Facial Boilsaccording to TCM

What are Facial Boils?

Facial boils are painful, pus-filled bumps that form under the skin when bacteria infect and inflame one or more of your hair follicles. These skin abscesses may start as small, red lumps, but can quickly grow and become more painful. Boils on the face are particularly sensitive due to the facial skin's softness and the area's high blood circulation. Often, they signal an infection that the body is trying to fight off. While most boils can eventually drain and heal on their own, their appearance on the face can cause significant discomfort and concern due to the potential for scarring.

How does TCM view Facial Boils?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perceives facial boils as an external manifestation of internal imbalance, specifically the accumulation of heat and toxins within the body. TCM principles suggest that these boils arise when pathogenic Heat, combined with Dampness or Stagnation, obstructs the flow of Qi and Blood, leading to inflammation and the subsequent development of boils.

This holistic approach underscores the importance of identifying the underlying disharmony within the body's energetic system to effectively treat the boils and restore the individual's overall health.

Causes of Facial Boils According to TCM

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), facial boils are often a manifestation of the Wind-Heat pattern, an imbalance characterized by the invasion of wind and the accumulation of heat within the body. This pattern disrupts the natural flow of Qi and Blood, leading to symptoms such as redness, swelling, and the formation of painful, pus-filled boils on the skin.

TCM's approach to treating facial boils involves not only addressing these external symptoms but also targeting the internal imbalances that contribute to their development. By focusing on the Wind-Heat pattern, practitioners aim to expel pathogenic wind, clear heat, and detoxify the body to restore balance and promote healing.

TCM Herbal Formulas for Facial Boils

To combat the effects of Wind-Heat that lead to facial boils, TCM recommends a combination of herbal formulas and specific acupoints that align with the principles of clearing heat and expelling wind. A pivotal formula in this context is Fang Feng Tong Sheng San, distinguished by its inclusion of Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng). This formula is adept at releasing Wind-Heat from the body, clearing Heat, promoting the expulsion of Toxins, and ensuring the smooth flow of Qi and Blood. Through such targeted herbal interventions, TCM seeks to alleviate the discomfort caused by boils and prevent their recurrence, highlighting the importance of treating both the symptom and its underlying cause.

See more details below about Fang Feng Tong Sheng San, a herbal formula used to address facial boils.

Acupoints for Facial Boils

Alongside herbal treatments, TCM emphasizes the role of acupoint therapy in managing conditions like facial boils caused by Wind-Heat. Wenliu LI-7 is a key acupoint in this therapeutic strategy, located on the Large Intestine Channel. Activating Wenliu LI-7 helps to clear heat, eliminate obstructions in the channel, and ultimately reduce inflammation and pain associated with facial boils.

This acupoint, among others, is integral to TCM's holistic approach, offering a non-invasive method to support the body's natural healing processes, reinforce the immune system, and address the root causes of Wind-Heat imbalances.

See more details below about Wenliu LI-7, an acupoint used to address facial boils.

Wenliu LI-7

When a fist is made, with the ulnar side downward and elbow flexed, the point is 5 cun above Yangxi LI-5 at the wrist crease, 1 cun distal to the midpoint of the line joining Yangxi LI-5 and Quchi LI-11.

TCM Herbs for Facial Boils

Explore below some TCM herbs used to address facial boils, organized by herb category.