Facial edema 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.
oedema of face redirects here
Facial edema 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 facial edema 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 facial edema is often associated with fatigue, loose stools and eye swelling in the pattern “Oedema”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of facial edema 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 facial edema.
Oedema, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause facial edema
In Chinese Medicine facial edema is a symptom for the pattern "Oedema". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Oedema
Oedema
Pulse type(s): Hidden (Fu), Slowed-down (Huan)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Oedema manifests itself as swellings due to the retention of Body Fluids. Chinese Medicine believes that it originates from the leaking of Body Fluids from their normal pathways into the space between skin and muscles.
In addition to facial edema, other symptoms associated with Oedema include fatigue, loose stools and eye swelling.
Oedema is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
Five herbal formulas that might help with facial edema
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Why might Wu Ling San help with facial edema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of face is a symptom.
Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Diuretic, clears Excess fluid and removes edema. Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Calms External Wind.
Why might Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang help with facial edema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of face is a symptom.
Ping Wei San
Source date: 1051 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Dries Dampness. Improves the Spleen's transportive function. Promotes the movement of Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Ping Wei San help with facial edema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of face is a symptom.
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms and transforms Phlegm-Fluids. Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
Why might Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang help with facial edema?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of face is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for facial edema
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat facial edema
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with facial edema?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat facial edema as a symptom, like Wu Pi Yin or Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with facial edema?
Because Cinnamon Twig is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat facial edema as a symptom, like Xiao Qing Long Tang or Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with facial edema?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat facial edema as a symptom, like Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang or Ping Wei San 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 Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with facial edema?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat facial edema as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Why might Water Plantain (Ze Xie) help with facial edema?
Because Water Plantain is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat facial edema as a symptom, like Wu Ling San or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Water Plantain is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat
Other symptoms often associated with facial edema
Fever Irritability Fatigue Shortness of breath Loose stools Eye swelling Wheezing Dyspnea Edema Swollen eyes