Chapped lips, Zhengzhi Zhunsheng referred to as "swollen and cracked lips", "chapped lips", and "dry and cracked lips".

Additionally, "parched lips" and chapped lips share the same disease cause and mechanism of disease, hence they are discussed together in this section.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Spleen-Stomach Heat Excess︰The clinical manifestations include swollen and cracked lips accompanied by intense thirst and excessive drinking, polyphagia with rapid hunger, or fetid mouth odor, severe constipation, a pulse that is surging and large or slippery and rapid, deep and replete, a red tongue texture, and a thick yellow coating. "Swollen and cracked lips"Zhangshi Yitong. The condition often arises from pathogenic heat entering the interior or excessive consumption of spicy and rich foods. The lips are the external reflection of the spleen, and the Foot Yangming Stomach Channel encircles the mouth and lips. When spleen and stomach heat is excessive, the lips lose nourishment, leading to chapped lips. Clinically, it is often accompanied by symptoms of Yangming excess heat such as irritability, thirst, rapid hunger, and fetid mouth odor. Treatment should focus on clearing and draining spleen and stomach excess heat, using Qingliang Yin or Zichun Yin to cool the upper and lower regions, thereby dissipating the fire and heat. *The Stone Chamber's Secret Record: Chapped Lips* discusses the treatment of chapped lips, stating: "When fire is extremely excessive... intense thirst with clamoring for drinks, though not a symptom of cold-damage disease...White Tiger Decoctioncan also be used for rescue, but it is excessively cold and may damage stomach qi. Often, after the heat recedes, complications arise, ultimately leading to demise. Therefore, White Tiger Decoction should not be administered lightly. I have a formula named Qingliang San."
2. Yin Deficiency︰Red and chapped lips, flushed cheeks, tidal fever and night sweats, restlessness and insomnia, yellow urine, severe constipation, red tongue texture with scant coating, and a thin and rapid pulse. This condition is often caused by acute Rebing consuming and damaging yin fluids, or the overactivity of the five minds transforming into fire and damaging yin, or excessive intake of warm and drying medications that deplete yin, leading to yin deficiency with effulgent fire. The fire flares upward and scorches the mouth, resulting in chapped lips. It is also accompanied by flushed cheeks and red lips, tidal fever and night sweats, restlessness and insomnia, a red tongue texture, and a thin, rapid pulse—all signs of yin deficiency with internal heat. Although this syndrome and chapped lips due to spleen-stomach heat excess both exhibit heat manifestations, this syndrome involves deficient heat, while the other involves excess heat. For excess heat, the treatment principle is to clear and drain, whereas for deficient fire, the principle is to "strengthen the ruler of water to control the sunlight." The recommended formula is Yin-Nourishing Rehmannia Pill.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Zhangshi Yitong．Volume 8．Lips: "When wind invades the spleen meridian, the lips become dry, cracked, and colorless. Rhinoceros Horn Cimicifuga Rhizome Decoction should be used, removing Aconite Lateral Root, and adding Submature Bitter Orange and Dendrobium. Women who are depressed and angry, with liver and spleen injuries, often have this syndrome. Choose from Xiaoyao, Guipi, or Xiao Bupleurum."
2. 《Inspection Zunjing．Diagnosis of Lip Appearance》: "Dry lips indicate spleen issues; dry lower shoulders indicate small intestine steaming. Rebing Dry mouth and lips indicate spleen disease; dry and withered lips without luster indicate spleen heat."