Cystic acne according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Cystic acne factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus
Symptoms: Fibroids Endometriosis Painful period and seven other symptoms
Recommended formula: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Symptoms: Anxiety Breast pain Irritability and thirteen other symptoms
Recommended formula: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
In Chinese Medicine, cystic acne can be associated with two so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease", as a matter of fact here cystic acne can be caused by two different patterns.
To understand whether someone's cystic acne might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from cystic acne alone. For instance when cystic acne is caused by the pattern Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus, patients also experience symptoms such as persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood, lower abdominal distension and pain that increases with pressure, fibroids and cysts in the lower abdomen and painful period.
We've listed below a description of the two patterns associated with cystic acne so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities according to Chinese Medicine.
Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a formula that can help treat the patterns Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus and Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels.
The two "patterns of disharmony" associated with cystic acne
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the key herb for Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a formula used for Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus
Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus
Recommended herbal formula: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Symptoms: Fibroids Endometriosis Painful period Abdominal pain Lochia retention Menstrual discomfort Irregular menstruation Fibroids and cysts in the lower abdomen Persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood Lower abdominal distension and pain that increases with pressure
Cystic acne might be due to Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood, lower abdominal distension and pain that increases with pressure, fibroids and cysts in the lower abdomen and painful period.
Read more about Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus here
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the key herb for Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a formula used for Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels
Pulse type(s): Choppy (Se), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue color: Bluish-Purple
Recommended herbal formula: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Symptoms: Anxiety Breast pain Irritability Restlessness Breast lumps Painful period Umbilical pain Lochia retention Abdominal masses Breast distention Tendency to worry Dark colored blood Lower abdominal pain Irregular menstruation Brown vaginal discharge Dark clots in menstrual blood
Cystic acne might be due to Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as irregular menstruation, brown vaginal discharge, dark clots in menstrual blood and painful period. Similarly, patients with Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels typically exhibit choppy (Se) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a bluish-purple tongue.
Read more about Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels here
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan, a herbal formula that might help with cystic acne
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Invigorates the Blood. Transforms Blood Stasis. Softens lumps. Reduces fixed abdominal pain.
Why might Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan help with cystic acne?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Blood Stagnation and Phlegm in the Uterus and Blood Stagnation in the Directing and Penetrating Vessels which are sometimes associated with cystic acne. If any of these patterns look like something you might suffer from, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Symptoms related to cystic acne
Painful period Irregular menstruation Lochia retention Persistent uterine bleeding of purple or dark blood Lower abdominal distension and pain that increases with pressure Fibroids and cysts in the lower abdomen Abdominal pain Menstrual discomfort Fibroids Endometriosis
