Try Acupuncture and Cupping Therapy for Dark Circles
Shanxi, Hongdong County / Cai Xiaogang
Dark circles, scientifically known as “periorbital hyperpigmentation,” are commonly referred to as “dark circles,” “eye bags,” or “panda eyes.” The fast pace of life, changes in lifestyle, and the prevalence of smartphones and computers have made dark circles a common issue for modern individuals.
The eyelids are the thinnest and most delicate part of the skin on the body, with particularly little subcutaneous tissue. The blood vessels concentrated in this area make the color of blood flow beneath the skin easily visible. Due to frequent late nights, unstable emotions, and eye fatigue (aging), the skin around the eyes suffers from insufficient oxygen supply from red blood cells, leading to excessive accumulation of carbon dioxide and metabolic waste in the venous blood vessels. This causes stagnation of blood circulation around the eyes, resulting in the appearance of bluish-black pigmentation, known as dark circles.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dark circles are referred to as “skin deficiency” or “darkness around the eyes.” TCM theory posits that the liver stores blood, the kidneys store essence, and the liver and kidneys are interrelated. The spleen is considered the foundation of postnatal health, while the kidneys are the foundation of prenatal health. The spleen and kidneys support and promote each other. When the “sea of water and grain” (spleen and stomach) and the “sea of essence and blood” (liver and kidneys) function normally, the “eye cells” belonging to the spleen will appear yellow, plump, and lustrous.
However, insufficient congenital endowment or long-term late nights and sleep deprivation can deplete kidney essence and qi. Emotional disturbances such as fear and anger can damage the essence and qi of the liver and kidneys, while irregular eating habits can harm spleen yang, leading to spleen deficiency and phlegm obstruction. All these conditions can result in qi and blood deficiency, insufficient essence to nourish the eyes, and obstruction of the meridians, leading to dark circles.
When treating dark circles, acupuncture points such as Shen Yu (Kidney Shu), Gan Yu (Liver Shu), Pi Yu (Spleen Shu), Bai Hui (Hundred Meetings), and the upper and lower eye sockets can be used for regulation.
Procedure
Have the patient remove their upper clothing and lie face down on the treatment table. The practitioner holds fire in their left hand and quickly passes it through a glass cup held in their right hand, then swiftly applies the cup to the patient’s Shen Yu, Gan Yu, and Pi Yu areas, leaving it for about ten seconds before removing it. The same method is then used to continue cupping.
Follow the sequence of left Shen Yu → left Gan Yu → left Pi Yu → right Shen Yu → right Gan Yu → right Pi Yu for repeated cupping. After ten applications, observe the cupping marks; if there are purplish-red or bluish-black blood spots, use a sterilized plum blossom needle to lightly puncture until bleeding occurs. Then leave the cup for 15 minutes, and after removing it, disinfect with iodine. Next, lightly puncture Bai Hui (Hundred Meetings) with the plum blossom needle until the patient feels warmth and the practitioner observes redness and bleeding.
After removing the cup, have the patient lie comfortably on their back with their eyes closed and their body relaxed, practicing even abdominal breathing to alleviate excessive tension.
After routine disinfection, the practitioner uses the plum blossom needle to puncture evenly and with moderate force, starting from Jing Ming (Bright Eyes) along the upper eye socket from the inside out to Tong Zi Liao (Pupil’s Corner), and then from Jing Ming along the lower eye socket from the inside out to Tong Zi Liao (Pupil’s Corner) (to the point of local bleeding). After the procedure, gently wipe away any small blood droplets with a sterile cotton ball and disinfect with iodine. Perform the treatment once every three days, with a total of ten sessions for a complete course.
Procedure Explanation
The combination of acupuncture and cupping therapy focuses on invigorating blood circulation, eliminating stasis, strengthening the spleen, and removing dampness, while nourishing the liver and kidneys. After cupping at the Shen Yu, Gan Yu, and Pi Yu points, which have excellent regulatory effects on the flow of qi, the plum blossom needle is then used to puncture the cupping marks (which are similar to the “sha” marks that appear after traditional TCM scraping therapy, reflecting pathological changes in the subcutaneous tissue) until bleeding occurs, followed by cupping and leaving the cup in place to restore balance to the corresponding organs. Lightly puncturing Bai Hui has the effects of tonifying qi, clearing the mind, calming the spirit, and opening the orifices, which helps with the circulation of qi and blood and nourishes the marrow.
Puncturing the upper and lower eye sockets with the plum blossom needle, causing slight bleeding, can promote the generation of new blood, invigorate blood circulation, stimulate and regulate the microcirculation of capillaries in the affected area, enhance blood flow, and excite, repair, and regenerate peripheral nerves, improving the oxygen supply of red blood cells to the skin around the eyes and reducing the accumulation of carbon dioxide and metabolic waste in the venous blood vessels that cause pigmentation around the eyes.
Through the combination of acupuncture and cupping therapy, along with developing good daily habits, dark circles can be expected to diminish.
National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine – Supervisor
Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine – Organizer
Traditional Chinese Medicine Knowledge – Health and Wellness Information
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Herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a physician.
Author of this article:Cai Xiaogang
Editor of this article:Xiu Long
