Eye Hyperemia in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different eye hyperemia patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Eye hyperemia, commonly known as bloodshot eyes, is characterized by an excess of blood in the vessels of the conjunctiva, causing the eyes to appear red. This condition can arise from various causes, such as inflammation, irritation, fatigue, or underlying health issues. Symptoms include visible redness, particularly in the inner or outer corners of the eye. Understanding the underlying cause of this redness is essential for proper treatment and relief.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches eye hyperemia as a manifestation of internal disharmony. According to TCM, the eyes are closely connected to the Liver, and conditions affecting the eyes are often indicative of Liver dysfunction.
TCM identifies patterns of disharmony such as Heat or Wind causing the redness and irritation seen in eye hyperemia. Treatment focuses on restoring balance and addressing the root cause, using a combination of herbs, acupuncture, and dietary adjustments.
TCM Patterns for Eye Hyperemia
Heat
Causes: Bloodshot eyes, Red eyes
Liver Fire insulting the Lungs
Bloodshot eyes
Along with: Shortness of breath, Asthma, Hypochondriac pain and discomfort, Cough with yellow or blood tinged sputum, Headaches, Dizziness, Flushed face, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Eye hyperemia, Scanty and dark urine, Constipation
Liver Fire Blazing
Red eyes
Along with: Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Cough of blood, Vomiting blood
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Red eyes
Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood
Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
Red eyes
Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Stifling sensation in the chest, Irritability, Melancholia, Depression, Mood swings, Globus sensation, Feeling of heat, Flushed face, Thirst, Anger, Pre menstrual tension, Irregular periods, Pre menstrual breast distension, Excessive menstruation
Wind Cold with Internal Heat
Red eyes
Along with: High fever, Severe chills, Lack of sweating, Headaches, Feeling of heaviness, General sensation of tightness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Dry nose, Thirst, Irritability, Insomnia, Cough of blood, Mottled skin
Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat
Red eyes
Along with: Toothache, Headaches, Loose teeth, Bleeding gums, Irritability, Thirst, Stomatitis, Periodontitis, Glossitis, Trigeminal neuralgia
Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat
Red eyes
Along with: Irritability, Spontaneous sweat, Eye hyperemia, Dry mouth, Palpitations, Lower abdominal oppression, Painful urination, Excessive menstruation, Abnormal uterine bleeding, Tidal fever
Wind
Causes: Red eyes
Interior Wind
Red eyes
Along with: Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder, Mouth deviation, Eye deviation, Tremors, Headaches, Limb numbness
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
Red eyes
Along with: Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Vivid dreaming, Constipation, Dry stools, Dark urine, Nosebleeds, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood
Wind Cold with Internal Heat
Red eyes
Along with: High fever, Severe chills, Lack of sweating, Headaches, Feeling of heaviness, General sensation of tightness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Dry nose, Thirst, Irritability, Insomnia, Cough of blood, Mottled skin
Qi Stagnation
Causes: Red eyes
Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
Red eyes
Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Stifling sensation in the chest, Irritability, Melancholia, Depression, Mood swings, Globus sensation, Feeling of heat, Flushed face, Thirst, Anger, Pre menstrual tension, Irregular periods, Pre menstrual breast distension, Excessive menstruation
Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat
Red eyes
Along with: Irritability, Spontaneous sweat, Eye hyperemia, Dry mouth, Palpitations, Lower abdominal oppression, Painful urination, Excessive menstruation, Abnormal uterine bleeding, Tidal fever
Qi Deficiency
Causes: Red eyes
Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat
Red eyes
Along with: Irritability, Spontaneous sweat, Eye hyperemia, Dry mouth, Palpitations, Lower abdominal oppression, Painful urination, Excessive menstruation, Abnormal uterine bleeding, Tidal fever
Cold
Causes: Red eyes
Wind Cold with Internal Heat
Red eyes
Along with: High fever, Severe chills, Lack of sweating, Headaches, Feeling of heaviness, General sensation of tightness, Flushed face, Eye hyperemia, Dry nose, Thirst, Irritability, Insomnia, Cough of blood, Mottled skin
Herbal Formulas for Eye Hyperemia
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address eye hyperemia
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Liver and Spleen Qi Stagnation
- Tonifies Spleen
- Clears Deficient Heat
- Nourishes the blood
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Qi Deficiency that transforms into Heat
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Spontaneous sweat, Eye hyperemia, Dry mouth, Palpitations, Lower abdominal oppression...
Shi Gao Tang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
- Releases the Exterior
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Wind Cold with Internal Heat
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
High fever, Severe chills, Lack of sweating, Headaches, Feeling of heaviness, General sensation of tightness...
Ling Jiao Gou Teng Tang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Cools the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Increases Fluids
- Relaxes the sinews
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache...
Zi Xue Dan
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat
- Opens the sensory orifices
- Controls spasms and convulsions
- Extinguishes Wind
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache...
Feng Yin Tang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Extinguishes and pacifies Wind with heavy medicinals
- Calms the Mind
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Liver Wind agitating Internally due to Liver Fire
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Tremors, Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache...
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Liver Fire from Stagnant Liver Qi
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Stifling sensation in the chest, Irritability, Melancholia, Depression...
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder
- Clears and drains Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Liver Fire insulting the Lungs
How it manifests:
Bloodshot eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Shortness of breath, Asthma, Hypochondriac pain and discomfort, Cough with yellow or blood tinged sputum, Headaches, Dizziness...
Liver Fire Blazing
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness...
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes wind
- Invigorates the blood
- Clears heat
- Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Ke Xie Fang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Fire
- Transforms Phlegm
- Preserves the Lungs
- Stops coughing and bleeding
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Liver Fire insulting the Lungs
How it manifests:
Bloodshot eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Shortness of breath, Asthma, Hypochondriac pain and discomfort, Cough with yellow or blood tinged sputum, Headaches, Dizziness...
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin
- Improves vision
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Gua Lou San
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Remove breast carbuncle (mastitis) after birth giving
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Toothache, Headaches, Loose teeth, Bleeding gums, Irritability, Thirst...
E Jiao Ji Zi Huang Tang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Yin
- Nourishes Blood
- Calms the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Drains Liver and Gallbladder Fire Excess
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Liver Fire Blazing
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness...
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Pacifies the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Nourishes the Yin
- Anchors the Yang
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Xie Qing Wan
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears the Liver and drains Fire
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Liver Fire Blazing
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Anger, Tinnitus, Deafness, Temporal headache, Dizziness...
Bu Gan Tang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies and regulates the Blood
- Nourishes the Liver Yin
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Yu Nu Jian
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears stomach Heat
- Nourishes Kidney Yin
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Toothache, Headaches, Loose teeth, Bleeding gums, Irritability, Thirst...
Si Wu Tang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Restores and nourishes Blood
- Stimulates Blood circulation
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Interior Wind
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Convulsions, Hand tremor, Dizziness, Paralysis, Coma, Tic disorder...
Wen Dan Tang
Addresses these eye hyperemia patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Phlegm
- Clears Gallbladder
- Regulates Qi
- Harmonizes the Stomach
Addresses These Eye Hyperemia Pattern Variations
Stomach Fire or Stomach Heat
How it manifests:
Red eyes
Accompanying symptoms:
Toothache, Headaches, Loose teeth, Bleeding gums, Irritability, Thirst...