Yellow eyes 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.
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Yellow eyes 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 yellow eyes 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 yellow eyes is often associated with feeling of heaviness, dull-yellow complexion and inability to digest fats in the pattern “Dampness in the Gallbladder”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause yellow eyes.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of yellow eyes we’ve identified three 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 yellow eyes.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause yellow eyes
In Chinese Medicine yellow eyes is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Gallbladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine
Dampness in the Gallbladder
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to yellow eyes, other symptoms associated with Dampness in the Gallbladder include feeling of heaviness, dull-yellow complexion and inability to digest fats.
Dampness in the Gallbladder is often treated with San Ren Tang, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Apricot Seeds - Xing Ren - as a key herb). San Ren Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Damp-Heat".
The Gallbladder is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Gallbladder in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to yellow eyes, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder include feeling of heaviness, inability to digest fats and scanty and dark urine.
Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder is often treated with Yin Chen Hao Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Virgate Wormwood - Yin Chen - as a key herb). Yin Chen Hao Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears heat".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat invading the Spleen
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
In addition to yellow eyes, other symptoms associated with Damp-Heat invading the Spleen include feeling of heaviness, dull-yellow complexion and scanty and dark urine.
Damp-Heat invading the Spleen is often treated with Lian Po Yin, a herbal formula made of 7 herbs (including Goldthread Rhizomes - Huang Lian - as a key herb). Lian Po Yin belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and expel dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Heat".
Three herbal formulas that might help with yellow eyes
San Ren Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Clears Damp-Heat. Disseminates the Qi. Facilitates the Qi mechanisms.
Why might San Ren Tang help with yellow eyes?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Dampness in the Gallbladder' of which dull-yellow eyes is a symptom.
Yin Chen Hao Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Clears heat. Resolves dampness. Reduces jaundice.
Why might Yin Chen Hao Tang help with yellow eyes?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder' of which yellow sclera of the eyes is a symptom.
Lian Po Yin
Source date: 1862 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Transforms Dampness. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Middle Burner.
Why might Lian Po Yin help with yellow eyes?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat invading the Spleen' of which yellow sclera of the eyes is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for yellow eyes
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat yellow eyes
Why might Cape Jasmine Fruit (Zhi Zi) help with yellow eyes?
Because Cape Jasmine Fruit is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat yellow eyes as a symptom, like Yin Chen Hao Tang or Lian Po Yin for instance.
Cape Jasmine Fruits is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Lung and the Sanjiao.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and calms spirit. Drains Damp-Heat affecting the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears Heat in the Blood and stops bleeding. Anti-inflammatory.
Why might Cardamon Fruit (Bai Dou Kou) help with yellow eyes?
Because it is a key herb in San Ren Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Dampness in the Gallbladder' (a pattern with yellow eyes as a symptom)
Cardamon Fruits is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and transforms Dampness. Invigorates Qi to remove Stomach and Spleen Qi Stagnation due to Dampness. Encourages appetite. Settles a restless fetus, stops morning sickness and prevents miscarriage. Used with tonifying herbs to prevent cloying and Stagnation.
Why might Goldthread Rhizome (Huang Lian) help with yellow eyes?
Because it is a key herb in Lian Po Yin, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat invading the Spleen' (a pattern with yellow eyes as a symptom)
Goldthread Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Liver, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites
Why might Virgate Wormwood (Yin Chen) help with yellow eyes?
Because it is a key herb in Yin Chen Hao Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Damp-Heat in the Gallbladder' (a pattern with yellow eyes as a symptom)
Virgate Wormwood is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Gallbladder, the Liver, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Drains Damp and clears Heat, especially from the Liver and Gallbladder. Eliminates Heat and relieves the Exterior. Relieve Jaundice.
Why might Apricot Seed (Xing Ren) help with yellow eyes?
Because it is a key herb in San Ren Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Dampness in the Gallbladder' (a pattern with yellow eyes as a symptom)
Apricot Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Large intestine and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Stops cough and wheezing caused by either Heat or Cold. Lubricates the Intestines and relieves constipation.
Other symptoms often associated with yellow eyes
Feeling of heaviness Dull-yellow complexion Inability to digest fats Jaundice Hypochondriac pain Hypochondrium fullness Sticky taste in the mouth Scanty and dark urine Bitter taste in the mouth Hypochondrial distention