Alternative Therapies

The most well-documented methods of reducing hair pulling are cognitive-behavior therapy and medications.

But none of these approaches works for everyone. Because we do not have all the answers about trichotillomania and its treatment, TLC works to provide Information about additional ideas that may be useful to you. Dietary changes, meditation, hypnosis, prayer, yoga, herbal remedies have all been reported to be helfpul by some individuals.

In many cases, these ideas have not been scientifically tested and are supported only by anecdotal evidence. So we explore them with an open, but also cautious, mind.

When making decisions about what treatments to pursue, we suggest asking yourself a few questions:

  • What do I want to achieve through this treatment (or tool or diet, etc.)?
  • Can it do me any harm? {Please note: Sometimes the answer to this question isn't obvious. It is especially important to do your own research and consult a doctor if you are going to ingest any medication, herb, vitamin or alter your diet. Even seemingly benign substances can have harmful effects if ingested in too great a quantity or in combination with certain other conditions or medications.}
  • On what basis do I believe that this treatment will help me?
  • What is the likelihood of this method being useful compared to other options?
  • Can I afford the money, time or emotional energy involved in pursuing this idea?



We hope the articles listed at right offer useful Information . Please let us know if you find an approach that helps you, or if you have additional questions. It is our mission to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive Information possible.

There are far more ideas about how to understand and treat trichotillomania than there is funding for research. If it is important to you that we continue to expand our knowledge of this disorder, please give to the TLC Research fund.

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