Do you know what your skin is saying about you? One look in the mirror can give you all the answers you need.
The next time you go to the bathroom, take a really good look at yourself in the mirror. Your body is giving you signs of your internal well-being, and we are about to give you some insights based on TCM diagnostics.
As Chinese medicine believes that no part of the human body is separate from any other part of the body, we can use the face to diagnose how the body is functioning, and I frequently will do so while talking to a client.
The skin on the face will tell us a lot about the internal condition of the body.
Colouring:
Ruddy red skin usually implies that there is internal heat. Unchecked internal heat consumes body fluids which nourish and soften the skin as well as the internal organs, muscles, tendons and so on.
Pale white skin might indicate that the system is running cold, or that nutrients are failing to be circulated to nourish the skin. Nearly always, this is because there is not enough Yang or warming force in the body.
Brown patches or spots usually indicate that there is stagnation of some sorts. The energy and blood flow is not moving harmoniously and thus has pooled. These areas are sometimes called Liver spots or frequently associated with pregnancy as melasma.
Dark skin tone, such as commonly seen under the eyes, is usually an indicator that the kidney’s are weak and under functioning.
Toning:
Puffiness is always due to an accumulation of fluid. The associated organs which might be out of balance include the kidneys, lungs or spleen. These organs may be under functioning, causing fluid to build up.
Flaccid or sunken facial tone usually implies that there is qi and blood deficiency. Qi, blood and essence provide the nourishment for skin, muscles and fascia to become plump and soft.
Texture:
Dry skin may have to do with the quality or quantity of blood. When skin becomes dry, it is nearly always because it is not being nourished, or the nourishment from blood and yin is not arriving at the superficial level of the skin.
Oily skin is considered an accumulation of dampness. When the Spleen organ is not digesting food properly, it may cause dampness to accumulate. When it accumulates on the skin, it causes greasiness.
