Discussion on Melasma, December 16, 1977

Discussion on Melasma, December 16, 1977

Melasma refers to patchy darkening of the facial skin. In November 1977, I treated a female employee of the Water and Electricity Bureau named Wang, who had melasma on her face. Her pulse was deep and fine on both sides, so I prescribed Liuwei Dihuang Tang with modifications. After eight doses, she showed significant improvement. Later, I checked Gu Bohua’s “Selected Surgical Experiences,” page 111, which described a formula for treating this condition: Rehmannia glutinosa, Cornus officinalis, Dioscorea opposita, Moutan cortex, Poria cocos, Alisma plantago-aquatica, White Tribulus, Cistanche deserticola, Taraxacum mongolicum, Motherwort, Schisandra chinensis, Ligustrum lucidum, Eclipta prostrata, Corydalis yanhusuo, Angelica sinensis, Red Peony. Mnemonic: “Yunying Mother-and-Child Two-to-One Pill, Six Flavors Four Substances Treat Melasma.”