A: Your symptoms are classified in traditional Chinese medicine as Yin deficiency. This is a common condition in menopausal women. I will give you some dietary and practical advice but also suggest you consult with an acupuncturist/herbalist, as they have effective treatment procedures for these conditions.

Here are some recommendations:

1. Avoid stress, tension, emotional turmoil, and various stimulants including coffee, smoking, and alcohol.

2. Incorporate more of the following into your diet: black beans, sesame seeds, soybeans, walnuts, lycii fruits, mulberries, yams, licorice, Chinese black dates, lotus seeds, and chrysanthemum flowers.

Here are some recipes:

1. Cook black beans with rice into porridge and eat twice daily.

2. Make a tea from chrysanthemum flowers, lycii fruits, and cassia seeds. Drink this three times daily.

3. Take lotus seeds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and rice, making these items into a porridge.

4. Make tea from licorice root, Chinese black dates, and wheat. This will help with extreme mood swings and emotional turmoil.

You may find that with these dietary changes and a three-month treatment protocol with a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) doctor your hair will also become healthier. Of course, discuss with your physician before beginning any new health regime.

Also, meditation, tai chi, or activities similar to these can help to alleviate anxiety and stress.