The dried root of Sophora flavescens is a well-known medicinal herb in East Asia. It has been used to treat various diseases, including diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, eczema, psoriasis, and cancer. It is widely applied in many herbal remedies due to its diverse therapeutic properties. It is also called Kosam in Korea, meaning ‘bitter ginseng.’ S. flavescens contains alkaloids, triterpenoids, and flavonoids, which are known to have various biological activities. Matrine and oxymatrine, the main alkaloids extracted from S. flavescens, show anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activities. Experimental results also suggest that S. flavescens promotes hair growth by inhibiting 5- alpha-reductase activity and may be effective in atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin problems.