White facial complexion

Also white face. Any pale complexion, generally indicating cold or vacuity. Distinction is made between different forms of white: pale-white means general pallor; bright-white means pronounced lack of color observed, for example, when blood temporarily leaves the face; somber-white is white with a tinge of gray or blue. A bright-white complexion with facial vacuity edema generally indicates yáng qì vacuity and occurs after massive bleeding, in chronic nephritis, or in wheezing and panting patterns. A pale-white lusterless complexion, together with general and facial emaciation, normally points to blood vacuity. The Magic Pivot (灵枢 líng shū) states, Blood desertion is characterized by a white, perished, and sheenless complexion. The sudden appearance of a somber-white complexion in acute diseases is usually attributable to fulminant yáng qì desertion. However, somber-white may also be observed in cases of externally contracted wind-cold diseases characterized by aversion to cold, shivering, and severe abdominal pain due to interior cold.