Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the formation of dark circles is closely related to factors such as liver and kidney deficiency, spleen and stomach disorders, insufficient qi and blood, and meridian blockage. Through syndrome differentiation and treatment, and internal and external adjustments, traditional Chinese medicine can effectively alleviate the phenomenon of dark circles and promote the health of the skin around the eyes.
1. Analysis of the TCM causes of dark circles
Traditional Chinese medicine considers dark circles as a manifestation of facial pigment abnormality. Its formation is mostly in the category of "dark face" and "darkness under the eyes". Common causes are mainly the following categories:
1. Liver and kidney yin deficiency type
The liver and kidneys are the organs of water and fire, and their essence and blood nourish the eyes. If the liver and kidneys are deficient in yin, the essence and blood are insufficient and cannot nourish the eyes, then the area around the eyes will become dark. People with this condition often have symptoms such as soreness of the waist and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, restlessness and insomnia.
2. Spleen deficiency and dampness excess type
The spleen is responsible for transportation and transformation. If the spleen is weak, water and dampness will stagnate inside the body, and the dampness will rise up, blocking the meridians and causing pigmentation under the eyes. Common symptoms include sallow complexion, fatigue, loss of appetite, loose stools, etc.
3. Qi stagnation and blood stasis type
Bad emotions or excessive use of the eyes due to long periods of time can lead to qi stagnation and blood stasis, which in turn causes blood to stagnate in the veins around the eyes, resulting in dark spots under the eyes, manifested as dull complexion, chest and flank pain, and dysmenorrhea.
4. Lung Qi Deficiency
The lungs control the skin and hair, open up to the nose, and are the exterior of the large intestine. If the lung qi is insufficient, the skin will be malnourished, qi and blood will not flow smoothly, and pigmentation will easily form, causing dark circles under the eyes.
2. Principles and methods of TCM conditioning
1. Treat according to syndrome differentiation and harmonize the five internal organs
Based on individual constitution and symptoms of dark circles, personalized conditioning is carried out in combination with differentiation of viscera, qi, blood and body fluids, with tonifying the liver and kidney, strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, regulating qi and activating blood circulation, moistening the lungs and nourishing the skin as the basic treatment direction.
2. Take Chinese medicine internally
Traditional Chinese medicine improves dark circles by regulating the internal organs and replenishing qi and blood.
For those with liver and kidney yin deficiency : Commonly used medicines include Rehmannia root, Lycium barbarum, Ligustrum lucidum, mulberry, Polygonum multiflorum, etc., which nourish yin and kidney, nourish blood and moisturize the skin.
For those with spleen deficiency and excessive dampness : you can use Poria cocos, Atractylodes macrocephala, dried tangerine peel, Codonopsis pilosula, and Coix seed to strengthen the spleen, eliminate dampness, replenish qi and nourish the skin.
For those with qi stagnation and blood stasis : it is suitable to use blood-activating and qi-regulating drugs such as angelica, chuanxiong, peach kernel, safflower, and bupleurum.
For those with insufficient lung qi : you can choose products that moisten the lungs and replenish qi, such as astragalus, lily, ophiopogon, adenophora, and codonopsis.
3. External treatment
Traditional Chinese medicine external treatment is simple and effective, and can be combined with internal treatment to enhance the efficacy.
Acupuncture therapy : select acupoints such as Zanzhu, Sizhukong, Yangbai, Jingming, Zusanli, Ganshu, and Shenshu to regulate the internal organs, dredge the meridians, and improve local blood circulation.
Cupping and scraping : Cupping and scraping are performed on the bladder meridian on the back and local areas of the face to relax muscles, promote blood circulation, and harmonize Qi.
Patching therapy : Grind up traditional Chinese medicine that can promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, nourish yin and moisturize the skin, and apply it around the eyes, such as pearl powder with chrysanthemum, angelica, etc., which can help lighten pigmentation.
Moxibustion conditioning : Suitable for people with kidney yang deficiency. Moxibustion on Guanyuan, Mingmen, Zusanli and other acupoints can warm the yang and replenish qi, and improve dull complexion.
4. Diet therapy to assist maintenance
Daily diet therapy occupies an important position in traditional Chinese medicine beauty. Reasonable combination can enhance physical fitness and improve dark circles.
Yin-nourishing and blood-replenishing diet : such as black sesame and walnut paste, wolfberry and red date porridge, and lily and white fungus soup, are suitable for people with liver and kidney deficiency.
Diet that strengthens the spleen and eliminates dampness : such as yam and lotus seed porridge, lentil and coix seed soup, helps to strengthen the spleen and stomach, eliminate dampness and turbidity.
Tea for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis : Tea made from rose, salvia miltiorrhiza and safflower can promote the flow of qi and blood, and is suitable for dark circles caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Lung-nourishing and beauty-enhancing ingredients : such as pear, lily and almond soup, suitable for people with insufficient lung qi.
3. TCM lifestyle adjustment suggestions
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "internal factors are the main and external factors are the auxiliary", and a good lifestyle is an important part of regulating dark circles.
Maintain a regular schedule : avoid staying up late, and adequate sleep helps the blood circulation around the eyes.
Avoid emotional fluctuations : The liver is responsible for the release of emotions. Bad emotions can easily damage the liver and cause qi stagnation and blood stasis.
Use your eyes moderately : Pay attention to eye hygiene when using electronic products for a long time, and look into the distance regularly to relax your eye muscles.
Appropriate exercise : Traditional Chinese medicine exercises such as Tai Chi and Ba Duan Jin can help to promote the flow of qi and blood.
IV. Clinical application of TCM in treating dark circles
Combined with clinical observation, it is feasible to improve dark circles through comprehensive conditioning of Chinese medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion, and lifestyle adjustments.
Certain clinical studies have shown that Chinese medicine prescriptions that focus on nourishing the liver and kidneys and regulating qi and blood, combined with acupuncture treatment, can effectively improve patients' blood circulation around the eyes, reduce pigmentation, increase skin firmness and brightness, and have a high rate of symptom relief.
For example, "Qi Ju Di Huang Wan" is used in combination with "Huoxue Tiaojing Tang" to treat dark circles caused by liver-kidney yin deficiency and qi stagnation and blood stasis. After 6 weeks of treatment, most patients felt that their eye pigmentation was reduced, their mental state improved, and their symptom scores were significantly reduced.
Beauty Encyclopedia Tips:
Dark circles are not a single symptom. Their causes are diverse and require comprehensive diagnosis and treatment based on individual constitution and lifestyle habits. Chinese medicine treatment emphasizes gradual progress and taking both the symptoms and the root cause into consideration. Do not blindly pursue quick results. It is recommended to use syndrome differentiation and medication under the guidance of a professional physician, and to regulate your body reasonably. At the same time, pay attention to regular work and rest, improve diet and emotional management, and jointly promote the health of the skin around the eyes. If dark circles persist for a long time, or are accompanied by other obvious physical discomfort, a systematic examination should be carried out in time to rule out other potential lesions.