Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a rich history of over 2,500 years, offering profound insights into health and wellness. Recently, the ancient wisdom of TCM has gained traction in modern dermatology and cosmetology world. Unlike the Western approach, achieving healthy and beautiful skin through TCM involves a mindful, consistent, and holistic approach. While this journey may seem complex, the benefits extend beyond radiant skin, promoting overall body health.
TCM Dermatology: A Holistic Approach
When visiting a TCM practitioner for a skin disorder, don't expect to receive just a prescription for an ointment or cream as you might in Western dermatology. TCM views any skin condition as merely the visible symptom of deeper underlying issues. A TCM practitioner considers your overall physical, emotional, and mental health. They will explore potential root causes of your skin problem through comprehensive questions about your other symptoms, lifestyle, eating habits, and recent emotional experiences. This holistic approach aims to identify and address the deeper health imbalances that manifest as skin issues.
Chinese medicine views the human body as an interconnected system, where external manifestations are the result of internal imbalances. Central to this philosophy is the concept of Yin and Yang, two opposing but complementary energies.
Yin represents nourishment, calmness, and coolness; Yang symbolizes activity, warmth, and vigor. When they are in balance, you receive internal and external health. However, when one dominates the other, it can lead to internal organ diseases that are reflected in the skin.
Restoring this balance is a multifaceted process that may include dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, and TCM healing modalities such as acupuncture, herbal and food therapy. TCM dermatology, therefore, focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of skin problems, treating the whole person rather than just the skin.
Causes of Skin Conditions in TCM
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), most skin problems are related to pathogenic factors such as "heat" and "dampness". These factors primarily affect internal organs like the lungs, spleen, and heart, disrupting the Yin-Yang balance and leading to skin issues.
Dry Skin in TCM
Heat, associated with Yang energy, can cause Yin deficiency and result in dry skin. Excessive heat often stems from overwork, emotional stress (such as anger and jealousy), or consuming too much spicy food. Specific manifestations of heat-related issues include itching (due to heat in the heart), pimples on the bridge of the nose and forehead (heat in the lungs), and pimples on the shoulders, back, and around the mouth (heat in the stomach).
Oily, Eczema, or Acne-prone Skin in TCM
The spleen plays a crucial role in removing dampness from the body. When the spleen is not functioning properly, dampness and heat accumulate, increasing sebum production and leading to oily skin, acne, rashes, and eczema. Spleen dysfunction is often caused by excessive consumption of fatty and fried foods.
Dull Complexion in TCM
Frequent hypothermia, irregular meals, excessive intake of raw and cold foods, over-exercising, and chronic stress and fear can lead to Yang deficiency. This deficiency negatively impacts the lungs, resulting in frequent colds and chronic coughs. Given the close connection between the lungs and the skin, Yang deficiency often manifests as a pale and pasty complexion.
These are general patterns, and individual conditions can vary. Therefore, consulting with a TCM practitioner is essential. They can identify your specific imbalances and provide tailored treatments to address the root causes of your skin issues.
TCM Healing Practices for Skin Issues
The primary goal of all TCM skin practices is to restore the Yin-Yang balance and ensure the smooth flow of Qi, the vital energy that maintains this balance, throughout the body. To achieve this, TCM practitioners often combine various treatments for greater effectiveness. These practices can be administered preventively, as prevention is a cornerstone of Chinese medicine. By addressing imbalances before they manifest as skin issues, TCM promotes overall health and well-being.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the skin, known as acupoints. These points are situated along various meridians throughout the body, each corresponding to different health issues. By identifying the root problem, practitioners can determine the appropriate acupoints to target for treatment. Modern scientific research has validated the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating various skin conditions.
- significantly reduces the intensity of skin itching
- treats psoriasis and reduces the frequency of its relapses
- reduces the number and duration of urticaria episodes
- alleviates the rosacea symptoms and prevents relapses within six months
- relieves eczema symptoms such as redness, itching, and inflammation
- helps get rid of acne outbreaks
Nutritional Therapy
In TCM, no food is strictly forbidden; each has unique benefits and is intended to help restore balance in the body. Therefore, your diet should be tailored to address your specific issues (both external and internal), the climate you live in, and the current season. Here are some examples of nutritional recommendations based on different skin conditions:
Dry Skin
Incorporate more hydrating and cooling foods such as cucumber, watermelon, and leafy greens to nourish Yin and reduce excess heat. Lean on Yin nourishing foods such as oysters, black beans, sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, beef, eggs, and asparagus. The benefits of nearly all these foods for dry skin have been scientifically proven.
Oily Skin, Acne, and Eczema
Focus on foods that help eliminate dampness and heat, like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, lentils, barley, mung beans, and bitter greens. Reduce your intake of heavy and fatty foods, opting instead for easily digestible vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains that help eliminate heat and dampness. Interestingly, the American Academy of Dermatology now recommends a similar diet for maintaining healthy skin.
Pale and Pasty Complexion
Include warming and invigorating foods like ginger, garlic, and chicken to strengthen Yang energy and support lung health. Again, a similar list of foods can be found among other different science-based recommendations.
Puffy Skin
Swollen skin indicates an excess of dampness in the spleen and kidneys. To restore balance, TCM recommends cutting down on fatty foods, animal products, and salty foods.
Adjusting your diet according to these principles can help improve skin conditions and contribute to overall well-being.
Herbal Therapy
One of the principles of Chinese medicine is to live in harmony with nature and benefit from its offerings. Therefore, it is not surprising that TCM practitioners have long utilized plants for skin health and beauty. These plants are used both internally (in the form of teas, tonics, and supplements) and externally (in creams, oils, and other beauty products). The remarkable healing properties of certain TCM herbs have drawn the attention of modern science, leading to research and the widespread use of these natural remedies in cosmetology beyond Asia.
- Ginseng promotes skin rejuvenation by promoting the production of collagen and elastin
- Goji berries protect skin from UV rays and regenerate skin cells
- Licorice fights hyperpigmentation and dark spots
- Rhodiola prevents premature aging due to aggressive external factors
- Chinese Angelica promotes wound healing
- Reishi protects DNA cells and improves skin structure
- Tremella keeps skin youthful and supple through super hydration
The healing properties of plants are not the only reason for their popularity in cosmetology around the world. Scientists also concluded that plant-based skincare products are non-toxic, less allergenic, free of parabens, and have significantly fewer side effects. This once again confirms that unity with nature is a direct path to the beauty and health of the skin.
We love traditional Chinese medicine as it is the art of balance and harmony, which we sometimes miss so much in everyday life. We hope to inspire you to look at your skin in a new way and rethink how you take care of it—the results are worthwhile.
