An herbal prescription for acne

  Acne (pimples) is mostly caused by heat accumulation in the lung and stomach, and is more commonly applied clinically with the addition of Loquat Qing Lung Drink. Depending on the duration of acne and whether it is accompanied by nodules and scars, additional drugs to strengthen the spleen and resolve dampness, soften phlegm and activate blood stasis should be considered on the basis of the evidence.  Some time ago, I read a research paper on the literature of acne vulgaris. The article counted 168 papers from 1994 to 2010 and screened out 192 prescriptions with a total of 167 drugs.   Based on my previous experience and the above literature, I have prepared a prescription for the treatment of acne in general, and I have applied it with the addition and subtraction of symptoms. The basic formula includes: Mulberry Bark 15g, Loquat Leaf 9g, Scutellaria Baicalensis 9g, Huang Lian 6g, Jiao Gardenia 9g, Radix Rehmanniae 15g, Dan Pi 9g, Salviae Miltiorrhiza 15g, Radix Paeoniae 9g, Yu Jin 9g, Licorice 6g, Dandelion 30g, Semen Coix 30g.