Recurrent chapped lips are like a pot of water on the stove: wisps of steam keep rising from the edges of the lid, yet the water inside grows shallower and shallower. You keep adding water to the pot (applying lip balm), the steam still rises, yet the chapping returns again and again. In TCM clinical practice, this is not simply a matter of "lack of water" — is the fire beneath the pot too strong? Is the lid not sealed tightly? Could the pot itself have developed cracks? Only by finding the root cause can the moisture truly nourish the lips. Today, following the clues of medicinal foods, we will dissect this common yet stubborn constitution-related complaint from a TCM perspective — one that is not easily improved and requires long-term care.
From "Fire" to "Moisture": The Approach of Medicine and Food as One
Recurrent chapped lips are often related to "dryness." The Huangdi Neijing states: "When dryness prevails, things become parched." Yet the source of this "dryness" varies from person to person. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the lips are the external manifestation of the Spleen, and the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian circles the lips. Therefore, lip problems are mostly related to imbalances in the Spleen and Stomach, qi and blood, and even the functions of the zang-fu organs. When treating, one must first differentiate the nature of the condition: Is it "excess fire" scorching the body fluids, or "deficient fire" depleting yin and blood? Is it externally contracted dryness, or internal damage from overwork? This is like adjusting the heat beneath the pot — if the fire is too strong, remove the fuel; if the fire is too weak, add more wood — rather than simply adding water. In meridian theory, the area around the mouth and lips is precisely where the qi and blood of the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian converge, and Dicang (ST4) is located here.
Dicang, also known as Huiwei or Weiwei, belongs to the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian and is a crossing point of the Yangqiao Vessel. It is located on the face, 0.4 cun lateral to the corner of the mouth, directly below the pupil. The Zhenjiu Jiayijing records: "For slack mouth that cannot close and inability to speak, select Dicang." Because the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian circles the lips, the location of Dicang is precisely a key node for the distribution of qi and blood to the lips, and is closely related to the nourishment of the lips. In TCM, this point can reflect the abundance or decline of qi and blood in the Stomach Meridian, and is often used to treat various conditions around the mouth and lips. However, specific diagnosis and treatment must be performed by a professional physician.
Maidong (Ophiopogon Root) is sweet with a slight bitterness, slightly cold in nature, and enters the Heart, Lung, and Stomach meridians. It focuses on nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, and benefiting the stomach to promote fluid production. It is especially suitable for chapped lips caused by yin deficiency of the Lung and Stomach. Such individuals often experience dry mouth and throat, dry cough with little phlegm, and dry stools. Maidong is like adding cool spring water to the fire beneath the pot — it can both suppress deficient fire and generate body fluids. In clinical practice, it is often combined with Shashen (Glehnia Root) and Yuzhu (Solomon's Seal Rhizome) to treat lip dryness caused by depletion of yin fluids following a febrile illness or prolonged late nights. However, caution is needed: for those with deficient cold of the Spleen and Stomach or loose stools, using Maidong alone may aggravate cold-dampness, and adjustments must be made after syndrome differentiation by a licensed TCM physician.
Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle Flower) is sweet and cold in nature, and enters the Lung, Heart, and Stomach meridians. It clears heat and resolves toxins, and disperses wind-heat. It is more suitable for chapped lips caused by "excess fire" — for example, after eating too much spicy or fried food, when the lips become red, swollen, chapped, or even blistered, accompanied by bad breath and swollen, painful gums. Jinyinhua is like directly dousing the excessive flames beneath the pot, but it should not be used long-term, lest it damage yang qi. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that chapping caused by excess fire is often accompanied by a thick yellow tongue coating and scanty, dark urine. In such cases, Jinyinhua can be combined with Lianqiao (Forsythia Fruit) and Huangqin (Skullcap Root) to gargle or drink as tea, but internal use requires a physician's guidance, and those with a cold constitution should use it with caution.
Shanyao (Chinese Yam) is sweet and neutral in nature, and enters the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians. It gently tonifies both qi and yin, strengthens the Spleen, and stabilizes the Kidneys. It is a commonly used food ingredient for treating chapped lips caused by Spleen and Stomach dysfunction. When the Spleen and Stomach are weak, the essential substances from food and drink cannot be effectively distributed to the lips. No matter how much water one drinks, the body fluids find it difficult to "ascend" to the lips. In such individuals, the chapping is often neither red nor swollen, the lip color is pale, and it is accompanied by fatigue and poor appetite. Shanyao is like repairing the cracks in the pot, allowing moisture to continuously rise. It can be cooked into congee or steamed, but requires long-term persistence, and is more effective when combined with other Spleen-strengthening herbs such as Baizhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) and Fuling (Poria). In the meridian system, Zusanli (ST36) on the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian is also a point that TCM physicians frequently focus on when regulating Spleen and Stomach function.
