6 Reasons You Have Breakouts & How to Clear it with Food
In Traditional Chinese Medicine there are many reasons and root causes for skin issues such as breakouts. To diagnose the root cause, Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners assess the colour, size, and location of breakouts as well as other symptoms including sleep, stress, digestion, pain and energy levels.
Damp-Heat:
What it looks like: Angry red, yellow pustules, oily skin, usually located around mouth and jaw, includes eczema
Avoid: Dairy products, deep-fried foods, pork (high fat meats), peanut butter, refined wheat products, bananas, processed sugars, raw vegetables
Include: Damp clearing foods such as lightly-steamed celery and asparagus, seaweed, lemon water, blueberries, peppermint tea, oatmeal, yams. Eat regular meals to avoid overeating and decrease alcohol consumption or switch from beer to wine.
Tips: Fire cupping is great option for releasing heat. This can lead to toxic-heat if not treated.
Toxic-Heat
What it looks like: Angry red, painful, yellow pustules, infections, swellings and red skin
Avoid: Hot spices, sugars as they can cause infection to spread
Include: Kelp, seaweed, rhubarb root promote bowel movements to purge toxins if there is constipation
Tip: Seek medical attention.
Heat in Lung or Stomach
What it looks like: Red, located anywhere from back, chest and mouth to cheeks, forehead and nose
Avoid: Chilies, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, onions, coffee, vinegar, citrus fruits, since most meats are heating in nature, reduce your animal protein intake and try vegetarian options
Include: Oats, rice, almonds, alfalfa sprouts, avocado and lightly steamed broccoli, celery and spinach
Tip: Schinousssa has an unsweetened, vegan, “Fermented Chlorella Protein Powder” full of heat clearing ingredients such as Organic Spirulina, Chlorella, E3Live. https://www.qnihealth.com/new-products-1/chlorella
Liver Qi Stagnation AKA STRESS
Note: This can really pop up in the week before the menstruation. If your Qi is stuck and you are stressed, PMS signs such as painful breasts, irritability, mood swings, cramps and acne show up.
What it looks like: Dull red, usually on the forehead/jaw, between brows
Avoid: Excessive coffee & alcohol, heavy meals and hot spices like cayenne, chillies and pepper.
Include: Dandelion tea, lemon water, apple cider vinegar, white flower oil, turmeric, rosemary, dill, fennel
Tip: Free your Liver and stress with activities like walking, painting, singing, biking, dancing, or even ..punching pillows. This may lead to Blood Stagnation if not treated.
Blood Stagnation
What it looks like: Purplish/Red, may have pain
Avoid: Over-eating raw fruits and vegetables, chilled, iced, and frozen foods and drinks, and drinking too many cold juices
Include: Dandelion tea, lemon water, apple cider vinegar, white flower oil
Tip: Avoid sex during menses. Blood stagnation may lead to cold-damp if not treated.
Cold-Damp
What it looks like: Light/pale red, white cysts
Avoid: Excessive nuts, oils, and fats, chocolate, beef and pork, dairy products, fruits, eggs, and citrus fruits, pineapples, apples and pears and alcohol. Over-eating raw fruits and vegetables, chilled, iced, and frozen foods and drinks, and drinking too many cold juices
Include: Damp clearing foods such as lightly-steamed celery, asparagus, seaweed, lemon water, blueberries, oatmeal, yams, ginger, garlic, onion.
Reference:
https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2014/07/25/managing-womens-issues-chinese-medicine
Pitchford, P. (2002). North Atlantic Books. Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition, Third Edition. 440-443.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.