Skin Capillaries in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different skin capillaries patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Skin capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body that can become visible through the skin. They are often seen as tiny, thread-like red lines, commonly referred to as spider veins or telangiectasias.
These capillaries can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the face and legs. Skin capillaries become more prominent due to various factors, such as prolonged sun exposure, aging, genetics, or certain medical conditions. While usually not a serious health concern, they can sometimes indicate underlying vascular issues.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interprets skin capillaries differently than Western medicine. In TCM, the appearance of visible capillaries on the skin is seen as a manifestation of underlying imbalances in the body’s vital energies, specifically Blood and Qi.
TCM regards these visible capillaries as indicators of disharmony within the body, often involving Blood Stasis or Heat. Treatment in TCM focuses on restoring balance and addressing the root cause of the disharmony, rather than just treating the visible symptoms.
TCM Patterns for Skin Capillaries
Blood Stasis
Causes: Skin capillaries
Blood Stagnation
Skin capillaries
Along with: Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Lumps
Herbal Formulas for Skin Capillaries
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address skin capillaries
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang
Addresses these skin capillaries patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Heat and
- Eliminates Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Da Huang Mu Dan Pi Tang
Addresses these skin capillaries patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Stagnant Heat in the intestines
- Reduces swelling and disperses lumps
Addresses These Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Addresses these skin capillaries patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Transforms Blood Stasis
- Softens lumps
- Reduces fixed abdominal pain
Addresses These Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Di Dang Tang
Addresses these skin capillaries patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
Addresses These Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Dan Shen Yin
Addresses these skin capillaries patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood and removes Blood Stagnation
- Promote Qi movement
- Relieves pain
Addresses These Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Addresses these skin capillaries patterns:
Main Actions
- Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation
- Generates new Blood
Addresses These Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
San Zhong Kui Jian Tang
Addresses these skin capillaries patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
- Reduces swelling
- Induces ulceration
- Moves the Blood and dispels stasis
Addresses These Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Hai Tong Pi Tang
Addresses these skin capillaries patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates the Blood
- Disperses swelling
- Dispels Wind, Dampness and Cold
- Removes Stagnation and relieves pain
Addresses These Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Addresses these skin capillaries patterns:
Main Actions
- Augments the Qi
- Warms and harmonizes the channels
- Unblocks painful obstruction
Addresses These Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...
Yu Lin Zhu
Addresses these skin capillaries 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 Skin Capillaries Pattern Variations
Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Skin capillaries
Accompanying symptoms:
Dark face, Purple lips, Stabbing fixed pain, Abdominal masses, Purple nails, Menstrual cramps...