Zusanli, also known as Xialing or Sanli, belongs to the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian and is the He-Sea point of the Stomach Meridian and the lower He-Sea point of the Stomach. It is located on the anterior-lateral aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun below Dubi (ST35), one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia. The Lingshu states: "When pathogenic factors are in the Spleen and Stomach, there is muscle pain... all are regulated through Zusanli." This point is closely related to the transformation and transportation functions of the Spleen and Stomach and the generation of qi and blood. When the Spleen and Stomach are weak, the distribution of essential substances from food and drink is impaired, and the lips lose their nourishment. Zusanli can reflect this internal imbalance and is also an important point selected in TCM acupuncture for regulating Spleen and Stomach function. However, needling or moxibustion must be performed by a professional physician.
Combination Recommendations: Treat According to Pattern, Not One Formula for All
For recurrent chapped lips, there is no "one-size-fits-all" quick fix. TCM emphasizes "treating the same disease with different methods." For example, for the same chapping, one person may need to "clear fire," another may need to "nourish yin," and another may need to "strengthen the Spleen." The following combination recommendations must all be tailored to one's individual condition and used under the guidance of a licensed TCM physician.
Lung and Stomach yin deficiency type — this is relatively common constitutionally, and this combination helps supplement body fluids. However, if diarrhea or stomach cold occurs, it should be discontinued and a physician consulted.
For the Spleen and Stomach deficiency type (pale lips, chapping with scaling, fatigue and lack of strength): an appropriate amount of Spleen-strengthening ingredients such as Shanyao, cooked into congee with rice. This combination is like tamping the foundation of the pot, allowing moisture to have a source. If abdominal bloating is present, an appropriate amount of Chenpi (dried tangerine peel) can be added to regulate qi.
Excess heat type — this is relatively common constitutionally; if symptoms do not improve, medical attention should be sought promptly.
It must be emphasized that the above is merely knowledge sharing and not diagnostic or treatment advice. If chapped lips persist for more than two weeks, or are accompanied by other systemic symptoms (such as rash, fever, or weight loss), one should visit a proper medical institution to rule out immune system or endocrine problems. TCM regulation emphasizes "observing the pulse and symptoms, and knowing what imbalance has occurred." Blindly imitating others' regimens can sometimes worsen the condition.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are chapped lips and "shanghuo" (internal heat) the same thing?
Not necessarily. In TCM, "fire" is divided into excess and deficiency: excess fire is mostly triggered by diet or external pathogens, and is often accompanied by redness, swelling, heat, and pain; deficiency fire is mostly due to depletion of yin fluids, such as from late nights or chronic illness, with lips that are dry but not red. The treatment directions for the two are completely different and require pattern differentiation.
2. Why do some people respond to Maidong for chapped lips while others only find relief with Jinyinhua?
This is precisely the embodiment of TCM's "treating the same disease with different methods." Maidong is suitable for yin deficiency with depleted fluids, while Jinyinhua is suitable for excess heat internally. If someone with yin deficiency mistakenly uses Jinyinhua, it may further damage yin fluids; if someone with excess heat mistakenly uses Maidong, it is like closing the door to keep the bandit in, actually fueling the fire.
3. Can long-term use of lip balm solve the root problem?
Lip balm is like adding a film of water to the pot lid — it can temporarily relieve dryness, but it cannot change the heat beneath the pot or the structure of the pot itself. If the condition recurs, one needs to regulate the Spleen and Stomach, qi and blood, or zang-fu organ function internally, rather than relying on external moisturizing.
4. For recurrent chapped lips, is dietary restriction necessary?
Yes. Spicy, fried, and grilled foods easily promote heat and generate dryness; overly sweet or sticky foods may impair the Spleen and generate dampness. It is recommended to consume more moistening ingredients such as pear, silver ear mushroom, and lily bulb, and to maintain a regular daily routine, reducing the depletion of yin fluids from late nights.