What are the best TCM herbs for removing my dark eye circles?

Doctor's Answers 3

Our skin reflects how well our internal organs and systems are functioning. According to TCM, the appearance of dark eye circles under the eyes are usually signs of imbalance within the body. It can be due to 1) Kidney deficiency; 2) Qi and blood deficiency; 3) Qi and blood stagnation (poor circulation) or other reasons.

Hectic lifestyle, poor quality of sleep, work and family stress, social anxiety, lack of exercise and an imbalanced diet usually worsen the problem.

Other symptoms include pale and dull complexion, poor digestion, chronic fatigue, thinning hair, tired and dry eyes, insomnia and irregular menstrual cycle.

TCM believes in balance from within, or in this case, beauty from within.

1.For people with kidney deficiency, dark coloured food and herbs can help to improve kidney health. These include black beans, kidney beans, black sesame, mulberries, goji berries, processed rehmannia root(Shu Di Huang) and glossy privet fruit.

2.Herbs like Angelica, astragalus root, ginseng, poria and red dates can be consumed to boost qi and blood in the body.

3.For people with Qi and blood stagnation, notoginseng (Tian Qi), red sage(Dan Shen) ligusticum(Chuan Xiong), black fungus and dried rose help promote Qi and blood circulation.

And of course, there are beauty enhancing herbs such as bird’s nest, fish maw, snow fungus and schisandra fruit that contains antioxidants and improves skin complexion.

However, note that herbs that increase blood flow are not to be consumed during pregnancy. It is recommended to clarify with a Tcm physician before consuming these herbs, and to check if the herbs suit your body type.

Acupuncture is also an effective option to lighten dark circles. Insertion of needles in the acupoint promotes blood circulation, enhances qi and blood in the body and facial region, thus boosting a healther-looking complexion.

I suggest a consultation with a qualified Tcm physician to get an accurate assessment of the body constitution. Knowing your body is the first step to re-balance it.

Hi, We need to identify the root causes for the dark eye circles before we can explore the possible solutions to resolve the issue. Dark eye circle is indeed a troubling concern to people of all ages and the basis for the issue is actually very complex.

We will look into a few foremost causes that lead to dark eye circles and the respective solutions designed to unravel the problem. Allergies Dark eye circles are closely related to allergic rhinitis. People with allergic rhinitis are mostly seen with dark eye circles.

As a result of the allergic rhinitis, blood vessels around the eyes tend to dilate that lead to more blood flow which makes them more noticeable under the skin that show up as dark shadows. For such condition, we have a list of TCM that could be employed to manage the medical concern.

The most familial TCM includes Xanthii Fructus(苍耳子),Magnoliae Flos(辛夷 ),Angelicae Dahuricae Radix(白芷),Chuanxiong Rhizoma(川芎) etc. Anemia Any condition that triggers anemia in the body could lead to dark eye circles. For instances the level of iron in the body is depleted in ladies during menstruating period or pregnancy, people who are recovering from major surgeries or injuries and those who are born with weak body constitution.

As a consequence of such conditions the skin appears pallid which causes the veins beneath the eyes to become more evident and surface as blue or dark that show as dark circles. Lack of balanced diet that deprives the body of iron intake could lead to dark circles eventually.

TCM consist of Angelicae Sinensis Radix(当归),Jujube(红枣),Astragali Radix(黄芪 ),Codonopsis Pilosula(党参) etc could be used to nourish the body Qi and blood to help reduce dark eye circles. Insomnia Insomnia is definitely a key cause for dark eye circle.

Skin tends to appear lackluster and ashen for people with poor sleep quality, causing the blood vessels and tissues to show up glaringly. TCM such as Ziziphi Spinosae Semen(酸枣仁),AlbiziaeCortex(合欢皮),Polygoni Multiflori caulis(夜交藤),Poria Cortex(茯神) etc to help improve sleep quality that ultimately elevate the dark eye shadows.

Eye strain Over usage of eyes such as long hours of reading, using too much of computer or hand phones can cause tremendous stress to the eyes that lead to significant enlargement of veins under the eyes to show as dark eye circles. TCM such as Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix(丹参),Lycii Fructus(枸杞子),Chrysanthemi Flos(菊花),Buddleja officinalis(密蒙花) etc that effectively enhance the blood circulation around the eyes and reduce eye strain are essential in resolving dark eye circles. Age Dark circles are more prominent and permanent with natural aging process.

As we age, our skin gets delicate and thinner because we lose fat and collagen around the eyes that are essential in maintaining the skin’s elasticity. Dark circles appear gradually as a result of growing age. TCM include Rehmanniae Preparata Radix ( 熟地黄),Mori Fructus(桑椹),Ligustri Lucidi Fructus(女贞子),Ecliptae Herba(旱莲草) etc that help to nourish the Liver and Kidney Ying could be used. As seen above that there are multiple causes for dark eye circles and the treatment is more complex than just picking on a few TCM herbs to resolve the issue.

The above illustrations are for references only and I strongly recommend that you could seek professional TCM treatment for dark eye circle issues as we can better diagnose your condition during consultation and advise you on the most appropriate treatment be it TCM prescription or combine with acupuncture if needed base on your health condition.

From TCM point of view, dark eye circles are mainly a result of kidney deficiency, dampness due to spleen deficiency and poor blood circulation in the body. Different herbs are useful for different patients according to their own condition.

Patient with kidney deficient may be more suitable to consume herbs which helps to replenish the Kidney Yin or Yang such as 枸杞、石斛、菟丝子 or Chinese proprietary medicines like 知柏地黄丸、杞菊地黄丸or 金匮肾气丸.

Poor blood circulation can lead to dark eye circles as the area around the eyes do not get sufficient nutrients due to the undernourishment by the blood. 丹参 and 三七 are useful herbs to promote blood circulation.

When the spleen is deficient, water in our body will be metabolised less efficiently resulting to the formation of dampness. The dampness may accumulate under the eyes and lead to dark circles or eye puffiness. Patients who experience dark eye circles together with symptoms related to poor digestion such as stomach distention, loss of appetite, watery stools etc can consume herbs that strengthens the spleen. This includes 茯苓,薏苡仁,白术,山药,黄芪.

Dark eye circles can be a result of many reasons, and those listed above are not exhaustive. Patients should seek consultation from a professional TCM physicians for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

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