Puffy face

Also puffy swelling of the face and eyes. A face affected by vacuity swelling that springs back up with the hand after being pressed. Puffy face is qì swelling caused by qì vacuity. It differs from the puffy swelling of the head and face with sleeping silkworms beneath the eyes that pit under pressure, which is a sign of water swelling due to water evil. Puffy face is attributable to lung qì vacuity or insufficiency of spleen yáng.

Patterns

Lung qì vacuity (肺虚 fèi xū) gives rise to puffy face with bright-white facial complexion, panting and shortness of breath, laziness to speak, rapid breathing on exertion, physical cold and fear of wind, spontaneous sweating, persistent cough, a pale tongue with thin white fur, and a vacuous pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the lung and boost qì. Use Ass Hide Glue Decoction (补肺阿胶汤 bǔ fèi ē jiāo tāng).

Insufficiency of spleen yáng (脾阳不足 pí yáng bù zú) causes a puffy face with a feeling of distension, withered-yellow facial complexion, lack of warmth in the limbs, fatigue and lack of strength, small intake of food, thin sloppy stool, emaciated flesh, pale soft tongue with dental impressions, a thin white tongue fur, and a weak vacuous pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Fortify the spleen, boost qì, and upbear yáng. Use Center-Supplementing Qì-Boosting Decoction (补中益气汤 bǔ zhōng yì qì tāng) plus aconite (Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata, 附子 fù zǐ) and dried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma, 干姜 gān jiāng).