Acne in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different acne patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Acne, medically referred to as Acne vulgaris, is a common skin condition that manifests through the appearance of pimples, blackheads, and cysts, primarily on the face, back, and chest. It results from the clogging of hair follicles with oil and dead skin cells, leading to inflammation and sometimes infection by skin bacteria.
Acne affects individuals of all ages but is most prevalent among teenagers and young adults. The severity and persistence of acne can vary, significantly impacting an individual's quality of life and self-esteem. Addressing acne effectively requires an understanding of its causes and a comprehensive treatment strategy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interprets acne as an external manifestation of internal imbalances, notably involving the body's Qi, Blood, and Body Fluids systems. TCM identifies several patterns that can contribute to acne, such as Heat, Dampness, and Phlegm, each associated with different organs and meridians.
According to TCM, the successful treatment of acne goes beyond topical remedies, necessitating a holistic approach that restores balance within the body's internal landscape. This perspective underscores the importance of a thorough diagnosis to tailor the treatment to the individual's specific disharmony pattern.
TCM Patterns for Acne
Heat
Causes: Acne
Damp-Heat
Acne
Along with: Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst, Feeling of heat, Feeling of heaviness, Bitter taste in the mouth
Lung Heat
Acne
Along with: Feeling of heat, Thirst, High fever, Cough with thin yellow sputum, Shortness of breath, Excessive sweating
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
Acne
Along with: Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat, Thirst, Head and body heaviness, Dizziness, Copious thick yellow sputum
Stomach Heat or Fire
Acne
Along with: Upper abdominal burning pain, Excessive thirst, Craving for cold beverages, Restlessness, Dry stools, Dry mouth, Mouth ulcers, Acid reflux, Nausea, Vomiting after eating, Excessive hunger, Bad breath, Feeling of heat
Dampness
Causes: Acne, Face pimple
Damp-Heat
Acne
Along with: Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst, Feeling of heat, Feeling of heaviness, Bitter taste in the mouth
Damp-Cold
Face pimple
Along with: Mouth ulcers, White and watery sputum, Nasal discharge, Sneezing, Chills, Abdominal pain, Cold extremities, Arthralgia, Diarrhea, Feeling of heaviness
Phlegm
Causes: Acne
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
Acne
Along with: Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat, Thirst, Head and body heaviness, Dizziness, Copious thick yellow sputum
Cold
Causes: Face pimple
Damp-Cold
Face pimple
Along with: Mouth ulcers, White and watery sputum, Nasal discharge, Sneezing, Chills, Abdominal pain, Cold extremities, Arthralgia, Diarrhea, Feeling of heaviness
Herbal Formulas for Acne
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address acne
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior
- Transforms Dampness
- Regulates Qi
- Harmonizes the Middle Burner
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Damp-Heat
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst...
Wei Ling Tang
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Promotes urination
- Warms the Yang
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Drains Dampness
- Promotes the movement of Qi
- Harmonizes the Stomach
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Damp-Cold
How it manifests:
Face pimple
Accompanying symptoms:
Mouth ulcers, White and watery sputum, Nasal discharge, Sneezing, Chills, Abdominal pain...
Lian Po Yin
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat
- Transforms Dampness
- Regulates Qi
- Harmonizes the Middle Burner
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Damp-Heat
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst...
Yin Chen Hao Tang
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears heat
- Resolves dampness
- Reduces jaundice
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Damp-Heat
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst...
Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Resolves Dampness and transforms turbidity
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Damp-Heat
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Fever, Neck gland swelling, Headaches, Tight feeling in chest and stomach, Sticky taste in the mouth, Absence of thirst...
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Lung Qi
- Clears Heat
- Calms wheezing by directing rebellious Qi downward
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Lung Heat
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Thirst, High fever, Cough with thin yellow sputum, Shortness of breath, Excessive sweating
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat
- Transforms Phlegm
- Directs Rebellious Qi downwards
- Stops coughing
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Lung Heat
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Thirst, High fever, Cough with thin yellow sputum, Shortness of breath, Excessive sweating
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Pi Pa Qing Fei Yin
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Lung Heat
- Cools the Blood
- Clears Dampness
- Invigorates the Blood
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Lung Heat
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Thirst, High fever, Cough with thin yellow sputum, Shortness of breath, Excessive sweating
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Wen Dan Tang
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Phlegm
- Clears Gallbladder
- Regulates Qi
- Harmonizes the Stomach
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Er Chen Tang
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm
- Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Middle Burner (Stomach and Spleen)
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Qing Xin Li Ge Tang
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Toxic-Heat
- Unblocks the stool
- Benefits the throat
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Ren Shen Ge Jie San
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies the Qi
- Augments the Kidneys
- Stops coughing
- Arrests wheezing
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Xie Bai San
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Drains Heat from the Lungs
- Calms wheezing
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Lung Heat
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Thirst, High fever, Cough with thin yellow sputum, Shortness of breath, Excessive sweating
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Drains Fire
- Resolves Toxin
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Lung Heat
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Thirst, High fever, Cough with thin yellow sputum, Shortness of breath, Excessive sweating
Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Removes Heat and Dryness in the Lower Burner
- Removes constipation
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Stomach Heat or Fire
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Upper abdominal burning pain, Excessive thirst, Craving for cold beverages, Restlessness, Dry stools, Dry mouth...
Qing Wei San
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Drains Stomach Fire
- Cools the Blood
- Nourishes the Yin
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Stomach Heat or Fire
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Upper abdominal burning pain, Excessive thirst, Craving for cold beverages, Restlessness, Dry stools, Dry mouth...
Xie Huang San
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Stagnant Fire from the Spleen and Stomach
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Stomach Heat or Fire
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Upper abdominal burning pain, Excessive thirst, Craving for cold beverages, Restlessness, Dry stools, Dry mouth...
Fei Er Wan
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Kills parasites
- Reduces accumulation
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Stomach Heat or Fire
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Upper abdominal burning pain, Excessive thirst, Craving for cold beverages, Restlessness, Dry stools, Dry mouth...
Hua Ban Tang
Addresses these acne patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Qi-level Heat
- Cools the Blood
Addresses These Acne Pattern Variations
Stomach Heat or Fire
How it manifests:
Acne
Accompanying symptoms:
Upper abdominal burning pain, Excessive thirst, Craving for cold beverages, Restlessness, Dry stools, Dry mouth...