Chinese Medicine Acne Remedies
For A Western Problem

If you're tired of using drugstore potions to clear your skin, Chinese medicine acne treatment may be for you. While western medicine seeks to suppress your symptoms in order to alleviate the problem, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) seeks to find the underlying causes and treat those.

In the case of acne, TCM teaches that acne is caused by influence of Heat and Damp Heat on the Zang Fu organs, Fundamental Substances, and the meridians. This heat comes from many sources, including poor diet, stress, "workaholism," the natural ascendance of Yang energy, and family history. Extreme emotions are another cause.

Types of Heat that Can Cause Acne

To find the Chinese medicine acne remedy for you, you have to know which acne you have. It is classified by the type of Heat associated with it. Each type of Heat creates a distinct pattern of symptoms. Greasy skin means Dampness is also present, while itchy skin means there is Wind involved. Sores or bleeding tells you there is a high toxicity.

• Blood Heat Mild to moderate acne, flushed or red face, an extreme heat sensitivity and quick pulse. Tongue is usually red with a darker tip, and may have a yellow coating on it. Urine may appear darker than normal and stools are dry.
• Toxic Heat Similar to Blood Heat. The acne is more severe and often filled with pus. The skin is red around the acne as well. You may not feel good in general but not know why.
• Damp Heat Severe acne like Toxic Heat, but with oily skin. You may feel thirsty but not want to drink anything. The tongue is a deep red with a sticky or greasy layer on top. Rapid pulse.
• Lung Heat One of the most common forms of acne. Red tongue with yellow coating and rapid pulse. Acne appears near the nose and on the forehead. When acne appears very quickly, you may also have chills or sensitivity to Wind. On the other hand, you could also want to stay away from heat and feel parched.
• Stomach Heat Tends to gather around the mouth or on the chest, shoulders and back. You may not want to be around heat, have a large appetite and feel thirsty in addition to craving spicy and/or greasy foods. Stools may appear dry, and the tongue is red with a thick yellow coating. Rapid pulse.

Chinese Medicine Acne - Treatment Types

In TCM there are three basic types of acne: Blood Heat, Phlegm Accumulation, and Toxic Heat. Each type of acne has a different treatment, and all involve decoctions of various types of plants. A decoction is a type of medicine that is made through boiling either the substance itself, or with liquid, usually water.

The Chinese medicine for acne treatments in this section are only a small sampling of what's available to treat acne. They come from the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Blood Heat Type
Includes severe acne with or without pus. Look for a fast pulse, and deep red tongue with a yellow fur. The tip is usually redder than the rest of the tongue. The treatment goal is to cool the blood.

Treatment: Decoction of Loquat Leaf with...Loquat leaf 15g, Dried rehmannia root 15g, Scrophularia root 15g, Mulberry bark 9g, Scutellaria root 9g, Coptis root 9g, Capejasmine fruit 9g, Red peony root 9g,Moutan bark 9g, Forsythia fruit 9g, Prunella spike 9g, White chrysanthemum flower 9g.

Phlegm-accumulation Type
Acne with greasy white fur on the tongue and a "slippery" pulse.

Treatment: Peach kernel and safflower (Two Old Drugs Decoction) with...Tangerine peel 9g, Pinellia tuber 9g, Poria 9g, Nutgrass flatsedge 9g, Zhejiang fritillaria bulb 9g, Orange kernel 9g, Safflower 9g, Red sage root 9g,Chinese angelica root 9g, Scutellaria root 9g, Forsythia fruit 9g, Loquat leaf 9g,Licorice root 6g.

The entire treatment is then boiled in water and then drank.

Toxic Heat Type
Extreme acne including pus-filled bumps, redness or flushed face, red tongue with yellow fur, and a rapid or slippery pulse Removing heat and toxicity, cooling the blood, and reducing the swollenness of the face.

Treatment: Antiphlogistic Decoction of Five Drugs with...Honeysuckle flower 15g, Dandelion flower 15g, Chinese violet 15g, Chrysanthemum flower 15g, Forsythia fruit 15g, Dried rehmannia root 15g, Scutellaria root 9g, Moutan bark 9g, Tangerine seed 9g, Loquat leaf 9g, Platycodon root 9g, Licorice root 6g.

These are just some examples of using Chinese Medicine acne remedies. Remember to use caution before beginning any treatment. If you are currently on any medications or supplements, it may be wise to check with a medical professional before trying any Chinese acne remedy.

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