Sallow complexion 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.
Sallow 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 sallow 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 sallow complexion is often associated with loose stools, nausea and feeling of heaviness in the pattern “Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause sallow complexion.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of sallow complexion 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 sallow complexion.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause sallow complexion
In Chinese Medicine sallow complexion is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to sallow complexion, other symptoms associated with Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation include loose stools, nausea and feeling of heaviness.
Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation is often treated with Ping Wei San, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Black Atractylodes Rhizomes - Cang Zhu - as a key herb). Ping Wei San belongs to the category of "formulas that transform dampness and harmonize stomach", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dries Dampness".
Read more about Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation here
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue color: Pale
Spleen Yang Deficiency often develops from Spleen Qi Deficiency, but it is more extensive and severe with additional Cold symptoms, such as cold feeling and cold limbs. The causes are similar to these of Spleen Qi Deficiency, along with surplus consumption of cold, raw foods and drinks and overexposure to cold damp environments and climates.
In addition to sallow complexion, other symptoms associated with Spleen Yang Deficiency include loose stools, cold limbs and feeling of cold.
Spleen Yang Deficiency is often treated with Zhen Wu Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). Zhen Wu Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that warm and transform water and dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms and tonifies the Yang and Qi of the Spleen and Kidneys".
Five herbal formulas that might help with sallow complexion
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 sallow complexion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation' of which sallow complexion is a symptom.
Dang Gui Shao Yao San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Liver Blood. Spreads the Liver Qi. Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
Why might Dang Gui Shao Yao San help with sallow complexion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Obstruction Of the Spleen By Dampness with Liver Qi Stagnation' of which sallow complexion is a symptom.
Zhen Wu Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies the Yang and Qi of the Spleen and Kidneys. Eliminates Dampness.
Why might Zhen Wu Tang help with sallow complexion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which sallow complexion is a symptom.
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Source date: 1247
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner). Raises the Yang. Detoxifies. Lifts what has sunken.
Why might Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang help with sallow complexion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which sallow complexion is a symptom.
Yi Huang Tang
Source date: 1826 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Strengthens the Spleen. Dries Dampness. Clears Heat. Stops vaginal discharge.
Why might Yi Huang Tang help with sallow complexion?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which sallow complexion is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat sallow complexion
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with sallow complexion?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sallow complexion as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Bu Zhong Yi 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 Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with sallow complexion?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sallow complexion as a symptom, like Ping Wei San or Bu Zhong Yi Qi 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 Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with sallow complexion?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sallow complexion as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Why might Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) help with sallow complexion?
Because Tangerine Peel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sallow complexion as a symptom, like Ping Wei San or Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang for instance.
Tangerine Peel is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with sallow complexion?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sallow complexion as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Dang Gui Shao Yao San 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.
Other symptoms often associated with sallow complexion
Loose stools Cold limbs Nausea Feeling of heaviness Irritability Epigastric distension Hypochondrial distention Feeling of cold Edema Weak Limbs