Chinese Medicine Use of Skin Color
A Diagnostic Tool

Chinese medicine's use of skin includes observing the color of the skin as a diagnostic tool.

I included this page because I found it interesting to see how the color of the skin can be used to diagnose some of our problems.

I was especially interested in the observation about skin color as being one of the skins functions. To the Chinese medicine practitioner's trained eye it can tell him much about our overall health.

He sees the body as a whole so when diagnosing health problems he looks beyond the obvious and see the body as a complete unit which is different from the way western practitioners often approach diseases.

Chinese medicine's use of skin color can be seen in two ways:

The practitioner looks for specific features such as spots, dots or lines, or he looks for general coloration of the skin as each color reveals a certain condition of the body.

Chinese medicine's use of skin colors include:

Red

Can show as a general coloration, as spots, or as expanded blood capillaries - indicating the heart is overworking.

This is generally a sign of trouble with the liver and gall bladder. Brown skin may appear as freckles, brown spots or as a general coloration. Large brown patches are often experience by pregnant women.

This color is an indication of problems with the pancreas, liver and gall bladder. People with liver problems sometimes have a yellowish tinge to their skin.

A greenish cast to the skin is seen with people suffering from cancer. A slight greenish tinge is an indications of a tendency towards developing this disease. If occurring on the sides of the face it is an indication of lung cancer, if on the back of the hand between the thumb and the index finger it indicates cancer of the intestines.

It is a dangerous sign when the veins which are normally a greenish tinge change to be or purple. Blue is rarely seen but purple is more common especially among men over forty. These men develop red or swollen noses, at times a purple color appears. This red color is caused by the expansion of the vessels,; the purple indicates an enlarged heart and high blood pressure.

Can appear as spots, dots, or as a general coloration over a wide area of the skin. This is the color of death. People who suffer from tuberculosis have skin that is a very pale color but as death approaches the skin color tends toward black. Beauty marks or black spots are an indication of sickness or fever while we were growing up.

This skin color shows a condition of the lungs. It is a general coloration and not spots or dots. It may also indicate asthma or other respiratory problems such as allergies.

Common in Western countries caused by poor dietary habits. It indicates a swollen, hard liver.

Found in people who are suffer tuberculosis or skin diseases caused by bacteria especially leprosy.White: Appears as spots or general coloration. White skin is an indication of health.

Chinese medicine use of skin color as a diagnostic tool is just an indication of one of the many functions of the skin.

Note: The above information on the way Chinese medicine use of skin in the treatment of sickness was taken from a book entitled “Your Face Never Lies” written by Michio Kushi and published by Avery Publishing Group, Inc. Wayne, N.J.

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For More Information About the Skin Visit:
Anatomy of the Skin
How To Achieve Beautiful Skin
Skin: The First Defense System
Skin: The Body's Heat Regulator
The Skin's Functions
Does Shaving Hair Make It Grow Back Faster and Thicker?

Chinese Medicine Use Of Skin and Visit Total Family Care