6-month Chinese herbal treatment for hair loss and gray hair

A 6-Month Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial Assessing the Efficacy of Oral and Topical Traditional Chinese Medicine Products on Alopecia and Canities

This 24-week trial will try two different herbal capsule formulas plus a hair tonic versus placebos to see if they help adults (18–60) with hair loss and some with gray hair.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 152 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 60 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Vita Green Pharmaceutical (H.K.) Ltd. (Industry-sponsored)
• Locations: 1 site (Xiangtan, Hunan)
• Trial ID: NCT06998680 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

A total of 152 adults with hair loss will be randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled design to one of four groups receiving combinations of VitaGreen Capsule A, VitaGreen Capsule B, or capsule placebo together with VitaGreen Tonic or tonic placebo for 24 weeks. Participants will attend three in-person visits at which standardized hair counts, hair density measurements, and scalp photographs will be collected to quantify changes. Ten participants with gray hair from each group will undergo additional assessments focused on hair color changes. All clinical data will be systematically recorded for statistical analysis.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–60 with pattern hair loss meeting Savin (women grades 1–3) or Norwood–Hamilton (men stages II–VI) criteria, hair length >5 cm, able to comply with study visits and the requirement to avoid recent special hair treatments, and not pregnant or breastfeeding.

Not a fit: Patients with scarring or inflammatory causes of hair loss (including refractory alopecia areata), those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or those with recent hair dyeing/perming are unlikely to benefit or may be excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, the herbal capsule plus topical tonic regimen could increase hair count and density and potentially improve hair color for some patients.

How similar studies have performed: Some small trials and traditional use of Chinese herbal medicines report possible benefits for hair growth and pigmentation, but high-quality randomized evidence remains limited.

Eligibility criteria

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.

Where this trial is running

Xiangtan, Hunan

• The First People's Hospital of Xiangtan City — Xiangtan, Hunan, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Naya Chen

Conditions Alopecia; Canities