TCM Complexion Diagnosis

Question 1

“White” (Pale) Complexion

Answer 1

Cold Patterns
Deficiency - often Blood or Yang
Hemorrhage
Syncope (fainting)

Question 2

Pale, White, Bright

Answer 2

Qi Deficiency
Yang Decifiency

Question 3

Pale, White, Lusterless or Sallow
*lusterless = lacking shine or glow
*sallow = unhealthy yellow or pale brown color

Answer 3

Blood Deficiency

Question 4

Suddenly Pale & Dropping Cold Sweat

Answer 4

Collapse of Yang

Question 5

Somber White
*somber = dark & dull; tinge of blue-green

Answer 5

Occurring suddenly: Fulminant Desertion of Yang
W/ chills, fever, etc: Wind Cold
W/ acute abdominal pain: Cold Pain

Question 6

Red Complexions

Answer 6

Heat (generally)

Question 7

Whole Face Red

Answer 7

Excess Heat

Question 8

Pale Face w/ Cheeks Red

Answer 8

Deficiency Heat

Question 9

Rouge-Like Redness Wandering on Pale Face (Floating Redness)

Answer 9

False Heat Upper; True Cold Lower

Question 10

Bluish (or Purple) Complexions

Answer 10

Wind Cold
Blood Stasis
Pain
Any severe stagnation in body

Question 11

Dark Bluish

Answer 11

Epilepsy; Child Fright Wind
Blood Stasis Binding in Inner Body
Heart Yang Deficiency

Question 12

Bluish Somber White

Answer 12

Wind-Cold Headache
Cold Pain

Question 13

Dark Bluish-Purple (Cyanotic)

Answer 13

Blocked Lung Qi

Question 14

Yellow Complexions

Answer 14

Spleen Deficiency
Dampness
Jaundice

Question 15

Bright Yellow Jaundice

Answer 15

Damp Heat

Question 16

Dull Yellow Jaundice

Answer 16

Damp Cold

Question 17

Black Complexions

Answer 17

Severe or Extreme conditions, particularly if due to:
-Kidney Deficiency
-Blood Stasis (dried blood)
-Pain
-Extreme Cold

Question 18

Black Jaundice

Answer 18

Liver-Kidney Debilitation and Internal Obstruction

Question 19

Pale Gray

Answer 19

Kidney Yang Deficiency

Question 20

Lusterless Gray

Answer 20

Blood Stasis