Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been around for over 2,000 years and is effective in treating various skin conditions, including acne. Acne is a skin condition that affects approximately 60% of the American population. Although the cause of acne is unknown, it is believed that genetic predisposition and hormonal changes are related to the cause of acne skin conditions. Acne is more common in men and can be aggravated by sweating, oral contraceptives, poor skin hygiene, cosmetics, face creams, exercise, and lack of sunlight. Traditional Chinese philosophy believes that an imbalance in the body, mind, or spirit can cause physical symptoms of disease. The TCM believes that an excess of internal heat and humidity causes acne and acne symptoms. To relieve acne you must clear the heat and drain the moisture from the body.
Heat can be caused by different sources, such as our excessive consumption of stimulating foods, hormonal changes, physical activity, inability of the blood to cleanse toxins, restless thoughts, hot weather, or qi imbalance. Heat can appear as inflammation, overstimulation and hyperactivity and is reflected in the skin through rashes, pimples, infections and redness. Dampness is the excess water in the body tissues. Dampness can be caused by the accumulation of water in the digestive tract, excess oil, fatty, cold or raw foods, irregular eating habits, insufficient sweating, humid environment and insufficient heat. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses thrive in excessively humid environments, even in the body. Moisture can reflect through the skin in the form of swelling, cysts, blackheads, pus, and fluid discharge.
A traditional Chinese herbalist should be consulted to determine which Chinese herbal supplements to take to clear acne. Although the side effects are minimal, you will not see the results you want from enjoying all the Chinese herbs on the market. Specific herbal concoctions will work for certain people. An herbalist will determine which herbal concoction is suitable for each individual person and their specific symptoms. TCM may use plant leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, minerals, and roots in its acne treatments. There are several different ways to take herbs in decoctions or teas, powders, tinctures, pills, syrups, and plasters. These are some specific herbs that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat acne. If you experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or skin rashes after taking herbal supplements, stop taking them immediately and consult your herbalist.
Cai Feng Zhen Zhu an Chuang Wan/Margarite Acne Pills: This is an excellent remedy to get rid of acne. This product comes in pill form and is used to clear heat, expel toxins, cool the blood, and regenerate skin cells. Some of its ingredients include pearl, honeysuckle flower, dandelion herb, Glehniz root, Chinese foxglove root, Ningpo figwort root, Chinese rhubarb root, and gannoderma sclerotia lucidus.
Jin Yin Hua/ Honeysuckle: can be used together with chrysanthemum and dandelion to eliminate excess heat in the blood and stomach. It is a great detoxifier and increases perspiration. It can be consumed as an infusion or applied externally on the skin.
Dandelion Root: It is a blood cleanser that stimulates liver function to cleanse the body. Dandelion root should be drunk in a tea by mixing 2-3 teaspoons of dried dandelion in 1 cup of water. Dandelion greens can also be eaten in a salad, which aids digestion, but only 2 leaves should be eaten a day.
Dahurian Angelica- Reduces puffiness and draws moisture out of the body. It should be drunk in a tea by mixing 1 ounce of the dried root in 1 pint of water or it can be consumed as 1/2 teaspoon diluted in 1 cup of water. This root can also be combined with Chrysanthemum and drunk.
Skullcap- Clears up heat as well as humid heat. Drunk like a tea. Combine 1 ounce of dried root with 1 pint of water.
Burdock Root: Cleanses the blood by detoxifying the body. It acts as an anti-inflammatory. It must be applied topically.
Spica Prunellae/ Prunella Spike- Common herb found in TCM. Boil 1 ounce of dried herb in 1 pint of water. Add honey and drink daily.
Other herbs used in TCM to treat acne include neem, chaste tree berries, chamomile, sarsaparilla, milk thistle, romaza, echinacea root, medlar leaf, rehmania root, moutan bark, forsythia fruit, peach seed , safflower, Stellaria root, purslane, and mint.
