The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Dry lips can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like dry lips here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here dry lips is often associated with dry skin, dry mouth and dry stools in the pattern “Body Fluids Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause dry lips.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of dry lips we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat dry lips.
In Chinese Medicine dry lips is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren) is the king ingredient for Xing Su San, a formula used for Body Fluids Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue shape: Cracked
If Body Fluids - all liquids in the body other than Blood - are Deficient, then this leads to many symptoms of Dryness.
In addition to dry lips, other symptoms associated with Body Fluids Deficiency include dry skin, dry mouth and dry stools.
Body Fluids Deficiency is often treated with Xing Su San, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Apricot Seeds - Xing Ren - as a key herb). Xing Su San belongs to the category of "formulas that disperse dryness and moisten", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Dry-Cold".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to dry lips, other symptoms associated with Stomach and Spleen Yin Deficiency include dry mouth, dry stools and fatigue.
Stomach and Spleen Yin Deficiency is often treated with Shen Ling Bai Zhu San, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Ginseng - Ren Shen - as a key herb). Shen Ling Bai Zhu San belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify qi", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Augments the Qi".
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Si Wu Tang, a formula used for Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
Someone has a Deficiency of Blood when their entire body, a part of body or a particular Organ is insufficiently nourished by Blood. This can be caused by blood-loss, a lack of of Spleen Qi (responsible to produce Blood) or congealed Blood which prevents new Blood from forming.
In addition to dry lips, other symptoms associated with Blood Deficiency include dizziness, dry skin and amenorrhea.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Blood Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation or Scanty Menstruation.
Blood Deficiency is often treated with Si Wu Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Si Wu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that tonify blood", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Restores and nourishes Blood".
The top herbs in Xing Su San are Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren), Perilla Leaves (Zi Su Ye) and Platycodon Roots (Jie Geng)
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Clears Dry-Cold. Disseminates the Lung Qi and relieves cough. Transforms thin mucus.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Body Fluids Deficiency' of which dry lips is a symptom.
The top herbs in Bai He Gu Jin Tang are Lily Bulbs (Bai He), Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) and Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang)
Source date: 1573 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Lung and Kidney Yin. Lubricates the Lung and clears phlegm.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Body Fluids Deficiency' of which dry lips is a symptom.
The top herbs in Zeng Ye Tang are Ningpo Figwort Roots (Xuan Shen), Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) and Dwarf Lilyturf Roots (Mai Dong)
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Yin and Essence. Lubricates Dryness.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Body Fluids Deficiency' of which dry lips is a symptom.
The top herbs in Shen Ling Bai Zhu San are Ginseng (Ren Shen), Atractylodes Rhizomes (Bai Zhu) and Poria-Cocos Mushrooms (Fu Ling)
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Augments the Qi. Strengthens the Spleen. Leaches out Dampness. Stops diarrhea.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Stomach and Spleen Yin Deficiency' of which dry lips is a symptom.
The top herbs in Si Wu Tang are Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang), White Peony Roots (Bai Shao) and Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Source date: 846 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Restores and nourishes Blood. Stimulates Blood circulation.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Deficiency' of which dry lips is a symptom.
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry lips as a symptom, like Shen Ling Bai Zhu San or Gui Pi Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry lips as a symptom, like Si Wu Tang or Bai He Gu Jin Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry lips as a symptom, like Si Wu Tang or Bai He Gu Jin Tang for instance.
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Because Platycodon Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry lips as a symptom, like Xing Su San or Bai He Gu Jin Tang for instance.
Platycodon Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung.
Its main actions are: Opens the Lungs and smoothes the flow of Lung Qi. Expels Phlegm and pus from the Lungs and throat, can be used for either Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat according to the other herbs in the formula. Directs the actions of other herbs to the Upper Warmer.
Because Jujube Date is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry lips as a symptom, like Xing Su San or Ba Zhen Tang for instance.
Jujube Dates is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi. Tonifies the Blood. Calms the Shen (spirit). Moderates the actions of other herbs in formula.
Dizziness Dry skin Amenorrhea Scanty periods Dry hair Numbness in the limbs Palpitations Withered and brittle nails Poor memory Insomnia