Natural Dietary Methods for Treating Melasma: Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

Melasma, also known as liver spots or butterfly spots, is a symptom of facial hyperpigmentation. It occurs when there is an increase in melanin in the skin that cannot be effectively eliminated, resulting in deposits on the face. Both men and women can develop melasma, but it is more common in female patients. The causes of melasma are complex, with both physiological and non-physiological factors contributing to its development. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver stores blood and prefers smooth flow and dislikes stagnation. If emotions are not satisfied, the liver loses its smooth flow, leading to either yin and blood deficiency or insufficient production of vital substances. This can result in liver qi stagnation and discomfort. Prolonged stagnation can generate heat and damage yin and blood, leading to an imbalance of qi and blood in the face and the development of melasma. The kidney stores essence, which is associated with water. If there is a deficiency in water, fire becomes excessive, and the lack of moisture in the face can cause withering and the formation of spots. Weak spleen function can lead to insufficient qi and blood production, resulting in inadequate nourishment of the face and the occurrence of melasma. There are many natural foods that have the ability to nourish the skin and eliminate melasma. The following are some dietary methods: Method 1: Ingredients: Hawthorn and orange peel, as needed. Effect: Clears dark spots. Suitable for facial melasma and freckles. Preparation: Boil hawthorn and orange peel in water, let it cool, filter the residue with gauze, and add honey. Usage: Drink regularly. Method 2: Ingredients: 100g each of soybeans, green beans, and red beans, sugar as needed. Effect: Nourishes the five viscera and moisturizes the six organs. Suitable for dull complexion, melasma, and freckles. Preparation: Grind the soaked soybeans, green beans, and red beans into a paste, add an appropriate amount of water, boil, and add sugar to taste. Usage: Drink three times a day. Method 3: Ingredients: 30g walnut kernel, 300g milk, 200g soy milk, 20g black sesame seeds, sugar as needed. Effect: Moisturizes the skin. Suitable for melasma and wrinkled skin. Preparation: Grind the walnut kernel and black sesame seeds, mix with milk and soy milk, boil in a pot, and add sugar to taste. Alternatively, you can add a raw egg while boiling and stir continuously. Usage: Eat a small bowl in the morning and evening. Can be consumed regularly. Method 4: Ingredients: 100g pear, 200g sugarcane, 300g grapes, 100g honey. Effect: Clears lung heat, nourishes the five viscera and six organs. Suitable for dull complexion, dark spots, and freckles. Preparation: Wash the pear, sugarcane, and grapes, juice them, remove the residue, and mix with honey. Usage: Drink 10ml in the morning and evening, diluted with boiling water. Method 5: Ingredients: 1 pair of pig kidneys, 100g Chinese yam, 200g glutinous rice, 50g coix seed, water as needed. Effect: Nourishes the kidneys and improves the skin. Suitable for pigmentation and dark spots on the skin. Preparation: Remove the fascia and glands from the pig kidneys, chop them into small pieces, wash them, and cook them with peeled Chinese yam, glutinous rice, and coix seed. Add seasoning to taste. Usage: Eat in separate meals. Method 6: Ingredients: Three-nut beauty porridge: 10g each of peach kernel, sweet almond, and white nut, 1 egg, 10g rock sugar, 50g glutinous rice. Effect: Promotes blood circulation, moisturizes the intestines, and improves skin health. Preparation: Grind the peach kernel, sweet almond, and white nut into fine powder. Wash and soak the glutinous rice, put it in a pot with the powdered herbs and an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil, add the egg, and simmer over low heat until the porridge is done. Finally, add rock sugar to taste. Usage: Consume once a day for breakfast. A course of treatment consists of 20 servings, with a 5-day break before starting the next course. Method 7: Ingredients: 250ml sheep's milk, 2 eggs, 50g rock sugar, water as needed. Effect: Tonifies the middle energizer, nourishes the six organs, and moisturizes the skin. Suitable for dull complexion, thin and gray skin, melasma, and freckles. Preparation: Dissolve the rock sugar in water, pour it into the sheep's milk, bring to a boil, add the eggs, and stir until cooked. Usage: Can be consumed regularly.