Acne that flares up on different parts of your face is thought to represent health issues on different parts of your body in Chinese medicine. For instance, stress in your lungs or respiratory system can cause acne on your upper cheeks. Just one of these causes is smoking (continue reading for more). Therefore, just looking at where your acne is located can give you a good idea of which organs require care and attention.
Upper Forehead
Digestive System and Bladder
Drink plenty of water to flush, keep an eye on your diet, eliminate greasy foods and refined sugars. If you’re craving deep fried fatty foods, eat avocado or add a tablespoon of coconut oil to your dish. Make sure you consume plenty of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Some of the best antioxidant rich foods or drinks include green tea, warm lemon water, and fresh berries. If your diet is not rich in naturally fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, or kefir, consider supplementing with a probiotic capsule daily. Most health food stores carry probiotic capsules.Lower Forehead
Heart
Your heart is a massive organ that pumps blood through your entire body. It has a tough job and can become easily stressed due to poor diet, inactivity, and various mental and physical stresses. If you have pimples on your lower forehead make it a point to do regular cardiovascular exercises. Eating pomegranate and coconut oil will also keep your heart healthy and help clear this up.
Ears
Kidneys
When kidneys are not taken care of, you may find large, painful pimples on your ears that just won’t go away. Kidney troubles are often caused by not drinking enough water and eating too much sodium.
Some other kidney destroying habits include:
- frequently delaying the call of nature
- drinking too much coffee or alcohol
- mineral deficiencies such as magnesium
- eating too much animal protein
- sleep deprivation
- excessive refined sugar
This is as good of a time as any to point out that vendors such as Subway, who tout their products as being “healthy” have an excessive amount of sodium added to almost everything on the menu. The next time that you take a look at their nutrition claims with highlighted low-fat content, take a minute to focus on the sodium column. In addition Subway adds genetically modified soy to nearly all of their foods. If you want healthy kidneys it’s best to avoid fast food in general, even the “healthy” restaurants, drink more water, and eat more parsley which is an excellent detoxifier.
Eyes, orbital area and between the Eyebrows
Liver
Oiliness, redness, flakiness and pimples between the eyebrows can
indicate that your liver may have been overworked and in dire need of a
cleansing. Cut back on greasy foods loaded with vegetable, soy, and
canola oil, alcohol and pasteurized dairy (or dairy altogether). Avoid
eating late at night as well. If you’re craving a late snack take a
spoonful of raw honey. This will let your liver rest while you’re
sleeping. Eat more of these during the daytime to cleanse the liver
(always choose organic root vegetables):
- garlic
- grapefruit
- green tea
- carrots
- beets
- leafy green vegetables
- lemons and limes.
Upper Cheeks
Lungs and Respiratory System
Stresses to the lungs are likely to cause flare ups in the upper
cheeks and even break your capillaries. Even if you’re not a smoker you
may have noticed an upper cheek breakout due to:
- asthma
- allergies
- lung infections
- living in a polluted area.
Lower Cheeks
Gum or Teeth Problems
Gum or teeth problems may contribute to acne in the lower cheek area. Be sure to avoid eating refined sugar and soft drinks. Oil pulling is a great habit to take up if you’re experiencing any type of gum or teeth problems. It’s also a good idea to eat plenty of fresh fiber rich fruits and vegetables to strengthen your teeth and gums from chewing honest natural foods.
Sides of the Chin
Hormones and Genitals
This especially affects women. Flare ups on the sides of the chin are a good indication of hormonal imbalance. This can be due to menstruation, birth control, or a diet high in soy. Sometimes, even emotional or physical stress can cause hormonal imbalances. Get plenty of sleep and make a habit of meditating or doing yoga to keep the mind focused and stress-free. Be sure to take lots of essential fatty acids such as Omega 3s.
Some herbs that can help balance hormones include:
-licorice
-schisandra
-holy basil
-maca
-burdock
-red raspberry leaves
-rhodiola
-milk thistle
-Green tea is also a brilliant anti-androgen.
Center of the Chin
Small intestine and stomach
This is typically caused by a poor diet and food allergies. If your diet is adequate you simply may not be digesting the nutrients you put into it. We were always told that we are what we eat, which is true to an extent. More accurately however, we are what we can digest. If your gut is lacking probiotics and completely out of balance from not eating naturally fermented foods or taking probiotic capsules, it won’t matter how much good wholesome food you’re eating. The nutrients will simply pass right through you. Refer to the upper forehead section to learn more about what to eat to get your gut working properly.
Additionally stress, lack of sleep, and dehydration can wreak havoc on your stomach and small intestine. Getting a good nights sleep, drinking plenty of water, and addressing your stress by making lifestyle changes and practicing yoga/meditation are great non-dietary ways to address your chin acne.
References: http://www.divineglowinghealth.com