Skin ConditionsTraditional Chinese Medicine or TCM, views skin conditions as an imbalance in the body.
To better explain the role of different internal organs in skin conditions, we need to discuss five elements theory in TCM terms.
Each of our body's five major internal organs are associated with an element, emotion and can be affected by natural pathogens.
Liver's element is wood and it pertains to anger, germination, extension, softness, harmony,
flexibility. (Wood feeds fire) and can be affected by wind.
Heart's element is fire and it pertains to joy, draught, heat, flaring, ascendance, movement. (Fire creates earth[ash]) and can be affected by heat.
Spleen's element is earth and it pertains to thinking, growing, changing, nourishing, producing. (Earth bears metal) and can be affected by dampness.
Lung's element is metal and it pertains to sadness, strength, firmness, killing, cutting, cleaning up. (Metal carries water as in a bucket) and can be affected by dryness.
Kidney's element is water and it pertains to fear, moisture, cold, descending, flowing. (Water nourishes wood) and can be affected by cold.
So this shows how our emotions and external factors can affect an organ and eventually our skin.
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Orgnas
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Skin manifestations
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Signs
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Common
Conditions
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Heart Small Intestine
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Red macular eruptions, papules,
burning and redness, crusting, pus formation, necrosis
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Excess heat causes pain Moderate heat causes itchiness
Tongue ulcers, restlessness,
palpitations, dry mouth
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Boils, furuncles, carbuncles,
pemphigus
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Liver Gall Bladder
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Papules, burning red macular
eruptions, necrosis, vesicles
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Emotional upset makes it worse, skin
irritations around hypochondria, genitalia and near eyes
Eye redness, anger, depression,
bitter mouth, dry throat
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Shingles, tinea cruris, vulvitis
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Spleen Stomach
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Papules, vesicles, ulcers and
lichenification
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Mouth or tongue ulcers, poor
appetite, loose stools, diarrhea
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Eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis
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Lung Large Intestine
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Red macules, papules, pustules,
excoriation.
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Dry nose and throat, dry cough
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Acnes, acne rosacea, hives
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Kidney Urinary Bladder
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Dark brown patches on the face, loss
of head hair
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Forgetfulness, low back pain,
tinnitus, chills and fever, spontaneous sweating, pale complexion, bloating,
edema, loose stools, cold extremities
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Systemic lupus, scleroderma
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