Forehead
Kidneys & Bladder
Digestion, hydration and stress.
- Possible signs
- Breakouts, dryness, fine lines
- What it may suggest
- Drink more water and look after your sleep.
← TCM Consultation
TCM Consultation
Face Consultation
In Chinese medicine, the face is a map of the body. Each area is connected to an internal organ, and the colour and lustre of your complexion show the state of your Qi and Blood – so your face tells us where an imbalance lies.
The concept
Reading the face map
“What is inside shows on the outside.” Classical Chinese medicine texts describe how the organs are reflected on the face. During your consultation we look at three things: where a change appears, its colour, and its lustre – a face with healthy, bright lustre shows strong Qi, even if the colour is off.
What each area of your face reveals
Between the eyebrows
Liver
How well the Liver is working and clearing toxins.
- Possible signs
- Spots, redness, vertical frown lines
- What it may suggest
- Often linked to a rich diet or too much alcohol.
Eye area
Kidneys & adrenals
Fluid balance and energy levels.
- Possible signs
- Dark circles, puffiness, eye bags
- What it may suggest
- Rest, hydration and less salt.
Nose
Heart
Circulation and inflammation.
- Possible signs
- Redness, enlarged pores, blackheads
- What it may suggest
- May point to high blood pressure or poor circulation.
Cheeks
Stomach & Spleen
Absorbing nutrients and food sensitivities.
- Possible signs
- Rosacea, redness, broken capillaries
- What it may suggest
- May point to allergies, overeating or poor digestion.
Mouth & chin
Stomach, colon & hormones
Digestive health and hormonal shifts.
- Possible signs
- Breakouts around the mouth, discolouration, hormonal acne
- What it may suggest
- Diet changes and managing stress help.
The five colours
Green-blue · Liver
Stagnation, cold or pain – often a bluish tinge around the mouth, temples or under the eyes.
Red · Heart
Heat. A red face all over points to excess heat; flushed cheeks in the afternoon point to Yin deficiency.
Yellow · Spleen
Weak digestion or dampness – a sallow, yellowish face that lacks lustre.
White / pale · Lungs
Deficiency of Qi or Blood, or cold – a pale face, pale lips, tiredness.
Dark · Kidneys
Kidney deficiency or Blood stasis – dark circles, dark patches, a dull grey tone.
Complexion patterns
What your complexion can tell us
These are the complexion patterns we see most often in clinic. A complexion on its own is never the whole diagnosis – we always read it together with your tongue, pulse and symptoms – but it is often the first clue.
Pale, white complexion
面色淡白 · Qi & Blood deficiency
The whole face looks pale and lacks colour and lustre; the lips and inner eyelids are pale too.
Often comes with
- Tiredness, getting out of breath easily
- Dizziness when standing up
- Palpitations, poor memory
- Light or late periods
Tongue: Pale tongue, thin white coating
Sallow, yellowish complexion
面色萎黄 · Spleen deficiency
A dull, dry yellowish tone without shine – the face looks tired and “withered”.
Often comes with
- Poor appetite, bloating after meals
- Loose stools
- Heavy, tired limbs – worse after eating
- Sweet cravings
Tongue: Pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks
Red face, red eyes
面红目赤 · Liver Yang rising
The whole face is red – often worse with stress or anger – with red eyes and a feeling of heat rising to the head.
Often comes with
- Headaches or migraines at the temples
- Dizziness, tinnitus
- Irritability, short temper
- Poor sleep, high blood pressure
Tongue: Red tongue, redder at the sides, yellow coating
Flushed cheeks
两颧潮红 · Yin deficiency
The rest of the face is normal, but the cheekbones flush red – typically in the afternoon or evening.
Often comes with
- Hot flushes, night sweats
- Hot palms and soles
- Dry mouth at night
- Common around menopause
Tongue: Red tongue with little or no coating, may be cracked
Dark circles, darkish complexion
眼眶发黑 · Kidney deficiency
Dark rings around the eyes that don’t clear with rest; in longer-standing cases the whole face turns a dull, darker tone.
Often comes with
- Low back and knee ache
- Tiredness that sleep doesn’t fix
- Waking at night to urinate
- Low libido, fertility problems, hair loss
Tongue: Pale or red tongue, thin coating at the root
Dull, dark complexion
面色晦暗 · Liver Qi stagnation & Blood stasis
A greyish, dull face without brightness, often with brown patches (melasma) on the cheeks and darker lips.
Often comes with
- Stress, low mood, sighing
- Breast tenderness before the period
- Period pain with clots
- Patches appeared with the pill or pregnancy
Tongue: Purplish tongue, may have dark spots
Not sure which one fits? Many people show a mix. Your face consultation is part of every first visit, alongside tongue, pulse, body and question consultation. How a TCM consultation works →
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I had acupuncture and cupping with Emma, and she truly worked wonders on my back and neck. I came in barely able to turn my head, and now I feel so much better relaxed, pain-free, and mobile again. I’d had a bad experience elsewhere before, but Emma completely turned things around. Highly recommend!
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I am very satisfied with the herbal remedies for perimenopause. I don't have hot flashes after the medication. And electric acupuncture soothes my plantar fascists on both feet. The capsules for bowel movement are working very well.
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The staff specially Yao meng did an excellent job. In addition she is very kind and explain to the patients what to expect. Thank you very much.
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