Witnessed by: TCM
Human hair (Homo sapiens), of the Hominidae (Mammalia) family. Human hair, from the head; native range: human hair, cut and collected; the first hair of an infant is the preferred grade. Globally recognized as xue yu (血餘), xue yu tan (血餘炭), tai fa (胎髮) in Chinese, and human hair, charred human hair in English. The part used is the hair, washed clean and charred (血餘炭). Washed hair, charred to a light, brittle, glossy black char that crumbles between the fingers, with a burnt-keratin smell.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
HUMAN HAIR
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- human hair
- Scientific name
- Homo sapiens Linnaeus
- Family
- Hominidae (Mammalia)
Form
- Part used
- the hair, washed clean and charred (血餘炭)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter (苦)
Temperature
- TCM
- neutral (平)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- stops bleeding while transforming blood stasis — it staunches without leaving a clot behind; and promotes urination
Cautions
- Contraindications
- Spleen-Stomach deficiency with poor appetite — the char sits heavily
- Toxicity
- no toxicity recorded
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