The Five Colors of Illness
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the subtle coloration of the skin, especially on the face, is observed to determine the condition of the organs. Each color corresponds to one of the Five Elements and a Zang organ.
1. Green (Wood – Liver):
Meaning: Stagnation of Qi or Blood, Pain, or severe Wind.
Visible: A greenish or grayish cast around the mouth or nose, or on the temples.
Clinical: Often seen in people with chronic pain, liver disease, or intense emotional stagnation (anger/frustration). In children, a green haze between the eyebrows can indicate digestive problems or fear.
2. Red (Fire – Heart):
Meaning: Heat.
Visible: A very red face (Full Heat/High Blood Pressure) or only red flushes on the cheekbones (Void Heat/Menopause).
Clinical: Inflammation, fever, or Yin deficiency.
3. Yellow (Earth – Spleen):
Meaning: Dampness or Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Visible: A dull, “wilted” yellow color (Spleen Deficiency) or a bright orange-yellow color (Dampness-Heat/Jaundice).
Clinical: Digestive problems, anemia (sallow complexion), or liver/gallbladder blockages.
4. White (Metal – Long):
Meaning: Cold, Deficiency of Qi or Blood, or Yang Deficiency.
Visible: A pale, white face without shine (Blood Deficiency) or a bright white, puffy face (Yang Deficiency with moisture).
Clinical: Anemia, weak lungs, shock, or severe cold pain.
5. Black/Dark Gray (Water – Kidney):
Meaning: Cold, Pain, or Kidney Exhaustion.
Visible: Dark circles under the eyes (Kidney Deficiency), or a dark, sooty cast over the entire face.
Clinical: Chronic kidney disease, adrenal fatigue, severe blood stasis, or extreme cold.
Conclusion
The “color” is not the pigmentation of the skin, but the “shine” or “tinge” that lies beneath or over it. A healthy color always has “Shen” (shine) and “Stomach Qi” (a subtle pink undertone). A “dead” color (such as dull chalk-white or dried bone-black) indicates a poor prognosis.