Ancient herbs take on baldness and gray hair in new clinical trial
NCT ID NCT06998680
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This 6-month study tests whether oral capsules and a hair tonic made from traditional Chinese medicine can help with hair loss and graying. 152 adults with hair loss (some with gray hair) will be randomly assigned to receive the active treatment or a placebo. Researchers will measure hair shedding, density, and color changes using scalp exams and photos.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Traditional Chinese medicine (oral capsules and hair tonic)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a natural option to reduce hair shedding and improve hair density.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage trial with no phase, a small sample, and uses traditional medicine with limited prior evidence. Results may not be generalizable.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 152 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2025
- Expected to finish
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Oct 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Participants must sign the informed consent form prior to enrollment and fully understand the study's purpose, procedures, and potential adverse events. 2. Adults aged 18 to 60 years, both male and female; each group must include no less than 50% female participants. 3. Hair length must be greater than 5 cm. 4. Women must meet the Savin scale classification between grades 1-3 to II. 5. Men must meet the Norwood-Hamilton classification between stages II and VI. 6. At least 10 participants in each group must have gray hair, with a minimum of 5 gray hairs within a 1 cm × 4 cm area of the scalp. 7. Participants must not have undergone any special hair treatments-such as dyeing, perming, or styling-within the past two months. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or individuals planning to conceive in the near future. 2. Individuals with medical conditions causing hair loss, such as refractory alopecia areata, inflammatory scarring alopecia, or psoriatic alopecia; or those diagnosed with other scalp or hair disorders. 3. Individuals with diagnosed psychiatric or psychological disorders, or those with long-term sleep disturbances or emotional regulation issues. 4. Use of anti-hair loss cosmetics or other hair growth-promoting products within the past 3 months. 5. Use of any systemic or topical medications known to affect hair growth within the past 6 months. 6. History of hair transplantation. 7. Curly hair. 8. Individuals with highly sensitive constitutions. 9. Individuals diagnosed with severe anemia or abnormal liver/kidney function during physical examination. 10. Participation in any other clinical trials involving the test area within the past 2 months. 11. Any other conditions deemed unsuitable for participation by the clinical investigators.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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The First People's Hospital of Xiangtan City
RECRUITINGXiangtan, Hunan, 411100, China
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