- Niu Bang Zi Fructus Arctii lappae (expresses rashes, reduces erythema)
- Fu Ping Herba Lemnae seu Spirodelae (expresses rashes)
- Sheng Ma Rhizoma Cimicifugae (expresses rashes).
There are also other herbs which act on the Lungs and affect the skin:
- Bei Sha Shen Radix Glehniae littoralis, which tonifies Lung-Yin, is used a lot for chronic
skin diseases especially if there is dryness - Wu Wei Zi Fructus Schisandrae chinensis, which tonifies Lung-Yin and promotes the
Lung's fluids, is also used frequently for chronic skin diseases with dryness - Sang Bai Pi Cortex Mori albae radicis, which restores the descending of Lung-Qi and
resolves Phlegm-Heat from the Lungs, is used in chronic skin diseases with Damp-Heat.
Thus, there is a very close relationship between the Lungs, and in particular the Lung's
Defensive-Qi system, and the skin.
The Kidneys also play a role in the pathogenesis of eczema. First of all, whilst the Lungs control
the skin in the sense of being linked to its pores, the Kidneys nourish and moisten the skin.
Secondly, as mentioned before, the Kidney-Essenceis closely bound with the Corporeal Soul of
the Lungs which manifests on the skin and which is responsible for sensations of itching and
pain on the skin. An inborn defect of the Kidney-Essence, such as occurs in atopic asthma and
eczema, can therefore affect the Corporeal Soul and the skin. Thirdly, the Extraordinary Vessels,
especially the Penetrating and Directing Vessels, nourish the skin through a network of
secondary vessels all over the body. Since these two vessels arise from the Kidneys and spread
the Kidney-Essence to the skin, they provide a further link between the Kidneys and the skin. Li
Shi Zhen in his work "A Study of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels" (1578) says: "... when the Qi
of the channels overflows, it flows into the Extraordinary Vessels ... warming the organs
internally and irrigating the space between the skin and muscles externally".27(135) The
Penetrating Vessel also moistens the skin. The "Spiritual Axis" in chapter 65 says: "... if the
Blood [of the Penetrating Vessel] is abundant the skin is moist ...".28(136) Skin pigmentation
also depends on the Extraordinary Vessels. That is why darker pigmentation is concentrated
along the pathway of the Extraordinary Vessels (Directing and Penetrating Vessels) such as
genitals, the midline between pubis and umbilicus and nipples. In fact, the pigmentation on the
midline between pubis and umbilicus (Directing Vessel) often becomes darker during
pregnancy.29(137)
Another example of the relationship between Kidneys and skin is the development of nephritis