One of my favourite method for diagnosing in Chinese medicine is using our observation skills. I remember back in TCM college, after we learned observation, I used to look at everyone on the street, in public transportation and at the gym. Yep, I was the creepy person who stared! But not to judge, just to practice my TCM diagnosis π
The most popular part of observation in Chinese medicine is looking at the tongue! More importantly, every clue we can gather to help us figure out what’s going on with each patient will make us better practitioners.
Today, I wanted to look at the lips!
According to the 5 Elements theory,Β Earth (SP & STΒ & the digestive system in Chinese medicine)Β manifests on the lips.
Treatment plan has to include diet recommendation as the digestive system is affected. Here’s a picture of 4 different patients lips. And below I wrote my TCM diagnosis and quick diet recommendation.
1) Pale/Purple lips or lavender
This colour indicates a blood stasis (Purple) & a deficiency (Pale = Qi, Yang or Blood depending on other symptoms/clues).
Diet: easy to digest foods such as yams, salmon, eggs, cooked greens, and spicy foods such as cinnamon, turmeric or garlic.
2) Red and cracked lips
Red shows HEAT, (from excess or Yin deficiency), and cracked shows lack of Body fluids.
Diet: cooling foods & hydrating (high water content foods such as cucumber) & lubricating foods (such as avocado, seeds, and more).
3) Bluish tint/purple lips
Excess cold (blue) & Blood stasis (Purple).
Diet: warm foods such as soups & stews, and spicy foods such as garlic, turmeric & cinnamon which increase blood circulation.
4) Pale & very cracked
Β Pale shows Qi, Yang or Blood depending on other symptoms/clues, and cracked lips indicate a body fluids deficiency.
Diet: easy to digest foods such as Yams, salmon, eggs, squash, and hydrating (broth) & lubricating foods (such as flax oil, walnut oil, and chia seeds).
Let me know what you think and keep rocking it with your TCM observation skills!
Clara
TCM Geek
Fantastic
Thank you CLARA, you are wonderful. I wish you a beautiful Day. β€οΈπ₯°πππ
π«ΆπΌ
Great posts Clara
Thanks Peter π
My daughter had very cracked dry lips, cracks in the corners. (13yo and never happened before).
Didn’t realise she wasn’t drinking water. Once she started drinking water, the lips looked better but then the corners became quite inflamed and started cracking even more (like micro cracks) and just an inflamed wider edge to the corner outline.
So much online chat says its a fungal condition, but our acupuncturist said it was B12.
And the GP we saw said it is a dermatitis condition and antibiotics help.
Ive also read there is a stomach meridian that passes around the mouth.
B complex definitely has helped and I think it is now healing. (Trusting)
Just wondering your thoughts?
I feel a bit lost still!!
Hi Suzie,
Thank you for sharing your story, but without knowing your daughter’s full health picture, it’s hard for me to say what’s going on.
Yes, the stomach meridian is around the corner of the mouth. Water is great but lubricants are also crucial, such as essential fatty acids: seeds, nuts, avocado, fish and vitamin E rich foods π
Best wish!
Thank you for Sharing….
Great. Thank you Clara
Hey Clara, love your site and willingness to share your knowledge!
I wondered what you could tell me about little twitches in the lips. Twitches are usually related to Wind but Iβven never heard of Spleen Wind. ? or is this simply a sign of Spleen deficiency?
Also wonder how to make it stop.
Hope you can help! Thank you! ?
Twitches are internal Wind, you’re correct π
Internal Wind can come from LV blood deficiency, which can come from Sp not able to produce blood, so if SP is deficient, it can cause the twitches.
Hope that makes sense π
Clara
You are a great teacher and the best Iβve seen . Keep rocking with your amazing work ?
Awe! That’s so sweet! Thank you Patricia π
Mam upper lips is stomach and lower lips r spleen confirm?
NO, upper LIDS (eye lids) is spleen and lower lids is Stomach
Thank you
Great post on lips. So what does a normal healthy lip look like? Thank you.
Pink and moist π
Thanks Clara
You give your knowledge to us and it is pure gold we get. I really appreciate that
It is, right? We’re always learning from Clara π₯°
Hi i have lip chelitis for 3 months and now its healing but my lip barrier is so damaged and soft that it will be moist when it touches water and peels off easily with no pain. And i have to apply lipbalm everyday because ii dont my lips feel very tight i cant smile properly. Once a week there will be lip rash on my lips. They would be swollen and little bit more pink than normal. Its just inflammed and sensitive i dont know what to do. Is there an imbalance there?
I don’t know your entire health history, so I suggest you go see a qualified practitioner in your area to guide you π§‘