TCM’s main focus is on function. If the body is not functioning well, we need to balance it. You hear people say, “We use acupuncture to balance the body.” Well, we use herbs for the same reason. If you go to see an acupuncturist, they will probably look at your face. The reason is, from TCM’s point of view, the complexion is the reflection of the state of the Qi and blood, Yin and Yang of the body. Looking at the complexion is a way to help us understand what is going on internally. If there is a color change, this tells us a lot. For example, the color of the complexion could be too pale. When people go through chemotherapy, they have that pale or sometimes dark yellow look. From a TCM point of view, that paleness comes from a lack of Qi and blood. If you translate that into Conventional Medicine terminology, the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets have all decreased. If the complexion is red, too red, we consider that to be too much heat. When you translate that into Conventional Medicine, the sympathetic nervous system is too active. There is a hypersensitivity of the sympathetic nerve. You can tell their blood pressure is a little bit higher, their heart rate is a little bit faster, and there are toxins in the system. Just based on the red complexion, you can tell that they have trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep. They get agitated easily. That tells us that they have heat internally. If the complexion is dark, then we know they have adrenal issues.
Sometimes, when people don’t sleep well, they have dark circles under their eyes. If it’s just a little bit, that is fine. However, if that dark circle goes all the way down to the cheekbones, or if you see darkness moving towards the sides of the face, then it has gone beyond just poor sleep. The adrenal function is weakened. If we check the adrenal function lab work, we will probably see a correlation. In TCM, that dark complexion tells us that there is something more serious going on. It is not just water retention with a little bit of edema because you didn’t sleep well. It may be something more serious. A yellow complexion can be considered like a withered color, such as with anemia. During chemotherapy, across the board, all the blood numbers will be down and the skin may show a yellow color. Remember, it is not compared to other people, it is compared to yourself. If the change is significant and lasts for a long time, that must mean something. When going through cancer treatment, it is a good habit to take a look. Right now, we have smart phones. You can take a picture at any time. There is one tool I use for patients out of state; I do herbal consultations with them. Through email or text message, I ask for a picture of their face and tongue. This helps me have a better understanding of whether they have a deficiency or excess.
Sometimes, when people don’t sleep well, they have dark circles under their eyes. If it’s just a little bit, that is fine. However, if that dark circle goes all the way down to the cheekbones, or if you see darkness moving towards the sides of the face, then it has gone beyond just poor sleep. The adrenal function is weakened. If we check the adrenal function lab work, we will probably see a correlation. In TCM, that dark complexion tells us that there is something more serious going on. It is not just water retention with a little bit of edema because you didn’t sleep well. It may be something more serious. A yellow complexion can be considered like a withered color, such as with anemia. During chemotherapy, across the board, all the blood numbers will be down and the skin may show a yellow color. Remember, it is not compared to other people, it is compared to yourself. If the change is significant and lasts for a long time, that must mean something. When going through cancer treatment, it is a good habit to take a look. Right now, we have smart phones. You can take a picture at any time. There is one tool I use for patients out of state; I do herbal consultations with them. Through email or text message, I ask for a picture of their face and tongue. This helps me have a better understanding of whether they have a deficiency or excess.
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