Dry skin according to Chinese Medicine
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 skin 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 skin 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 skin is often associated with dizziness, depression and insomnia in the pattern “Blood Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record four patterns that can cause dry skin.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of dry skin 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 skin.
The four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause dry skin
In Chinese Medicine dry skin is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Si Wu Tang, a formula used for Blood Deficiency
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 skin, other symptoms associated with Blood Deficiency include dizziness, depression and insomnia.
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 Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Blood Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Fine (Xi)
Tongue color: Pale
The Liver stores Blood, that is the reason any Blood Deficiency often involves the Liver. This pattern has an impact on areas the Liver relates to, such as the tendons, eyes, nails and menstruation. It arises from the same causes of general Blood Deficiency, such as poor diet, hemorrhages or Kidney Qi or Essence Deficiency.
In addition to dry skin, other symptoms associated with Liver Blood Deficiency include dizziness, depression and insomnia.
Liver 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 Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Wiry (Xian), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red points on the sides
This is a type of empty Fire pattern arising out of Liver Blood Deficiency or Kidney Yin Deficiency. It shares similar symptoms as Liver Blood Deficiency, but with extra signs of Dryness and Yin-Deficient Heat. It can be caused by excessive activity, overwork, 'burning the candle at both ends' without sufficient rest, and poor and irregular diet.
In addition to dry skin, other symptoms associated with Liver Yin Deficiency include dizziness, depression and insomnia.
Liver Yin Deficiency is often treated with Qi Ju Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Qi Ju Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin".
Mulberry Leaves (Sang Ye) is the king ingredient for Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, a formula used for Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire
Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to dry skin, other symptoms associated with Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire include dry throat, dry mouth and dry cough.
Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire is often treated with Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Mulberry Leaves - Sang Ye - as a key herb). Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang 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 dryness".
Five herbal formulas that might help with dry skin
Gui Pi Tang
Source date: 1529 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies and nourish Qi and Blood. Tonifies Heart and Spleen.
Why might Gui Pi Tang help with dry skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blood Deficiency' of which dry skin is a symptom.
Suan Zao Ren Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Blood. Calms the Mind and eliminates irritability . Clears Heat.
Why might Suan Zao Ren Tang help with dry skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Blood Deficiency' of which dry skin is a symptom.
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Source date: 1350 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin. Improves vision.
Why might Qi Ju Di Huang Wan help with dry skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Yin Deficiency' of which dry skin is a symptom.
Xing Su San
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Clears Dry-Cold. Disseminates the Lung Qi and relieves cough. Transforms thin mucus.
Why might Xing Su San help with dry skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire' of which dry skin is a symptom.
Si Wu Tang
Source date: 846 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Restores and nourishes Blood. Stimulates Blood circulation.
Why might Si Wu Tang help with dry skin?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Liver Blood Deficiency' of which dry skin is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat dry skin
Why might Rice Wine (Mi Jiu) help with dry skin?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat dry skin and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat dry skin as a symptom (such as Dang Gui Shao Yao San for instance).
Rice Wine is a Hot herb that tastes Bitter, Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Liver.
Its main actions are: Removes Blood Stagnation. Clears Wind-Damp.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with dry skin?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry skin as a symptom, like Sheng Yu Tang or Guo Qi Yin 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.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with dry skin?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry skin as a symptom, like Zhi Gan Cao Tang or Shao Yao Gan Cao 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.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with dry skin?
Because Prepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry skin as a symptom, like Si Wu Tang or Bu Gan 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.
Why might White Peony Root (Bai Shao) help with dry skin?
Because White Peony Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat dry skin as a symptom, like Dang Gui Shao Yao San or Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang for instance.
White Peony Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sour. It targets the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood and preserves the Yin. Nourishes the Liver and assists in the smooth flow of Qi. Regulates the meridians and eases the pain.
Other symptoms often associated with dry skin
Dizziness Depression Insomnia Dry throat Blurred vision Scanty periods Night sweats Amenorrhea Dry mouth Dry hair