Lian Chuang (Chronic Ulcer of the Lower Extremities)

Lian Chuang (臁疮) is so named because lian refers to the tibialis bone, commonly known as the shin, while chuang means ulcer. The ulcers are usually seen on the lower one-third (1/3) of the shin, either on the medial or lateral side. Especially on the medial side, where there are less nerves and blood vessels, [...]

Formula: Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction

Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction (犀角地黄汤) is known for clearing heaty blood that causes symptoms of extreme blood heat that include mania and hemorrhage. This formula is often used to treat erythemas — often the result of capillary dilation (毛细血管扩张) and congestion (毛细血管充血) — that may hemorrhage the extravascular blood forming purplish bruises (紫癜).
Allergic Purpura:
This [...]

Treatment of Acne using Chinese Medicine

There are several ways of treating acne. While many of them concentrate on getting rid of the heat or damp-heat – whether it is Lung heat or Yang Ming heat, we also can consider building the Spleen to get rid of damp, especially if the person has a pallid and scalloped tongue.
To Treat Lung Heat:
The [...]

Skin Disease: Categorization of External Treatment Formulas

1 Solutions (溶液):
This category is epitomized by salt solution. Salt solution is the perfect means of cleaning, astringing new wounds that have serous or suppurative exudate. It can reduce inflammation, even indirectly by means of inhibiting further infection.
Solutions are like decoctions (汤药), except they are not for oral consumption. Use the liquid either as a [...]

Cnidium Monnieri (蛇床子)

Introduction:
Cnidium Monnieri is a sweet, yellow seed that is warm and acrid in nature. It is used for two things, both of which have to do with genitalia:

skin problems in the genital region for women – problems as vaginal discharge and vaginitis
erectile dysfunction problems for men

On Kidney Yang:
The way to think of it is as [...]

Yin-yang Poison

Introduction:
It sounds like a hideous name, but to me the outstanding characteristic of this pattern is maculae and no pus – think “SKIN PROBLEM.” And while it’s called Yin-yang poison, we can just think of this as pattern as “poison.” The yin-yang refers to the usual method of sub-categorizing. Note that both yin poison and [...]