
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).
