal gland (21), ureter (23), urinary bladder (24) and reproductive gland (36) reflecting areas (Fig. 107).

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the growth of hair is closely related to the kidney and lungs. Therefore, the kidney (22) and lung (14) areas are the first choice for massage treatment and other areas may also be selected according to the condition of the patient. Massage stimulation should be maintained for a longer time than usual for this condition.
   
Foot acupuncture:
1) Meridianal acupoints: A reinforcing acupuncture technique is applied to Gongsun (SP4) for tranquilization of the mind and inprovement of sleep, and the needle is retained for 30 minutes. Moxibustion may be applied at Taixi (KI 3) to reinforce kidney qi and promote hair growth.

2) Foot acupoints: A gentle acupuncture stimulation is applied to Head and face (FA-P 1), Anmian (FA-P 2), Lung (FA-P 6) and Kidney (FA-P 14) acupoints and the needles are retained for 30 minutes.