According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, cracked hands and feet are signs of dryness, occurring when Qi and blood can no longer nourish the skin. In winter, the warmth of the skin is invaded by the cold nature of the weather, causing stagnation in the microcirculation under the skin, leading to dryness, cracking, and sharp pain.
Treating Cracked Skin on Hands and Feet
Use 10-15 grams of Xuan Jiao (Ligusticum sinense), boiled in water for soaking hands and feet twice a day. After drying the painful area, apply a thin layer of pig or goat brain marrow on the cracks. If pig or goat brain marrow is unavailable, it can be replaced with lard.
This remedy, attributed to Master Shen, is highly effective for treating cracked hands and feet. Master Shen, also known as Shen Gong, was a figure during the Liu Song dynasty in China. Xuan Jiao is pungent and warm, with properties that dispel cold and eliminate dampness, making it a useful herb for treating itching and damp skin conditions. According to modern medicine, Xuan Jiao also inhibits many types of bacteria and certain skin pathogens, providing a local anesthetic effect that reduces pain and itching. Xuan Jiao can promote local blood circulation in the skin, dispel cold, and treat skin fungal infections. Additionally, it alleviates sharp pain. The brain marrow or lard serves to nourish the skin.
Treating Heat and Pain from Cracked Skin
This condition can be treated with the formula “San Wu Huang Qin Decoction,” extracted from the “Tian Jin Fang” collection. This formula is suitable for individuals with a slightly thirsty constitution, experiencing sharp pain and burning sensations in their cracked hands and feet, especially at night, which may disrupt sleep, accompanied by dry mouth, a dry tongue, a red tongue body, and thick yellow tongue coating.
Herbs: Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis) 6 grams, Ku Shen (Sophora flavescens) 12 grams, Da Huang (Rheum palmatum) 24 grams. Preparation and Usage: Boil thoroughly to extract the juice and drink it before meals, divided into three doses throughout the day.
Treating Dry, Cracked Skin on Fingers and Cheeks
This treatment is derived from the “Yao Ji Gao” formula in the Imperial Pharmacy collection. According to Zhao Zong Shi, this formula should not be taken frequently or in excessive amounts as it may harm the body. Therefore, it is primarily used in the form of a topical ointment. The preparation for “Yao Ji Gao” is as follows:
Light powder 12 grams, Di Feng (lead powder) 12 grams, and honey 9 grams. Grind the three ingredients into a fine powder. Take the white kernel of the Huai Mu (Sophora japonica) and soak it in distilled water until soft to form a paste. Then mix this paste evenly with the finely ground herbal powder until a thick ointment is formed. Store for later use.
Daily, apply a thin layer of this ointment to the cracked areas. Light powder can detoxify, disinfect, relieve itching, and heal various skin ailments, including scars from scratches. Di Feng (lead powder) is pungent and cold, toxic but smoothens the skin. Honey also has toxic properties and should not be ingested, but it beautifies the skin and treats darkened skin conditions (according to the New Compilation of Materia Medica) and is also used to treat abscesses and reduce swelling (according to the Materia Medica Principles).
The combination of these three herbs is effective for clearing heat, reducing swelling, detoxifying, and treating skin diseases such as scabies and fungal infections. The white kernel of Huai Mu is particularly beneficial for skin acne, helping reduce swelling and lumps; meanwhile, distilled water nourishes the skin, resulting in a fair complexion.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that this formula can effectively treat cracked, rough skin or acne, especially beneficial for chronic and acute skin diseases, restoring the skin to a smooth and radiant state.
Dr. Hoang Xuan Dai, Health & Life
