Dark Face in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different dark face patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Dark face, medically known as hyperpigmentation of the face, is characterized by patches of skin that become darker in color than the surrounding normal skin. This condition can result from various factors, including overexposure to the sun, hormonal changes, aging, and certain medications. Hyperpigmentation can affect anyone, regardless of skin color or type, leading to cosmetic concerns and affecting individuals' self-esteem. Understanding the underlying causes of this condition is essential for effective treatment and management.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views dark face as a manifestation of internal disharmony within the body. Unlike Western medicine, which often focuses on external factors, TCM explores how imbalances in Qi (vital energy), Blood, and bodily fluids contribute to changes in skin complexion.
Darkening of the face is seen as a symptom of deeper issues such as Blood Stasis, Qi Stagnation, Blood Deficiency, or Yang Deficiency. Identifying the specific pattern of disharmony is crucial in TCM, as it directs the holistic approach to treatment, aiming to restore internal balance and thereby improve the skin's appearance.
TCM Patterns for Dark Face
Blood Stasis
Causes: Dark face
Blood Stagnation
Dark face
Along with: Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Lumps
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Dark face
Along with: Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability, Mood swings, Depression, Mottled skin, Foot edema, Abdominal masses, Melena black tarry stool, Menstrual cramps, Amenorrhea, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Prolonged lochia, Irregular periods, Melasma
Qi Stagnation
Causes: Dark face
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Dark face
Along with: Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability, Mood swings, Depression, Mottled skin, Foot edema, Abdominal masses, Melena black tarry stool, Menstrual cramps, Amenorrhea, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Prolonged lochia, Irregular periods, Melasma
Liver Qi Stagnation
Dark face
Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia, Depression, Mood swings, Irregular periods, Globus sensation, Pre menstrual breast distension, Pre menstrual tension, Anxiety, Anger, Melasma
Blood Deficiency
Causes: Dark face
Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency
Dark face
Along with: Primary amenorrhea, Lower back pain, Generalized fatigue, Knee pain, Dizziness, Depression, Amenorrhea, Apathy, Chills, Dry mouth
Essence Deficiency
Causes: Dark face
Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency
Dark face
Along with: Primary amenorrhea, Lower back pain, Generalized fatigue, Knee pain, Dizziness, Depression, Amenorrhea, Apathy, Chills, Dry mouth
Yang Deficiency
Causes: Dark face
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Dark face
Along with: Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills, Weak legs, Bright pale face, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Leg edema, Female infertility, Diarrhea, Depression, Erectile dysfunction, Premature ejaculation, Oligospermia, Low sex drive, Pale and abudant urination, Constipation
Herbal Formulas for Dark Face
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address dark face
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Blood and regulates the Liver
- Moves Qi and Blood in the lower abdomen
- Stops pain
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Dang Gui Di Huang Yin
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Blood
- Tonifies Kidney and Liver Yin
- Regulates the menstrual cycle
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Primary amenorrhea, Lower back pain, Generalized fatigue, Knee pain, Dizziness, Depression...
Shi Xiao San
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Blood
- Dispels Blood Stagnation
- Eases pain
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Primary amenorrhea, Lower back pain, Generalized fatigue, Knee pain, Dizziness, Depression...
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Blood
- Eliminates Blood Stagnation below the diaphragm
- Stops pain
- Promotes Qi movement
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
He Che Da Zao Wan
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies the Kidneys
- Strengthens the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
- Regulates the periods
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Liver Blood and Kidney Essence Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Primary amenorrhea, Lower back pain, Generalized fatigue, Knee pain, Dizziness, Depression...
Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Expels Cold and warm the menstruation Blood
- Stops pain
- Invigorates Blood
- Dispels Blood stagnation
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Wu Yao Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Pacifies the Liver
- Moves Qi
- Stops pain
- Nourishes Liver Blood
- Eliminates Stagnation
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Liver and Spleen Qi Stagnation
- Tonifies Spleen
- Clears Deficient Heat
- Nourishes the blood
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Wei Jing Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears heat from the Lungs
- Transforms Phlegm
- Drives out Blood-Stagnation
- Discharges pus
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Dan Shen Yin
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation
- Promote Qi movement
- Relieves pain
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Dispels blood Stagnation
- Spreads the Liver Qi
- Unblocks the channels
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Blood
- Unblocks painful obstruction
- Relieves pain
- Invigorate Qi
- Dispels Blood Stagnation
- Unblock Channels
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Stagnant Liver Qi and Blood
- Alleviates pain
- Harmonizes Blood
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Qi Li San
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the blood and removes Blood Stagnation
- Invigorates Qi
- Reduces swelling and pain
- Stops bleeding
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Guo Qi Yin
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms the menses
- Dispels blood Stagnation
- Nourishes the blood
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability...
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Heat and
- Eliminates Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Xiao Yao San
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Harmonizes the function of Liver and Spleen
- Relieves Liver Qi stagnation
- Nourishes the Blood
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Er Xian Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Yin and tonifies Yang of the Kidneys
- Clears Empty Heat
- Regulates the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...
Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Stagnant Heat in the intestines
- Reduces swelling and disperses lumps
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Transforms Blood Stasis
- Softens lumps
- Reduces fixed abdominal pain
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Di Dang Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
- Generates new Blood
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
San Zhong Kui Jian Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
- Reduces swelling
- Induces ulceration
- Moves the Blood and dispels stasis
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Hai Tong Pi Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Disperses swelling
- Dispels Wind, Dampness and Cold
- Removes Stagnation and relieves pain
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Augments the Qi
- Warms and harmonizes the channels
- Unblocks painful obstruction
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...
Yu Lin Zhu
Addresses these dark face patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Kidney Yang
- Consolidates the Penetrating and Directing Vessel (Chong Mai, Ren Mai)
- Facilitating pregnancy
- Promotes Blood circulation and regulates menstruation
Addresses These Dark Face Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Dark face
Accompanying symptoms:
Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots...