🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Melasma
Melasma is a facial pigment hyperplasia skin disease, commonly distributed on the nose and both sides of the nose, resembling a butterfly—hence the nickname "butterfly spots." The spots have smooth surfaces without scales, are neither itchy nor painful, persist long-term, do not fade over years, but worsen with sun exposure. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, melasma arises from dysfunction of the liver, spleen, and kidneys. When caused by liver disease, it is also called "liver spots." When spleen deficiency prevents the transformation of essence and nutrients, further depleting qi and blood, the skin loses nourishment, leading to damp-heat steaming upward and causing this condition. When kidney yin deficiency leads to insufficient water to restrain fire, weak blood fails to nourish the complexion, internal heat accumulates, stagnates, and blocks the skin, resulting in melasma. Commonly used folk remedies and proven prescriptions are listed below.
[Formula One]
12g Vinegar-processed Bupleurum, 10g Angelica root, 10g White Peony root, 15g Salvia miltiorrhiza, 12g Poria, 10g Atractylodes, 6g Green Tangerine Leaf, 10g Processed Cyperus rotundus, 3g Mentha (added later). Decoct and take one dose daily, divided into two servings.
This formula疏肝解郁 (soothes liver and resolves stagnation), suitable for melasma caused by liver Qi stagnation.
[Formula Two]
12g Codonopsis pilosula, 15g Astragalus membranaceus, 10g Atractylodes, 15g Dioscorea opposita, 12g Lablab bean, 12g Poria, 10g Phellodendron bark, 10g Scutellaria baicalensis, 10g Alisma orientale, 6g Six-One Powder. Decoct and take one dose daily, divided into two servings (morning and evening).
This formula strengthens the spleen, clears damp-heat, and reduces heat, suitable for melasma caused by spleen deficiency and damp-heat.
[Formula Three]
15g each of Raw and Prepared Rehmannia, 10g each of Scrophularia, Trichosanthes root, Anemarrhena rhizome, Phellodendron bark, Fried Tortoise Shell, Poria, Gardenia, Bupleurum, and Moutan bark. Decoct and take one dose daily, divided into two servings.
This formula treats melasma caused by kidney deficiency with latent heat.
[Formula Four]
Several fresh young persimmon leaves, 30g white vaseline. Dry and grind persimmon leaves into fine powder, mix with white vaseline to form a paste. Apply to affected area every night before bed, wash off in the morning. Generally takes half to one month to show effect.
This formula is suitable for melasma.
[Formula Five]
7.5g motherwort powder, 6g White Aconite Root, 7.5g White Peony Root, 6g White Lotus Root, 1.5g Cinnabar, 6g Calcined Limestone Powder, 4.5g Honeyed Gypsum, 1.5g Fine Asarum Powder. Grind each ingredient into extremely fine powder, mix thoroughly, store in a bottle. Before bedtime, mix with breast milk or warm water and apply to affected area; wash off with warm water the next morning.
This formula is effective for treating melasma.
[Formula Six]
50g Coix seed. Decoct and take one dose daily.
This formula strengthens the spleen and removes dampness, suitable for melasma.
<Folk Remedies>