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.
Lusterless and yellow complexion 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 lusterless and yellow complexion 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 lusterless and yellow complexion is often associated with heat and pain in the joints, reduced mobility and fever in the pattern “Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of lusterless and yellow complexion we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Xuan Bi Tang can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause lusterless and yellow complexion
In Chinese Medicine lusterless and yellow complexion is a symptom for the pattern "Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Stephania Roots (Fang Ji) is the king ingredient for Xuan Bi Tang, a formula used for Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels
Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
In addition to lusterless and yellow complexion, other symptoms associated with Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels include heat and pain in the joints, reduced mobility and fever.
Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels is often treated with Xuan Bi Tang, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Stephania Roots - Fang Ji - as a key herb). Xuan Bi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dispel wind-damp", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears and resolves Damp-Heat".
Read more about Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels here
A herbal formula that might help with lusterless and yellow complexion
Xuan Bi Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears and resolves Damp-Heat. Unblocks the meridians. Disbands painful obstruction.
Why might Xuan Bi Tang help with lusterless and yellow complexion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels' of which lusterless and yellow complexion is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Painful Obstruction Due To Damp Heat In Channels include heat and pain in the joints, reduced mobility and fever.
Stephania root might help with lusterless and yellow complexion
Why might Stephania Root (Fang Ji) help with lusterless and yellow complexion?
Because it is a key herb in Xuan Bi Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Painful Obstruction due to Damp Heat in Channels' (a pattern with lusterless and yellow complexion as a symptom)
Stephania Roots is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Bladder and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination. Allays pain and dispels Wind-Damp painful obstruction (Bi Pain).
Other symptoms often associated with lusterless and yellow complexion
Heat and pain in the joints Reduced mobility Fever Shaking chills Scanty and dark urine