What is the cause of dark circles under the eyes in traditional Chinese medicine

Dark circles are a common skin problem in daily life, and they are even more common for people who often need to stay up late. There are many reasons that cause dark circles under the eyes, and different treatments are needed for dark circles caused by different reasons. According to traditional Chinese medicine, there are two main causes of dark circles under the eyes: one is blood stasis and the other is kidney deficiency. Below we will introduce the causes of dark circles in detail.

1. What causes dark circles under the eyes?

Dark circles are the dark blue color around the eye sockets or under the eyelids. The pathogenesis of dark circles can be roughly divided into two categories: one is mainly caused by blood stasis, and the other is mainly caused by deficiency.

2. Dark circles caused by stagnation

Dark circles caused by blood stasis are mostly due to imbalance of the liver and spleen. Among the five internal organs, the liver is responsible for regulation, while the spleen is responsible for transportation and transformation. Regulation means to disperse the body's Qi and blood, while transportation and transformation means to make Qi loose and not congested. It can be seen that the coordination between the liver and spleen can help them complete their work and ensure the smooth flow of Qi and blood in the body. The yam and jujube in the first prescription are both spleen-strengthening medicines, and angelica can nourish and soothe the liver. Together, they take care of both the liver and spleen. However, the soothing power of this prescription is relatively weak. If turmeric, peach kernel, and other qi-moving and blood-activating medicines are added, the effect will be better.

3. Dark circles caused by kidney deficiency

The second type of dark circles is mainly caused by kidney deficiency. Deficiency of kidney essence leads to insufficient Qi and blood. The area around the eye sockets loses the normal nourishment of Qi and blood and appears black. The reasons may be overwork, irregular lifestyle, etc. After Qi and blood become weak, their circulation gradually becomes sluggish, and over time, a state of deficiency and stasis is formed. The Polygonum multiflorum in the second prescription has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidneys, the lotus root has the effect of cooling blood and dispersing blood stasis, and the Millettia reticulata has the effect of promoting blood circulation and dredging collaterals. Together, they have the effect of both nourishing and tonifying, and can improve dark circles to a certain extent. However, long-term use of Polygonum multiflorum may cause liver damage in some individuals, and the kidney-tonifying effect of Polygonum multiflorum is not as good as that of Rehmannia glutinosa, so it can be considered as a substitute.

4. Daily methods to remove dark circles

1. Apply hot towel to eyes

This method is one of the methods I use most often. If you notice that you have particularly heavy dark circles under your eyes when you wake up every morning, you can apply a hot towel to your eyes for about ten minutes, and the dark circles will be significantly relieved. You can then put on makeup at this time.

2. Cucumber slices on eyes

Normally, it is best to have a few cucumbers at home. They can be used for cooking and beauty. The most important point is that cucumbers can relieve our dark circles. After washing the cucumbers, slice them. It is recommended that you cut them thinly so that they will fit better and will not fall off easily when you put them on your eyes or face.