Skin disorders from the TCM viewpoint

Today more than ever there is a number eczema, psoriasis, acne, vitiligo, hives and other skin disorders. This is mainly caused by the global hectic way of life – ever-present stress, unhealthy diet, electric smog from mobile phones and computers, excessive vaccination and usage of various drugs.

The unhealthy lifestyle results in the internal “overheating”, when everything practically “boils” inside us and gets out through the skin. Just like an overheated pressure cooker sometimes lets the fumes out (acute skin rashes) or slowly but permanently releases the overpressure heat with vapour (chronic skin problems). Worth mentioning is the fact that in the old Greek the word for eczema is “to boil” and in the Chinese medicine the word is the “wet outlet”. It’s mainly the diet and stress, which are the key factors in skin disorders.

Diet based on the TCM should be quality, moderate, varied and regular. After eating fried, fatty, grilled and spicy food from public dining facilities and fast food joints, there often emerges dampness and heat SHI/RE in our body, basically compost which is a frequent building block of many today’s diseases, not only skin disorders. Heat RE causes inflammation and skin redness, dampness SHI on the other hand causes bulging skin buds and skin festering. So called heat toxin RE DU comes to our body from food in a similar way. It manifests itself on the skin with yellow sticky festering blisters.

Stress is in another big opponent. Every emotional disbalance always results in heat RE over a period of time, which secretly settles down in the deepest layers of nourishment and blood and later on it causes skins disorders among other things. This hidden heat may as well generate the internal wind FENG causing itching.

Electric smog is another factor influencing our health and skin. We can decrease it by placing turned on mobile phones at least 2 metres from our body and by turning off the computer in our bedroom. Both increase heat RE in our overheated body. Similarly an excessive and frequent use of various drugs causes the occurrence of the RE heat and persisting heat toxin RE DU in our blood.

In general skin disorders can be described in a few key points:

• Dry skin corresponds with the liver blood or lung yin deficiency
• Itchy skin corresponds with being affected by wind
• Red veins on the skin correspond with heat in various organs
• Purple veins on the skin correspond with blood stagnation
• Blueish veins on the skin correspond with coldness

General Dietary Recommendations for Skin Issues

1. Always have breakfast! The ideal choice is coix seed tea (YI YI REN CHA) along with millet or corn porridge, flavored with cinnamon and fruit.
2. Sugar is the biggest culprit and creator of dampness and heat in today’s world, regardless of its form. Even brown sugar, though unrefined and containing more minerals and trace elements, is still sucrose, a disaccharide that breaks down into two monosaccharides: glucose and fructose. Glucose, once cell saturation is achieved (with the help of insulin), is stored as glycogen, while excess fructose is directly stored in the liver as fat reserves, causing us to swell up without realizing it. Sugars are present in many foods and drinks, not just in sweets but also in bread and, especially, in beverages where their concentration is high. Both glucose (e.g., in honey) and fructose (e.g., in fruit juices) are problematic. To paraphrase: Traditional Chinese Medicine warns—sweetening harms health and causes dampness and heat in the body! Sugar can be successfully replaced with barley malt, such as “Sladěnka” or “Sladovit,” available in health food stores, or high-quality dried fruit (e.g., unsulfured raisins or dried apples).
3. Milk and dairy products from pasteurized cow’s milk should be avoided for skin issues. Pasteurization (along with sterilization, homogenization, emulsification, and aromatization) renders these products unnatural and hard to digest, ultimately causing dampness and heat. Goat and sheep milk can be used instead, and raw cow’s milk (unpasteurized, directly from a trusted source) is also acceptable in moderation. Don’t worry about a calcium deficiency—animal calcium from pasteurized products is poorly absorbed anyway. Adequate calcium can be sourced from green vegetables, especially legumes, kale, and lettuce.
4. Absolutely avoid black coffee, hot and spicy seasonings (pepper, chili, dried ginger, cloves), as well as grilled, fried, and fatty dishes. Alcohol also exacerbates internal heat. Beer (preferably unpasteurized, from a tank) is the least heating, followed by wine, with hard liquor being the most heating. On the other hand, green tea cools and is recommended for skin issues. Sip it lukewarm throughout the day. Herbal blends like JIAO GU LAN CHA can also help drain internal heat from the stomach and intestines and cleanse heat toxins from the blood, cooling it in the process.
5. Bread, pastries, and pasta should be consumed in moderation, mainly due to gluten and yeast, which can exacerbate existing dampness and heat. Opt for rye bread (preferably sourdough) and whole-grain egg-free pasta made from amaranth or corn. Whole-grain rice and polenta are also highly recommended. Processed meats, canned foods, fast food (like hamburgers), and red meat (especially lamb, game, and beef) are warming and should be avoided.
6. Does it seem like your diet shrinks to “plain water” after eliminating these foods and drinks? Not at all! There are plenty of other delicious options, some of which you might not have discovered yet, such as white fish, domestic poultry or rabbit, a wide variety of green vegetables, legumes, rice, polenta, soy products (tofu, tempeh), and more. Creativity is key. If you’re uncertain, visit a good vegetarian restaurant or health food store that also offers cooked meals. You’ll discover that this kind of diet has its perks. You’ll try new meals, enjoy new flavors, and most importantly, start feeling better. Over time, your health will improve—not only in relation to skin problems. Shopping at farmer’s markets and buying authentic organic products (or growing your own) is always the best option.

In case of doubt with the choice of herbal products, we recommend Test Tongue Analysis, which is evaluated by MUDr. Petr Hoffmann and you will receive a recommendation (herbal products and foods) to your e-mail within 3 days.