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.
Erythema 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 erythema 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 erythema is often associated with boils, carbuncles and swellings in the pattern “Toxic Heat”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of erythema we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Toxic Heat, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause erythema
In Chinese Medicine erythema is a symptom for the pattern "Toxic Heat". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua) is the king ingredient for Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin, a formula used for Toxic Heat
Toxic Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
In addition to erythema, other symptoms associated with Toxic Heat include boils, carbuncles and swellings.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Toxic Heat is associated with health issues such as Abnormal Vaginal Discharge.
Toxic Heat is often treated with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Honeysuckle Flowers - Jin Yin Hua - as a key herb). Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin belongs to the category of "formulas that clear external abscesses and sores", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat".
A herbal formula that might help with erythema
Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin
Source date: 1742 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity. Cools the Blood. Reduces swelling.
Why might Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin help with erythema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic Heat' of which erythema is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Toxic Heat include boils, carbuncles and swellings.
Honeysuckle flowers might help with erythema
Why might Honeysuckle Flower (Jin Yin Hua) help with erythema?
Because it is a key herb in Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic Heat' (a pattern with erythema as a symptom)
Honeysuckle Flowers is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Dispels Wind-Heat derived from an External pathogen. Expels Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner. Relieves Carbuncles.