Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes "inspection, listening/smelling, inquiry, and palpation" to treat diseases based on the condition of the illness. For health preservation and wellness, one can also make decisions based on the condition of their complexion. Here, the editor will explain how to maintain health based on your complexion, hoping it will be helpful to everyone.
The concept of maintaining health based on one's complexion is well-founded. Chinese people are of the Mongolian race, and a normal complexion should be subtly ruddy and yellow, bright, moist, and reserved. However, due to different constitutions, people may lean towards one of the five different complexions below.
1. Flushed Face
Facial flushing is often caused by alcohol consumption. Besides the face, it can extend to the neck, trunk, and limbs, sometimes accompanied by wheals and itching, affecting work and rest. This is an irritant and allergic reaction caused by alcohol. People who have this reaction should drink less alcohol or quit drinking. You can use vinegar, water chestnut soup, or loquat fruit punch to sober up. If necessary, you can take B vitamins, vitamin C, or drugs such as chlorpheniramine.
2. Red Face
A red complexion may be due to poor blood circulation, especially sluggish blood flow in the extremities, and undigested protein being absorbed. To ensure the full digestion and absorption of protein, you should eat more foods rich in B vitamins and vitamin C and get more sun exposure. Regular bathing and massage can improve blood circulation and reduce skin redness.
3. Purplish-Red Complexion
A purplish-red complexion may be caused by consuming an excessive amount of lychees. This is because lychees are very high in fructose. After eating a large quantity, the liver's glucokinase cannot convert the fructose into glucose fast enough, causing a large amount of fructose to accumulate in the blood, leading to a change in skin color and subsequent physical discomfort. Lychees should be eaten in a reasonable, scientific, and moderate amount. After eating lychees, drink plenty of water to speed up the excretion of fructose. You can also mash bay leaves to make a juice drink to alleviate the purplish-red skin.
4. Bluish-Red Complexion
A bluish-red complexion may be triggered by histamine in food. After animals like shrimp, crab, and eel die, the protein in their bodies decomposes rapidly, producing a large amount of histamine. Consuming these seafood products increases histamine levels in the human bloodstream. For those who are sensitive or allergic, the face and even the entire body may turn a bluish-red, accompanied by general discomfort, sometimes with headaches and intense itching. If the symptoms are severe, antihistamine drugs can be used for treatment.
5. Orange-Yellow Complexion
An orange-yellow complexion caused by diet is most common on the palms and soles and is caused by carotene. Foods rich in carotene include citrus fruits, carrots, tomatoes, and daylilies. Egg yolks and butter also contain small amounts of carotene. If you consume a large amount of carotene-rich food in a short period, the carotene level in the blood will surge and accumulate in the skin, causing the palms, soles, and face to turn orange-yellow. Stop eating carotene-rich foods, drink plenty of water to promote its excretion, and the orange-yellow color will fade after a while.