Many people in the world love beauty, and regardless of gender, everyone wants to have a flawless complexion. However, an irregular lifestyle and improper diet can easily lead to acne. For women in particular, the appearance of acne can be a great source of embarrassment. So, how should those annoying pimples be treated?
To treat acne, one must first understand why it develops.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the appearance of acne is closely related to the imbalance of internal organs. Specifically, the cause of acne is internal damp-heat. The *Huangdi Neijing Suwen: Shengqi Tonglun* states, "Indulgence in rich and greasy foods can lead to the formation of large carbuncles."
This means that if a person's diet is uncontrolled, or if they consume too much spicy, greasy, and rich food, it is enough to cause carbuncles. We know that the spleen transports and transforms water and dampness, while greasy and spicy foods can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to the internal stagnation of dampness. As the saying goes, prolonged dampness transforms into heat, and this damp-heat acts on the skin, causing abnormal excretion and resulting in acne.
Modern medicine, on the other hand, views acne as being caused by excessive sebum secretion, blockage of hair follicles and sebaceous glands, and bacterial infection. From this perspective, people of any age can develop acne.
Once you understand the causes of acne, how should you regulate your body? As mentioned earlier, acne is generally a manifestation of heat in the lungs that cannot be expelled, appearing on the face. Therefore, clearing internal heat is the fundamental way to eliminate acne. Here are a few recommended heat-clearing and acne-removing teas for you:
Honeysuckle Acne-Relief Tea
Ingredients: Honeysuckle
Instructions: Place 6-10 grams of dried honeysuckle petals in a teacup, pour in boiling water, cover, and steep for 5-10 minutes before drinking.
Effects: In TCM, honeysuckle is believed to have antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and immune-regulating properties, and is significantly effective for treating and preventing acne.
Radiation Protection and Acne-Relief Tea
Ingredients: 10g Spine Date Seed, 3g White Chrysanthemum
Instructions: Wash the two ingredients, add them to 85°C hot water, and steep for 1 hour before drinking.
Effects: This tea can prevent headaches, palpitations, insomnia, and irregular menstrual cycles in women caused by electromagnetic wave radiation. Additionally, it is also highly effective in preventing the appearance of acne.
Rose and Marigold Tea
Ingredients: 5 Roses, 2 Marigolds
Instructions: Wash the roses and marigolds, place them in a cup, pour in boiling water, cover, and steep for 5 minutes before drinking.
Effects: Reduces acne, brightens the complexion, and moisturizes.
Evening Primrose and Jasmine Acne-Relief Tea
Ingredients: 6 Evening Primrose flowers, 1 teaspoon of Jasmine flowers, 4 Red Rose Buds
Instructions: Place the above ingredients in a cup, pour in boiling water, cover, and steep for 5 minutes before drinking.
Effects: Evening primrose invigorates blood and unblocks meridians; red rose buds clear the liver, dissipate nodules, nourish the skin, reduce spots, and promote metabolism; jasmine flowers transform dampness, harmonize the middle jiao, and regulate qi to relieve depression. Drinking this tea regularly can regulate endocrine function, lighten and remove spots, and also has a certain effect on eliminating pimples and blackheads.
In addition to drinking acne-relief teas, people who frequently suffer from acne should also pay attention to adjusting their lifestyle habits. Drink less alcohol, stay up less late, and get angry less. While the spring scenery is beautiful, why not give yourself a long vacation and enjoy the beauty of spring? As the saying goes, when the mind is at peace, the qi is harmonious; when the qi is harmonious, the spirit is tranquil. When the spirit is naturally contained, there will be no symptoms of "internal heat".