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The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The external manifestations of Kidney disorders include a dark complexion, frequent fearfulness, and yawning. Luo Qianfu treated a woman nearly thirty years old who had been suffering from excessive worry and thought, with irregular diet, resulting in damage to the Spleen and Stomach. Her complexion was dark and lusterless, especially around the lips; she felt a hollow hunger sensation but had no appetite, and suffered from shortness of breath and rapid breathing. Generally, the Heart and Lung are located superiorly, circulating Ying and Wei Qi to manifest luster on the exterior; they should be prominent yet internally stored. The Liver and Kidney are located inferiorly, nourishing sinews and bones to strengthen the interior; they should be hidden and not conspicuous. The Spleen and Stomach are located centrally, governing the transportation and transformation of refined essences to irrigate the four peripheries, maintaining a harmonious and unceasing Qi. Once the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach is injured, the other four Zang organs lose their source of nourishment. Excessive worry causes Qi stagnation and failure to circulate; irregular diet causes Qi depletion and insufficiency. This allows Yin Qi to overflow into the Yang realm, causing blackness to appear on the face. Furthermore, the Classics state: Spleen Qi connects to the mouth, and its brilliance manifests on the lips. Now, Water counter-attacks Earth (Water insulting Earth), hence blackness appears on the lips; this is a pathological reversal of Yin and Yang. The *Shanggu Tianzhen Lun* (Treatise on Heavenly Truth in Ancient Times) states: When the Maiyang (Stomach) meridian declines superiorly, the face begins to wither. Thus, it is known that there is an insufficiency of Maiyang Qi. Without agents that assist the generation and rising of Maiyang Qi, color cannot be restored; therefore, Chonghe Shunqi Tang (Harmonizing and Regulating Qi Decoction) is used as the principal formula. The *Nei Jing* (Inner Canon) states: When Qi in the upper part is insufficient, it should be pushed up and elevated. Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), bitter and neutral, and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), sweet and warm, rise from earth to heaven, unblocking Maiyang Qi, serving as the Sovereign drug. Human Qi can be likened to the wind of heaven and earth; when Qi remains stagnant and fails to circulate, acrid herbs disperse it. Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), acrid and warm, and Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), sweet, acrid, and warm, disperse stagnant Qi, serving as the Minister drugs. Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), bitter and acrid, eliminates Cold in the Maiyang meridian; Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), warm and sour, stabilizes the weakness of the Taiyin meridian. The *Shi Ji* (Ten Formulas) states: Tonification removes deficiency; Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and mutton belong to this category. Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), sweet and warm, tonify upright Qi, serving as the Assistant drugs. The *Zhizhen Yao Da Lun* (Great Treatise on the Most Essential Truths) states: Acrid and sweet disperse and are Yang. Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), acrid and hot, and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus), sweet and warm, harmonize Ying and Wei, open the interstices (Couli), promote fluid production, and restore Yang Qi, serving as the Envoy drugs. Each dose is taken after breakfast and before lunch, taking advantage of the time when Yang Qi rises, making it easier for human Yang Qi to reach its destination. After several doses, the patient recovered. Sun Zhao treated a man with a completely black face; a physiognomist predicted his death. Sun Zhao diagnosed him and said: "This is not a disease, but caused by ascending to a latrine and being exposed to an extremely foul odor." To remove extreme filth, nothing is better than extreme fragrance. He ordered crushed Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum) and Tanxiang (Santalum Album Lignum) to be burned in a censer, placed inside a tent for fumigation. The next day, the facial color gradually changed, and within ten days, it returned to normal. Essentially, the odor of the Kidney is putrefactive, belonging to Water; the odor of the Spleen is fragrant, belonging to Earth. The odor of a latrine is putrefactive; thus, inhaling it enters the Kidney and causes blackness. Chenxiang is fragrant; thus, fumigating with it allows Spleen Earth to overcome Kidney Water, restoring the color. Lady Quan Zhe suddenly developed several black spots on her face, which eventually covered her entire face. Medical treatment proved ineffective until she met a folk practitioner who said: "You have ingested food poison. Treatment will restore you to health in one month." Upon checking the prescription, it consisted only of fresh ginger juice. Asked for the reason, he replied: "She ate turtle dove, which often consumes Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) seedlings, leading to poisoning; thus, ginger is used to resolve the toxicity." There are two acupuncture methods for treating facial blackness: One involves selecting Stomach meridian points. The Classics state: When the Foot-Yangming Stomach meridian undergoes change, disease occurs, characterized by shivering chills and darkening of the face. The other involves selecting Kidney meridian points. The Classics state: When the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney meridian undergoes change, disease occurs, characterized by hunger without desire to eat, and a face as black as lacquered wood. Selection depends on excess, deficiency, heat, cold, or sinking conditions. When Shaoyin Qi terminates, the face turns black, teeth grow long and become dirty, and abdominal distension and closure occur. When Taiyin Qi terminates, abdominal distension and closure prevent breathing; frequent belching occurs. If vomiting reverses, the face turns red; if not, the face turns black, and hair/skin becomes black. The Seven Whites Face-Washing Powder consists of Bailian (Bletillae Rhizoma), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Baiqianniu (Euphorbiae Lathyridis Semen), Baifuzi (Typhonii Rhizoma), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), and Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus). For fine sores on the face that frequently discharge yellow fluid, use Taohua (Persicae Flos) dried in shade, added with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) or Xinghua (Pruni Armeniacae Flos), ground into powder for washing the face. For toxic heat and malignant sores on the face, apply Bailian San (Coptidis and Phellodendri Powder). For five-colored sores on the face, soak cotton in salt water and apply to the sores, changing 5-6 times daily until healed. For yellow-water sores on the face and sores on the eyes, use Taohua (Persicae Flos) collected on the third day of the third lunar month, dried in shade, ground into powder. Take one cubic inch spoonful with warm cooked water after meals, three times daily, for good results. For acne scars or pigmentation spots on the face, use Miduoseng (Lithargyri Pulvis) fine powder, mixed with human breast milk at night for effective application. For acne comedones on the face, apply saliva obtained while not speaking, or apply juice from Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen), or mix a small amount of Baifan (Alumen) powder with wine for topical application. The *Doumen Fang* treats black spots and improves facial complexion using Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), Heiqianniu (Euphorbiae Lathyridis Semen), and Beixixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), ground into coarse powder to make bath bean, used to remove infantile fetal impurities. For painful skin on the face, apply Hemushouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix) powder mixed with ginger juice to form a paste, cover with silk, and apply heat by warming shoe soles with fire and ironing over the area. For facial rosacea (red nose), use raw Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata - note: text says raw, usually processed), Chuanjiao (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium), and Yege (Aristolochiae Radix) in small amounts, chopped, soaked in vinegar overnight, removed, and fried with pork fat until the Fuzi turns yellow. Strain and apply occasionally. Alternatively, use Huangshi (Sulfur) half tael, snail shells (preferably small, naturally dead and dry), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) half tael each, Guodan (Minii Preparatum) half tael, all ground into powder; Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) half tael, peeled and ground into paste, mixed with pork fat from the twelfth lunar month to form a paste. Before sleep, wash face with fermented grain water, dry, apply medicine to affected areas, and wash off at dawn. For damp tinea, wash with rice washing water, then apply the aforementioned medicines. For fingernail scratches on the face, mix fresh ginger juice with Qingfen (Calomelas) and apply to the broken skin; this leaves no scars.