Published February 2, 2026 | Version v1
Dataset Open

EFFICACY OF HERBAL AND TRADITIONAL REMEDIES FOR ALOPECIA: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Authors/Creators

  • 1. 1 Dermatology consultant, Alnoor hospital, Makkah , KSA
  • 2. 2 Resident doctor, Domat Aljandal General Hospital, Medical assistant to the hospital director, Aljouf ,KSA
  • 3. 3 MBBS, Medical Doctor, aljabr Eye and ENT hospital, Al hufuf, KSA
  • 4. 4 MBBS, Medical Doctor, Maternity and Children Hospital, Makkah, KSA
  • 5. 5 Corresponding Author, Obstetric & Gynaecology, KFSHRC, KSA
  • 6. 6 MBBS, Post graduate, Medical Doctor, king saud university, Jeddah, ksa
  • 7. 7 MBBS, Post graduate, Medical Doctor, Batterjee medical college, jeddah , KSA
  • 8. 8 MBBS, Medical intern, College of medicine and surgery, Taibah University, Medina, KSA.
  • 9. 9 MBBS, Medical Intern, Taibah University, Madinah, KSA
  • 10. 10 MBBS, Medical Intern, Taibah University, Madinah, KSA
  • 11. 11 MBBS, post Medical graduate, Jeddah, KSA
  • 12. 12 MBBS, Medical intern, university of Jeddah, Jeddah, KSA
  • 13. Pharmacist, Aseer, KSA
  • 14. 14 Nursing Specialist, Hail , KSA
  • 15. 15 MBBS, Medical student, Jeddah, KSA.

Description

Background: Herbal and traditional remedies are widely used for hair loss disorders(androgenetic alopecia,alopecia areata, telogen effluvium) but evidence regarding their efficacy and safety is fragmented.

Objective: To systematically review randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews evaluating herbal and traditional interventions for alopecia, summarize clinical effectiveness, safety, and research gaps.

Methods: Databases (PubMed, PMC, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched through January 24, 2026 for RCTs, controlled trials, and systematic reviews of herbal/traditional therapies for alopecia. Data extraction focused on study design, population, intervention details, comparator, outcomes, duration, and adverse events. Due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was performed.

Results: Evidence is heterogeneous. Key positive findings include topical onion juice for patchy alopecia areata (Sharquie 2002), rosemary oil showing comparable hair count increases to 2% minoxidil in a 6 month randomized trial (Panahi 2015), and pumpkin seed oil showing significant hair count increases versus placebo (Cho 2014).

 

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