Chinese patent medicine for treating chloasma

Melasma is a patch of pigmentation in the skin, which is generally believed to be caused by endocrine disorders in women as they age, especially around menopause, which accelerates skin pigmentation. Chloasma is difficult to cure and is a common problem among middle-aged women. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the formation of chloasma is related to liver depression and qi stagnation, spleen deficiency, and insufficient kidney essence. Relevant clinical studies have shown that Chinese patent medicine is more effective than Western medicine in treating chloasma. In treatment, internal regulation and external treatment should be combined.

(I) Internal treatment

1. Liver depression and qi stagnation

Main symptoms: Brown patches on the face, which may be light or dark, with clear boundaries, symmetrically distributed around the two cheekbones; accompanied by distension and fullness in the ribs and chest, irritability, and poor appetite; irregular menstruation in women, or darkening of the patches before menstruation, and swelling or pain in the breasts; thin white tongue coating, and a wiry and slippery pulse.

Treatment method: Soothe the liver and regulate qi, promote blood circulation and remove spots.

Prescription: Chaihu Shugan Tablets. 10g each of Bupleurum, Angelica, and White Peony Root, 9g each of Salvia miltiorrhiza, Cyperus rotundus, Curcuma, and Scutellaria baicalensis, and 5g of Licorice. Take 1 dose per day, decocted in water.

Explanation of the prescription: Bupleurum soothes the liver and relieves depression, Cyperus rotundus regulates qi and soothes the liver, while adding angelica, curcuma, etc. enhances its ability to promote qi and activate blood circulation; white peony root and salvia miltiorrhiza nourish blood, activate blood circulation and regulate menstruation; Scutellaria baicalensis clears away heat and dries dampness; and liquorice harmonizes the stomach and strengthens the stomach. Add or subtract: If the stool is dry, add 6g of rhubarb (taken later) to clear the bowels; if the abdomen is bloated and painful, add 12g of Chuan Pu to relieve the bloating; if the mouth is bitter and the heart is upset, add 15g of Gardenia to clear away heat and relieve the upset.

2. Spleen deficiency and weak blood

Main symptoms: Light brown patches on the face like dust, or gray-brown with unclear boundaries, distributed on the wings of the nose, forehead and around the mouth; accompanied by fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal distension, or stagnation of phlegm and fluid in the body, or clear and thin vaginal discharge. The tongue is pale and slightly fat, the tongue coating is thin and slightly greasy, and the pulse is moist and fine.

Treatment method: Strengthen the spleen and replenish Qi, nourish blood and remove spots.

Prescription: Xiangsha Liujunzi Pills. 20g of Codonopsis pilosula, 9g each of stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, dried tangerine peel, Magnolia officinalis, and Amomum villosum, 15g of moxibustioned Astragalus, 10g each of dried ginger and Ligusticum chuanxiong, and 5g of licorice. Take 1 dose per day, decocted in water.

Explanation of the prescription: Codonopsis pilosula, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, and Poria cocos strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness; dried tangerine peel promotes the flow of qi and relieves chest tightness, dries up dampness and resolves phlegm; dried ginger, costusroot, and amomum villosum invigorate qi and harmonize the stomach, promotes the flow of qi and warms the middle; astragalus replenishes qi and raises yang; chuanxiong nourishes blood, activates the body and removes freckles; and liquorice regulates the middle and strengthens the stomach. Add or subtract: If the patient has cold limbs and loose stools, remove the Salvia miltiorrhiza and add 9g of roasted ginger to warm and nourish the spleen yang. For those with facial edema and excessive phlegm, add 9g of white mustard seeds and Fritillaria thunbergii to dispel wind, resolve phlegm and reduce swelling. For those who have a greasy mouth and cannot taste the food, add 9g each of Patchouli and Atractylodes to dry out dampness with aromatic fragrance, and strengthen the spleen and stomach.

3. Insufficient kidney water

Main symptoms: Dark brown patches on the face, symmetrically distributed with the nose as the center; accompanied by soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, fever in the five parts of the body, frequent urination at night, spermatorrhea in men, infertility or irregular menstruation in women. The tongue is red, with dry or little coating, and the pulse is deep and fine.

Treatment method: Nourish yin and kidney, resolve blood stasis and remove spots.

Prescription: Liuwei Dihuang Pills. Cornus officinalis 12g, Rehmannia root 24g, Chinese yam 12g, Moutan bark 9g, Poria 9g, White peony root 12g, Angelica sinensis 12g, Salvia miltiorrhiza 12g, Bombyx batryticatus 9g, Eclipta prostrata 9g, Leonurus japonicus 10g, Licorice root 6g. Take 1 dose per day, decocted in water.

Explanation of the prescription: Rehmannia root nourishes yin and tonifies the kidney, Cornus officinalis nourishes the liver and kidney, and Chinese yam nourishes the spleen yin. The combination of these three medicines nourishes the liver, spleen and kidney, which is called "three supplements". Bombyx batryticatus removes wind spots, Cortex Moutan clears away the fire of the liver, Salvia miltiorrhiza regulates menstruation and promotes blood circulation, Angelica sinensis nourishes blood, Eclipta prostrata nourishes the yin of the liver and kidneys, Motherwort removes blood stasis without damaging new blood, and White Peony Root nourishes blood and softens the liver. When used in combination with other medicines, it can further enhance the effect of nourishing yin and tonifying the kidney. Poria strengthens the spleen, while licorice harmonizes the stomach.

Add or subtract: If you have low back pain, add 15g each of Eucommia ulmoides and Cuscuta australis. For frequent urination at night, add 12g each of Alpinia oxyphylla, Euryale ferox, and Silkworm cocoon to reduce urine flow and stop nocturnal emission.

(II) External treatment

1. 6g each of Bletilla striata, Angelica dahurica, and Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata, 4.5g each of Bletilla striata and Syringa obovata, and 6g of Angelica sinensis. Grind them into very fine powder, add egg white or white honey to make a paste, apply to the affected area before going to bed and wash it off in the morning.

2. Take equal parts of white aconite root, white angelica root and talcum powder, grind them into fine powder, and apply it to the affected area when washing your face in the morning and evening.

3. Take 30g each of maple seeds, almonds, walnut kernels, rouge and camphor. First, pound the three kernels together very finely, then add rouge and camphor and grind them together into a paste. If it is too dry, add a little sesame oil and mix well, apply once a day (apply a small area first to observe whether there is an allergic reaction).

4. For Chinese herbal mask therapy, use whitening powder (made from grinding angelica dahurica, morning glory seeds, bletilla striata, etc.) and add a little honey or egg white to make a paste. Apply it evenly on the facial areas with pigmentation, leave it for 30 minutes, once a day or every other day.