Prevalence, Associated Factors and Ethnomedicinal Plant Use for Hair Fall Management among Adults: A Community-Based Survey

Hair loss is a common concern affecting individuals across different age groups and may arise from a combination of genetic, physiological, nutritional, lifestyle, environmental, and psychological factors. Medicinal plants have traditionally been used for hair and scalp care in various Indian systems of medicine, although scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness remains variable. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of hair fall, identify commonly reported demographic, medical, dietary, lifestyle, hair-care, and environmental factors, and document the use of ethnomedicinal plants for hair-fall management among 200 participants in Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh, India. A community-based descriptive survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Information was collected on demographic characteristics, duration and pattern of hair loss, family history, selected medical conditions, dietary and lifestyle practices, hair-care habits, environmental exposures, and the use of medicinal plants. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings as frequencies and percentages. Among the 200 participants, 172 (86.0%) reported hair fall, with 39.5% of affected participants reporting symptoms for more than one year. Diffuse hair loss was the most frequently reported pattern (51.2%). A positive family history was reported by 58.0% of participants, while frequent or persistent stress was reported by 56.0%. Environmental exposure was also common, with 68.0% reporting exposure to pollution and 54.5% reporting the use of hard water. Medicinal plants were used by 64.5% of participants for hair-fall management. Among plant users, 71.3% perceived improvement following their use. Commonly reported plants included Aloe vera, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Eclipta prostrata, Azadirachta indica, Phyllanthus emblica, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Murraya koenigii. The findings indicate a high self-reported burden of hair fall and substantial community use of ethnomedicinal plants in Chhatarpur District, highlighting the need for further standardized phytochemical, pharmacological, and clinical investigations to evaluate their safety and therapeutic potential.